Woman to Woman I PROMISE YOU!

Tomorrow will mark two weeks since Auntie Vena Mapu-Finau has passed away. Her burial was this past Monday & now we've all returned to our various homes. Some to return right back to the SLC area but many traveled from far distances. California, Hawaii, East Coast, Midwest etc.. And during the week's services & being with her children, our extended family, neighbors, old friends & ward members. The feelings were unanimous, we all loved her because she loved us first. With the purest of Christ-like love she never quit serving with a smile. She never once did anything with a complaining heart.

Her children did an amazing job in testifying of

a loving mother. Her husband though pained by his loss of such a wonderful sweetheart. He managed to carry out the services with such poise. I could only imagine the memories that must have been flooding his mind & heart.

To have to live on without his other half.

Witnessing that type of love made me appreciate

what value we should place on marriage & how

we should treat our spouses or soon to be spouses

with the utmost respect.

 And what I learned from their daughters, my dear sisters during  this entire experience was another eye opener. That life is too short to remain in our old ways. It's too short to be petty over who's right or who's wrong in an arguement. It's too short to be dishonesty in our dealings with our fellow men and women. And it's too short to live with an attitude of "Oh well if you can't accept me the way that I am, than that's your problem." Especially if the way that you are isn't building people up that they may have a desire to follow God. Life is just too short to be short & impatient with others.

These are auntie Vena's beautiful daughters. Narnar in the middle and Pudgie w/the earphones. Again they were such strong spirits during the whole funeral & gave heart warming testimonies. But I'd like to share a little from each one.

Narnar witnessed her mother's passing & had to deliver the shocking news to her family. From this young, loving resilient sister of ours. I've come to relearn that people make mistakes everyday. But when we have a true understanding of forgiveness, how to properly use the gift of the repentance process and allow Christ to heal us with his atonement. Through narnar's testimony I'm reminded we can overcome anything and everything life has to throw at us.

Our dear sister Pudgie I believe was the final testimony on Monday. She made us cry,laugh and really reflect on how she was going to carry out her mother's legacy. She addressed the audience by excusing herself by just having an intimate conversation with her mom.

Beginning each statement with
"Mom I promise you (inserted siblings name) then (duty she'd fullfill) for each one." And she made this declaration with such sincerity,love and determination that it would get done. And it just struck me so deeply of how profound a woman my auntie vena mapu-finau truly was and is today.

And I challenge you sisters if you didn't know her at all. I challenge you find someone you truly admire & learn from them of how to become a stronger example of light.

Death isn't the end but an pathway's extention to reaching our highest potential.

Til we meet again auntie vena we love you!

Our bro Leia Mapu-Lotulelei singing his heart out

for you!