KAYAN: “THE JOY OF TRYING AGAIN”

by: Norberto Betita

KayAn Betita Palma, preparing for
the contest

One day she returned home from a school contest and cried before her mother for she was the only one in their team who did not win. We tried to console and comfort her, that it was just a contest and there will always be losers. We told her in tones which expressed unyielding optimism that such day was her turn to lose, but that she need not despair of the defeat for there are yet more contests to come as she moves her way forward on her journey to success. As a young woman, she had been taught in the family, and she knew it by herself as she listens to Apostles and Prophets that “One of God’s greatest gifts to us is the joy of trying again, for no failure ever need be final” (Thomas S. Monson).

She had been a gifted child. She had other talents that are hidden within her coil. In her academic journey she had been a consistent honor student from kindergarten until her elementary graduation and on to her grades 7-8 in high school. She knew as she was taught that it is impossible for her to attain the highest honors if her efforts are only equal to a lower rank. Yet she is trying her best wanting to make it to the top. However, she understood that there are limits to her energy and level of excellence, which at times are affected by circumstantial obstructions and barriers. But her courage is ever strong and her faith vibrant.

Her motivation and inspiration comes right from the accomplishments of her bemedaled maternal aunt, who also was an alumnus to both her elementary and high school Alma Maters. She also wished that she will find her way to qualify in one of the premier universities where her aunt graduated Cum Laude. We taught her however that it is not the marks that count but the consistent honest effort and determination that accurately pilot one to his or her destined success and glory. 

Getting ready for the National Science quiz - Grade 9 level

Given another chance in a Science quiz, she was ranked only for a second place which should not have qualified her to participate in a national competition. But providence gave place and she was given the chance to compete in the National Science quiz---National Children’s Science Congress---held in Laguna where she placed second for Grade 9 level; and the National Environmental quiz---National Science Quest---held in Baguio City where she was awarded the third place, grade 9 level. As she relish and savor the joy of her national achievement, she now acknowledged the fact of the familiar and oft quoted statement, ”Faith in God includes faith in God’s timing” (Neal A. Maxwell).

In expressions of sincere gratitude she wrote and posted on her Facebook account: “I am tremendously grateful to Heavenly Father, to my family especially my parents, my coaches, and to everyone for guiding and supporting me financially, morally and spiritually. I wouldn't have garnered all of these awards without you.” Indeed, with her, we in the grandfamily of KayAn, likewise express our most sincere thanks to her ever highly qualified coaches and teachers---Ms. Floramyr P. Sarvida, Ms. Ludem C. Bacolod, Ms. Lydia P. Lavares and the rest of the team chaperons---without whose unbending determination and overpowering energies to lead their students to excellence, the children should not have attained the joy and glory of the finish line in their most recent academic race. These multi-awarded teachers, even in international awarding halls, deserve our respect and accolade. 

With one of her best qualified coaches---
Ms. Floramyr P. Sarvida

Together with KayAn, other SNNHS students were also awarded medals and trophies for winning in the contests. To them we express our warmest congratulations!

KayAn is still young at age 15. Her life’s journey is still long and winding. She knew that this life is a contest, a trial and a test. There will still be more defeats and wins, failures and successes, battles and victories, but as in her study of the Old Testament in the Seminary she knew as did the preacher in the Book of Ecclesiastes, “...that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all” (Ecclesiastes 9:11). Yes, there will be sorrows in defeats and joys in winnings; there will be despairs attendant to failures and laurels that come of success; there will still be more Goliaths to battle but evermore Davids to win the needed victories. For in every defeat, every failure, every battle, there will come the joy of trying again and again. Perhaps in the coming many laps of her continued race in life, she will eventually find meaning from the words of an unknown author of the poem Champion:

The average runner runs
until the breath in him is gone,
But the champion has the iron will
that makes him carry on.

For rest the average runner begs
when limp his muscles grow,
But the champion runs on leaden legs,
his courage makes him go.

The average man's complacent
when he's done his best to score,
But the champion does his best,
and then he does a little more.
(Author Unknown)

The SNNHS team and their humble national achievements

During one of our family home evenings, we discussed about the importance of individual plans and goals. I explained to the children that goals and objective are the links that connect our best efforts to our achievements. One could not attain a wish to study in a premier university if the effort is only equivalent for a local college. One could not progress to the highest attainable degree if the toil and slog is only for an average vocational attainment. One could not achieve the glory and wonder of success if the sweat of labor is measly and inadequate. One could not obtain the full blessings from God with superficial obedience to His Commandments. It is only in rising from every fall; overcoming daunting failures; and swimming against the heaving waves of life’s stormy seas that one could find greatest delight in the glory of triumph and victory. It is only by obedience to God’s unenforceable laws that predicated blessings are poured out in bountiful abundance. I am sure that KayAn will have these truths always kept in the cellar of her mind and written in the tablet of her heart. 

WE EXPRESSS OUR WARMEST CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR BELOVED GRANDDAUGHTER KAYAN AND THE SNNHS TEAM FOR THEIR EXEMPLARY ACHIEVEMENTS!

SACRAMENT MEETING MESSAGE: TRANSLATING MOVIE LINES INTO SPIRITUAL LINKS

by: Norberto Betita

KEESHIA BETITA PALMA

Perhaps one of the worst nightmares of a 13-year-old young woman is when a Branch President Uncle told her early Saturday night that, “O, I almost forget that you had been assigned to be the Sacrament Speaker tomorrow.” And, all that she could say, with her big eyes kind of bulging by surprise, was “Are you sure? Is there no other better choice?” When she was told, “We trust you more,” she could do nothing but start her preparation asking us of some pointers, until she finally decided to open the TV and rehearsed herself with the animated movie THE GOOD DINOSAUR. She was left alone in the living room while most of us were already asleep. I was told that she ended up crying while reflecting on the meaning of each line in the movie.

My granddaughter Keeshia has long since battling with stage fright. Even in ordinary classroom presentations she usually had to remove her shoes as her personal way of controlling the unusual bodily movements resulting from her fear of an audience. During her elementary grades she had been participating in many activities which required her to face larger and bigger audiences at school, until she finally was elected president of the pupil government. Yet she admits that she still battles with it even now. She always confided to me of such a predicament and usually asked for an advice. I had told her that faith is the best antidote for any kind of fear, and to develop such needed faith is for her to accept tasks or assignments that would require personal confrontation with her own fears.

Before our Sacrament meeting started on that day of January 31, 2016, she rehearsed me of my own advice for her not to hold the microphone when speaking in front of the congregation. I reminded her that you may adjust it to match your height before you start speaking, but never again to take your hand back to it while talking. Then she went to be seated on the stand. 

As she stood at the pulpit, she looked totally confident. She positioned herself appearing more radiant and brave as she held the microphone for the first time to match her height. After a short introduction about her subject she started to read her quotes from the movie The Good Dinosaur and explained each extemporaneously both in English and local dialect. Her voice as ever was bold and stimulating.

She quoted the Momma of the dinosaurs: “This is our farm and we’re all gonna take care of it together.” She then translated the scene as being an expression of the importance of home and family unity, especially as regards each family’s goal for eternal exaltation. She took the words as a counsel for each member of the family, it being the center of God’s eternal plan of happiness to work together for the common good of all in attaining both temporal and spiritual goals.

The words of Poppa Dinosaur to Arlo his son---“The river’s not something to mess around with,” was deciphered by her as a reminder of a portion of Lehi’s dream in the Book of Mormon. As a similar warning, she quoted for us one verse thus: “And the angel spake unto me, saying: Behold the fountain of filthy water which thy father saw; yea, even the river of which he spake; and the depths thereof are the depths of hell” (1 Nephi 12:16).

Poppa dinosaur to his children: “Now hold on. It’s not that easy. You’ve got to earn your mark by doing something big…For something bigger than yourself.” She meant these statements as an expression that each of us is blessed with gifts that provide us with unlimited potential for growth and development no matter our circumstances. We each can accomplish bigger and move higher than where we now stands both temporally and spiritually.

Poppa dinosaur to his son Arlo: “Sometimes you got to get through your fear, to see the beauty of the other side.” She related this to her own personal battles with fear---particularly her stage fright---and how she struggled to go through it. Notwithstanding her inherent fear of an audience, she never wanted to snub opportunities to squabble and wrestle with fear by participating and accepting assignments that would require her to face an audience, such as the opportunity to speak in Sacrament Meeting even at short notices. She explained about the joy of winning the fight and rejoicing in each victory, which is the beauty of the other side of fear.

She demonstrated the importance of holding fast to the ‘rod of iron’ as taught in Lehi’s Dream as she quoted the words of Poppa dinosaur to his son Arlo: “As long as you can find the river, you can find your way home.” She explained that the Iron Rod “was the word of God, which lead to the fountain of the living waters, or to the tree of life” (1 Nephi 11:25). She made clear that for as long as we hold fast to the iron rod and so partake of the living waters, which is a representation of the love of God; we surely could find our way home back to our Heavenly Father.

She quoted the dialog between Poppa dinosaur and son Arlo: Poppa: “I know you have it in you.” Arlo: But I’m not like you.” Poppa: You are me and more.” In this she assured us that each are blessed with divine potentials far greater than our mortal capacities. She elucidated that we sometimes are shortsighted as to feel so unimportant and weak, yet our prospects are unlimited.

There were tears in her eyes as she related the scene where Arlo was saved by his father, and his father died. She interpreted this part in relation to the Atonement where Jesus Christ offered His sinless life as a ransom to redeem us from sin and death.

She quoted Triceretops: “On your path to Clawtooth Mountain, that creature (referring to Spot---the critter) will keep you safe. Don’t ever lose him.” This reminded her of the role of the Holy Ghost in her own life and our lives collectively. She explained that as we continually keep ourselves worthy of its influence by obedience to the commandments, the Holy Ghost will guide us all along and we will never be lost in our eternal journey.

There were more tears as she recounted the words of Arlo to Spot, referring to his family: “There is Libby, and Buck, and Momma, and Poppa---Family.” Arlo’s Father was lost in the rushing waters from saving him. She looked like wanting to untangle her emotions as she related a few things about her own family and explained the worth of every member of the family in God’s eternal plan of happiness. Although she did not elaborate on her own experience of losing her father by estrangement, yet her tears reflects her utmost concern. Then perhaps intending to conceal her deepest feelings of disquiet, she said of those loved ones who dwelled as prodigals; “We need to learn how to love them before we judge them.”

She has been a constant and open defender of her estranged father. She was the only one in her family who had the courage to ask us---her grandparents---not only once but several times, “Can you forgive Daddy?” She rejoiced each time we reminded her of the Lord’s own words: “I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men” (D & C 64:10). In fact, last Christmas she talked to me if she could have the favor of inviting her father to dine with us during the Christmas Celebration. When I told her it is no problem, she immediately called, but she turned very sad as she was declined.

On the words of Thunderclap: “I was at a real point… and the storm swept me up in a real high point. And then left me at a high relevation,” she explained that meeting and enduring our own storms of life---our personal trials and challenges---will send us to a higher and farther end of success.

Again she explained about her personal fears as she quoted Butch: “You can’t get rid of your fear. You can’t beat her. But you can get through it. You can find out what you’re made of.” She said, she realized that each time she battled with her fears she finds herself going through it and knowing her own capabilities and personal gifts from the Spirit. She understood better the words of Dieter F. Uchtdorf that she is “made of the stuff of eternity.”

She concluded with these words: “Not all movies are bad. If you are a fan of Apostles and Prophets and if you live the Gospel, you will be able to learn a lot of righteous spiritual principles in selected films.”

As our Sacrament Meeting concluded, she sat beside me somewhat worried about her message being too long. I assured her she had left more than enough time for the concluding speaker. And when she asked me how her message had gone, I told her “You brought tears into my eyes and that was one sure witness that your message was inspired, edifying and strengthening. You attained another victory over your stage fright.”

As it was, she brought with her no written talk but the lines she had quoted from the movie THE GOOD DINOSAUR. However, her translating the movie lines into spiritual links impromptu was exceptionally admirable for a thirteen year old as she was. Perhaps out of fear or deep emotional feeling, she had her hands back holding now and then the microphone, but it did not in any way interrupt the impressiveness and solemnity of her Sacrament Meeting Message.