Debrah Roundy:  

Life Update 11.22.2020 We were sent to Samoa where we spent a short month as ITEP missionaries. International Teacher Education Program. We teach teachers how to teach, how to earn their teaching certificate on the islands of Samoa. Of course covid cut out tie in Samoa short, but thanks to Zoom and LOOM we are sill active professors. Additionally I have spent a great deal of time teaching Neurolinguistic programs with NLPU. Grandkids fill our lives as we try to fill in for parents who are working extra hours, most are in required services and children are home from school. WE look forward to returning to Samoa. Update 1.31.2020 Carlos and I have just finished a Humanitarian Mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the beautiful country of Vanuatu. It was an amazing experience, and a lifetime of memories and friends in 18 short but impactful months. We leave shortly for a 23 month mission assignment as adjunct professors with BYU Hawaii teaching in Samoa. We look forward to no snow and cold weather for about 23 months. This is the first year we have been home for Christmas since 2012 and we have not missed the cold at all. 2017 Carlos and I have just finished 5 years as college professors teaching in China. We both taught English, and I also teach neurolinguistics. It has been such a fun and fulfilling time. We were at Shanghai Jiao tong University, then three years at Tongji U. Words cannot express the feelings of love that we have developed for our students, colleagues, and friends. We not only worked at the college, but also volunteered in the community and I was honored with the Tianping Community expat volunteer of the year in 2013. Then the Xuhui District the next year the City of Shanghai Expat Volunteer of The Year. My heart spills over into my eyes as I reflect on the wonderful opportunities I have been afforded here to do my little part to make the world a better place. Those familiar with the butterfly effect, I have been flapping my little butterfly wings with all my heart striving to spread goodness and light. Of course my western friends know I am a Christian but I am also honored to be referred to as a Buddha knowing that if refers to one who seeks enlightenment through good works, not a religious reference. Carlos and I have not filled our desire for adventure. In deed this has wetted our appetite for more and are in the process of planning on a mission somewhere in the world. I do not know where yet, but I do know it will be where we are needed, it will be work, it will sometimes be hard, it will be an adventure, but it will be so worth it. For four years we had the assignment of watching over the expat singles in our church. You might think of it as grandmothering. We shared Sunday meals and many family Home Evenings. We grandparented. Truly. Girls need to talk, we went shopping, new group to town, we went sight seeing and had over-nighters, we offered a sleeping bag and pillow and movies. Problems, we listened, counseled, life coached. I have "grandchildren" all over the world. Speaking of grandchildren, I have a Chinese God-child. What a special privilege to watch over her. Another is on its way! Our children, we have four living. Our first, Seresa, is in Burley, has four children and a delightful husband with a fun and quirky sense of humor. He teaches trucking. She is now working as a county extension agent doing foods classes. Her oldest boy will be turning 18 in May. Maybe he will join us serving a mission somewhere. (he did, he is in San Juan Puerto Rico. After COVID he was reassigned to North Carolina Josh and his wife Tiffany live now in Washington. He is still in the Navy. They will have their 4th child in September and I will go play grandma again. (I did, it was so fun. She is my youngest grandchild now. Tiffany is a talented photographer and a delightful mother. Sam is now a flight nurse. He and his wife have 4 boys and one little petunia in their onion patch. They are living now in Rexburg, Idaho. Amy just graduated cum laude with her AD. In nursing. Our Alyssa is now mommy to three children. Her delightful Chloe is often called my clone and I see in her eyes a questing soul. Alan is working on some sort of certification to build airplanes. He is a hands on guy. He'll like it. (He does, he has the job and helps build Air force airplanes!) My parents are still around and in their favorite town, Idaho Falls. They live with my sister, Jan. Our plans are to return stateside for the summer, then a mission TBA awaits our future. I wonder where our next adventure will be. That was Vanuatu! 2013 WOW! My life for the past 40ish years, let me start with some highlights. A highlight of my life was when the world Special Olympic Games came to Idaho. I had been to Japan and viewed the impact of the A bomb in Hiroshima. Children from around the world fold 1000 origami cranes in memory and a plea for peace. I taught world history that year and told my students about it. Instead of. 1000 cranes I challenged them to send a chart with 1000 good deeds. It took us about two years and we worked on it a lot. It was a thrill to send the chart to Japan with the Japanese delegation. I returned to Japan in 2013 and noted several jars filled with cranes. I thought others may have taken on a similar challenge of good deeds for peace. The entire experience was impacting and as we did ...Expand for more