Newlywed Interns Return to Familiar Lands

Two student interns from the western United States are hoping to increase their knowledge and skills in the communications field, while sharing the joy they have for the gospel of Jesus Christ in the countries they grew to love while performing there in May 2023.

The journey of newlyweds Cheyanne Elton and Kenny Garcia began in the halls of Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, USA, where they separately pursued their higher education dreams.

But in an unplanned turn of events, their paths crossed as they danced together as members of BYU’s Living Legends, a performing group that focuses on the dancing of the Polynesian, Latin American, and Native American cultures. Kenny performed dances from Latin America, while Cheyanne, a member of the Navajo Nation, performed dances of Native American cultures.

The group also frequently toured to different places around the world, including New Zealand and French Polynesia in May 2023.

That visit to the Pacific introduced them to beautiful lands and people. “I was impressed by the goodness and warmth of the people we were introduced to,” Kenny says.

Almost a year later, in what seemed to them like a case of ‘divine intervention,’ an internship in the Communication Department at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Pacific Area became available. Kenny applied for it right away.

“The Area Office in Auckland was actually our very first stop after getting off the plane in New Zealand,” Kenny says. “We loved New Zealand so much that we knew we needed to come back,” he said.

For Cheyanne, the call of education echoed the wisdom of a leader of the Navajo people, Chief Manuelito, who said, “Education is the ladder, tell our people to take it.” That quote inspired the song, “Go My Son,” which is the anthem for Living Legends, and holds a special place in the hearts of Native Americans all over the world.

“It was the words of my chief and that song that motivated me to get my degree,” Cheyanne says, adding that education “led me to meet my husband, and ultimately brought us back to the Pacific for this internship.”

As Cheyanne and Kenny have unlocked the joy of pursuing an education, they attribute the successes and opportunities in their lives to the efforts they put in at younger ages to learn more and push themselves. Each day they’re learning new skills as communicators and hope they will have opportunities to share their love for their Saviour Jesus Christ and His Gospel wherever they travel throughout New Zealand and Australia.

More often than not, higher education has taken them out of the classroom and onto a world stage full of learning. They hope their stories will serve as an example to youth all over the Pacific to find joy in education, one textbook or dance step at a time.