Family Proclamation

I was so impressed when I saw this Family Proclamation. It's a beautiful way to display the Proclamation, emphasizing it's importance. There is a shadow of the Hamilton, New Zealand Temple in the background, a reminder that it is through the blessings of the Temple that families can be together forever.

This painting is in the entry way of the Humanitarian Office in Nuku'alofu.  It's beautiful, my picture does not do it justice. I feel like the painting is teaching self-reliance as the older man is teaching the young boys how to catch fish. The caption reads; "...And there are no poor among them. Moses 7:18"

Agricultural Fair - Crops, Arts, Crafts

Royal Agriculture, Fisheries, Tourism and Trade Show 2018 

Saturday

Crops  

The displays of crops were very artfully arranged. I am still learning the names of the crops. The bananas were huge. A banana tree only produces one bunch of bananas. One huge bunch of bananas! After it has produce the tree is cut down and a new one grows up from the roots. It looks like I didn't take very many pictures of the crop. Oops. Maybe next year.

Tapa Cloth and Woven Mats

The tapa cloth is made from the inner bark of the mulberry tree. There are bunches of mulberry trees tied together in front of these displays. This picture shows two women carrying some mulberry trees.

Making the tapa cloth is extremely time consuming and very hard work as it is pounded and pounded to make it thinner and wider. Then there is the glueing process of layering and connecting the strips. Then painting the designs.

On the right below this tapa was rolled out on the ground for the King and Nobles to walk on.

 

The women of the villages present tapa cloth to the King. The Talking Chiefs accept the gifts. The women carry it out and open it up in front of the Talking Chiefs. One of the women speaks and then a Chief responds (in Tongan). Then the fun begin as the women dance as they leave the gift.

Arts and Crafts

The flowers are so beautiful here. The arrangements are amazing.

A Favorite Picture of Christ

This painting is hanging in the Church History Museum in New Zealand, which is located near the Hamilton New Zealand Temple. We were very fortunate to be able to attend the Temple while we were at the MTC and to visit the Church History Museum. There are only two Church History Museums in the world, one in Salt Lake City and one in New Zealand.

This is a photo that I took of the original. The artist is Dave Sotogi. Each of the children represent a child from a different South Pacific Island. I love the energy and joy that shows on their faces as they rush into the arms of our Savior.

New Home by HEFY

There is an organization called HEFY that gives young people an opportunity to build homes in poor countries. They have two locations in Tonga where they can come. One is here on Tongatapu and the other is on the northern island of Vava'u. I think the organization is run by members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, but the program is not operated or sponsored by the church.

It is rather expensive, over $3,000 to come to Tonga for 2 weeks. Once paid, the organization pays for airfare from L.A. and bus transportation around the island. They provide a place for them to stay and all their food. They take them to see some tourist spots. They have 2 weeks to build the home from start to finish. They bring 10 groups (19 youth and 2 adults) during the US summers. They build 10 houses each year. The HEFY organization finds someone in need and makes the arrangements to build a small home on the family property. They are supported financially by donations (not sure how that works).

We met the group at an art shop and started asking questions. We found the house they were working on when it was almost complete. We stopped twice, both times it was lunch time, so most of the kids were off eating lunch at a chapel down the road.

One young woman told us that on the first day they took them to the lot and told them to start digging; they were preparing the ground where the house would go. There really isn't much room between this house and the others on the lot. It's a family lot so there are several families living there. The family moving in are living in a small shack behind the new house. They have 8 children. The new house is still small for ten, but larger than what they have been living in. There is no electricity or water in the new house. They will need to add that when they can afford it.

I am sure it's a great experience for these young people, giving them an opportunity to serve people who are really in need of their help.

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These are the parents/grandparents of the family that will be moving into the new home. The parents home is about 5 feet from the wall of the new house. They don't speak English, but seemed very happy with the construction.

Just starting to paint the exterior. Work on the tin roof is almost complete.

                                                                                                                                                                                                         

The inside.

There are two doors in the house directly opposite each other 

to allow the air to flow through. 

The HEFY organization has a few other people helping with the construction. This group is spreading crushed coral around the outside of the house so that when it rains it is not muddy right up next to the house.

The family who is having the home built for them were selling coconuts in front of the house. The ones with the green branch and leaf on them have what they call a brain in them. This is a soft ball of coconut in the center. There is not much coconut milk inside, but it does have a yummy thick layer of coconut meat around the inside of the shell.  The HEFY organization had young coconuts at the building site and offered each of us one. It was full of coconut milk. It was very mild, cold and refreshing. The coconut meat inside is very thin and jelly-like. We really don't care for that part. I did scrap it out and froze it to try it in a smoothy.

Artwork on the                                                                      last day. 

Flying Foxes • This is especially for Adam

The Flying Fox is a large, unique and beautiful animal. 

They are a fruit eating bat; a very large fruit eating bat!

I have heard they like mangos and figs.

In the Kingdom of Tonga, flying foxes are considered sacred. 

Their Tongan name is peka (pay-caw)

They are the official property of the King, and no one is allowed to hurt them.

They can be seen mostly around dusk but we have seen them in the middle of the day too.

We have seen them all over the island; the video was taken right by our home 

and the photos were taken from our car. 

They are beautiful and very graceful. I love watching them.   

We were standing by a banana tree one day and saw a young flying fox - bat.  

It was exciting to see it up close. We made it nervous and it eventually flew away.

Meeting Elder John L. Groberg

On May 4th we had the amazing opportunity to meet Elder Groberg.  Elder Groberg served as a missionary in Tonga from 1954-1957. His first companion, Feki, called him Kolipoki. That is what the Tongan people call him to this day.. The Tongans love and respect Elder Groberg.  Feki named him Kolipoki because the people couldn't pronounce Groberg. They don't have the letters "g"  "r" or "b"in their alphabet.

All the missionaries on Tongatapu, gathered in the Liahona Stake Center and waited for Elder Groberg. When he arrived the missionaries all filed out of the chapel, around the building and came back in where they could shake his hand. He greeted each missionary and found out where they were from and how long they had served. It was a great experience watching him interact with each missionary and see the love and respect he felt for them.

There was a missionary choir that sang "Hurray for Israel." It was beautiful, and in Tongan. Elder Groberg talked with the missionaries and spoke both in English and in Tongan. While speaking in Tongan he was very animated, and got the missionaries laughing many times. He was telling of some of his experiences as a missionary.

After the meeting we all gathered outside for a picture. I will have to get a copy of the picture of Elder Groberg with all the missionaries. But this is of some of the missionaries as they are waiting to be taken back to their areas.

That evening Elder Groberg spoke at a Fireside in the Liahona Gym.  The Elder behind him is President Makai, a counselor in the Mission Presidency.  [They live in the little house right across from ours.] 

Elder Groberg talked about putting forth effort. He said that the Lord counts our effort and He wants us to put forth more effort. We can tell we are making progress if what we are doing is difficult and if we are trying to overcome that difficulty.  He asked us if we are willing to dig in and say, "I will, I'll do it with a smile and I'll be happy."

It was a great experience to meet a man who has served the people of Tonga. He has served several missions here. He was the Mission President in Tonga for awhile. The people love him and they know that he loves them.  Love is so important as we serve our Father in Heaven.

Rain

When it rains it can really come down. The island is saturated pretty quickly and the water pools in the lower areas. The island is virtually flat, so the water has no place to go. Some pools of water last for several days.

The house on the left has no door, just the beads. Many houses have thin fabric curtains in the doorway; they leave the door open most of the time. Most of the windows have louvers so the air can pass through easily. The small house is where the missionaries live, it is located on church property - usually by the basketball/volleyball court behind the building.

The pigs and chickens don't seem to be bothered by the rain. This is an original Tongan style home. The roof has such an interesting shape.

We saw dozens of people showering in rain water coming off the roof and down the rain gutter. Men, women and children were all taking advantage of the wonderful warm rain. You can see a young woman washing her hair.

The children really seemed to enjoy the rain. We stopped and watched them play, they were having such fun.

The rain water collects really fast and forms lakes everywhere. It's always an adventure driving in the rain because the standing water hides the potholes in the road.

The last picture is of a cemetery. There are cemeteries all over the island. It seems like every village has at least one.

(P.S.   I'm so sorry about the layout, I'm still learning how to work this blog )