Malapo

We had a very full schedule of trainings every day we were in Tonga. We met so many people and went to so many different places that it all sort of runs together in a blur in my mind.  All together we visited 13 Family History Centers and gave presentations to church leaders a from a dozen different Stakes.  But one of the trainings  that we did that really sticks out for me is the time we spent with Malapo FHC on Thursday.  We were only scheduled to go to East Stake and Mu'a Stake that day, but the director at Malapo had called the Area Advisors to ask if there was any way possible we could make time for them too.  Of course we agreed.

Our time there was so special.   Larry worked with a young couple, Seini and Havea Pakalani, who had never signed on to Family Search before.  He showed them how to get a free LDS account and then how to log on and begin building their family tree.  For both of them he was able to help them get all 15 names of their 4 generations within less than 15 minutes.

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We both really enjoyed meeting this couple and their children (son Wellington, age 3 and daughter Seilaine, aged 5)

While Larry was giving them a lesson in Family Search basics, I worked with the FHC director to show her how to use the snipping tool to save screen shots of pedigree charts for each member of the Stake Council and also showed her how to do the MyFamily book online with a place to select which language to have the pages appear in.

The director and each of the consultants were proud to show me they had completed all 15 of the names they needed for the four generations.  Even though it was clear to see they were all there when looking at the screen, with each one we made a ceremony of counting off each ancestor with cheers and clapping every time we hit fifteen.   The ladies beamed with pride at knowing they had fulfilled the Area Presidency goal.  Some were a little shy to have their photos taken, but through our conversations I knew they were very happy to show they were done.

 I encouraged them to reach out to the members of their stake council to help them also get the full 15 in 15 accomplished, telling them to praise each one who finishes this in the same way as I had done for them.  We talked about the value of  family stories and I instructed them to encourage each council member to get some of their stories written down.

The whole time we were with the Malapo Stake members we just felt so connected, so certain we were exactly where the Lord wanted us to be.  We were able to share testimony with these good people about the importance of preserving family heritage and all of us felt a bond with one another that is impossible to describe.  It was a wonderful blessing to be there.

Tongan Beauty

     

Most all of our days were long while working in Tonga.  We got up with the sun and were on the road by 8:00 AM.  We generally would go to two or three different family history centers during the day and then have a leadership meeting in the evening.  We usually would get back to the hotel about 8:00 or 8:30 at night and then we'd spend a few hours doing computer work putting together reports.  So by the middle of our time there, we were just plain exhausted.  The last few days we rolled through on auto-pilot.  Still, I feel really good about all we accomplished and grateful for some of the special spiritual experiences we had there.

We definitely were not there to tour points of interest, but sometimes we got to stop along the way as we traveled from one training location to another to see some special places.

One place in particular we enjoyed while in Tongatapu was the blowholes.  According to World Travel Guide:

One of the most impressive sights in Tonga are the Blow Holes, found along the coastline at Houma, 14.5km (9 miles) from Nuku'alofa. Waves send sea water spurting some 18m (60ft) into the air through holes in the coral reef. This stretch of coastline is known as the Mapu 'a Vaea (the Chief's Whistle) by Tongans because of the whistling sound made by the geyser-like spouts.

                                       

Another special spot was Hina cave, were we stopped to eat lunch one day.  The beach there was gorgeous and then the cave was an intriguing spot to have a picnic lunch.

Apparently the nearby resort hosts entertainment in the cave at night - various Tongan dances are demonstrated, including a fire dance.  If we ever go back to Tonga, that's something we would like to see.  For this trip, however, we were just glad we got to see the place.

Another interesting spot was the Gate of Ha'amonga a Maui.  These giant stone have various stories associated with them.  They are made of coral limestone which is speculated to weigh several tons.

UNESCO has the following information about this giant archway:

"It is said that the 11th Tu'i Tonga, Tu'itatui, built the trilithon about 1200AD whilst in power. There are many theories about this construction. It is believed that it was used as a gateway to his Royal Compound, Heketā. The two upright stones are said to have represented his two sons, Lafa and Talaiha'apepe, with the lintel uniting the columns symbolizing the bonds of brotherhood. The Tu'i Tonga was concerned his two sons might quarrel after his death and erected the monument as a reminder to stay united. It was they who decided to move the centre of government to Lapaha in Mu'a (third capital). It is also said that they preferred a more calm anchorage site for their great double hulled canoes which were the most common means of transportation for long distance voyages in those days, and Lapaha offered the ideal site.

Of recent, after research of the Ha'amonga a' Maui initiated by the late King, His Majesty King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV, in 1967, the Palace Office in Tonga reports that the creation and importance of the Ha'amonga ‘a Maui is based on its relation to the sun, which is extremely significant in Tongan Culture for every day activities. Notches are found carved on the top lintel that indicate (1) the longest day, (2) the shortest day and (3) when the sun is directly above the equinox. The sun rises and sets at exactly the same spot and the Ha'amonga Archway pin points those points on the horizon. The sun equinoxes are the half way points in which the sun rises in accordance with the earth moving north and south. This archway is an entry and departure to the heavens that is observed by navigators, sea going farers, farmers, harvesters, and even the planters are some of the people that utilized the sun clock to assist their existence on earth."

So even though we were not their as tourists, we did get to see some beauty and places of interest.
Tonga is a fascinating place.

Our Temple Experience

I have a friend back in the states who served a mission in Australia some 40 yrs ago.  One of the companions he had at that time as a young Elder was Louie  Wolfgram.  Elder Wolfgram is now serving a senior mission with his wife here in Tonga.   So when my friend Mike heard we would be traveling to this part of the world as part of our assignment, he was very eager for us to look for his former missionary companion to bring greetings.  I promised I would do my best to find him.

However, our trip here has been very busy.  With one thing and another, I really have not had a chance to try to locate this man.

Then on Wednesday we had a chance to go to the temple.  We were nearly exhausted from traveling all over the island doing various trainings.  I knew that some time in the temple would be exactly what I needed as a "spiritual shot in the arm" to help us get a second wind.

On the way in to the temple I was thinking about this man that my friend wanted me to look for, but I could not remember his name.  I had it written down in my notebook back at our room.  Unfortunately without that note there was no way I was ever going to know who to ask for.   I felt bad because I didn't want to let my friend down.  By that point, however, I was so tired I barely remembered my own name!  So I let go of the concern, went on in and had a nice session. 

After the session was over, as I was walking out of the main corridor towards the front door one of the men who I had seen at the session noticed my missionary badge and asked what my assignment was.  I told him my husband and I were were there for Family History and we chatted a bit about the nature of what it is we do.  I was just getting ready to walk away to meet Larry and head home when I suddenly got a very strong prompting that THIS was the man I was supposed to look for.  I had absolutely nothing to base that on.  I just knew.  So I asked him if he knew my friend Mike back in Idaho.  The man broke out in a big grin of recognition and eagerly said that he knew my friend.  We talked some more about their time together as young missionaries and I was able to keep my promise of extending greetings from him.

Even though in my scatterbrained, exhausted state I did not bring the note and really had no memory of who I was supposed to look for, I was guided to find him and to recognize him in a way that I know was influenced beyond my own knowledge.

Just one more in a growing stack of missionary miracles to remind us the Lord knows us personally and is mindful of our needs.

The Soundtrack of Tonga

                                              
                                                      The hotel where we stayed -  "Little Italy"

We saw much beauty while we were in Tonga - especially the gorgeous sunrises and some truly stunning beaches.  But I also want to remember the sounds of our time there.  

We laughed about the music that would be playing in the hotel dining room each morning when we went down for breakfast.  On the first day it was almost all old Elvis Presley songs.  The next day we had the following playlist:

Doris Day - Que Sera Sera
Bob Marley - Don't Worry, Be Happy
Journey  - Don't Stop Believing
Then some Italian opera song, followed by Latin Salsa
followed by  Dean Martin - Volare and then "There's a Party" - not sure of the artist.

Talk about random mix of genres!

We were cracking up at the selection, making wild guesses about what would be next after each song.

Here are a few images from the hotel:

                            

I described a bit more about the sounds of  Tonga is a letter home to an old friend:

In one passage of that letter I said:

"Yesterday as we did some training in one of the Family History Centers we kept hearing the rhythmic tap tap tap of village women making tapa cloth. Then that evening at a meeting held for stake presidents we kept hearing sounds of choir practice drifting over from another part of the church with their stunning a cappella harmonies. It was like being surrounded by angels and the gentle breeze off the ocean felt like the breath of God. Unfamiliar birds chatter in the trees, with sounds more brilliant than their plumage, against a backdrop of the ever present swish of the ocean as tides lull in and out. All these and more swirl together in our heads as the soundtrack of this place. Add to that late night rooster crowing from midnight till 3AM (what's up with that?), barking dogs and squealing pigs...we are at times on sensory overload. I find myself longing for stillness, to more fully ponder all we are encountering here."

I could definitely do without the late night animal noises. But the sound I will remember most of all is the singing of the Tongan people.

Here is just a small sample:

The music my heart will remember the most will be from the evening we trained leaders from the  Nuku'alfo North Stake.  We met at the Matavaimo'ui Stake Center. The feeling in the room that night was so powerful, and their singing locked those impressions into my mind.

I will remember the laughter of children.  I will remember the sounds of the sea.

But most of all, I will remember the singing.

It it something I will carry with me, I hope, for many years to come.

Tonga - Day 2

On Monday we went to the Nuku'alofa Tonga Stake and the Nuku'alofa Harbor Stake.  Larry did the technology audits and I did the overall review of each facility.

Stake Clerk Nesinali Tuipulotu provided the report for the Tonga stake, the first of many we were able to gather on this trip.  We were excited to get it since up to that point we just had no idea how the 15 in 15 program was going in Tonga.   We had a great conversation about the principle of "Return and Report" and commended him for getting this done.

 Once we had the list of council members Larry and I were able to sign on as helpers to gather pedigree charts for each person so we could review who had all four generations in and who still had work to do.

We talked at length with the FHC director to assess her needs and showed her a few things, like how to help members complete the MyFamily book online by setting the language to Faka-Tonga so all instructions would appear on the screen in their own language.

The FHC director for Harbor Stake was not available but we were told she is well trained and very capable.  The center there seemed well set up and we were able to get some good work done there.  Once we were done with our audits we spent some time there generating more pedigree sheets.  Two reports complete!

We had no late night meetings on Monday so we had a chance to connect with Elder Bruce and Sister Debi Beckstrand from Fillmore, Utah.   Larry and Bruce went to high school together and played football together for three years.  It had been over 30 years since they had last seen each other, so they had a great time catching up.  It was their decision to serve a Senior Mission when Larry was working on his high school reunion way back in the Spring of last year that got us to begin considering serving ourselves, so we felt especially blessed to be able to spend some time together.

                                              
                                           

Elder Beckstrand is a dentist who had just recently retired from his practice in Fillmore, Utah.   His wife had worked as a dental assistant in his office for several years.  They were the perfect people to come on a dental service mission.  So even though they had been looking forward to some relaxation and travel, and of course extra time with the grandkids - when they were asked if they would be willing to come run the dental clinic in Tonga they agreed.

Larry and I had talked some about one day going on a mission.  Every now and then we would look at the list of places where senior couples were most needed and dream of the time when we might be ready to go.  However, I always thought that was some time in the future, when we were old.   Hearing that Bruce - who is the same age as Larry - was going on a mission was a real wake up call for me.  Even though I was still working and had several years to go in a job I really enjoyed, Larry had been retired for four years.   Since he is twelve years older than me, if waited till I was done with the usual career trajectory he would be nearing 80.  After lots of long discussion about it, we decided if a mission was truly important to us we should not put it off.  

There would never be a time that would be "perfect".  We would always have money worries and concerns about leaving our family.  So we made it a serious matter of prayer seeking confirmation to know if this was the right time for us to go...and we got our answer.   That's why we are in in the South Pacific instead of back home in Boise.

I will always be grateful to the Beckstrands for their faithful example of going on a mission at a time when it was not necessarily easy or convenient for them.  Anyone who says leaving on a senior mission is all fun and excitement is not telling the truth.  It's just plain hard and there is a lot of sacrifice.  Still, the blessings we have had have been absolutely amazing.  Over and over we have had experiences that have confirmed for us that we are exactly where we should be at this time in our lives.

So for any of our friends or family out there who may be wondering if the time is right for them to serve a Senior Mission  - we say listen to that prompting.  It will change your life for the better and will touch the lives of so many others.   It is an amazing opportunity.

Tonga - Day 1

Our first day in Tonga started early with a welcome meeting at 7:30 AM.  We were met at our hotel by Brother and Sister Piatau, the Area Family History Advisors for Tonga who had arranged our schedule.  Oh how we came to love these good people.  They really should get the credit for all we accomplished since they got us to the right places and helped us meet the right people throughout our trip.

At the welcome meeting were stake presidents or their counselors from several different regions. Afterward we went to church at Havelu and very much enjoyed meeting with the members there

Then later that evening we gave a training presentation at the Ma'ufanga Stake Center.  We were able to meet with the director of the Family History Center and talk with several leaders who had completed their "15 in 15".  We felt we got off to a good start.  Many of  the people we met spoke English, and those that did not we were able to communicate with through the help of the Piataus serving as interpreters.  We were excited to learn more about the people and to serve them as best as we could.