6 Month Mark - Taking Stock

I've been sorting through some of my old sent emails from a year ago.  I've been reading words that tried to capture all the tumultuous emotions I had as we prepared to leave on this mission.  It's interesting to take stock of where I was then and compare it to how I feel about things now.

We just hit our six month mark of this experience.  We have weathered the wrenching heartache of leaving behind all that we knew and loved.  We endured the strangeness of our first arrival and the overwhelming waves of homesickness that assailed us those first months.   We've faced adjustment stress, travel exhaustion, and a few down right bleak days when nothing seemed to go right.  It's interesting to read over various letters I wrote during those experiences.

There is no doubt that at times it has been incredibly difficult to be here when so much of our hearts are with those we love back in the States.  Yet  through it all, we have had wonderful, amazing, soul lifting experiences.  Time and time again we have seen that when we face our fears and move forward, God will see us through.   Now that we are feeling stronger in this mission, sometimes it does me good to look back and reflect on how far I've come.

The following is from an email I sent back in June 2014 to a long time friend who knows me well, someone I trusted I could pour my heart out to.   I've edited it just a bit for clarity and omitted pieces here and there for confidentiality reasons.  But overall this is what I said one year ago:

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I am so excited about this mission.  I feel certain this path I have chosen will bring a deep sense of purpose, not to mention some amazing adventure.

And yet...

I have fear.  As ready as I am for this, I can not help but feel a creeping dread, my heart shuddering in anticipation of the inevitable pain and aching sense of loss in the face of all I will willingly be giving up.  While I don't expect I will be utterly forgotten by those I love here, I know well enough from all my many moves in the past that absence does not truly make the heart grow fonder.  Without the intricate weave of shared experience, too often the spark of shared caring shifts, changing it to glittering reminiscence of what was rather that substantive bonds of the here and now.  I know that.  I accept it.  Still, it makes me sad.

During the years we were chasing my husbands career, we moved often.  At every place we lived there were people who were very dear to me.  When it came time to pack up and move again at each corporate transfer, I always hoped I might be able to stay in touch with the people I'd grown attached to.  Long before email, I was a proliferate letter writer.  I sent post cards, holiday greetings and out-of-the-blue notes for no reason other than to let my friends know they were still very much in my heart and on my mind. I wrote long rambling letters. But every time I moved--whether across town or across the country--the people I left behind carried on with their lives just fine without me.  Sure, some kept sweet memories of the friendship we once shared.  Many welcomed me with a smile and a hug anytime I would go back for a visit.  But it wasn't the same as ongoing, reciprocal sharing of lives.  It couldn't be.  And sadly, letter writing is a dying art.  Very few folks these days genuinely savor carrying on a correspondence.  Most of the friends I had simply didn't write or call.  So, over time - even my very best friends often felt lost to me.

I no longer blame or resent folks for not having the willingness to continue on in correspondence when I move away. I really do get it now that the measure of our bond does not equate to ongoing postage stamps or frequency of emails.  While I admittedly would like to hear from distant friends more than I do, part of the wisdom of growing older is getting past being so emotionally clingy.  I truly have learned to accept goodbyes and separations far more gracefully than I ever could in the past.

Yet still, there is a wistfulness, a longing, as I miss the people I love and leave.


So as we prepare for this mission, it's really hard to face up to the fact that I am going to willingly walk away from all my family, all my friends.   I will miss out on special celebrations and no doubt more than a few funerals.  There will be some I will never see again in this life.  Of that I am sure.  So it pains me to let go, no matter how certain I am that leaving on this mission is absolutely the right thing to do.

I have been thinking a lot about not just leaving behind friends and family, but leaving behind this whole season of my life - my career, my sense of place in the community.  I've been teaching college for 20 years.  That has been such a hugely significant part of my identity, even though I always did it part time as an adjunct in tandem with other work.  The day I went to the college here with two huge boxes of books I was donating made it all too real that I wasn't coming back.  Although I will return to Boise at the end of two years, I don't expect I'll ever  work for a college again.  I  suppose it is remotely possible that I might find a job in education again of one sort or another somewhere down the line, but I truly don't expect to.  This honestly feels like I'm done with that season of my life.  I wept as I walked through the halls where I had talked with so many students, where I had felt so honored and privileged to be part of their journey.  

Giving up the telehealth work I've been doing is huge.  This has been the most gratifying professional work I've ever had.  I have loved this job and really do believe I'm making a difference.  No telling what sort of work I will find when I get back, but somehow I suspect I will always look back at the past couple years as the peak of my professional life and will always sort of wonder what I might have accomplished had I stayed to see it through.  I've been doing work that has the potential to significantly impact a lot of people's lives in the years to come in terms of what health care is available in rural areas.  I'm good at this.  And now I am leaving all that behind.

Then of course there is my family.  I will  especially miss the grandkids that live here in Idaho.   I will be walking out on the caboose of the their childhood. Right now, while they are young, we share a deliciously affectionate camaraderie. The younger two, in particular, have become my special buddies. Even their older brother, who in his teen years has gotten too cool for much hanging out with Grammy, still is a delight to me on those few occasions when we have special talks.   After so many years of being a long-distance grandparent, I finally have these three here close so I get a  chance to be a special part of their lives.  Leaving that cuts deeper than I can say.  When I get back I will have missed out on so much, and there will be no recapturing it.  There are times when I cringe at giving them up just yet, wonder if we might not ought to wait for one more year.

But here is the thing...there will never be a perfect time to go.  There would always be reasons to stay.   My sweet husband will turn 69 this year.   And I too am growing older. If we don't go soon,  it becomes increasingly likely one or both of us will not have the health and stamina we need to do the extensive travel this mission will require.  We've talked about it a lot, and have prayed fervently to know if  this is the season for us to serve or if we should wait .   Both of us are sure the time is now.

I have no doubts abut that.   But it doesn't make it easy.  There is a heaviness in my heart for all I am giving up.  I get a lump in my throat and a burning in my stomach when I think of saying goodbye.

And then it shifts, as if my spirit flies separate from my mind and body, transcending upward - seeing who I am as an eternal being.  I see this mortal life of 80 years or so for the very fleeting thing that it truly is.  I recognize myself as a part of the universe that was present before I was born to this flesh and a spirit that will continue long after this life ends.  I get a glimpse of all the many letting go experiences I have yet to come....with or without this mission.   I begin to understand at a visceral level how transitory everything of this life is.   People come in.  People go.   Health, youth, beauty, strength all fade.   Right now I am experiencing pain of a broken hand.  I am experiencing physical limitation.  This is merely dress rehearsal for future times when my body is in decline which will be exponentially more difficult.   I may as well learn the lessons of grace  in adversity now as I am absolutely sure I will need those skills in days to come down the road.

I think of the journey you have had with your mother during her health decline.  I do wonder who will care for me when I am old and infirm, if I should live that long.   I think about the meaning I have had in my life over the years.  Right now I am mostly confidant and happy.   I have so much good in my world.     I have reached a point where even my biggest sorrows and betrayals of the past no longer  haunt me.  They simply inform me.  They have taught me how precious life is.   They have taught me the importance of  mindfully choosing  to reflect truth and good which are every bit as real and possible as harm and depravity.   Both exist in this world at all times.  Every day, every moment, I CHOOSE which will be my focus.  As we have so often talked about, I choose which wolf I will feed. So I no longer dwell on the pains of the past.   I think of kaleidoscopes - creating beauty out of both dark colors and light.   I think of healing.   I think of possibility.

All of these things tumble through my mind as I prepare for my leave taking , like the shards of colored glass in your fancy brass tube of mirrors, the kaleidoscope you keep in your office.   With each shift the picture changes, showing me a new perspective.

As I consider what it means to go on a "Senior Mission" it makes me think all that much more about what it is to qualify as "Senior" and confront my own aging, to acknowledge the inevitable seeping away of my younger self.  In my body right now I feel a stiffness of joints that need to stretch and a settling in my frame of  a post-menopausal woman who has left behind forever her days of youthful vigor.  I have exchanged taunt skin and fluid, swift movement for levels of insight, self acceptance and appreciation for beauty that I never would have held when I was 25.  All of that makes me understand well why it is so important that people in my position be willing to go on Senior Missions. Granted, at this point in our lives we have so much enmeshment with LIFE that is hard to break free from.  But it is that very depth of relationships and  life long experiences - decades of learning about loving and letting go - that are the very qualities that will make us effective in the mission field meaningful ways.

So yes there is fear.  Yes, I am going through a period of deep mourning as I come to terms with all that I will be leaving behind.  I have nights when I lie awake and wonder how I will manage to get past this mind-racing anxiety of having turned my whole life upside down.  But I can honestly say I have no doubt this is the right thing for me to be doing.  

You know the physical sense of apprehension you get on a roller coaster as the cars chug up and up and up to the top of a high point?.... I feel some of  that tension as I prepare for this experience.   Yet at the very same time I get a freeing sense of weightless letting go.   I feel ready for the exhilarating rush of zooming decent as we embrace the experience coming soon.  I want to throw my arms in the air and yell WHEEEEE!

For all its difficulty and sacrifice, this opportunity is going to be one amazing ride.

Return to the Northlands

We recently made another trip back up to the Northlands of New Zealand.  It was a lot of road time, but we accomplished all we set out to and enjoyed some special beauty on the way, so we felt good about the trip. 

We drove up to Kaitaia on Friday.  It's a long twisty road to get up there.  (190 miles / 306 kilometers)   As the crow flies it would not be that far, but with all the twists and turns and switchbacks through the bush around mountains, it takes almost four hours to drive it.

Looking at the map from afar it seems pretty simple.

But when I zoom in a bit I get a more realistic view of what the actual drive is like:

Let's just say it's a good thing neither one of us is prone to motion sickness.

On the way up we missed one turn we should have taken at about Kawakawa, so we ended up going the long way around, through Paihia.  We were familiar with the Bay of Islands area from our previous trip up there in April.  This time we were on a bit of a tight schedule and it was pretty rainy, so we didn't do any exploring - but it was still a pretty drive.

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We are still struggling to learn how to say many of the place names we come across.  From road names to towns, they leave our tongues tied up in knots since nearly everywhere we go in the Northlands has Maori names. According to census figures, a little over half the population of Kaitaia are Maori, and that is very much evident when we are there. "Archaelogical evidence shows the Far North was first settled by Polynesian ancestors of the Maori, about 900 years ago. Kaitaia has a long history of Maori occupation and the region still retains a strong Māori flavour today with many interesting structures and sites". (Kaitaia Portal)

The New Zealand Tourism Guide says:

"Today Maori people live throughout New Zealand, and many are actively involved with keeping their culture and language alive. Within any Maori community, the marae provides a focus for social, cultural and spiritual life. The term marae describes a communal 'plaza' area that includes a wharenui (meeting house) and wharekai (dining room).

Maori people define themselves by their iwi (tribe), hapu (sub-tribe), maunga (mountain) and awa (river). Whanau is the name given to family - the term embraces immediate family, in-laws and all those connected by blood ties.

In recent years, the introduction of Maori language nests (kohanga reo) has revived the Maori language. At kohanga reo, preschool children are encouraged to speak in Maori. Primary and secondary schools build on this early immersion by including Maori in the curriculum.

Traditional carvers also help to keep Maori culture alive by creating intricate works that pay respect to the past. Every piece carved tells a story, which can be read by those who know how. The shape of the heads, position of the body as well as the surface patterns work together to record and remember events."

We stayed at the Kauri Lodge Motel, which is very basic, no-frills sort of place.  But it is clean, the bed is comfortable, and like nearly all motels here they have a refrigerator/microwave/sink and cupboard full of dishes and utensils, so we were able to bring food to prepare rather than eat out.  

On Saturday morning we met with Sally Bills, the acting director of the Family History Center in Kaitaia.  (She is officially called as an assistant, but the actual director moved away some time ago.  They've never changed her title but that does not seem to be a big concern for Sally).  She is a delightful lady who we enjoyed very much.  We taught her how to use the snipping tool to create pedigree charts for leaders working on the 15-15 and showed her how to access the online version of the MyFamily book.  We discussed how the My Family 15 in 15 program has been going so far in her stake and gave some suggestions for how she encourage others to participate.  

Sally Bills - Kaikohe FHC 

As we were leaving Kaitaia we  stopped at a local farmer's market and enjoyed walking around looking at all the things that were offered there.

We bought a bag of fresh mandarin oranges and some bbq chicken on a stick and then got back on the road.  We initially planned to meet that afternoon with the FHC director in Kaikohe, but she had a family funeral to go to, so we rescheduled for Monday.

We hit the road again and headed back to Whangarei, a trip of about 110 miles.There we went back to the same farm-stay place where we were in April, "The Honey House" that we liked so much.  Again, the accommodations are very basic, but the setting is  quite lovely there.

On Sunday we attended the Hatea ward.   Both of us gave talks in Sacrament meeting and then we gave a presentation about the My Family 15 in 15 program to a combined Relief Society-Priesthood meeting.  It was very well received and we felt like it went well.   We enjoyed talking with the members and felt a lot of support.  The Whangarei Stake Presidency is very much engaged in this family history effort and is encouraging their members to get on board.  They arranged to have special meetings focusing on the My Family 15-15 goal in every ward.

Sunday evening we got together with friends we met last time we were in Whangarei.  Bruce and Doreen Savill are life long Kiwis and Rosemary Waters is an emigrant from Ireland.  They are not LDS, but the all have deep testimonies of Jesus Christ and they are the kindest people you could ever hope to meet.  Doreen prepared a lovely meal and we had a wonderful time visiting with them.  After dinner we all gathered around the piano to sing which was lots of fun.  We love these good people!

Then on Monday (1 June) we shifted over to a different place to stay so we could have Internet - The Birchgrove Cottage was a great spot for us, with a full kitchen and some nicer amenities like central heating, which we appreciated now that the weather has grown cooler. While it isn't quite as charming as the Greenfields (what we call "the Honey House") with it's farm setting and lovely artwork, in many ways it was more comfortable so for future visits we are more likely to stay there.

That day we headed back to Kaikohe for our rescheduled meeting with Cheryle Sadler, the FHC director. On the way up we did a brief stop at Lake Waro to stretch our legs and scope out the area.  We looked for a geocache that was supposed to be hidden there, but never did find it.  Perhaps with a bit more searching we would have figured it out, but we had a schedule to keep so once more we hit the road!  If we get up there sometime when we are not pressed for time we would like to go back for some more extended exploring.  It looked like a great spot for hiking or a picnic.

The Department of Conservation website had this to say about the place:

"The track through this 7.5-hectare reserve takes you through open grass land around spectacular limestone formations. The track follows the route of a historic horse tramline, built in about 1900.

The reserve is one of the most outstanding examples of a limestone landscape in Northland. Interpretation signs explain the geology of the karst landscape and aspects of the human history.

You can walk around the lake by continuing on a Council track to the Council car park making the entire walk about 2.2 km.

Since this special geological feature is so close to the highway, it is well worth a visit."

Once we got to the FHC in Kaikohe we had a good meeting with Cheryle.  We talked about ways that she could support the 15-15 goal in her area.  In addition to being family history center director, she is also ward primary president.  Because of that, she meets with her ward council.  She said she would be sure the council members there are all encouraged to meet the goal.

Cheryle Sadler

Monday night rather than hitting another restaurant since we had such a nice kitchen at the Birchgrove we just went to a local grocery store and got a few things to make supper there.  We relaxed putting together a jigsaw puzzle that was there in a closet with some games and got a good night's rest before having to head back to Auckland on Tuesday.

 On the way was stopped to make sandwiches on the road at Mangawhei Heads overlooking the beach. That's another lovely area we would like to explore further sometime when we have a bit more time.

 

All in all our trip to the Northlands was very successful.  We saw some lovely country and had productive meetings.  We accomplished all we set out to do.  We have come to develop a special love for this area.  As much as we enjoy seeing new places, it is kind of nice to keep going back to the same region where we can get familiar with the area and build relationship up over a period of time.   

                             

                   

Fasting and Prayer

Recently I have been giving a lot of thought to the principle of "Fasting".  In the culture of the LDS church, the first Sunday of each month is declared "Fast Sunday".  This means we traditionally are asked to fast  (to go without food or water for at least two consecutive meals).   We approach this fast with prayer, focusing our spiritual nature on being open to special promptings or inspiration.  We also donate whatever we can manage for the poor - at least the value of the two meals we have skipped, but more if at all possible.  It was never intended that we would calculate how much a stack of pancakes or a bowl of oatmeal would cost or what the price of our lunch might have been.   Instead, we are to recognize that ALL blessings come from God and that as we share of what we have for those who have less, we will both meet a temporal need and increase our own compassion for others.

On those first Sundays we also have the the opportunity to "bear our testimony".   The Sacrament service of  Mormon congregations all over the world reserve those days to allow members of their faith (from very young children to the aged and anyone in-between who feels so inclined) to stand up and publicly declare their belief in the church.   Ideally a personal testimony will focus on witness about the Savior, the truth of the Book of Mormon, belief in the importance of temples, or other basic doctrines of the church. It is a time for sharing brief faith promoting experiences or expressing sincere gratitude for our blessings.  Granted, there are some folks who get up and ramble on about their latest family vacation or little kids who repeat verbatim whatever is being whispered into their ear by a prompting parent.   But the objective is for people to speak from the heart of spiritual things.

I've been an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for over 30 years, so I have heard many talks about fasting.    I have also participated in a whole lot of "fast and testimony" meetings over the years.   Just as a rough estimate, if I were to guess I'd say I've probably attended on average ten such meetings per year (assuming I may have missed a couple here or there).  So I've been to over 300 testimony meetings and probably bore my testimony personally in about a third of those

However, the truth is, I have always struggled with fasting.

Even when I have approached a fast with sincere intent and prayer, too often rather than feeling spiritually strengthened I often just felt hungry, light headed and cranky.

Consequently, I have not fasted as often, or as purposefully as I might have.  Sure, I would generally skip breakfast on fast Sunday and then have a later dinner.   But I seldom went a full day without anything and I generally was not all that disciplined in my inner thought life during the fast.

The exception to that has been when I have been fasting outside of the ritual first Sunday protocol, when I had a compelling personal reason to do so. In addition to the structured first Sunday fasts, our faith teaches us that we also may fast any time we need answers to specific spiritual questions or struggles.  We can fast when seeking strength to endure personal trials, or if a family member or someone we care about has a particular need.  

When my oldest brother was out of work I fasted for him.  I have fasted whenever people I loved were hurting - whether it be from  physical illness, relationship struggles or other challenges.  I have fasted a number of times for my children when they were having problems.  I specifically fasted several times seeking direction as we contemplating leaving our home and family to serve a full time mission.   So I have had some deeply personal and significant experiences with fasting.

Nevertheless, I would not consider myself to have had a strong personal practice of fasting on an ongoing basis.  Too many times when I recognized a situation might merit a meaningful fast, I just said my regular prayers and hoped that would be enough.  I took the easy way out.

However, ever since hearing Henry B. Eyring's talk about fasting in last April's General Conference: "Is This Not The Fast That I Have Chosen"  I have been giving some thoughtful reflection to the role that fasting plays in my life.  I wanted more than an intellectual understanding of what it is or knowledge about what it is supposed to make possible.  I wanted to have a strong enough personal testimony of the law of the fast that I would be able to incorporate the practice more consistently in my own life.

Additionally, as Elder Bennett and I have been studying Ch.6 in Preach My Gospel with focuses on the attributes of Christ,  I had been recognizing that I wanted to develop a stronger personal testimony of the law of the fast as a means of developing some of those attributes more fully in my own life.   So I had been including this in my personal prayers, hoping I would gain some new insights.

Then we were sent to Tonga.  The nine days that we spent on the island of Tongatapu were a blur of meetings, travel, prayers, answers to prayers, and special spiritual experiences .  On the day before we were to leave, we attended church in the Liahona ward, which is an English speaking ward.  I looked forward to being able to hear the messages that were to be shared that day, but frankly, I was feeling tired, somewhat overwhelmed and distracted.   We had little rest throughout our time on the island and so much had happened.  So when I went into the Relief Society class for women, I was just quietly sitting there reflecting over it all, not actually paying full attention to what was being said.

And then it hit me....the lesson that day was specifically about fasting.   It was actually a re-telling of the same talk by Henry Eyring that I had just heard a few weeks before.  So it was not new information that I was receiving.   Still, as that lesson unfolded, I felt a strong personal witness of the truth of the word being said.   It was as if the Holy Spirit were tapping me on the shoulder and saying: "Hey, you said you wanted to understand more about fasting.  Listen up!  This is your answer.  This lesson is for YOU.   Pay very close attention.   This can change your life."

I felt goosebumps.   All through the lesson I kept getting the unmistakable feeling that the thoughts and experiences being shared by the women in that room were specifically for my benefit as a direct answer to my prayers.

The young woman who was the teacher / discussion leader for that day divided the group into sections of  3 to 5 women and gave each section a scripture or quote to talk about among themselves for 5 minutes and then at the end of the discussion period we were to report back to the whole class about what we had learned from it.  The section I was in got the following quote from President Eyring's talk:

" President Spencer W. Kimball called failing to follow that law a sin of omission with a heavy cost. He wrote: “Rich promises are made by the Lord to those who fast and assist the needy. … Inspiration and spiritual guidance will come with righteousness and closeness to our Heavenly Father. To omit to do this righteous act of fasting would deprive us of these blessings.”  (Referring to the book  Miracle of Forgiveness, p. 98).

Those words hit me like a ton of bricks.  I knew that I had been missing out on spiritual experiences when I shortchanged those opportunities for a meaningful fast.  I also felt an absolute certainty that by increasing my faithful willingness to participate in a full fast with purpose and prayer I could have more inspiration and spiritual guidance.  I knew this was meant for me.   There was no doubt.

I quietly pondered that in my heart as the meeting ended and then we went on through a Sunday School class that was very well presented.  When we moved on into Sacrament meeting I sat near the back with Larry and with Elder and Sister Beckstrand who also attend Liahona ward.  I was prepared to simply listen to whatever talks were to be given that day.   However, the Bishop asked Elder Bennett and I to come forward to bear our testimony.  So we did.

As I was speaking about my testimony of the gospel and my gratitude for my mission experiences I felt prompted to share the feelings I had in Relief Society about the lesson on fasting.  I explained how hearing that lesson was a direct answer to my personal prayers and had filled me with very special feelings of recognizing the truth of those words.

At the close of the meeting the bishop stood up and said something like this (loosely paraphrased):

    I was touched by Sister Bennett's words about how the lesson about fasting was an answer to her prayer.   You know, we plan out the topics of lessons for our meetings months in advance.  I remember praying to know what things would be of most importance in the meetings coming up.  I had a strong impression that on this particular Sunday we should have a lesson about the Law of the Fast.  I did not know Sister Bennett at that time.  I did not know she would be coming to our island.   I did not know she was seeking to have a better testimony about this.  But the Lord knew.   So the Lord directed me to choose that topic for this particular Sabbath.   I feel a witness that this is His church.  I was directed to plan this study topic because Heavenly Father knew it would bless the life of one of his daughters, and perhaps others.  Prayers are answered.  The Lord knows us personally.

Sister Lynda Bennett with Bishop Vatuniloka Fifita, Liahona Ward

I thought I had experienced a strong spiritual witness before when I was in the Relief Society class.  When I heard the Bishop speak these words, I came utterly undone.  All I could do was weep.  I KNEW with no doubt whatsoever that the Lord was very much aware of me, aware of my needs, aware of my feelings.  I felt an overwhelming sense of love from the Savior and from my Father in Heaven confirming that I was exactly where I needed to be and that they were mindful of my every step.  I felt a renewed confirmation of our mission to the Pacific, knowing that it was not random that we should come here.   I felt a renewed certainty of truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  The reality of it all just came thundering through my mind and heart and spirit with a degree of conviction I could barely comprehend.

I hope I will never forget that feeling.

There are many scriptures about fasting and there have been some great talks by various church authorities on the topic.   Here are some links to just a few:

The Law of the Fast: A Personal Responsibility to Care for the Poor and Needy - Bishop Dean M. Davies, Oct 2014

"Fasting With Power" - Shayne M. Bowen,  April 2009

"The Blessings of a Proper Fast" - Carl B. Pratt,  Oct 2004

"The Law of the Fast" - Joseph B. Wirthlin, April 2001

Royalty in Tonga

Our hotel where we stayed in Nuku'alofa was just down the street from the Royal Palace where the king lives.  While the Tongan Parliment and Prime Minister have a significant role in the government of this island nation, the Royal Family are still very important.

According to an article by Guy Powels (1905-1994) "The Constitution of Tonga confers absolute powers on the Monarch who can choose whether to exercise them in person or to delegate them to others.  While the Monarch is not concerned with the details  of the day­-to-­day government of the country, the Monarch has the constitutional power to intervene at will" .(See "Testing Tradition in Tonga: Approaches to Constitutional Change").

After significant unrest and upheaval in 2006, however, reform began to come to the monarchy.  In 2010   "King George Tupou V relinquished most of his powers... ending 165 years of feudal rule...For the first time in the island's history, most MPs were chosen by the people and, while the Oxford-educated monarch remains head of state, he will lose his executive powers, including the ability to appoint the prime minister and ministers."  (Malkin, Bonnie. 2010. The Telegraph.  "King Relinquishes Power in Historic Vote.")

King George Tupou V Associated Press Photo

According to The Commonwealth:  "Under the 2010 constitution, Tonga is a constitutional monarchy and a parliamentary democracy with a unicameral Legislative Assembly consisting of 26 elected members, nine of whom are elected by and from among the country’s 33 hereditary nobles, and 17 on the basis of universal adult suffrage (women received the vote in 1960) in a general election which must take place at intervals of no longer than four years. Up to two cabinet ministers who are not already elected Assembly members become ex officio members

Despite changes in the degree of power the King (or Queen) may have in government, the various royal residences and royal burial sites are still significant parts of Tonga, reminding people of their long history of rule by royalty.

from http://www.mic.gov.to/royaltynobility

The kings and queen of Tonga since the founding of the constitutional monarchy in 1875:

King George Tupou I

(also known as Taufa'ahau Tupou I)
Reigned 1875-1893

King George Tupou II

Reigned 1893-1918

Queen Salote Tupou III

Reigned 1918-1965

King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV

Reigned 1965-2006

King George Tupou V

Reigned 2006-2012

King Tupou VI

Reign 2012-Present

History:
Between 1799 and 1852 Tonga went through a period of war and disorder. This was finally ended by Taufaʿahau, who was converted to Christianity in 1831 by the Methodist missionaries. He became Tuʿi Kanokupolu and subsequently took the title King George Tupou I in 1845. During the king’s long reign (1845–93), Tonga became a unified and independent country with a modern constitution...(from Encyclopedia Britannica)

This king formally dedicated the land of Tonga to the protection of God and through his influence Christianity became an important part of Tongan life.

In August 2014,Ensign magazine published an article about the role of the church in Tonga by  Harvalene K. Sekona, Principal of Liahona Middle School titled "Tonga-a Land Dedicated to God".  

BYU produced a short documentary about Tonga called "Tuka Fanua - the Land Given to God" which can be seen on YouTube HERE.  (just over 45 minutes long).

Royalty not only lives different from the common people, they are also given different status when they die.  

From Flikr: "The current day site of the Royal Tombs is in central Nuku'alofa, the capital of Tonga. Following the death of King Siaosi (George) Tupou I in 1893, rather than being buried at the dynasty's burial grounds, the Government decided that as King Tupou I united the country, he and his direct descendents should be buried in central Nuku'alofa. The grounds were called Mala'ekula (Red Ground). Today, the Mala'ekula is considered a sacred site."

I'm posting the photos I took - but there are some much better ones posted by Keith Clark HERE.

"Muʻa is a small town in the Hahake (eastern) district on the island of Tongatapu, and it was for centuries the ancient capital of Tonga. It is divided in the villages Lapaha and Tatakamotonga, is close to Talasiu and famous for the ancient langi (royal burial tombs)."   (Wikipedia)

One of the royal residences we always took notice of when driving around the island was "the Princess's home", because there were the two big tiger statues marking the driveway.

I never was told which princess lived there and I have no info of why she chose these particular monuments to decorate her driveway.  But in a land with very few named streets or road markers, they were a great landmark on the main road for us.