Not Just a U.S. Holiday

A belated happy Independence Day to all our U.S. family and friends out there.  However, you should know that July 4 is not just an American holiday.  July 4 is also the birthday of King George Tupou VI of Tonga and is a national holiday here in the island kingdom. 

How did this photo get in here?  Actually, His Majesty Kyle also turned 65 this year.

Leading up to and beyond July 4 is also the Heilala (Tonga’s national flower) Festival, a two-week celebration honoring the king, highlighted by the Miss Heilala pageant with competitions in sarong wear, traditional dance, and talent. The festival opens with a parade featuring the pageant contestants.

Miss Heilala contestant on a parade float

Miss Heilala contestants

There are also other activities for the public, including cooking and body building contests and "Tonga’s Got Talent."

The highlight for us was the block party held on the evening of Friday July 5.  The main street downtown is closed off to cars, and many businesses, craftsmen, restaurants, and embassies set up booths selling food and other items.  The crowd was huge but so much fun.  We especially enjoyed the little Chinatown set up by the Chinese embassy.  The evening ended with another parade, including a band from Ohio State University and floats sponsored by various embassies. 

Elder Latimer and Solomon seem to like kangaroo sausages from the Australia booth.

The royal family enjoys the parade.

China food booths

Go Buckeyes!

There were other events since our last blog.  We completed one of our projects, requested of us by the Prime Minister, which was to fund the national school breakfast program for the last two months of the fiscal year.  The Church’s newsroom published a nice article about the program – Kyle wrote the article with edits by the area communications office and Mary took the photos.  https://news-pacific.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/church-supports-tonga-s-breakfast-program-for-school-aged-kids?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2_OmGecu62VvI46-8LGmodmc-9zxl2uGUCIJm8acrIjHxreF1b4fCvQMA_aem_J6xcHIB9euGC5RM8AlB5bA We loved visiting one of the schools to witness the program in action with the beautiful young people of Tonga.

No photos of this, but it was a sweet moment.  Two folks from Church HQ visited Tonga to present training on a new ministering initiative being piloted in five stakes in the Pacific Area, including our stake.  We attended one of the meetings held for the youth of the stake.  The stake center chapel was full of youth, including about 50 visiting from the U.S. who are here building homes.  The two groups seemed wary of each other, and the local youth were shy about participating in the discussion.  Then, at the conclusion of the meeting, the two visitors asked the youth to join together in singing this year’s youth theme song, “I’m a Disciple of Christ.”  We think every single one of them joined in singing all verses.  It was beautiful!  Music and the Spirit brought them together.  

Elder Peter Meurs, the Pacific Area President, and his wife Maxine visited Tonga for about a week on a mission tour.  We know them well having served with them in Hong Kong where he was a counselor in the Asia Area presidency.  They provided training at a multi-zone conference here on Tongatapu on July 4 which all the senior missionaries attended.  After the zone conference, we had the privilege of taking them to a meeting with the Prime Minister where we discussed some of our pending humanitarian projects and other issues Elder Meurs raised with the Prime Minister.  Since it was the king’s birthday, the Prime Minister invited us up to the roof of the government building to watch a parade of navy officers from several countries here to honor the king and in commemoration of the Tonga Navy’s 50^th anniversary.

Elder Meurs and Prime Minister Sovaleni view the parade from atop the government building

Naval officers from several countries participate in the celebration

Once again, the Church Newsroom published an article about our meeting.  https://news-pacific.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/strengthening-faith-families-and-friendships-in-tonga-%E2%80%8B%E2%80%8B%E2%80%8B%E2%80%8B%E2%80%8B%E2%80%8B%E2%80%8B?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR0vc4e9kowdC_GB5YhnLPsJ97We-mtKahQ9IpWxza4JDEJaM7nc1TGu7F0_aem_k-DluPreuMM6EdXr65TseA

We did not make it in the photo – Mary was sitting next to Sister Meurs (you can see her water bottle!) and Kyle was next to the man in the black shirt.  Here’s one taken with our phone.

Bishop Langi, Elder Tione, Sister and Elder Meurs, Prime Minister Sovaleni,
not sure, Sister and Elder Latimer

That evening Elder and Sister Meurs and President and Sister Kaufusi invited all the senior missionaries and the stake presidents to join them for dinner and a cultural show at the Katea resort.  It was a lovely evening in a beautiful location, and the food and entertainment were great!

The Meurses and Kaufusis also travelled to Ha’apai and Vava’u to conduct zone conferences there.

All in all it’s been an eventful few weeks.  We are looking forward to commencing a few of our projects in the coming weeks/months.  More on that in our next blog.  Our love to all from paradise.