Ha'afeva Comes to Life!

Well, I guess you probably wanted to see Ha'afeva, and not just hear about it. Unfortunately, I had dead batteries for about 7 or the twelve weeks, and there are also some pictures my companion got, as well as Mom and Dad. I'll work on getting those eventually. Anyway, there aren't a lot of scenic-type pictures, and they're not that great, either. But they mean a lot to me (probably because most of them are of the kids), so hopefully you'll enjoy!

This is Sister 'Aholelei and me sitting on the beach doing some studying.

Sorry, too we're too lazy to stand up. But his beautiful tapa cloth covers one wall of our house. The perfect backdrop, wouldn't you say?

Our District. That was our first conference, just two weeks after I arrived.

We went to Mele and Manu's bush to help out! But we mostly ended up playing marbles.

Wouldn't you just love to have something like this growing in your backyard?

Me, Vili, Kali, Siu and Mote playing marbles. They were good teachers.

This isn't the best angle, but these three girls win the points for being most afraid of me at first but loving me by the end. I didn't actually get to see them the whole second transfer because they went down to Tongatapu.

Maikale was the first person from Ha'afeva I met. Here she is, teaching me how to weave.

This is my first time to officially eat 'Ota ika--off the bones. 'Aho loves 'ota. She could eat eight or nine in a sitting.

Here she is, eating 'ota again. The best way to salt your fish is to just rinse them off in the sea water.

Nai, 'Aho and Mona eating fingota, another delicious raw something from the sea.

'Aholelei, me, Mona, and Nai again.

This is tuku misi. Sorry, the smoke makes it a little hazy, but whatever. That is a big pile of tuku misi. Paane is a little nine year old who is already proficient with a knife and preparing tuku misi. An interesting fact: He is indeed wearing an Olympus Titans football hat.

Sione Lose was lying on the ground one day, and this pig just came up to him and laid down next to him. I guess not all pigs are scared of humans.

Pita and Sione Maile making lolo tonga (natural oil, Tongan style). Sione Maile is squeezing the oil out of grated coconut, then they use the dry coconut for something. I didn't really undertand the whole process.

Sports (or track and field) is huge in Tonga. So to celebrate it, the Primary school had their own Sports Day, full of relays and fun games. It reminded me a lot of good 'ole field days back at Upland.

Tatafu and Kasanita

Me and Nifai. He's the Branch President's little boy who stayed next to our house. He's easily one of the cutest boys I have ever met. ;)

Tatafu and Mele

'Olivia and Filisi. Filisi can be attributed for giving me my first Tongan lesson, which included identifying things and spelling their names. Just more proof that kids are smarter than adults.

Mona and Vili in back, then Vanika, 'Olivia, Filisi, Kali, 'Isisleli and Sofilisi.

This was the trip to Nomuka in the new mission boats to switch elders before transfers. The two other sisters are the ones who replaced me and Tatafu.

Me and Tatafu in front of 'O'ua. We went to pick up one of the elder's luggage, but we stayed on the front of the boat while they went to shore.

On our last morning, these kids came to deliver a beautiful turtle shell to me. Isn't that nice? I gave them balloons.

Our last night in Ha'afeva, we held our last Mutual activity, and we were joined by some younger kids, too. We played get-to-know-you games.
These are our actual Young Women: Nofo, Manatu and Peti. I'll certainly never forget Ha'afeva.