A Week of Rain

We have had a lot of rain this week.  Lepeka reminds me that she likes the sunshine so I have to be careful not to gloat over the rain too much.  I'm not sure what it is about the rain that I love so much but I always have.  I am also looking forward to a big snow storm next winter.  Being in Tonga pretty much is either rain or sun and warm or hot.  Okay, you can through in your general category 4 cyclone here and there too.

We did have one night this past week (Monday night) where we were bombarded with calls which made us miss the Senior couples Family Home Evening.  This was the night of the extreme rainstorm and by the time we got back to our home (around 10:30 pm) we were soaked to the bone from head to toe.  Lepeka had an umbrella but I chose the more fashionable handkerchief-on-the-head protection (mostly to protect my hearing aids).  In any case we were both drenched and actually cold.  It was the first time I have had hot chocolate here in Tonga.  I was glad the Lepeka had some stashed in the cabinet and had two cups before I was back to comfy warm.

Elder Langi playing and singing Ofa I 'Api (Love at Home)
to keep his mind off the treatment for his ingrown-toenail.
No cutting involved just freeing up the nail and some iodine.

The important thing here is that the missionaries are all still well.  We keep our fingers crossed that nothing major will happen to them.  We have had a couple of broken bones (nothing displaced), some ingrown toenails, and a few illnesses that worried us at the times.  We know they are being watched over and protected and priesthood blessings are given regularly.  Lepeka has a great relationship with several of the healthcare providers here and they are good to get us in quickly if needed.  She is very good but understands her limits.  She also has an area medical advisor whom she communicates regularly when needed.  We actually just got a new Area Medical Advisor who happens to be my second cousin; what are the odds of that?

Elder Vakautakakala and Elder Langi
in Kolonga.

We're getting ready to lose 17 missionaries as they are scheduled to go home in two more weeks.  We only have 7 coming in to take their places so there will obviously be some shuffling around.  President Tui'one does a good job of managing in the midst of all the change but we know there will be a few places that may not have the same coverage for a short while.  We are also losing about 23 in August but we think there will be a pretty good group coming in at that time.  I thought I'd throw in several photos of missionaries in their Missionary Quarters relaxing at the end of a hard day.

These Elders somehow talked a member into helping them with the clean-up (dishes and kitchen area) of their MQ in Fasi.  L>R, local member (I didn't get his name), Elder Kotoa, Elder Lao and Elder Akoteu.












Another photo of Elders in Fasi this time, Back L>R, Elder Akoteu, Elder Lao and front Sister Kapp and Elder Folau.

Elder Cooper and Elder Livai in Tofoa

I had to include this one to scare the BYU coaches.  Elder Livai has a football scholarship at BYU and I caught him in a Utah sweatshirt.  He assures me he is still planning on attending BYU.  He was just trying to keep warm.

Elder Taufeulangaki and Elder Clifton

Shirts, ties and shorts .... who knew?

Elder Vakamelalo and Elder Pahulu walk-in' the beat.

Lepeka was mending one of our sheets when she burst into laughter.
It seems she had sewn the sheet to her skirt.

Their is a portable lumber mill (of sorts) that is going around cutting up
any lumber from the downed Palm trees mostly for use in building and repair..
I didn't catch the  truck and workers but saw their handiwork.

Life in Tonga is pretty much back to normal.  I suppose that the new normal is a bit different from a landscape perspective but the animals and food chain seem to be going strong again.  We're seeing local fruits and vegetables like tomatoes and bananas.  Pigs, dogs and chickens have free roam.

We have a new friend we just met at Friends Cafe.

And now for an educational moment ... A large group of older pigs is called
a sounder of swine or a passel of hogs.  A group of young pigs is called a drift.
The entire group would be called a herd of pigs.