Pretty Pink Pet Pig Posing Phor Photo

Pet Pig?

We saw something we have never seen in Tonga before .... no, it wasn't the pink pig as we see pigs in almost any color you can realistically imagine from pink to black.  Multi-colored pigs, dark pigs with light spots, light pigs with dark spots.  They run wild everywhere and fences are put up around houses to keep them out ... not in.  What we saw that was so unusual was a pig with a collar.  Now that is really out of place in Tonga!  I suppose it is somebody's way of marking the pig as "theirs" so it doesn't become lunch or dinner for a neighbor.  It would have been even more amazing if it had wings.

Our brood having lunch at the Kapp's

I also have one more photos of our brood of chicks.  All eight have made it to the age (or size) that they should be able to start fending for themselves.  Our other new mom with that starts with four chicks about a week ago is now down to just one.  We hope she can keep it protected and alive.  It makes you wonder how one can raise eight and not loose a single one and another looses three so easily.  We've tried to keep the cats away as much as possible but they must be catching them off-guard somewhere.

LDS Chapel at Kolovai

I'm going to post photos of many of the LDS meetinghouses the week with a few other religions meeting houses sprinkled in.  Many of the non-ads meeting houses had damage from cyclone Gita and they are in the process of being repaired or in some cases completely rebuilt.

LDS Chapel at Te'ikiu

You may notice that the LDS buildings pretty much have a theme and every little town has one.  Some are large and some are small but almost none of them have a gymnasium as we do in the U.S.  They do however, had tennis courts, volleyball, and basketball courts outside where many of the ward parties and various functions during the week take place.  The outdoors is a big part of Tongan life.  Even their baptismal fonts are outdoors with many just using the nearby ocean for baptisms.

Catholic Chapel on the way to Lakepa

LDS Chapel at Lakepa

LDS Chapel at Fatai

Tonga is a very christian nation and every small town typically has meetinghouses for at least two different religions.  Some towns have as many as four or five different denominational buildings and in most places the people get along pretty well.  I have had 8 flat tires now since we arrived and in every case but one (thanks Norma) someone nearby has come to assist us who is not LDS but is just looking to help someone in need.

LDS Chapel at Nukunuku

LDS Chapel at Foui

LDS Chapel at Longolongo (front)

These next three are of the LDS church in Longolongo. I include these three to show the separate buildings and the tennis, volleyball, basketball court (currently under renovation to the fence).

Longolongo back

Longolongo outside gymnasium

Basilica of St. Anthony of Padua

These next few photos are of churches in Nuku'alofa.  Below is the old Kings church of Tonga.  I'm not sure how long it has not been used but it did lose most of it's windows in cyclone Gita.  It's still a beautiful old building.

(New) Kings Church of Tonga

(Old) Kings church of Tonga

LDS Chapel in Pea

These next three photos are of three meetinghouses in Pea.  They are all within about a block each other (the last 2 are right across the street from each other).

My understanding is that one of the two churches below is Wesleyan and the other is Catholic.  I think the Catholic one is on the right but I'm not sure.

Wesleyan?

Catholic

LDS Chapel in Tokomololo

Okay, you got me!  This one isn't a chapel however, we have had a couple of
spiritual experiences as we shopped there (Wah wah wah)

LDS Chapel in Teufaiva

 This is the LDS church at Teufaiva.  It is the newest LDS Church in Tonga.  It is not only one of the newest but it is also one of the largest.  It is near the Tonga sports stadium.

LDS Chapel in Kolofo'ou

New (or rebuilt) Church in Longolongo

LDS Chapel in Havelu
(next to Havelu Middle School)

Catholic Church in Havelu

LDS Chapel in Pelehake

LDS Chapel in Pelehake

 This is not a Sesame Street lesson, however, on the left, Pelehake Chapel (far), on the right Pelehake Chapel (near)

LDS Chapel in Ha'asini

Not sure which denomination
(possibly Wesleyan) in Ha'asini

This church house was destroyed in cyclone Gita.  It is made from modular
panels.  They have been gathered and stacked and are ready for reassembly
once the rest of the structure is ready.  You can see the metal dome trusses
on the right and some of the stacked panels on the left.

LDS Chapel in Mu'a.  There used to be a palm tree that leaned out over
the road here but the top was broken off in cyclone Gita as well.

LDS (behind fence) and Catholic
behind the building you can see
the scaffolding and bell tower.

Church in Fatumu

 These two photos were taken in Fatumu.  The one on the left we tried to get the LDS Chapel and the new Catholic Church )under construction) but you can't really see much of either.  On the right is another church in Fatumu.

Small LDS Chapel in Halongo

Seventh Day Adventist in Beulah

Methodist church in Fua'amotu

LDS Chapel in Nakolo

Seventh Day Adventist near Nakolo

LDS Chapel in Lavengatonga

Unknown denomination in Lavengatonga

LDS Chapel in Fua'amotu (this also has the best Family History Center)

This is Pakilau Middle School
There is also a chapel in the school
for Sunday Services

LDS Chapel in Vaini

The photos on this blog represent approximates 1/3 of the LDS Chapels on the main island of Tongatapu (I didn't count but that seems pretty close).  There are many other non-LDS churches as I only captures a few for this blog.  I hope you enjoyed them!  You can click on any picture for a larger more detailed version.