We've arrived in Tonga

Receiving traditional leis on arrival at the airport

Dear family,

Elder Bean and I have been in Tonga for a week now.  We have a nice apartment and are adjusting just fine.  We have gone in to our Perpetual Education Fund office every day, but we have been having Internet problems, which makes it hard to do our work.  The Internet people were on the roof working on the problem when we left on Friday.  Hopefully it will be fixed on Monday.  I continue to be amazed at how many resources the Church puts into Tonga.  They are really committed to helping people here.  We have had the opportunity to do some very fun things these past few days.  On Thursday we were able to go to the wedding reception of the mission president's son.  It was a traditional Tongan wedding reception with roasted whole pigs on the table, traditional dancing in costume, long speeches in Tongan etc.  It was very enjoyable.  We had to show our invitation to be admitted, and there was a guard there.   

Last night we went to a resort on the beach.  We were able to see the sunset and look at the constellations.  We saw the Southern Cross, which is not seen in the Northern Hemisphere.  There was a large buffet and Tongan dancing and singing.  One unusual thing for me was that when the host welcomed everyone and told us the buffet was ready, he said that in the Tongan tradition, before they started serving, a blessing on the food would be offered.  He called on a Tongan gentleman to give the blessing.  It sounded just like any Mormon blessing.  I asked him later if he was a member of our church, and he was.  We enjoyed the buffet complete with roasted pig on the table.  We also enjoyed the traditional Tongan dancing and singing.  They even did a few fire dances. 

This morning Dad and I took a walk.  The church has a cattle ranch behind the Church High School.  There were lots of bulls grazing.  That is normally not unusual, but these bulls were grazing among coconut and palm trees.  We also went to the market this morning.  (Today is our P-Day, which is Saturday.)  One of our best finds at the market, was being able to buy scotch tape.  It is amazing the things that we get so excited about here.  There is a small American mini-mart here.  The owner is a member of the church.  He is going to the states in a few weeks and is taking orders from people here.  Most of the things he gets are from Costco.  We have a list for him.  We do not have Internet in our apartment.  Some other senior missionaries work at the Liahone High School across from our home.  They let us come to their office today to use the Internet.  We'll try and keep in touch.  Thanks to Janell Bean Carter for setting up a blog for our mission.

Love, Cathy

Elder Bean after church on their first Sunday in Tonga

Greeted by Senior Missionaries at the Airport

Young Men at EFY (Especially for Youth) Dance Festival

Cheers!