Dodging Pigs

Bob and I were up very early and got to the mission home at 7:30 AM.  We went with the zone leaders, Elder Rose and Elder Pau’u to deliver money to the elders and sisters in their zone.  They are allotted $90.00 per month.  A senior missionary couple always goes with the zone leaders to deliver the money.  They drove along the east side of the island, which we hadn’t seen much of.  There were 3 sets of sister missionaries, and I was able to deliver money to them. Bob and the zone leaders delivered to the elders.   We also checked to make sure their phones and DVD players were working.  

The missionaries live in what we call MQ’s (missionary quarters).  They are very small homes consisting of a small living area, a bedroom and a bathroom. The MQ’s are usually on a member’s property.   The MQ’s do not have kitchens and they do not have warm water.  There is a water tank near the MQ’s which provides cold water for them.  The missionaries eat two meals a day with the members.  They do not normally eat lunch.   The main course that the members cook can be a dog.  Most of the missionaries I talk to really like cooked dog.  That includes the missionaries from America.   

I took a photo of the missionary’s washing machine.  It is a bucket and a PVC pipe.  They put cold water in the bucket, and use the PVC pipe to wash their dirty clothes by hand.  Then they hang them out on the clothesline to dry like we do. The missionary’s clothes always look very neat and clean.  The MQ’s are always inside a gate.  There is a very large cement block that you need to climb over to open the gate.  I was wearing an A-line shirt, and it was a challenge to climb over the cement block. I told the missionaries I should have worn my hurdling skirt.   

I asked the missionaries why the MQ’s all have those cement blocks in front of the gate.  They said it was so the pigs won’t get in their yard and eat everything.  We did see pigs running all over.  You see large pigs in the streets, and lots of little pigs.  Roasted pigs are always served at special occasions.  At one MQ that was in a member’s yard, there were 2 return missionaries roasting a whole pig on a stick over a fire.  The sad thing was that there was a pigpen right behind them that had lots of pigs in it.  The pigs in the pigpen could actually see the other pig being roasted.  I wondered what they were thinking.  It could not be good.  

People over here cook in the ground.  You can see smoke from outdoor kitchens all the time. Last week Bob and I were driving down a bumpy road on the way home from the airport.  We heard a very loud bam on the passenger side car door.  We could not figure out what we hit.  Bob looked in the rear view mirror and saw a black chicken wobble across the street.  It had flown right into our car door.  It left a black mark, but no dent.  We just hope we don’t hit a big pig.  There are also lots of dogs running all over.  Bob does a real good job of driving on the left side of Tonga’s bumpy roads, dodging pigs, chickens and dogs.  

   We are really enjoying our time in Tonga.  It is a privilege to be missionaries.  We certainly appreciate the things we take for granted in the USA.  I am attaching some pictures of our trip with the missionaries.

Love, Sister Bean 

Tongan Faith

Meet Lopeti and Lusiana.   

Lopeti was introduced to the Church as a young man by a friend.  His father was a drunk and very abusive.  He did not want Lopeti to investigate the Church.  Lopeti would go to Church and Mutual and each time he would come home his father would beat him.  Finally, one time after coming home from a Church activity his father started after him again.  Lopeti went to the Kitchen and grabbed a knife and handed it to his father and said, “You can kill me if you want, but I am going to join the Church.”  The father realized that Lopeti was fully committed to the gospel and left him alone after that night. 

Lopeti was baptized and after being a member of the Church for just a little over a year he accepted a mission call.  His father had died a few months before he entered the MTC in Provo.  While in the MTC he had a dream.  He saw his father dressed in black tormented and in sorrow.  His father asked him to help him.  Lopeti went to the MTC President and related the dream.  They came to the same conclusion that his father wanted to have his work done in the temple.  Lopeti received permission to go to the temple and perform the ordinances for his father which he did.  The next night He had another dream.  This time his father was dressed in white and very happy, thanking his son for doing the work.

Lopeti is one of our Returned Missionary Grant recipients, working part time and going to school full time after filling a very successful mission.  He is married to Lusiana.  They do not have any children of their own, but have taken in 7 young men who would have just been on the streets.  They have all joined the Church and 5 have gone on missions, one physically unable to and another preparing to go next year after being a member for a year.  They recently took in a 6 year old.  

Lopeti serves in the Bishopric of his Ward and has taught the Stake mission preparation class for 8 years, continuously.  The class is taught every Sunday morning starting at 6 am.  Kids from other Stakes also attend as well.  Over the 8 years he has seen over 1,000 young men and women go into the mission field.  If someone says they don’t want to go to the class anymore, he simply says, “Be there, I know where you live.  I’ll come and get you.”  They love him and the class.  Talk about making a difference. 

Meet Siope and Liu.

Siope and Liu are both teachers at Liahona High School.  They have five children of their own in a small house on the Liahona campus.  In addition to their children they have taken in 4 young women, who are the only members of the Church in their families, so there are 11 in the house.  They have cared for and nurtured these young women and helped them in every way.  All of them are doing well.  Toa will be going to BYU Hawaii in January; Siu is waiting for her mission call, while the others continue their studies at Liahona. Siope serves as the Young Men’s President in the Ward and does an outstanding job.  

I was teaching our Gospel Doctrine class a couple of weeks ago.  I was using a story to illustrate the need to build our foundation in life on the rock of our Redeemer.  I was in the Nisqually earthquake some years ago.  I was on the 36^th floor of the 5^th Avenue Plaza Building when the earthquake hit.  After I told the class about my experience that day I asked them why the building did not collapse.  I was expecting the response that it was built on a firm foundation, when Knowlton Itaehau said, “Elder Bean, the building did not collapse because you are supposed to be here in Tonga now.”  I just said to myself,”Wow!”  I love these people.

You’ve heard of the double cross, cross your heart and hot cross buns.  Have you heard of the Southern Cross?  When you look up into the night sky down here, it looks a lot different in this hemisphere.  No North Star or dippers.  The most famous constellation down here is the Southern Cross.  It appears on both the New Zealand and Australian flags.  Right next to the Southern Cross is the constellation Scorpio with its big stinger.  By the way, the sunsets are spectacular especially when the clouds are above the setting sun.  Unbelievable. If a Tsunami hits Tonga, it’s been nice knowing you.  The highest point on Tongatapu, the main island, is 90 meters high.  Most of the island is at 25-30 meters high.

Brother Finau.

Mom and I were just ending one of our walks one evening when Sione Finau, one of our Ward members, happened by.  He loves sports and knew that I do too.  We were talking football as he raised his family in the United States and his last son Teki is a very good football player.  He turned down a scholarship to play football at USC to go on his mission.  He is currently serving in Sierra Leone, Africa.  Sione happened to mention he had a nephew in the United States who is a pretty good basketball player.  His sister’s son lives in Chicago and is starting his senior year coming up, is 6’ 9” and is being recruited by about everyone in the country.  His name is Jay.  I asked if his name was Jabari, and he said yes, Jabari Parker.  Yep, the one who was on the cover of Sports Illustrated.  Jabari is still talking about a mission and at least has BYU on his final 10 list.  Sione is going to the States in November for a few weeks to stay with his sister.  He says he is going to try to talk him into going on a mission like his older brother.  His dad is not a member but would be fine with that decision.  According to Sione the dad is getting closer to joining the Church too.  How’s that for some athletes in the family?  By the way, the Finaus are a great family.   

A Typical Day.. And a Few Pictures

August 5, 2012  Tonga: 

Hi friends and family,

    

Elder Bean and I are doing great in Tonga.  Some of you have asked us what a typical day is like for us, so here goes.  I get up between 5:30 and 6 AM every day.  After prayer and stretching exercises I get ready for the day.  It takes me a while to get the kinks out of my hair.  My hair is still a work in progress.  The humidity here makes it really kinky.  Elder Bean gets time to get ready in the bathroom about 7 AM while I make us a lunch and eat my oatmeal.  We drink filtered water, and use it to brush our teeth.  I am attaching some photos of our duplex.   

We head for the welfare office about 8:15 AM.  We pick up Fipe who lives nearby and works with us.  She is a PEF volunteer from Tonga.  We drive through the town of Nuku’alofa, and arrive at the office shortly after 8:30 AM.  We always have prayer with the other members of the welfare team each day.  The welfare team consists of Elder Bean and I, the education  missionaries,  Fipe, the PEF volunteer,  the welfare person, the humanitarian missionaries and the employment person.  We all support each other. 

Elder Bean and I spent time with students helping them find ways to finance going to school.  I have been calling the schools on the island and setting up times to meet with the principals.  So far we have visited 4 colleges.  They don’t look like much from the outside, but we have been impressed with what they have to offer.  We eat our sack lunch at the office and then I call my parents every day at 1:30 PM Tongan time.  That is 6:30 PM the day before in St. George.  After the phone call, we do much the same as we did in the morning.  Elder Bean has been telephoning the students who already have PEF loans to see how they are doing.  They need encouragement to continue paying back their loans.   

In addition to the PEF loans, there is a return missionary grant that students can apply for.  This one does not have to be paid back.  We also help students get that submitted for approval.  In order to qualify for either the loan or the grant, students need to take a workshop called “Planning for Success”.  It will be held every Saturday for the month of September.  We will offer it again in October and November.    We got schedules out to the 13 stake presidents on Tongatapu yesterday to give to the bishops in their stakes.  Communication is a bit different in Tonga.  People do not have addresses.  They announce things on the radio.  People can have Post Office boxes and pick up their mail at the post office.  The mission has one.  

On Saturday, which is our P-D, we spent time doing our laundry.  We have a washing machine out back which takes one hour to complete the cycle.  Then we hang the wash on the line.  We visit with all the other senior missionary couples as they hang their wash on the line.  I also make sure to do my Pilates exercises and Elder Bean and I take a walk around the school.   The church has a cattle ranch behind the school.  It is different to see cattle grazing amid palm and coconut trees.  We also grocery shop and clean our house on Saturday.  We have to go to several stores to get the items we need.  Nothing is ever all at one store.  We know which store has chicken breasts and bacon, and where to get vegetables and fruit, and where to get ice cream.

Sunday is much the same as back home.  Our church starts at 9 AM.  The Tongan people are wonderful singers.  The harmony is amazing.  They also have strong testimonies.  I can feel the love they have for us.  We teach the Gospel Doctrine class.  We usually go over to the Liahona school and email and Skype after church.  Because school is not in session, we can usually get good internet service.  I am going to try and attach some photos of the things I described.    

Sister Bean

Musings from Tonga ~suit required!

Folks,

We've been in Tonga for 1 month now.  Here are a few reflections on the journey thus far.

When we got our mission call it said to bring 6-7 whites shirts, 5-6 ties, and one suit, amongst other items.  Our mission president said I would probably wear the suit to and from the mission and that would be about it.  That’s not how it has worked out.

When we got to the MTC, the late night check in guy said a white shirt and tie would be fine for the coming week.  Not true.  I found out the next day that seniors are expected to wear a suit.  OK, 7 straight days of wearing the same suit.  We went to Salt Lake City for specific Perpetual Education Training, at the Church Office Building.  That’s right, suits are required wear.  5 more days of the same suit.  We flew to New Zealand the next day after training and you always travel in a suit.  At New Zealand we were trained further at the area office in Auckland.  That's right, a suit is required.  4 more days in a row.  Then we flew to Tonga.  Yep, same suit.  If you do the math, that was 18 straight days in the same suit.  When I took it off here in Tonga I didn't hang it up.  I simply leaned it up in the corner.  Of course we have been to 2 wedding receptions since being here and guess what the attire was.  That's right, a suit.

In case you thought about shipping anything heavy to us I'll tell you about the Smiths. They left our mission a couple of weeks ago.  They were supposed to be able to take their two 50 lb bags with them each.  However, the flight was weight challenged and they could only take one bag each.  The other two bags were shipped home at a cost of $800 pa'anga, or about $500 US.

I bought a bag of sugar pops that had come from the United State in a crate with other stuff they sell randomly here. Unfortunately one of the other items was shampoo.  Have you ever tasted sugar pops with a VO5 aftertaste?  I have!  The taste isn't very good, but my stomach is clean.

We can always tell when the humidity is up.  I brought one of my fishing hats to wear on P-day, just a standard baseball cap.  When it’s humid it just turns color and is wet.  But, it is cool to the head so it works.

We love Tonga and its people.  We teach Gospel Doctrine each Sunday and work with some great young people during the week.  We are learning a lot from these humble spiritual people, well grounded in the gospel.  The Tonga temple is absolutely gorgeous and we can attend an English session each week. 

Alu' a,

Elder Bean

The Blanket

Dear family and friends,

   

Elder and Sister Szoka live next door to us here in Tonga.  Sister Szoka is an excellent writer and asked if she could write about us in her blog.  She blogged about an experience Bob told about at our mission president's house.  It involves the wonderful blanket that Ofa gave us.  We all call it the Ofa blanket.  The Deseret News picked up Bea Szoka's blog.  You can click on her link to read about us here in Tonga.  

Love, Cathy

Adventures in the South Pacific: SOMETIMES YOU CHOOSE: Sometimes you choose, sometimes you’re chosen. Jim and I chose to come to Tonga.   We continue to choose to be here.  We choose to work i...

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!

The start of their journey

This is the beginning of a grand adventure