Liahona Alumni Celebration 2009 Begins with a Queen

Elder Hawley and I love our calling as ITEP couple missionaries (International Teacher Education Program) for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Tonga.  It was a delight to be invited to the Liahona Alumni Celebration for 2009  where we could learn to appreciate the Tongan people and their culture:

Inoke Kupu, Liahona stake president and CES Country Director, welcomes the alumni and Her Majesty, Queen Mother of Tonga to the opening fireside of the Liahona Alumni Celebration 2009: Her Majesty the Queen Mother, Halaevalu Mata’aho,  speaks to alumni:  Moana Kupu, our stake president's wife enjoys the parade of alumni around the campus square: President Inoke Kupu is one very busy man!The flag raising ceremony on Liahona campus begins another day of celebration:  1000's attend the 9 days of festivities across the island.  Our Bishop Vaitai and his wife Ola smile greetings. Ana, secretary at Havelu Middle School, and  Bishop Vaitai are Liahona alumni.Elder  and Sister Hawley with Sione Tafuna, Liahona High School's principal: Vika Kaufusi is a delightful Liahona Middle School principal: Our friends, Sera and Simiti Leqakowailutu, stand by the Fijian flag.  Sera teaches English at Liahona HS and Semiti is a retired school teacher, a temple worker, and member of our bishopric. The Tongan flag ceremony begins in front of the high school:The Tafuna family displays wreaths in memory of their son who died with 5 others in a tragic car accident on graduation day 2008. Tongans wear black with woven mats as a sign of respect for those who have passed on (Bird of Paradise wreath)   Spontaneous dancing is common when the band plays: Luncheon is Served--and this was only the beginning!  After lengthy ceremonies on the Liahona front lawn,  we were seated at the tables near the Queen Mother who was served queenly dishes.  We were fed the best of Tonga---lobsters, huge shrimp with bulging eyes, fish, pig, lupulu, ufi—(large yams), cakes.   President Nau's wife, Winnie, helps prepare the tables.  We would have enjoyed spending more time  with ward members including Elder and Sister Heimuli: Everyone awaits for the Queen Mother to arrive before luncheon is served.  Sila, a cute gal who works at the Liahona bookstore fans away the flies:  Here comes the queen. Let the feast begin:  President Nau, a cousin to the king, sits by the queen.

A student welcomes the Queen Mother to Liahona: Here come the gifts for the queen mother.  A large pig in a crate, with ufi (root vegetables)  as a traditional gift to royalty:A Kava tree is presented to the Queen.

Farewells and Reunions

Friendships:  Our lives seem to be built around farewells and reunions. President McMurray shared his thoughts that when the veil is parted, we’ll  want to especially greet our  family and then  those whose friendships were built on gospel principles--those special to us through serving missions together or bringing someone into  gospel.   For now,we reluctantly say farewell to our friends Elder and Sister Heimuli, who radiate a deep love for Tonga, especially the youth at Liahona High School and Saineha High in Vava'u.   Sister Heimuli, born and raised in Hawaii, has a happy laugh that ripples throughout her conversations.  She smiles with her voice and eyes. To be around her is soothing, like a lighted candle in evening or a cool, bubbling brook. Her beautiful Hawaiian hands move gracefully to serve, to reassure, to touch lightly on the shoulder.  She thoughtfully explains  Tongan ways, unafraid to be who she is and what she represents.  And, she and I like cats!  Sister Heimuli took care of the yellow striped tabby—the little missionary kitty. I’m glad Sister Gordon who is moving into their little house near us likes cats, too. [Sister Heimuli at Heilala Lodge]The Keleti Resort is perfect for  a Friday night date.  [Sister Heimuli and Elder Hawley enjoy a scenic walk to the beach]Our Liahona Student 2nd Ward held a farewell dance and celebration for Elder and Sister Heimuli.  At one point Sister Heimuli was invited to sit in the center of the room (Elder Heimuli had the flu).  It was such a lovely thing  to see the bishop’s wife, Ola, dance a Tongan farewell for her: The youth one at a time placed  leis on Sister Heimuli with a kiss, until they were layered right up to her nose.  She in turn placed her leis on members of the ward and kissed each goodbye.

"Bali Hai" and a Warning

"I Watch the Water!"  Near the Blowholes is a lush secluded beach much like a scene from the musical South Pacific,  “Bali Hai.”   [Elder Hawley and Sister Heimuli below]  Story continues with pictures:   We missionary couples marvel at the beauty of this  place--this Bali Hai.  

As I waded in the calm turquoise water near the sandy shore  I watched our men.   Elders Heimuli and Sing were out on the reef by the blowholes, arms outstretched in a Moses-like pose as the water roared high above them on the other side of the reef. Elder Hawley was on a craggy cliff overlooking the ocean.  In awe, I listened to the roar of the water as it crashed against the reef spouting water into the air, sometimes up to 40 feet.                [Elder Hawley]I turned and there was Sister Heimuli by my side.  She  looked into my eyes and quietly spoke.  "When my girls or boys are in the ocean, I don’t watch them, I watch the water.” I looked at her a bit puzzled. She went on.  "I love the water.  But like Elder Hawley, I also know who rules the water!” Years ago when she worked at the Polynesian Cultural Center she and her friends had gone to Hukilau Beach to swim. As she stood there on the sandy shore it was a calm beautiful day. Some of her friends were out enjoying the ocean when she saw a huge wave in the shape of a hand suddenly appear and rise up behind them. She screamed a warning and just as suddenly the wave disintegrated and disappeared. Those on the beach around her also saw the phenomenon. Then, quietly, she repeated, “When our boys are in the ocean, I watch the water."                                                                         I turned to see huge waves from the ocean exploding against the reef. With a strong swell the water is forced up through vents in the coral and then they can shoot up to 80+ feet in the air during high tide or a storm.  They stretch for about 5  miles along the shore creating an impressive sight of  exploding fireworks.   Indescribable, breath-taking, frightening!   At such times the sea boils and roars with anger.  I shivered, even though the turquoise water around me was calm and  warm.                                          

If we carried that one step further, what happens on those Friday nights when a championship has been won or it’s the Jr. Prom or Graduation Night—the night of the Big Wave. You see a huge wave swelling but you are having fun and enjoying life, and it 's  10:45 p.m., not curfew time.   Is it best to be home before curfew, maybe even a bit earlier, because it might be the night of the Big Wave?  Satan is waiting for one misstep in the dark. Thus, we must be prepared to make the right choices and use the Spirit to guide us in our lives! A DREAM, A CALL : Sister Heimuli hasn’t seen the children in her dream yet. One day when they were in the temple, she was looking toward a frame on the wall. Then it changed and she saw herself there with smiling children. They were all waving and having their picture taken by someone she could not see. She has not seen those children on their mission in Tonga.  Weeks later, Elder and Sister Heimuli were called in and interviewed by the Area Seventy. They were asked if they would be willing to serve a second mission to the Solomon Islands. This faithful missionary couple has  served 23 months in Tonga. For now, they look forward to the joyous reunion with children and grandchildren until they receive an official call from the Lord.   [The Nuku'alofa temple in winter, July 2009]   Sister Heimuli is a journal writer and note taker right up to the last minute:   [at the airport]

I Want to be Called "Elder"--Until We Meet Again

Elder Heimuli is Tongan through and through and  proud of his heritage, but he is from a new generation encouraging and guiding the young people from the traditions that hold them back. He is a man of strength and courage who loves the Lord.  When Elder Hawley gave him a blessing he said, "My name is Sione but I want to be called 'Elder Heimuli.' "   Elder Heimuli is a Liahona High School graduate from the island of Vava’u. He met his sweetheart while attending BYU-Hawaii and performing at the Polynesian Cultural Center. He graduated from BYU-H and became a teacher for Granite School District and the San Juan School District at White Horse. But first and foremost, the name by which he wants to be know is Elder Heimuli.                                                                

Elder Heimuli is also a talented teacher who helps train teachers and kids for life.  He is artistic in fine woodwork; he has taught students at  Saineha High School in Vava'u and Liahona High School in Tongatapu to build beautiful furniture. [Display at Liahona Expo in Nuku'alofa] When he sings or listens to music Elder Heimuli closes his eyes, leans back, curls his toes, and taps to the beat.  Below, Elder Heimuli, President McMurray, and Elder Taua'alo spontaneously harmonize during a Senior Missionaries Fireside at the McMurrays.

  Elder Heimuli is a great cook especially with all the island dishes--grilled BBQ chicken, roasted Bread Fruit over an open fire, a hot coconut drink (kinda like a gruel), coconut dumplings, lupulu.  Yum!   The scissors fly when Elder Heimuli cuts hair, and he can split open a coconut and grate it in seconds;  he plays tennis on campus at 5:30 a.m. and drives the missionary van in wild abandonment (although Sister Heimuli is right there to quietly tap on his arm if he overdoes it.) 

He loves Vava’u where he was born and raised, and owns 6 acres there. Taxes cost him 80 cents a year. And, he has stories to tell!  What do you do when you have a flat tire and no spare jack?  Two big Tongans came along and lifted up the car while another fixed the tire for the Sister.  Elder Heimuli won’t buy melons at one of the takeaways just outside of Nuku’alofa.  Claims they’re “fried melons” sitting in the heat all day.  But we do love the watermelons here! 

A crab anyone? Elder Heimuli roasts some breadfruit: nothing like it! Elder Heimuli teaches Elder Hawley how to shuck a coconut: A joy in Elder Heimuli's life was to baptize Milika:Elder Heimuli has a wonderful garden in the bush directly behind the Navu Stake House  and he has made a nice wooden bench there for others to enjoy.  Taro is a favorite starchy tuber crop grown in Tonga.A machete knife is used for everything from trimming trees and edging  grass to splitting a coconut or a roasted piggy.The long Tongan hoe is a very effective gardening tool.  Home Depot needs to stock these!Elder Heimuli is holding his grandson adopted by their daughter.  Crystal lived in Tonga for 6 months before the adoption was approved and she was allowed to take this sweet little boy to his home is Arizona.  Elder Heimuli's barber used to cut his hair when he was a student at Liahona years ago: Until We Meet Again:  Elder Hawley and I have developed a love and respect for Tonga and its people through this couple. Indeed, these two have brought a bit of heaven into our lives and so many others.  When we said our farewells to the Heimulis at the airport, Elder Hawley, “I don’t even know your address, and soon you will be off to a second mission in the Solomon Islands.” Elder Heimuli responded, “Don’t worry. I will find you.” They'll move from Utah to AZ where their children live. Elder Hawley inherited Elder Heimuli's coconut shucker--pandana stick; the coconut grater (you have to sit on it to grate), and a striking frame he made to display a picture of the First Presidency.  [Elder Heimuli and Elder Hawley say their goodbyes at the airport:]Ofa atu, Elder and Sister Heimuli, until we meet again.                     [Keneti Resort one Friday date night]