August 25, 2013

August 25, 2013

So here we are, Sunday afternoon, in our office again trying to figure out what we are doing or what is happening.  We attended church today in the Liahona 2 ward, we are the only non tongans and most likely the only ones who couldn't switch back and forth to Tongan when our words failed us in English.  We had excellent youth speakers and teachers all through the meetings.  The Bishop's wife caught me after church and asked if I could play the piano.  Apparently she had to start playing again after the last missionary couple left to go home.  Ola, who teaches at the school in the music department, asked if I had taught music and asked if I could help her with developing a curriculum for her music for the spring.  Luckily, I have a DVD from the church music department that may be of some help to her.  I finally got a chance to review it after church, it's a pretty comprehensive program for beginners.  I hope that is what she is looking for.  She stated that the students are so musically inclined that they don't want to learn the basics, just want to I suppose play by ear, which can be a real problem.  The Tongans know how to sing and they are not ashamed to sing out, there is joy in their music.  There is no way to describe how truly beautiful it is unless, you have heard them.  The kids act like kids everywhere, but they truly are beautiful brown babies.  They grow up beautiful too.

Again, the weather goes from sunshine to clouds and rain in a matter of a few seconds, the rain can be very refreshing, but our skin always feels damp.  When we go to bed after night, especially after a shower, the sheets feel wet.  They aren't but it is definitely a different feeling.  Those of you who have served missions or have lived in humid climates, know what we are feeling. 

We still haven't really figured out the phone system yet but we will keep trying.  Hopefully, we'll get it figured out soon.  Hummm, I keep getting an error sign that keeps telling me, there has been an error with the saving and publishing of this blog, so I hope I won't have to do it all again.

We just got a notice from one of our trainers, John Millar,  that we are going with him to Vava`u on Tuesday to meet the teachers there and train on the new vocational program they are trying to get established.  He is supposed to be in Tonga tomorrow, Monday.  I guess we will meet with him and then get informed of what is to happen.  Steve has a much better view of what is going on than I do.  Right now we are just meeting and getting to know the folks.  So far, everyone has been very cordial.

The missionary couples here are super. They keep coming to visit, bring us goodies which we are enjoying.  They've been taking us to get groceries and checking in to make sure life is good.  We are still getting to know them, and its been fun.....*****

I had to take a break.  The new couple that are now going to run the mission office came to our office and requested that we come to the mission office to play for Lori Tupou and Sandy Hamblin who are singing at a weekly broadcast of the church that is broadcast each week.  They needed someone to play for them and sister Tupou remembered that I played the piano.  So, I went to practice and got some more playing jobs to do for them.  Wow, what a turn of events.  We had a wonderful evening with the mission president and family.  They fed us some typical Tongan dinner items which was different for me.  The potatoes are not Idaho potatoes by any stretch of the imagination.  I did try several new items, lamb, lau and a kind of bread dessert, of which I will have to acquire a taste for.  We had coconut milk and a melon pineapple drink which were good.  I will have to keep trying on some of the other foods, to get so that I can eat them with a willing stomach, maybe tastebuds that need to change.  My schedule has changed again with the music thing, so I am excited about that.  I will be able to play on a real piano on Sunday for Sister Hamblin and Sister Tupou.  Fun!  I thought I had kissed my piano playing days goodbye for 18 months.