3 August 2014 Pictures

This is the common scene when a new Senior Couple comes to our Mission.
They are greeted by many of the Missionary's with Pres. and Sister Tupou.
Elder and Sister Holbrook from Lehi, Utah arrived 21 July 2014

This is the Tonga Family (less Peni)  They were featured in the August "Friend"
article entitled, "I'm Kolani from Tonga".  Silivia, Nelson, Kolani, Dorothy and us.

This has been a Royal week!  We learned a lot about Royalty, protocol and the Church.
His Royal Highness Prince Ata of Tonga is investigating the Church and came to several
events this week including church.  Mom will explain a lot more in her blog entry....but he
was treated "Royally" even at Church.  We were asked to escort the Public Affairs
 Missionary's from New Zealand, so we went to every event and were the backup
 photographers.



At the 20th Anniversary Celebration for the Center Stake the held a VIP Event
for 300 people.  Each table was supplied with food supplied by an individual
or family.  Ours was catered by Sa'ane who is a returned missionary that served
 in New York Mission presided over by Richard and Jill Smith of Rexburg.

 Prince Ata and Princess Lupepau`u will be attending, so a Royal area is set up for them.

This family was overseeing one of the tables by us.

Several Senior Couples are seated in the middle.  The young lady in pink was their
host and said she had been preparing food since 5 A.M. for this special occasion.

 Princess Lupepau`u is seated and the Noble who is bowing is the Governor of
 Vava`u, Lord Fulivai.

Sa`ane presented "Sister Meyers" with a beautiful lei and you can see the
stacks of food we had. 

They had several cultural dance presentations.

These little children stood by me during the dances so I had to take their picture.
I'm sure they were waiting for everyone to eat and leave so they could eat.  That
has been a hard custom to get use to here...so I shared the cookies and chips with them!

Prince Ata and Lord Fulivai.

Our dear friends, Sione and Maopa Finau.

The dress was National Tongan attire .  Mom with Siale Totau.

We had to have our picture taken with the Governor, Lord Fulivai and his wife. 
They were our witness couple at the Temple several months ago when his sister went through.
  He joined the Church a few years ago and is encouraging Prince Ata to join.

At the Celebration Ball they also provided a place of honor for the Royal Guests.

Elder Wallace (Public Affairs), Sister Meyers, Sister Wallace,
 Elder O. Vincent Haleck (Area Presidency)
Pres. Sika (Central Stake President)
Elder Tukuafu (Area Authority and our Past Mission President) 

 His Royal Highness, Viliami ʻUnuaki-ʻo-Tonga Lalaka moʻe ʻEiki Tukuʻaho,
(aka) Prince Ata and Lord Fulivai
The Prince and Princess ended up breaking the Royal protocol by
moving over with the VIP guests and then joined in the dancing.

These couples are all from our ward.
 Dani and Lavenia Toufe`lele, Amelia and Venisi Uata, Heni and Fakaofa Luiti.

Elder Wallace, Sister Wallace (South Pacific Public Affairs)
and Lavenia Taufa`lele (Tonga Public Affairs)