September 12, 2014

September 12, 2014

Yesterday, Thursday, I received a call from Elder Hamblin wanting to know what we had planned for Friday at which I was at a loss because Thursday had been an extremely busy unplanned day.  I told him our days kind of took on a life of our own when we went to our first meeting at 8.  We had an unplanned visit to a classroom to count the inventory of a teacher who just left during final week with no notice to administration, staff or ourselves.  A substitute had been found who was willing to teach drafting the last term, had his own business which made it fairly easy for him to take up the reins of teaching.  This young man had been a student at Liahona, had completed the drafting and wood working courses and had set up his own business.  We didn’t know until this week that his wife was the lady who was trying to finish her schooling on line and would come in the evenings to get a key to the ITEP office so that she could take her courses over the internet. We had admired her tenacity in trying to get her degree, be a mom to 4 children and complete her schooling. During daytime hours, she teaches at Havelu middle school.  Mele and Spencer, but I don't know the last name.  It kind of blew us away when we finally made this connection.  Well, anyway, we spent an hour doing inventory. 

Then we met with Kahealani, a vice principal in charge of registration for the rest of the morning to get the schedule completed that would help the students understand the order of classes they needed to take to complete their certifications in the TVET area.  It should have been done the first year we were here because of the difficulty we had in registration and getting the classes arranged so the students could be where they really wanted to be.  We also have the teachers who are teaching TVET courses who are not really labeled TVET who needed to have their class schedules redefined and designated TVET.  Tourism/Hospitality, agriculture, business technology/computers and art are all considered TVET because they are classified as  hands on which is what the certificate II classes are.  Again, it was a back and forth thing to get an understanding of these curriculums.  It’s a good thing Steve and Kahealani had a lot of experience with this stuff because I was at a loss looking at the matrix of class offerings.  Jeremy, the area guru of technology, has to get all of this stuff aligned so the students can preregister using the computer the end of October.  There is a lot of work to be done.  We finished that little item about 1pm.

We took Maopa at 1:30 to meet with the principal at Ahapanalolo to talk about her certification for fashion design and cookery.  We also needed to get a recommendation for 3 teachers to attend an advanced cookery class that will be offered by the university being taught by a master chef from Australia the first of the year.  These classes would give these teachers their certification in their specialty areas.  Lest we forget, these certifications are not the equivalent to what is offered in the US.  But they are much more advanced than what is offered in Tonga.  Ahapanilolo is a Catholic school that is run by a nun who is an extremely gifted administrator. The only problem is that Maopa has more education and background in fashion design than anyone on the island, but this school has the credentials that Maopa needs for her program at Liahona.  The goal at this time is to get Liahona to the point that it can become its own certifying institution.  So we are all working hard at getting the necessary accreditation to achieve this goal.  It is becoming a reality which when we first got here, we didn’t see the light.  When Maopa starts talking about her dreams, we sit up and listen and then go to work.  The process is slow, but it is working.  We just wish we could be here to see it completed.  However, I think it may take the rest of our lives, which if we could have our family imported we would be tempted to stay.  These people are amazing.

Now back to my telephone call from Elder Hamblin.  He asked me if I would be available to play for the Hamblin’s and the Tupou’s at a baptism at noon on Friday.  When it was that easy, of course I said yes, then Elder Hamblin explained who was being baptized.  My jaw dropped and all I could think was, ”we never in a lifetime thought we could be a part of this occasion”.  Prince Ata finally convinced President Tupou that he wanted to be baptized before his family flu to the UN in the US on Saturday for three weeks.  They may even tour temple square which would be great.  The prince had his program all figured out and was totally ready.  So the plans had been set, we were given instructions that we were not to discuss this with anyone.  So, we went forward.  We officiated at the temple that night and during the session, I thought about Prince Ata and what it would mean to him and the church with his baptism and what he would think about the temple when he was ready to enter.  His life would be changed forever and I hoped his position as a member of royalty on this island wouldn’t be harder for him.  Many thoughts ran through my mind that night.  It must have been on Steve’s mind also as he prayed for the royal family in the prayer circle.

Because of our schedules, there was no time for practice prior to the baptism, but since this was one of the early songs that we as a group have performed many times, we were not too worried about the last minute stuff.  I just figured that we would be blessed.  However, I had one minor problem, a nagging awful cough that just kept getting worse, heavy chest, headache, etc.  I made it through it.  Thank heavens for Ricola lemon mint lozenges. 

The baptism was to start at 12, so we were at the Havelu stake center early.  It is always amazing what kind of preparation has to be made to accommodate the royal family.  I can’t help but think that it would be so hard to have to sit all by yourself in a place of honor and not even be able to share your thought with anybody.  The good thing was the governor of Vava’u was in attendance with his wife.  Sister Hamblin was playing the prelude music for meeting.  When the meeting was supposed to start, Sister Hamblin just kept playing and playing.  I just enjoyed listening to her play.  The Bishop and the Stake Presidents, Kupu and Sika and the bishop’s counselors came in, then the Bishop went back out, then back in.  The people on the stand kept watching outside the doors of the chapel, we didn’t know what they were watching. Finally the Prince and President Tupou came into the room, dressed in their white clothes, the meeting started about an hour late.  My mind was having a hard time taking in all that was happening.  President Uasila’a gave a talk about baptism which seemed like it was good, given in Tongan, but sort of understood by the spirit.  During President Uasila’a’s talk, Lord Fulivai came in, and sat behind President Sika, talked with him for a few minutes then left which was very odd.  Then four missionaries,  Elders Lotulelei, Makasini, assistants to President Tupou and who are teaching the discussions to the Prince, Jenkins and      ( I just lost the name of the fourth missionary who are zone leaders) sang a most beautiful song a Capella which was absolutely breathtaking. I don’t know how anyone could not have felt the spirit during that musical number. I wished I had had some way to record it.  Elder Makasini, who is an extremely talented young man, arranged the music. Sister Hamblin is going to record them singing then try to write the music for them so they can have a copy of the arrangement.  I kept watching the Prince as I am sure all had eyes on him.  He was really touched and I felt bad that he couldn’t share that feeling with anyone since he was sitting by himself.  We were then dismissed to the baptismal font.  We sat there a while wondering why the rest of the program was not happening.  There was a lot of comings and goings, which is unusual for a baptism.  After a while I had to get up to find a bathroom.  While I was trying to find the place, I had to pass Lord Fulivai and I stopped to talk to him.  Apparently there was a lot of political maneuvering going on behind the scenes, the prime minister was there in an office talking to the Prince.  Lord Fulivai told me that the Prince was strong and that he would be baptized.  However, that was not to be.  We waited about another hour, when the Bishop asked us to reconvene to the chapel where he would explain what was going to happen.  I think we all had this feeling that the baptism was not going to occur.  When we got back to the chapel, the Prince, President Tupou came in dressed in street clothes as well as the prime minister.  President Sika talked for just a minute telling us that one thing he had learned in his experience in the church was that there was always change.  The rest of his short remarks were given in Tongan and at that point everything was pretty somber.  Again, no translation.  The Prime Minister, then addressed the congregation.  I kept looking at the Prince.  His mood and demeanor had changed.  He was not happy. The meeting closed with a primary song, a prayer, the Prince and Prime Minister left. 

We learned then that the first long hesitation before the entire meeting started was the military had been sent by the King to stop the Prince from being baptized.  The Prince refused, sent the military back to the King with his answer.  Apparently, he had also had a lengthy discussion with his parents the night before about his decision.  When the military returned to the King, the Prime Minister was then sent to stop the proceedings.  I don’t know what was said to get the Prince to relent, but I do know that whatever the Prime Minister said in the meeting, the Prince was not buying it.  So, no baptism.  We went to the Tupou’s afterward and ate the food that had been prepared for the Prince.  Sister Tupou said she needed the company afterwards to help eat all of the food she and Lani had prepared.  I have to say, it was mighty fine.  We were all pretty bummed though.  President Tupou said when the King finally said no to the baptism, the Prince obeyed.  But Prince Ata is still determined to be baptized.  We just have to put this situation in the hands of the Lord now, let his work continue as it will.  Now I suppose it is a test of our faith.  This is a super big step for the Kingdom of Tonga and its leaders.  The Prince will be opening a lot of doors as he continues forward.  We are all praying for him and his mom and dad.

I have spent since Friday, coughing my head off and staying home.  I have been sleeping sitting up in a chair trying to breathe.  I have tried all my tricks, but so far I have a nasty cough that is not relenting.  We did find some Robitussin yesterday, so I am taking that now.  My cough is loose, but when I start coughing, I don’t quit until I’ve coughed up a lung.  I have missed church, home evening and teaching a nutrition class that I was supposed to start on Monday.  I got that put off a week and hope that I can get to it next week.  I also have piano lessons Wednesday night that I may have to miss.  Luckily for me, Sister Hamblin said she would help and since she has a glorious soprano voice, she can teach the students about singing, hearing, seeing notes and learning about intervals without my assistance.  I think I may go just to hear and see how she teaches the students about this concept.  We had a lot a fun last with the class, but the numbers again continue to expand.  It just seems like an impossible task with no piano, or keyboards to go around.  We are trying to teach the students how to lead music. There is such an limited number of people who can play the piano on this island.  The Tongan’s have music in their souls though.  I keep saying that too.  Everytime, I hear their music, I listen in awe at the sounds they produce.  Talk about choirs of angels, we live in the midst of them.