Dear Family,
We have had an exciting
weekend. Two to three weeks ago we were given an invitation to a
missionary homecoming party. We didn't know the missionary but have
become friends with a number of the Tongan families in our ward. The
missionary is George Otunukulikiliki. The family goes by LikiLiki.
We wanted to go because they were so nice to give us a cute invitation.
The time for the party was 6:30 til LATE.
All afternoon, Friday,
we watched them preparing for with lots and lots of meat; chicken, pigs or
pork, and roast beef. They were cooking it outside in a cooking trailer.
They cater for islander's parties. They fed between 200-300 people
and had enough leftovers so that everyone could take home food. It is the
islander way. We posted pictures on our blog, cannonsisterscalledtoserve.blogspot.com.au
It was amazing to see all that meat being cooked.
The evening was supposed
to start at 6:30 and at 8:00 food was finally served and the buffet line
started. The Master of Ceremonies or MC told us this was normal.
The table decorations were as elaborate as any wedding we have ever been
to. The MC and the mother of the missionary reserved seats for us at the
head table. It is to show respect for two senior sister missionaries.
It was very nice but a bit embarrassing. There was a whole cooked
pig on the table where we sat, in fact right in front of our plates.
We tasted some new food;
corned beef wrapped in taro leaves. We also ate sweet potatoes that were
purple. They were very similar to our sweet potatoes but didn't look near
as tasty. They had oriental type foods, we picked the meat off the pig, and
many foods we didn't try. The dessert tables were wonderful, trifles,
cupcakes, cakes, fruit etc etc etc.
They had non-alcoholic
wine at all tables. We didn't care for the taste so we drank the orange
punch. It was good.
There was entertainment.
Many of the people were the entertainment. The women get up and dance
throughout the evening without the men. The entertainers have oiled their
bodies, (they wore native costumes). As they are dancing or singing
people from the audience get up and slap real paper money on their skin.
Very generous with the money they give.
The returning elder was
called to the floor to be honored. The mom and the aunts put leis on him.
The mother gave us each a lei to go and tie around his neck. We felt very
honored.
The leis are real
flowers,some are candy, fabric ones sewn with shells, ribbons etc. People
lined up to tie leis on his neck. Quite a site. Lots of kissing with each
lei. No, we did not kiss him.
All in all it will go
down in our history as one of the memorable and happy experiences in Australia.
Today in church the
Tonga family blessed their first grandchild, a baby girl names Ava. She
had a wreath of white flowers around her head. She was beautiful.
Two investigators came
today. They were in their 70's. When we introduced ourselves to
John, he kissed our hands and said, "This is the European way."
Last night we went to
the Lattiere's home for dinner with the other senior couples. They serve
in the Vietnamese branch. Sister Lattiere is from Viet Nam and met her
husband during the war. He was in the army. They are a wonderful
couple. She served us a Vietnamese dinner. We are tasting and
eating many new foods. Picture on blog..
We got our flat
decorated Saturday for Christmas. We watched Christmas movies and
listened to Christmas music. It looks very festive and makes us happy.
"Therefore, let us glory, yea,
we will glory in the Lord; yea, we will rejoice, for our joy is full; yea, we
will praise our God forever. Behold, who can glory too much in the Lord?
Yea, who can say too much of his great
power, and of his mercy, and of his long-suffering towards the children of men?
Behold, I say unto you, I cannot say the smallest
part which I feel."
ALMA 26:16
We love you all,
The moms and grandmas
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