CHRISTMAS WEEK

Just wanted to share with you what we’ve been doing on Christmas Week here in Tonga!  The highlight of the week for us and the Tongan saints as well was the arrival of the Groberg party—VIP at the airport!  Elder Groberg wrote THE OTHER SIDE OF HEAVEN, a book which was made into a movie about his mission in Tonga.  We were privileged to hear him speak three times.  Much to our pleasant surprise, a friend from Lafayette, Chris Billeter, was traveling with them.  She is a close friend of Elder Groberg’s daughter, who was a baby when he was the mission president here in Tonga. On Saturday we went to the gorgeous cliff beach area where this first picture was taken!  That evening was our Senior Couple Christmas Dinner.  Sunday evening was the Fireside for the Tongan Saints with Elder Groberg.  Monday Morning he met with all the missionaries, and that evening we had our Christmas Eve Dinner with the Mission President Tuku’afu and the Groberg party where he again spoke (in English—the other meetings we heard him through a translator).  After a walk this morning we came back, opened our presents and then went to our Seniors’ Christmas Brunch.  We came home and I took pictures to give you a “Parade of our Tongan Abode.” daj

Last Saturday at the CLIFFS--we are standing near the edge of a choral cliff and the beautiful view is below.  If you come to visit us we'll find the trail to this gorgeous beach!

Elder Groberg and party arrive on Air New Zealand, a plane just like the one  on which we arrived  one month + ago!

We're waiting for the Grobergs and for the Webbs (our new missionary couple) to go through  Customs.

Finally, here's Elder Groberg

And his lovely wife, Sister Groberg (who was soooo tired).  I understand

Elder and Sister Webb, our newest missionary couple!

Sooo BEAUTIFUL!  My camera battery ran out so I only have a few pictures--Elder Johnson took more but I don't have his camera...

Beautiful, but dangerous cliffs.  Some have lost their lives here by getting too close to the edge!

Video:  Check this out--Elder Johnson thought he was just taking a picture with his new camera...FUNNY!

The PARADE OF OUR HUMBLE ABODE BEGINS

Frequent sight of Elder Johnson in our living room!  Watching a movie?!

Christmas 2012 Gifts!  I bought a golf bag and clubs at the FAIR--to big to wrap so I stored it at a  neighbor's house.

Elder Johnson and his gifts:  golf bag, clubs, golf balls, tees, and a Tonga t-shirt!

My Gifts--new watch (from the FAIR), a kiki for dress-up occasions, and a bag full of workout cords, jumprope, etc!

  

This is the Tongan way of tying up their curtains!  You can kind of see the pretty red tree out the window.  All the windows here are covered with these "wedgewood screens."

A closer look at my Christmas decorations above the window.

Wonderful Family Pictures!

Authentic Tongan Decorations--tapu cloth, a basket at the top middle, a fan, a hat at the bottom and my kiki over at the right--a very pretty decoration.  The trouble with the tapa cloth is that the air conditioner dries it and then it falls...

Nice sized kitchen table--our new clock that stops at least once a day--even with new batteries--I think it's the humidity--lots of clocks do that here.

Kitchen Windows--our windows are open almost all the time--even when the rain pours straight down.

Our Family Christmas Picture is on the Frig.

Our only kitchen counter--microwave at the right is turned so we have a little more  counter space.  See the 3 water purifying tanks at the right of the sink.  In the corner at the left is a cute little canister full of treats from another senior missionary couple.  When we empty it we will fill it with something else and send it to another couple.

This is small but a favorite spot--a little pantry by the back door--the shelves are about 6 inches wide.  You can see our boxes of milk on the top shelf and a big Quaker Oats at the top Right, canned goods above the water at the bottom.

Out our back door--washing machine in the back,  covered drying lines and a big water heater

Short hallway to bedroom and bathroom--all those drawers and cupboards are great even if they stick shut because of the moist paint--great place to put all kinds of things.

Tiny Bathroom

Little Shower but the Water feels Great on sweaty sticky skin.

Our Queen Sized Bed--only sleep with a sheet.  You can see our cooler and there is also a fan in this room.

Dresser and wall shelves for odds and ends.

Adequate closet--have to air out suitcases above and suits so mold won't grow while we're storing them.

 

Our Saturday Night Christmas Party & Games--Seniors, in the ITEP Classroom.

Another Party Picture

Monday Night Christmas Dinner with Mission President (back center) and Elder Groberg and family.  Our Friend Chris Billeter is on the left side by the little boy.

What a great evening with Elder and Sister Groberg!