MADE IT TO THE KINGDOM!!!

Well family and friends, I have made it to Tonga!!! Let me tell you what has happened so far:

Monday

We left the MTC in the morning at like 9:15 am. We left to the airport on the trax! I got to see my family one last time as I passed my hometown Trax station, and that was really awesome, but so sad. I was crying most of the ride up to the airport lol. We had a flight to LA that wasn't bad at all. I just caught up on some sleep and read the scriptures! But then we had a 6 hour layover and that felt like forever. We then had a 12 hour plane ride to New Zealand. Luckily, I slept for 9 of those hours so it went by really fast! Then, we had a flight to Tonga! We landed and it was 12:00 pm on a Wednesday!

Wednesday

We got to Tonga and we met with President Tuione and his wife! President is so nice and his wife is too! My former stake president is one of the counselors, so it was really good to see President Makai! We all went to the President's house and had a nice devotional and testimony meeting. It was awesome! But that night we ate and it was sooo good! We had pig, watermelon, rice and lau! It was sooo good! Then we got to sleep in the hotel that night and it was pretty nice!

Thursday

We woke up and had a bomb breakfast. We had some coconut french toast, pineapple, watermelon, sausage and potatoes! It was nice! Then we went over to the chapel to meet our trainers. That was so exciting. It was cool seeing where everyone is going. I was getting so anxious to see where I was going and who my trainer would be! It got down to the last two missionaries, and they were represented by the secretaries to the President, and I knew they weren't training, so I instantly knew I was going off Island... Then they read it and it said Vava'u!! For those of you who don't know, it is way north of all the islands (there are hundreds of islands) and it is so much hotter here. Not a lot of people speak English here! I found out that we didn't get to leave to Vava'u until Friday afternoon so we just got to chill with the APs and Secretaries all day while everyone got to go to their areas.... that was the longest wait of my life! I just wanted to get there!

Friday

We woke up and we got to go get my tupenu and tavalas! We went to the airport and that was the smallest airport I have ever seen haha. We got to go on a plane, luckily! It was only an hour ride and I slept through it all. We landed and I met my trainer, Elder Kahalewai. He's so cool and he is a good trainer! He is from Hawaii and he has been out a year! We got to meet some members and I don't understand ANYTHING! I don't know anything that is going on! haha. But it has been an experience.

Saturday

We got to go to the second part of our area, Houma! That was a far walk! Got to meet some of the members there! They fed us and I got to eat fish (guts and all) and lau. I don't eat alot of fish. I hate it!! haha but I can eat this. It is crazy! It was surprisingly good! The Lord has blessed me!

Sunday 

It was fast Sunday so we got to bear our testimonies. That was awesome, but hard haha! I got to bless the sacrament too. I was so scared!  But I did it and didn't have to say it again, so that was good haha. We went to member's houses after and shared some spiritual thoughts and ate with them to break our fast! Sundays go by so fast!

Monday

P DAY 

We did laundry in a bucket (see pic below) lol and went and got a haircut. We don't have internet in our area so we have to walk all the way to Ha'alaufuli. That is like an hour walk just to email! (I must love you Mom!) It is so hot and humid here too!! 

But i am doing good. I am loving it and I hope everyone is doing good back at home!

Ofa Lahi Atu!

Eleta Nomani❤

saying good bye to my family from the train

Tonga airport

Nuku'alofa Temple

Elder Jase Andersen, my friend from back home

All roads in Ha'akio look like this

My Hoa, Elder Kahalewai

My home (MQ)

washing machine

 

members cut our hair

****As we were emailing him, he sent this pic, saying "I just ate Kuli (dog). It is good. Taste like roast beef!" A good member came to the chapel to feed them. **** --Mom