Dear Famili,

Malo ho'omou lelei. Fakafeta'i ki he 'ofa 'a e 'Eiki 'i he'ene tauhi mo'ui 'oku fai kiate kitautolu. Pea malo famili 'a e hufaki mai. Ko u fiefia pe ke fakahoko atu 'oku mau mo'ui lelei pe hono kotoa, hili ange hono 'ahia kimautolu 'e Cyclone Renee after Valentine's Day. It was quite a hit, but we're pretty lucky to get out of it. When the storm came thrashing down on Monday evening, we were saying pe'e 'osi fakaku, coz it was just getting stronger and stronger. While I was running outside, running against the wind, this was when my prayers were at their best. He 'oku le'olahi fakataha pe lau losalio ia 'a Milika mo Maliana mo e tukituki 'a e matangi. Ko e fe'unga pe 'a e faka'osi'osi 'a 'enau lotu mo e hoholo hifo 'a Renee, pea mau si'i fakaongoongo ai na'a toe ha'u ha fo'i second round, pea ta ko a, ko 'ene si'i fononga atu ai pe ia 'a Renee and left us in one peace.

During the cyclone I went to check out on mum 'i homau 'api 'i loto kolo, and though I felt sorry for mum living there and noticing how old and weak the house was, I advised her ke ha'u ki kauhala kia Maliana ke na soki ai 'oku malu. But I felt my tears when mum quietly nods her head, coz I know how she doesn't wanna let go of the house for all the memories it contains. She ignored my advice and told me ke feinga'i ha me'a ke tuki 'aki e 'ato he tuliki fakahahake 'o e fale. When I look at that spot she led me to, I thought to myself, ''Oh my goodness . . . ta ko hono hae eni ia 'o e fale''. I told her it's too late to fix anything now, but to pray. She later told me mo 'ene kata, he'ene lotu fakamaatoato ki he 'Eiki, ko e ngata'anga e hono ivi, ke ne 'ofa mu'a malu'i homau fale ke 'oua 'e hae. It was that very minute too, she told me, ne holo ai pe ivi 'o Renee. With mum during the cyclone was also our grandma Mele'ufi, who was brought in to stay with Lotiola during the cyclone. Though Mele'ufi has returned to her house living with his son Folau, mum felt that having Mele'ufi's company was doing her good. But that is gone now, and so is Cyclone Renee. Ko e toe pe 'eni ia e fo'i halanga 'o Renee, 'a e efu 'a e 'ulu tava, mango, toli mui'i mo e mei, fesi mo e mei mo e mango, 'a ia 'oku kei fakama'opo'opo 'i 'api he taimi ni. Na'e hao pe hotau kolo 'o 'ikai ha fale 'e holo. Fakafeta'i ki he 'ofa 'a e 'Eiki. But in the meantime, we're still out of power at the moment. Ko e me'a oli ia ko e ulo 'a e generator 'i 'api siasi, ke 'osi mai ai e fanga ki'i mobile phone ia 'a Matahau kotoa 'i hono charge he holo. I even took my laptop ke charge in there too. But that's the advantage hoku fatongia ko e treasurer 'a e siasi, I have the right to do so, and I told the rest they have to pay the church 50 cents an hour. That's cheap, I reckon.

Anyway, the other news is to tell you, ne u lava atu 'o fakahoko e ki'i fatongia ko e fa'ehuki 'i he mali 'a e tamasi'i 'a 'Ana (Tuisoso's sister), as you can see in this photo. Ko e hingoa e tangata ta'ane ko Kitione, and the bride is 'Ainise Tu'i'afitu from Fua'amotu. It was a great and massive wedding, 'o kamata mei he fakalelea on Thursday the 11th February, ki he ma'utohi on Saturday the 13th, ki he 'uluaki Sapate on Sunday the 14th. My role only came up on Saturday, and Seno took over the role on Sunday. Matakai, Manu and family did prepare e tepile for the meal on Sunday. Honestly, na'a ku hela'ia, but it was a great experience. Ne a'u ange pe 'a Tu'isoso mo 'Ana 'o kole kia Maliana, pea ko e me'a ia neu 'alu ai, ko e fakamanamana'aki au 'e Maliana 'ene high blood pressure if I won't go. So I did and there I was. 'Ai ai 'eku vale he tulafale mo hono toutou la'u au 'e he finematu'a. It was a bit overwhelming, experiencing it for the first time, but I learn through it, seeing how the Tongan culture does it, the island way. I have to say yes it was beautiful but comes at a cost. I have to say, the surrounding family from both the bride and the groom did throw in some great support ke lava lelei e mali ko 'eni. You may notice in the photos that I have posted here, that we took a ride out in a limo . . . ko u fievaleloi ai pe au, ke pehe 'e he kau me'a na'a te anga pe he heka he limo, kae fakapulipuli'i holo hono sivisivi'i e fanga ki'i gadgets 'i loto he me'alele, 'o mei maumau ai ha me'a. Kae fakamalo lahi mu'a ki he famili 'o Tuisoso, pehe kia 'Ana (mother of the groom), he ma'u faingamalie ke lele atu ai e ki'i mongumangu ko kita ke te kaunga langilangi'ia he 'aho lahi pehe ni.

Last Friday night and Saturday too, ne u lava atu ai ki he birthday hoku 'ilamutu 'ofa'anga ko Felisita Fe'ao jr, 'a ia na'e fakahoko 'i Lapaha. Ko e 'ofefine 'o Fapiano mo Luseane Fe'ao. It was a lovely small birthday celebration. Pea na'e 'i ai pe hoku aunty ko Feli mo e ni'ihi e famili.

Lastly, I want to acknowledge here 'a e ki'i me'a na'e fakahoko atu ai 'a e fakatangi kiate kimoutolu famili, 'a hono kole atu ha'aku laptop. I can confirm ko 'eni kuo ma'u ia, and it comes in very handy. I can't help the excitement and how grateful I am, 'i he fakamalo atu kiate kimoutolu famili, 'a e lotu mo e hufaki, 'o faifai pea tali lotu e 'Eiki ke anga lelei ai si'eku uncle 'ofeina mei 'Iulope, ke foaki mai ai 'ene laptop second heni. I was shocked to find ko e laptop second-hand ia 'a 'Iulope 'oku fu'u kalasi 'uluaki 'aupito ia. Si'i fakalavalava ai pe 'eku fanga ki'i ngaue, financial reports 'i 'api, mo e relax ai pe foki ki ha fo'i faiva . . . 'oua! 'Oku 'ikai ma'u ha lea fe'unga 'a e fiefia ka ko ha fiefia pea hange ko e lau himi 'a e ki'i ta'ahine mei Nomuka . . . "te u toe 'ai atu'' . . . ko e fiefia ka ko ha fiefia. Thanks a lot 'Vo. You the man Uncle. You the MAN. We saw your pictures and I was surprised that Maryanne ('a Fifita) didn't recognize you, but I guess she wasn't even old enough to remember your face. Anyhow, thanks heaps Uncle and 'ofa lahi atu. Teu ngata a he coz I'm running out of time... until next time!

'Oku mau 'ofa lahi atu kiate kimoutolu pea mou tauhi lelei,

Hiko'itaulanga

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