Dear Famili,

Malo ho’omou lelei, malo soifua and ni sa bula vinaka from us here in Tonga. Hange ko e lau ‘a Rev.Mohenoa Puloka ki he teu tukungaue e kau public servants ‘a Tonga, when the media questioned his view from the FWC, a church that’s famous for low salary pay for almost/all of its employees, he said, ‘oku mo’oni pe mahu’inga ke sai e vahe ki he tauhi e famili mo e kavenga e fonua, ka ‘oku toe mahulu mahu’inga ke fai ‘osikiavelenga e fatongia no matter what, he ‘oku tau kei fakafeta’i ‘oku kei hopo ai pe la’aa he pongipongi, ‘oku ‘ikai ‘uha ha afi mei he langi, pea ‘oku kei ma’u vai ai pe funga e fonua. So i would quote the same from here. Ta u kei fakafeta’i ai pe he kei tau ‘a hake ‘oku kei hopo ai pe la’aa ‘i he pongipongi pea ‘ikai ‘uha ha afi mei he langi. El Nino seems to continue its ways here in the island kingdom, but still the Almighty does not abandon us, ‘oku kei ma’u pe me’i vai ki he funga e fonua. Ta u fiefia ai pe hetau kei felongoaki.

Kei mo’ui lelei pe ‘a Maliana, Tiana, Nadi and children ki he lalo kalosipani, kae pehe kia Serv.Clare. Kei mo’ui lelei pe tauhi e kaingalotu St.Sosefo tangata ngaue, mo hono ki’i famili. Mou lave’i pe ne lava atu fefine ko Kelela Lotiola Senior ki he katoanga fa’u famili e tangata ko Felise Kaufusi (congrats to Felise) ki Bundaberg, Queensland. We missed Lotiola being here especially her sister Maliana and the tafolas. Ka ‘oku mau fiefia he ne lava ki ki’i mavahe mei Tonga ni. We have heard so much of her enjoyment of her trip, meeting old friends and family, but most of all a change of sight from the usual routine, ‘a e sewing machine mo e tohi ngatu. Anyway, si’i fakamalo atu ki he famili ‘i Aussie si’omou tokanga’i atu hako ‘o Fale’aisi. I just realised on the day she left for the wedding that she may be too old to go by herself, but as silly as me to realise it so late, i could only hope that the Lord would guide her way.

Na’e lava lelei atu ‘emau misa fa’itoka on the first Sunday 2nd November ki he fa’itoka ko Loma. You know i almost forgot of the special mass if it wasn’t for my dear wife who reminds me. Mau tuli’i atu misa, got there it was 10:10am, thought the mass had already taken off, only to find that Fr.Pauli Ta’ai had to delay it a little ke tanaki mai kainga ‘o St.Sosefo tangata ngaue. So i had the chance to pick up Maliana ki he misa, and as soon as Maliana got there to the cemetary, ko e kamata leva ia ‘a e misa. Ma ma’u misa atu ai pe mei he loto me’alele since it was too windy for Maliana to go out to the tent where the rest of the people are, and we parked fakamalumalu pe me’alele under the ‘olive trees (they’re so big) which Maliana was surprised to find out, cos she thought we were parking under the lopa tree. Mau pehe, he fo’i ‘ai lelei ia hono to e ngaahi fu’u ‘olive he loto fa’itoka ke fakamalumalu ai e kainga. Ko e pango pe koe talamai ‘e Maliana ha kalokalo atu tangata’eiki ko Matakaiongo he fanongo mai ki he fakalangalea e kau hiva. And i guess you’re all familiar with our church choir, mahalo kapau na’e fai ha tufa pani ‘i he ako hiva, mahalo na’e mei fakamaatoato’i pe hiva ‘i fa’itoka. Ka ko hai kita ke te lea, he kuo te fakapaea ki Nuku’alofa kae tuku ‘a Tafengalolo moe ‘api ko Loma. Fakafeta’i pe he kei ai ha kakai ke ‘alofaki mai hotau ‘api. But i have to admit that being at our cemetery, it tells me that i have to come home, that this is where i belong on this very ground, or so i hope!

The pass week the Gov’t Ministry of Education started a traditional dance festival for all the Primary schools and kindergarten. It was a whole week of busy parents running to and fro in preparing costumes. It’s much like New Zealand’s Polyfest for secondary schools. Although I only saw footages of the performances via TV news, I have to say it was quite a success. Because the occasion does occupy the schools (both teachers and students) since the exams are already done, as well as learning our traditional dances. For instance, the St.Francis Kindergarden performed Me’etupaki and Mako with a group tau’olunga. I could only wish if back in my day, the Ministry would have started this grand idea, I wouldn’t have been plucking out weeds in the school garden or planting manioke during school hours in the school plantation. Anyway, those Hango days are gone, good riddance with that and welcome the new age.

Also at this week ‘oku kamata foki ai e sivi fakapule’anga e ngaahi ako ‘i Tonga ni. I wish all the best luck kia Susitina Ta’ai ki he teu sivi. Pango pe ko ho ako ‘i ‘Apifo’ou, lol ka na ke ha’u ki ‘apiako ho uncle ki Tonga High, pehe ni tau tu’amelia pe. Ok, ok, ok, i’m jokin i’m jokin! Sorry atu if that was a bad joke, kou kole fakamolemole atu, i take it back, honestly, i do, i take it back. Come on, i did started in Apifo’ou too. Kou mate he ‘ofa hotau ‘apiako. That’s why i even help out with free tutoring, that’s right, FREE, for the Form7 and some Form6 students with the Accounting and some Maths (si’isi’i pe). I admit that teaching isn’t my forte, i suck at it. Honestly, but i can’t deny these kids the wisdom they seek, unfortunately that has to come from me. Pea ko e tu’u ‘a e ‘ea ki he kaha’u ki hotau ‘apiako, ‘oku hanganaki atu ki he fiema’u kau faiako lahilahi ‘aupito, qualified if possible but mostly with a BIIIIG BIIIIIIIIIIIG heart, due to the number of teachers who’ll be leaving the school. Ke hange koe lau, ko homou vahe 'e toki fakalahi atu mei Langi. Anyway, kole atu ke kau atu homou lotu fakafamili hono hufekina e fiema’u kau ngaue ko eni.

Kaikehe, teu ngata a he. Talamonu to your daily chores pea ‘ofa lahi atu kamoutolu hono kotoa, ki homou ngaahi family, children and in laws.

Much much 'ofa lahi atu

Hikosi'i & family