About three months ago the senior missionaries decided to coordinate our schedules of church assignments and travel together to the island of ‘Eua.
It was also the time for whales to be migrating through the deep trench of waters between Tongatapu and ‘Eua. We thought we could all do our work plus have the opportunity to see the whales. Elder Thompson also had another reason to go to ‘Eua.
Ever since our previous trip there, he has had the promptings that he needed to talk to President Havea’s father. President Havea is the young, thirty-three year old Stake President of ‘Eua.
His family, his wife, and three small daughters
live with his parents for financial reasons created by the father.
The father is a “noble” in the Tongan Free Tongan Church and has always been anti-LDS. He smokes and is verbally abusive to his wife and family. For years the Havea son has been trying to teach the gospel to his father, but his father has been totally against it.
After many problems and conflicts, three senior couples finally boarded an eight-passenger plane and flew the seven minute flight to ‘Eua. We unpacked our bags at the rustic, quaint, little motel called the Hideaway
which has a walkway out across the coral reef
where you can get spectacular sightings of whales.
And we did! The whales were really putting on a show—spraying, diving with their tails flipping up out of the water, breaching (this was a new vocabulary word for me—meaning to jump right out of the water), and cruising along the ocean surface.
Our pictures do not show what we saw. The splashing whales appear of small splashes of water. What made it even more incredible was the rainbow which extended across the sky while these magnificent animals did “their thing.”
After enjoying the whales, it was time to get to work.
Elder Thompson and I had to conduct a District Meeting with the missionaries and inspect their houses.
After inspecting the houses we had a District Meeting. Sister Kinikini translated for us.
We both
gave lessons about making choices. I focused on choices and priorities.
Using a white board, John diagramed a chart that he has created showing what happens to a person as he makes choices.
In short, you move towards or away from Heavenly Father and the Savior based on your choices. Your movement is your expression of your love for Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.
Sister Kinikini and Sister Vuki went to work to train the Stake Family History people about the new Family History Computer Program,
and Elder and Sister Embley were there for an in-service with the teachers at the Church school.
(Brother and SisteEmbley are on the far right)
In the evening we all spoke at a Stake Open House for members and investigators. The chapel and overflow room were filled with people. We divided the first missionary discussion (Restoration) up, and each senior missionary gave a portion of the lesson. It was a rapid fire missionary presentation. Many came, we think, because they were curious and wanted to know what six “old” missionaries were doing on their island.
The next day was P-Day. We didn’t know that the Lord was about to put us onto a spiritual rollercoaster, and that we were in for the ride of our lives. We had experiences this weekend that really touched our hearts. We are still in awe that the Lord chose us to be his tool-----------.
President Havea was our tour guide this day.
All the senior missionaries crowded into his Toyota Land cruiser, and we started off to explore the island.
Several times during the day Elder Thompson asked the president, “When can we meet your father?” As we were traveling through the bush,
Elder Thompson mentioned again to President Havea that he would like to talk to his father. It was perfect timing because Havea senior was working in his fields in the bush close to where we were. Elder Embley (not knowing why) heartily agreed, “Let’s go!” So we bounced along on dirt roads until we came to the Havea’s farmlands. The father was sitting in his flatbed truck watching the field-hands (all cousins and nephews to the Havea’s) bending over the manoke plants, pulling them out to replant in other locations.
Elder T. grabbed Sister Kinikini as a translator and approached the open window of the truck. When he faced Mataleie Havea, he asked, “Do you know who I am?” Tears started to roll down senior Havea’s cheeks. We couldn’t all huddle around the window so I didn’t hear all that was said, but after the conversation with Mataleie, Sister Kinikini came over to me, held my arms, and said with tears in her eyes that she had just witnessed a miracle and how blessed she was to be part of it. She said that Elder Thompson’s second question was, “Do you know why I am here?” In answer to this question, Mataleie nodded his head and said, “Yes.” Elder T. then proceeded to challenge senior Havea to stop his negative behavior towards his family and the Church. He told him that he was to stop smoking that very day. He called him to repentance for his thoughtless behavior. As Elder T. expressed these firm, but direct words, he kept reminding Havea senior that the Lord loved him, and that the Lord had a work for him to do. Much more was said, but you get the message.
Then John asked the pivotal question: “Would you like to become a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and support your son in his calling?” And the miracle occurred…Mataleie Havea said, “Yes.”
“Good,” said Elder Thompson,” I will arrange to have the missionaries teach you every day, if necessary, and in two weeks we will be back to baptize you and your wife. Heavenly Father has a new work for you to do. You need to prepare yourself for this new work.” Elder Thompson then asked him to meet him for church services the next day, and…Brother Havea said he would attend.
There was a kind of a hush over the fields as this conversation was taking place. Even the men among the crops knew something special was happening, but they didn’t understand what.
The next day we went to Church. Priesthood Meeting was first, followed by Sunday School, then Fast and Testimony Meeting. While Elder T. and Elder Embley were nervously waiting for Priesthood Meeting to start and wondering if the father Havea would attend, President Havea’s wife came over and whispered into John’s ear, "He's here."
Feeling greatly relieved, Elder T. got up and went out to see Mataleie.
When they met, they embraced each other. Elder Thompson then escorted him into the chapel. From the moment the opening prayer was said in Priesthood Meeting, Havea senior was wiping tears from his eyes, and sometimes his whole body would shake. Elder T. sat right next to him, occasionally patting him on the back. Sometimes he just put his arm around him. For the next three hours, Havea senior’s tears continued to flow.
Elder Embley sat in the front of the chapel during Priesthood and Sunday School Meeting. Several people asked him why President Havea’s father was in church today. “He’s going to be baptized,” said Elder Embley. “When?” they disbelievingly asked. “In two weeks,” was the missionary’s reply. They just sat in disbelief with his statement.
I don’t know how to really describe that Fast and Testimony Meeting. The spirit was so amazingly strong. The testimonies were powerful, and every member that spoke seemed to bear witness to Havea of the truthfulness of the gospel.
Sister Kinikini, who translated for John, tearfully shared her thoughts about the miracle that happened in the bush.
One of the field hands expressed the changes he felt as the spirit was working on Brother Havea in that flatbed truck.
The missionaries, including me, shared their love of the gospel. My, the spirit of the Lord was so strong. Brother Havea was not the only one weeping…half of the members of the congregation were sniffling and wiping their eyes.
Near the end of the meeting, something happened that surprised everyone, especially the Tongans who know Mataleie, his leadership role in the Wesleyan Church, and his anti-Mormon thinking and behavior. Brother Havea, the father who had been challenged to become a member of the Church by Elder Thompson, walked slowly toward the pulpit. Eyes turned toward him as he made that laborious walk from the very back row. Sister Kinikini and I grabbed each other’s hands and wondered what he would say to the people.
He calmly told them that he had decided to accept the challenge to repent of his sins and be baptized. He confessed that he had felt for a long time that the church with which he affiliated was corrupt, and that he knew his son was involved in a great work. He further explained that he knew “someone” was going to come to him and ask him to change. (What a humbling and amazing thing to have that “someone” be Elder Thompson.) The spirit was over whelming as he expressed that he wanted to join the Church because of its truthfulness, not just because of his son who is the Stake President.
Next President Havea stood to share his testimony. Before doing so he called Elder T. to the stand. John wrapped his arm around the waist of the tall President and began to speak. He explained to the people that there was a reason for what was happening and that there was a work for Havea senior to do. He invited them to support him. Someday, if Mataleie holds firm to the teachings of Jesus Christ, he will stand at this pulpit with his son testifying of the truthfulness of the gospel. Then President Havea spoke. He also spoke about the miracle that was occurring with his father. He told how discouraged his wife and young family had become because of the negative actions of his father. As a couple, they had decided to no longer discuss religious issues with him. The President had the impression that someone else would come, talk to his father, and spark the Light of Christ within him.
For us to be a part of this whole experience has been totally humbling. The weekend really was a rollercoaster ride with our Savior in charge of the controls. Whales and rainbows are wonderful, but to see a family become united in the Church is what do you say…? I don’t know how to describe it.
And the story doesn’t end here...
‘Ofa ‘atu, John and Diane
No comments:
Post a Comment