TONGAN UPDATE 24 SEPTEMNER 2008, KEEP YOUR SEATBELT BUCKLED

Tongan Update, 24 Sept. 2008, Keep Your Seatbelt Buckled

I hope you haven’t unbuckled your seatbelt yet because the ride still continues.

Sunday, Brother Havea was confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ.

He wept as the priesthood holders laid their hands upon his head. President Shumway did the confirmation. Again, President Shumway spoke with fluency and conviction.

After the sacrament was passed, the Shumways and the Thompsons were invited to be the speakers for the rest of the Sacrament Meeting. For Elder Thompson and me it was a chance to express our gratitude to our Heavenly Father that we had the opportunity to watch this miracle unwind. Have you heard the Primary song “I Feel My Savior’s Love”? The words go like this:

“I feel my Savior’s love, in all the world around me.

His Spirit warms my soul, through everything I see.”

That’s what we were thinking! That is what we spoke about. In addition, we went over the Sacrament Prayer and discussed how to personalize the prayer so that it relates specifically to each person, individually. Sister Shumway bore her testimony in Tongan, and President Shumway gave his talk in Tongan.

After Sacrament Meeting, people huddled around Havea senior to express congratulations. He was like a magnet drawing people to him. Because of the crowd, we simply left and went to the Havea home for…yes, “the feast.”

After dinner we went to visit the mother and family of one of our returned missionaries, the ngaahi Taufalele. Ex-Elder Taufalele had asked Elder Thompson previously if he would share the gospel with his widowed mother who is a member of the same church that senior Havea (Mataleie) was a member of. The Shumways were more than happy to join us and help with the translating. When we arrived, the entire family (from grandma to the grandchildren) was sitting on one of those beautiful hand-made mats which had been placed on the floor leaving the couch and chair for the ngaahi palangi (plural for white people). Elder Thompson began the discussion but didn’t give a lengthy introduction like he had planned. “We are here at the request of your son, and we’re here to teach you the gospel so that you can be baptized by him.” After sharing some thoughts about the church, Elder Thompson then told her that President Shumway also had a message for her. President Shumway spoke in his perfect Tongan, and we recognized words such as Jesus Christ, church, temple, baptism.

When President Shumway had completed his thoughts, Elder Thompson asked the mother if she knew how her ex-missionary son felt about his two years of service for the Lord. She said, “no.” He then turned to Ex-Elder Taufalele and said, “You are the one who invited us here. Why don’t you share your testimony with your family? Tell your mother how you feel about the gospel. Share your feelings from your heart. Your mother needs to know how you really feel”

We don’t know exactly what was said, but for ten minutes he talked while tears were literally streaming down his face. His family must have felt the spirit also because every member, even the grandkids, was wiping tears away. (President Shumway didn’t translate for us because he didn’t want to interfere with the spirit.)

Following her son’s heartfelt remarks, Taufalele’s mom said she had something to say. This was translated for us: “I am honored that you would come to my house. My son has never talked to me like this before. He has tried, but I would cut him off. I have two sons who have gone on missions for your church. I thought the reason that they could go was because I was so faithful in my own church. But today, I feel something higher. I will pray about this and do what is best for me and my family.”

Later that evening there was a Fireside with President Shumway as the guest speaker. The Church members of ‘Eua filled the chapel, the overflow area, and the outside areas surrounding the chapel. One faithful member, originally from Houma, invited all his neighbors to the Fireside and even paid for the bus to transport them to the Stake House which is in another village. (He was the same gentleman who, with his wife, had traveled from Australia to ‘Eua so they could personally be part of Mataleie Havea’s baptism.)

Amazingly enough, when we arrive at the chapel we noticed Brother Havea and his nonmember wife and daughter sitting on the first row. On the second row was Elder Taufalele’s mother with a friend who she introduced as “an investigator.”

President Havea’s mother hasn’t been favorable to the baptism of her husband. We could tell by her frowning, scowling looks. You can’t blame the cute lady. Big changes are surrounding her, and she needs some time to adjust. Prior to the Fireside, Kalo (the wife and mother), was given a blessing to help her find comfort in the decision that her husband has made to become a member of the Church. When we actually saw her at the Fireside, it was a nice surprise.

The meeting was heading towards the two hour mark, and I got a little restless. (Sitting on an unpadded wooden bench and not having a translator aided to my fidgeting.) I looked around to see if anyone else was thinking that this meeting was getting long, but the people’s eyes were glued onto President Shumway. The members were still intense as they listened to his message. Later, President Shumway said that he knew he had spoken longer than he had intended; but that there were many non-members at the meeting, and he felt impressed to continue speaking strongly about the restoration and keeping the Lord’s commandments.

After the meeting we met at the Hide-a-way for dinner.

We thought President Havea and his wife were the only ones from the Havea family joining us. As we were preparing to sit down, Mataleie, his wife, and daughter walked onto the back deck. Kalo (the mother) was actually smiling. During the course of the dinner, she even laughed with us. Maybe we’re in for another miracle!

Well, we have to get off the rollercoaster and get back to Tongatapu, but… the people of ‘Eua better fasten their seatbelts. They just might be in for the ride of their lives!

‘Ofa ‘atu, John and Diane

p.s. Since leaving the island we have heard that both mothers are listening to the missionaries and meeting as a family to learn more about the gospel. Cross your fingers.