Fiji Adventures after on the way home from Tonga

This was our rental car a Suzuki Swift named Sally. She was a good car to us.

Jaynie and I at the Suva, Fiji LDS Temple

We randomly met Vinnie, Solomon, and their family at a big event to celebrate the Fiji Temple anniversary, 10 years.

This is the Club Fiji Resort in Nadi. We stayed here 3 nights, isn't it beautiful!

Beach at Club Fiji Resort

The mountains in Fiji on the way to our drop off to raft on the Upper Navua.

Navua was the river they filmed the second Anaconda

Kenny our guide. He was most knowledge about the villages on the river and the ecology of the river.

Our last night we decided to visit an outer island, Beachcomber. It was fab, I would so visit here again.

Sunset on Beachcomber

Sunrise on Beachcomber

Kava ceremony with a village on another island. Never drink Kava. First, it makes your mouth numb and has a yucky after taste. Second, new research has show that it's chemical properties are dangerous. Jaynie and I had planned not to drink it but, we didn't want to disrespect the tribe. So, we took our chances!

The island in the distance is Castaway island. Yes, the island they filmed Castaway. We headed there next.

Castaway

We were at Castaway for about 2 hours. We spent most of our time snorkeling. The water clarity was amazing. I kept feeling like I was in Finding Nemo.

Looking at this picture makes me miss Fiji and the South Pacific. It is sooooooooooooo beautiful. I WILL VISIT AGAIN!

Tonga- Interesting people, places, and happenings

Each village has it's own cemetery.

The first four days after everyone came we had no problems showering. On Thursday we came home to get ready to attend the temple and there was no water pressure. This was also the day we did some heavy painting. We had to get creative, bucket showers, for the rest of our trip!

Our last night in Tonga I was getting ready for bed and Dani one of the other parent coaches notice the spider extremely close to where I was standing. There was some serious screaming, a shoe, and the spider hide. I can handle snakes but, not spiders. I didn't sleep well that night knowing it was on the loose.

This guy could play the uk with his teeth.

In Tonga the love American Pop music. He is the best Justin Bieber impression. His name is Ciopai. He would walk around and sing to us and with us.

In the Tongan culture when someone is dancing very well you put money on them or in their clothes, like a tip. The girl kept dancing, the boy was a kid from our group, he didn't know where to put the money.

Hapi, she was our Travel agent. She is such a good woman. Before the kids came, Jaynie and I were figuring things out she provided humor, internet, and food.

Tonga- Fun Activities

This was an arch similar to Stonehenge built at the site of the first palace of the first chief of Tonga.

Thursdays in Tonga we attend the LDS Temple

Second Saturday we went sea kayaking to an island resort called Pongi 'a Motu. The being out on the water was so fun. There was really no boat traffic because reefs surround most of Tonga.

We also attended a floor show inside a cave, pretty cool. While in the South Pacific I saw several floor shows, this floor show had the best island music I have ever heard.

A trip to Tonga would not be complete without attending a rugby game. If you are any kind of sports enthusiast rugby is the game for you.

The last place we visited was the blow holes in the southwest part of Tongatapu. Pretty amazing aren't they!

June 25th We finished the project!

Our project was to paint the exterior of as many of the school buildings as we could and renovate the inside of a classroom. Oh, of course start the library. We worked so hard. A second group was coming July 3rd to finish the project.

June 15th- June 25th We finally got to work!

Our contractors were so good to us. They would drive us to and from the school.

This large spade like tool we called a spoon. They are flat and sharp. In Tonga, the soil is so rich it is like clay. So, we would spear it, push up the soil then, shovel it away.

Building a bench for a classroom

Desk for a classroom

June 14th-June 16th

Our first day of work. We started to dig the trench for the foundation of the library. Not much work was done because the community wanted to do a ground breaking.
Tuesday June 15th. The minister of water came (I think), the minister of education, the wife of the chief of Haveluu, and the King of Tonga drove by too. The Tongan television came and interviewed a few of the kids. So as if we weren't already known to be visiting. From then on everywhere we went the people knew we here to serve them. Many went to great lengths to express their gratitude and appreciation even if they were not directly impacted.

Kids interviewed by Tongan television.

Cute kids at the government primary school!

More cute kids at the government primary school.