MERRY CHRISTMAS

A truly Tongan version of a Christmas tree--made entirely of coconuts

Summertime

My favorite fish while snorkeling----the humuhumunukunukuapua'a fish, otherwise known as the Picasso Trigger Fish.
He likes to pretend like he is attacking and charges you, turning quickly to the right every time, then circling around to charge again.  I thought that he was doing a mating dance for my blue underwater camera, but others without a camera had the same experience.

This is the Tongan version of a raised bed garden, all done with coconut shells.

We attended the graduation ceremony for the local high school.  The fabulous students' singing was the major difference in the Tonga version compared to the US version.

Outside, after the ceremony was the outrageous part.  Everyone got leis from friends and family,  some more than they could put on,  some made of candy, some flowers and some money.

Even Grandma got in on the celebration

This is the Matahau Stake workshop graduation class for self-reliance.  The first priority for self reliance is returned missionaries, the second is leaders without education and/or work.  Can you pick out the stake president and his second counselor who never finished high school and are now going back to school to finish their high school studies?  They both need financial help via the Perpetual Education Loan Program because they don't have the money to pay for their tuition, books and materials.

Our in country self reliance manager training people who will be facilitators for their workshops in the Nuku'alofa North Stake.

Hangin' out after the Thanksgiving dinner.  We had most all the dishes with some variations due to the lack of a few ingredients.

Just us.