PLANTING A FENCE IS SO EASY TO DO. . .

FIRST OF ALL, YOU JUST PUT STICKS INTO THE GROUND . . .

2ND YOU JUST WAIT FOR IT TO GROW SOME MORE

PRETTY SOON IT IS ALL FILLED IN AND THICK ENOUGH TO KEEP ANIMALS IN. . THAT'S ALL!!

April's TOP 3 Events

HISTORY REPORT for  APRIL 2014 from ITEP - Tongatapu

April 1^st – SIOP class began and we had 31 students enroll, so it was an Elder & Sister Aland Team Teach effort.  Most of the class entailed the teachers presenting to the teachers as each one of them covered one of the 30 SIOP features.  The teachers went above and beyond what we could have offered them and certainly expanded their understanding and enlarged their capacity to teach all the SIOP skills.  They all passed the course and one of the many comments we received from the teachers is as follows: 

I am truly grateful for the opportunity to sit in your class and allowed us to grow on

our own. In the states we don’t have in-services like the one we just had where we can

always go back and relate gospel principles to our teachings. Moving to Tonga has

definitely blessed my life as well as my family. I have taught MATHEMATICS for almost

15 years at East High School(SLC, UT) and enjoyed every year of teaching but there

was always something that was missing but I couldn’t get a hold of it until we moved to

Tonga. The first week as a teacher, I felt so much peace teaching MATHEMATICS and I

knew what I was missing for 15 years. I was finally able to teach MATH and use Gospel

terminology in my Math Class. It felt real and it felt SAFE to finally share my testimony

as I teach.

April 3^rd –Elder & Sister Aland went with  Folau to the Tonga National Qualifications and Accreditation Board to begin the process of accrediting the ITEP Teacher Certification program.    We felt it was a very positive visit both in what we were able to gather and present and also in their reception of us representing the ITEP program.  The packet was compilation of the BYUH - ITEP program and included the syllabi from all courses as well as credentials of ITEP teachers. 

This month we had 2 additional piano recitals and were able to place 6 keyboards in different wards throughout 2 stakes.  We are working together as a team to accomplish this also.  Sister Meyers and Sister Aland with the help of Sister Funaki and soon, Sister Wood.

April 10^th. – We participated in the Teacher Inservice Day with the theme of “Hastening the Work – Olympic Style – Faster, Stronger, Higher” The Meyers spoke at the opening ceremony and then we broke into 3 different groups that rotated through the 3 themes:    Alands presented Faster,  Edwards presented Stronger and the Johnsons presented Higher.  It was a delightful day spent with them all and we were so grateful for their association and participation.  This culminated in a dinner cruise around the bay and food, more food as well as fun, music and  dancing.  What a great event and a boost to us all.

  April 15-17^th - We were able to attend the National Sports Week here in Tonga where all Tongan schools competed in track and field events.  This was great sports entertainment as well as crowd participation.  We also were able to meet and welcome Elder & Sister Simmons, who will serve as the ITEP couple in Vava’u and Elder & Sister Wood who replaced the Johnsons as the ITEP couple over the 5 Middle Schools.  We look forward to working together with them in helping the ITEP program to move forward

 

Team Teaching -" How to work smarter, not harder"

We team taught at this part of the teacher's inservice.

THIS ALMOST NEVER HAPPENS IN UTAH - What a fun event they get to enjoy every other year, and how lucky we were to be here at the right time to enjoy this evening with them!

WE WERE INVITED TO DANCE  - and we thought the other senior couples were following us on the stage, but they didn't.  Oh well . . . IT WAS PRETTY FUN!!!

THIS WAS A VIEW FROM THE SHIP AS WE SAILED AROUND THE BAY. . . WE'LL HAVE TO COME BACK HERE TO CHECK OUT THIS ISLAND SOME TIME.

ONCE AGAIN, JOHN ENJOYS ONE LAST CHANCE TO DANCE THIS EVENING!

Having fun with the Haveas, Ola Vaitai, Lautais, & Tamaline Tu'ifua

Valenitaine Maunga & husband and Peni & Silivia Tonga - some FUN Tongan friends!!

Leaving the boat - one last photo op with Maopa & Sula & husband

STUDENT BODY SHOWS THEIR SPIRIT AT THE TONGA NATIONAL SPORTS EVENT - APRIL 15-17 - '14

ANOTHER PIANO RECITAL AND KEYBOARD AWARDED IN MU'A

THIS IS OUR LIAHONA HIGH SCHOOL FACULTY & SPOUSES AT THE INSERVICE TRAINING - APRIL '14

A SENIOR COUPLE FAMILY HOME EVENING AT THE BEACH

A LOT OF GOOD FOOD - A LOT OF GOOD COMPANY - A BEAUTIFUL LOCATION

THE PICTURE SAYS IT ALL

SISTER VA'ENUKU AND HER NIECES

THE SISTERS ARE SOLVING WORLD PROBLEMS

THE ELDERS ARE TRYING TO DO THE SAME

ANOTHER TONGAN SUNSET TO FINISH OFF A GOOD FAMILY HOME EVENING

SMILE BIG!  OUR TONGA NUKU'ALOFA SENIOR MISSIONARIES

STUDENT ACTIVITIES

LIAHONA HIGH SCHOOL STUDDENTS LEARNING TO WEAVE BASKETS AND OTHER THINGS FROM PALM FRONDS

AN ENTHUSIASTIC TEACHER

ARE REAL MEN SUPPOSED TO BE DOING THIS?

DID I DO OK?

WE ATTENDED THE TONGAN HIGH SCHOOL NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS- LIAHONA HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS GETTING READY FOR THEIR EVENT

CONSULTATION WITH THE COACH BEFORE THE RACE

SOME PRETTY GOOD RACES AND LHS HELD THEIR OWN

THE GIRLS GETTING READY FOR THE 4 X 400 RELAY

ABOUT 1500 HIGH SCHOOL AND MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS CHEERING ON LHS

THEY HAVE SOME PRETTY WILD CHEERS

PRINCIPAL FEHI IS SPEAKING WITH STUDENTS AT THEIR WEEKLY DEVOTIONAL

 

 

CRUISIN' WITH THE TEACHERS

ENTRANCE TO THE WHARF - STARTING OUR DINNER CRUISE WITH THE TEACHERS

A STATUE AT THE ENTRANCE TO THE WHARF

A MONUMENT TO VUNA WHARF

THIS IS OUR SHIP, THE FERRY TO VAVA'U

TEACHERS GOING UP THE GANGPLANK

NOTICE THE BANNER - THIS HARDLY EVER HAPPENS IN UTAH

TOUGH DUTY, BUT SOMEONE HAS TO DO IT!!!

A FUN TIME WAS HAD BY ALL.  FEHI OUR PRINCIPAL CAUGHT SNACKING AND MAOPA OUR CLOTHING TEACHER CAUGHT DANCING - WHICH SHE DID ALL NIGHT.

ONE OF THE ISLANDS WE CRUISED BY.  NOTICE THE SHIP THAT MISSED THE DOCK.

ONE OF THE MANY BEAUTIFUL ISLANDS OFF TONGATAPU

SISTER MITCHELL AND THE EDWARDS

THE EUA ISLAND TEACHERS.  ANA MA'U KNOWS ALL THE MOVES

ELDER AND SISTER ALAND - WHO DON'T KNOW ALL THE MOVES

SOME OF OUR WONDERFUL FRIENDS AND TEACHERS

PLENTY OF FOOD AND FUN MAKE FOR A GOOD AFTERNOON AND EVENING CRUISE.  JUST ONE OF THE PERKS OF BEING A SENIOR MISSIONARY

MARCH 2014

HOMEBUDS – MARCH 2014 This month we have placed 5 keyboards to participants in the keyboard classes, finished up 3 college courses we’re teaching and 2 student teachers each, plus participated as a Senior Missionary Choir in 2 firesides.  None of those qualified as the top 3, but were a close race for great experiences we are having . #3 :  We had Brother Scott Wilde here on campus for a week.  He is over church education for all of Asia, the South Pacific and also Utah.  Not much space to cover . . . Anyway, we met him on Monday at an ITEP meeting , fixed dinner for him on Tuesday and Wednesday spent time at the Havelu Middle School, we #2got to observe him interviewing the Middle school student body leadership team and have breakfast there.  We were so thankful to get to know him better.  We may have to bend his ear in our new position.  He thanked us for accepting this new position and assured us that the Lord will help us to accomplish all that is necessary, as he does us all, every day.  It was a very nice reminder.

#2  TONGAN PROGRAMS:  We had 2 programs we were in - first on Sunday, March 17^th, when we did the “Parable of the 10 Virgins” and Sister Aland got to be the 5^th wise virgin who was the “service” one.  It was so much fun to watch and be a part of these good women.  Then Monday the 24^th we were in charge of Family Home Evening and we had the Peni & Silivia Tonga family come and perform and dance.  Elder Aland got to participate on the drums.  Lots and lots of laughter and fun!  These good Tongans have heart and soul!!  We love to laugh and sing and associate with them!

#1.  RAIN DAY- CANCELS SCHOOL:  Through the night of 24^th, we heard  a downpour of rain, with much thunder andlightning, especially towards morning.  It continued to come down in bucket-loads all day and they had to actually cancel school that day. There were HUGE lakes and pools of water  and young and old were having “water games” in them.  The Liahona campus buildings didn’t flood,  but the teachers and students at their homes did and couldn’t get to school.  Some of the families actually requested to go stay in the churches until the water subsided.  A rain day out of school. . This was a first for us!

Blessings are sent to you all dear family and friends.  We feel a great love for you and all the good things you are accomplishing.  We hope you are all pulling your families together and keeping them strong  in coming unto Christ – we are surely missing our family, but gather great strength from them and you all and your examples.    Keep on in the “hastening”.

Much Love,  Elder and Sister Aland  (SEE MARCH PHOTOS BELOW & NEXT POST)