Tonga Tales

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

I was positive this would never end!

These are Connor's thoughts as they took a mission tour and heard from a visiting General Authority. His release date is January 14th, 2015.

Today it finally hit home that I'm returning in a month. Up until the moment I gave my testimony, I was positive this would never end. I want to share with you guys my feelings today as we sat at the feet of a representative of our Savior. The biggest prompting I had was how God shapes us and molds us into the men and women he NEEDS us to be. Today I couldn't stop realizing how much I have grown in the Savior's loving care over the last two years. He has molded me in a way where I can be the best big brother and son I can be and one day in the future, a father and husband. I cannot thank you guys enough for you're example to me. Dad, your priesthood example and Mom, your never ending love and devotion that you have shown to me.
I want to share with you the 5 things that you have taught us to share in our testimonies, the difference this time being that I have a full testimony of each of these aspects.
1. I know that the Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ.
2. I know we have a prophet today and he leads and guides this church.
3. Joseph Smith is a true prophet of God and he restored the gospel in its fullness to the earth.
4. I know the Savior lives.
5. I know that I will be with my family for eternity and nothing can separate us.
Mom, I want to end by saying I love you so much and I want to thank you for your never ending patience with my shortcomings. You have always seen me for who I am and I love you so much for that! I love you mom, happy birthday!!

Sunday, October 5, 2014

"It's going to be big!"

Here are some excerpts from our sporadic communications with Connor:

Connor: Success! Baptizing this family next Saturday!

Yup! Pretty excited! Its going to big! There will be ice cream and bread and goodies!
They came over to us so they could be taught! Cool right? They came from two villages over so they could listen to the message.
(Connor and his companion have been house bound until his companion's leg heals.)

Connor: We have a kid he comes over everyday and hangs out with us all day. His name is Afa.
We sit out in front. The reason he comes is because his papers go in, I think this week or next so, he's always helping.
Half of the baptisms I've had in this area are because of him.
He is the Greatest fellowshipper ever!!

Kip: That is awesome!! Are you baptizing them or you companion?
Connor: My comp of course, because he's new and all ... We always let the new guys do it for the most part! Well, we will do it on Friday now because of conference.
I love conference here. It is crazy!

Kip: Why is conference crazy there? Who will confirm them? Is his leg well enough?
Connor: Yup, and I'll confirm. He baptizes! And yes, his leg is good. The medicine made his boils pop this morning!
And conference is crazy because no one has a car so, the ward rents buses and they come from all the different villages to go to the stake center.
Kip: Very cool! That is awesome you get to confirm. Your Tongan must be getting stronger!

Connor: Dad! I blessed a baby yesterday at church! They named him after me.
Kip: That is very, very cool!! Did they name him Sepeti?
Connor: Nope, Connor. Connor Simavai Kaumatule
They are moving back to their island though. They came for 8 months to watch their daughter get married and to have their baby. Yup, and now on there way back to Fotuhaa. An island with 40 people.
Sam: And a Connor!

More pictures:)

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

No letter, but lots of pictures:)


West side Tongatapu

Where I live

How I leave the house

The green sign says "ulumtangata" This is the last place where they cooked and ate someone. Ha ha

Our dog Reggie

Our backyard

Like my volleyball court?

The cement thing on the right is where we collect rain for our drinking water

The bed with about 8 springs that poke me in the back.

The reason we can't go out. He was bitten by a centipede that crawls into our bed and bites us when we are sleeping.

Forgot to take the trash out and burned it instead like the rest of Tonga.

Elder Vea was in our tripanioship and now it is just back to Elder Tuikolovatu and I.

"Hi Mom, I got your package with a new tie!"

Monday, July 14, 2014

Pictures, pictures, pictures!!!

Elder Sepeti and President Tupou

Tongan Rainbow

Mom, I got a new haircut!

Baptism Day!

After Baptism refreshments

Tongan sisters

Ward members

Cleaning the Bishop's turtles

Flying turtles:)

Bishop's son and family pet.

Tongan sunset

Connor on the beach

Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Fo'ui is incredible!

Hey Family!!

Well..... its definitely been a while, hasn't it? You know, it's funny working in Tonga. Especially when you go to the church to use the internet and the only website that doesn't work is myldsmail.net and then irony kicks in and Facebook does work on the computer but, its against the rules!!! I have 2 more lessons tonight and institute with 2 of our investigators, VOLLEYBALL! Mom, Dad, I am so good at volleyball now....... so good!!

So, let me tell you what has happened! I have been moved to a new area called Fo'ui and it is incredible! The first transfer here was rough and hard to settle into but, everything is amazing now!!! We have about 6 investigators and 3 of them are confirmed for baptism next Saturday! One of the new and interesting facts of my new area is that there is an incredibly surprising amount of deportees (people who went to jail served their time and then returned to Tonga after their sentence) I have about 25 in total here! Most of them have told me their life stories! The cool part is how almost every single one of them finishes their stories, "o pehe" "God really does work in mysterious ways. " It just makes me think of all the things that I didn't understand at first, then recognize God's hand in it later! Of course, their stories are much more dramatic and quite frankly, terrifying! They needed that to happen to help them return to church!

Other than that, work here is incredible! The members literally drop investigators off at our house in the morning and tell us to teach them, then walk them home. ha-ha This isn't a joke either! That actually happens! It's incredible how different missionary work is here compared to that of the states and other missions. This mission requires alot of getting close with the members and with the people of the small village you work in. That's about 80% of the work here! Then, after you do that, they begin to give you people you can teach!

Thanks mom and dad! I have to go. Unfortunately, I knew this would be short! I love you both send my love to Jackson and tell him to get some strength back because I'll be home soon to teach him how to really play rugby;) The Tongans have been my masters and now I will be their master! Love you both! Enjoy my email. Hopefully, I will have another opportunity soon!!!

I love you all!!!

Elder Sepeti!

Friday, June 20, 2014

Faka'uha. Look it up. Do it!

Connor doesn't have internet in his village and was borrowing a member's phone for a short email conversation.

Guys!

I know its been a while. This is the first time I've had net! There is no internet cafe.

It's raining and I'm with some members. They say "hi." My new comp is Eleta Taukiuvea and he just came from Vava'u.

If you look up 'Umu Tangata in Tonga, I'm staying in the big white house!

I'm in a ward and and they are incredible! They do all the work! haha They have missionary correlation meeting every other week and the Bishop is from Utah.

We have a district meeting every week and I teach. We have 6 elders
and 2 sisters. We have 6 investigators and we should have a baptism
soon! I'm teaching about 2 lessons a day here. Except today, it's dumping rain!

Sorry, I've got to go. I'm going faka'uha! Look it up! Do it!

Love you!

I looked up faka'uha. It means showering/playing in the rain. Everyone will run outside in their clothes and proceed to sing and play. Connor says that rainy days are like holidays.