Malo e Lelei!!
Food Update: I'm getting more use to the food here. I can eat the raw fish without throwing up! Haha This week I got to have two meals with ketchup though! It is super expensive here, like $10 dollars a bottle, but the members love to spoil the missionaries! One of my favorite Tongan foods is this treat called keke (cake). It is only flour mixed with water to make these little dough balls, then they but a sugar butter sauce on them! They are super delicious! I got to have "lu pulu" this week. They get banana leaves and wrap pieces of beef and some vegetables and pour coconut milk inside. They wrap it up, then wrap it in tin foil and let it cook in an underground oven for a couple hours; it is the best Tongan food, I think!!
Well this week I almost got bit by a dog! We were walking to one of the member’s house and they have this big black dog. We walked up to the door and the dog just watched us, it didn’t bark or anything. The next thing I knew, the dog lunged at me and bit my shoulder bag that I was holding next to my leg. Luckily, my companion was right there because he kicked it straight in the neck and it ran away. I’m thankful I was holding my bag in my hand or the dog would have latched on to my thigh! The family felt bad, but don’t worry, they told me we will eat the dog next week! Haha
This week we have been able to help a lot of people. My companion was an electrician before he came on a mission so we fix a lot of people’s stuff, like washing machines and light bulbs and anything to do with power. The people really appreciate it, paying for the electrician or a new washing machine is not cheap. We also got to help our neighbor pick off the peanuts he got from the bush. He has a truck load full of peanut plants, it takes a long time to pick them all off the plant, but it was fun. We also helped clean the side of the main road this week. They don’t have a lot of weed whackers or lawn mowers, so they gave me a machete to cut the big weeds and overhanging branches, it was super fun!!
The language is getting better for me. I am finally able to understand a lot of what people are saying and respond. I have been focusing on listening to how people say the words and copying it. It has helped me a lot. I feel like I am singing a song when I speak because Tongans use so many different tones in their voice. I love telling stories and jokes because the Tongan people are amazed at how native I sound. They always laugh at my jokes too! Haha Everyone calls me Kolepoke because I am learning pretty quickly. I am far from fluent, but every day I get better and better!
They don’t celebrate Thanksgiving here. I feel like I eat a Thanksgiving feast every night! Some Tongans just eat lying on their belly so they don’t have to sit up when they are done! I kind of like just sitting cross legged and eating with my hands, it is a lot faster than a fork! Haha I dare all of you to have family dinner on the floor this week and everyone sit cross legged until everyone is done eating, then you will feel like a Tongan!
Tongans really love Christmas though, and Christmas music! The other day I heard a Joy to the World and Macarena remix!! Tongans love remixes. Haha We have been listening to Christmas music for weeks, so I am excited to see how they celebrate!
I love you all so much and I am so grateful for all your love and support! I hope all of you will have a good week and be safe. I just want all of you to know how grateful I am that I chose to serve a mission. The work isn’t easy, but it sure is worth it!
Oku ou ofa lahi hoko fakamo'ui pea oku ou ilo oku ne mo'ui
mo fienga tokoni kiate kitautolu! (The Savior loves you, and I know he lives to
help us all.)
Ofa Atu,
Elder Hami!!
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