Auckland New Zealand and the LDS Pacific Schools
BYUH, Tonga, Fiji, Samoa, Kiribati -- July 2017 to June 2019
Tuesday, July 18, 2017
Sunday, May 31, 2015
Fall in Tonga
Elder Bob Wood and Sister Suzy Wood – Middle School ITEP Missionaries
Sister Sherrie Holbrook and Elder Bryce Holbrook – High School ITEP Missionaries
we are wearing our House Shirts. Elder Holbrook gave the opening prayer to the games on day one and Elder Wood gave the opening prayer on day two.
Below are fun pictures of different competitions.
The first Sunday in
May is “Children’s Day” – downtown was very busy on that Saturday with shoppers
looking for things to celebrate children’s day.
On Children’s Day the churches have a children’s program where the
children perform, like our Primary Program, and so of course the children need
to look nice and so shopping happens on that Saturday.
The second Sunday in
May is “Mother’s Day.”
Mother Day Cakes at the Fair and Sherrie receiving a flower as she enters church
The third Sunday in
May is “Father’s Day” and Sherrie gave me a Liahona tie
It is kind of cool how
all three days of recognition are lined up in May.
We were invited to
attend a “Coaching Workshop” where participants were taught a model of working
with students referred to as “coaching.”
It is coaching rather than counseling because instead of telling
students what they need to do to resolve their concerns, issues or problems, you
help coach the student in exploring and discovering their own solutions and
commitments to move forward. The
presenter was once the principal at Liahona (3 principals ago) and she was
really good at facilitating this workshop.
Each course that is required
by the Tongan Ministry of Education has a Common Assessment Task during the
semester. Here is a picture from the
English CAT
Here are pictures from the Tongan Studies practical test .... weaving
Akata had her 8th
birthday on May 18 and since we home teach her family we took her a gift. An Elastic Loom / Bracelet Kit. Hope we get to see some bracelets at our next
visit. You never know why you do certain things and what the outcome will be
but we hope to see Akata baptized in the near future.
Isn't she cute?
Thursday, April 9, 2015
Southern Hemispher Summer 2015
Making Friends: We met Sateki Longi at the annual agriculture show where he
had a booth set up showing his wood carvings.
It was impressive and I asked him if he would do a large hook on a stand
with intricate etching. He said he has never had such a request but would do
it. Sateki gave me the best workmanship
I have yet seen on the island, hands down. Check out the master fish hook he carved for me.
The detail shows up in the natural light of this picture. The webbing is tightly done and compliments
the color of the wood, which is ‘iron wood’.
This is an amazing piece of art.
He is doing more pieces to give my family. (He is a Latter Day Saint)
The story
of the Tongan Fish Hook goes back to the time when most islanders were farmers
and fishermen. When someone went out on
the ocean to fish he would catch enough fish for his family and also the
families of his neighbors. If enough
fish weren’t caught in the first tide to take care of his neighbors he would
return with the changing of the tide and go back out during the second tide
until he caught enough fish to feed his neighbor’s families.
We were invited to Katrina Tongi’s 1st Birthday
Party. What a great family love and atmosphere as Sateki gave an emotional
expression of love and appreciation for this ‘little blessing’ of theirs.
Lienora, 17 year old sister, expressed her love to the family and for Trina and
sang a song to, about, or for Trina (in Tongan).
When it was time to part we thanked them as sincere as we
could and expressed our gratitude for their kind invitation to join their
family party. Upon reaching the car sister Tongi gave Sherrie an afghan as a
token of their love and appreciation for honoring their family. Sherrie knew she must accept the token and
with a big hug thanked her for such a thoughtful gift.
When presenting the afghan to Sherrie, she said, “we don’t have much but want to give this to you.” We were reminded of the value of family and the tender reward of family love. We gained a deep insight of Tongan family culture. Missions bring you close to people and you cherish them.
Pacific CES has initiated a Mentoring Program for first year teachers, emerging teachers and teachers who need a little more motivation. Here are some pictures from teaching those classes.
Meet the Mormons premier VIP showing was held at the downtown
convention center where the senior missionary choir sang the opening song. There were 125 guests in the audience,
including one of the Prime Ministers.
Sherrie taught “Secondary Reading in the Content” with 11
teachers enrolled. The class is very
lively and happy with laughter and humor.
It is a sign they are really enjoying the course content and the
presentation of material. Each class can
be so different, but one commonality is that we try very hard to be good
instructors, examples of good instruction, practice what we teach.
Annual
S&I Principal’s Conference -- Auckland, New Zealand
We went to the “Principal’s Conference” conducted by the S&I
Area Office in Auckland, New Zealand. There
were 7 ITEP couples at this conference.
3 from Tonga, (from two islands), 2 from Samoa (from two islands), 1
From Fiji, and 1 from Kiribati. What an
experience to rub shoulders, share stories, compare our experiences and learn
from one another. We also were able to
meet the principals from the other islands and enjoy our experiences with them.
Elder Gifford Nielsen, Area Second Counselor, spoke to us
about what it really means for us to be a covenant
people. Our mortal mission is to fulfill
those covenants and our missionary mission is to help all Latter Day Saints fulfill
their covenants.
Sister Holbrook, Fehi Fifita - Principal, & Elder HolbrookMonday, February 16, 2015
2015 School Year
BACK TO SCHOOL
The holidays and summer break is over and teachers are back. We conducted in- service training for all of the Tongan Church Education System teachers from the four main islands. Liahona hosted 144 teachers, counselors and administrators for welcome back in-service days. Folau Kioa, assistant director of pacific schools, was the sponsor of this training. He asked the ITEP missionaries to present the 2015 Seminary and Institute Priorities. I presented on “Strengthening Unity”, Sherrie presented on “Elevate Learning”, Elder Myers spoke on “Seeking Truth”, and Elder Wood spoke on “Reaching the One”.
READING CAMP
A January reading camp for
local village children was sponsored by Sherrie after the holidays concluded.
Many of the same students from the December session came to the January
session, which is positive indication that they like her. During this session Sherrie added some new ideas and approached rhyming
using Doctor Seuss as an approach to
building vocabulary, word sounds and English enunciation.
The kids loved it and Sherrie
had an enjoyable and rewarding time. Though she had to deal with some
behavior issues this go around, it seemed she was on her game with these kids
and had a very productive two weeks with them. At the end they got to
take home some more books for keeps, which is always a special gift. And of course many new friends have been
gained and it is always rewarding to exchange greetings with them when we see
each other.
Nuku'alofa Tonga Temple
This tree only blossoms in December and creates a beautiful
setting at the temple. We love attending
this small, cozy and intimate temple.
This temple, in ratio with endowed members within the temple district,
is a very busy temple and yet it has the most peaceful and pleasant atmosphere
and is a blessing to all who seek to grow spiritually closer to the Lord.
Friday, January 2, 2015
Wrapping up 2014
As we conclude 2014 we are very grateful to Heavenly Father
for giving us this call to serve our mission in Tonga. We are grateful for the tender
mercies shown us in preparing us for this mission, for helping us get through
all that we needed to do in order to be ready to accept this call. We recognize His
blessing us with good health so we could be in the south pacific and work in
Tonga at Liahona High with the gracious and loving Tongan Latter Day Saints,
who are examples of great faith. 2014 has been a marvelous year for us and we are ever so grateful for this wonderful year.
Our Christmas Table
Left –
Wise men with gifts and ‘pig’
Right –
Shepherds with staffs
Center -
Two Angels and Shepherd boy
Back –
Joseph and Mary and Baby
These Sister Missionaries came to our apartment and brought us
a Book of Mormon and asked us to find someone we could gift the book to for
Christmas. Christmas afternoon we visited the pediatric ward of the hospital
and shared some Christmas wishes with those who were there. We placed our Book of Mormon with a family who
spent the day at the hospital with their 10 year old son.
Elder
Gifford Nielson is in our South Pacific Area Presidency. He came to Tonga and meet with the young
missionaries and in a separate meeting he met with the Senior
Missionaries. He spoke to us saying we
just don’t know how much, how often, or how many times we as Senior Missionaries
are being an example and an influence on someone else. We may never know when that influence is
happening or who it is that is being influenced, but it is happening every day
and almost every moment we are in the role of senior missionary. As he bore testimony of the Savior and our
being in the Savior’s work he shared this really cool thought. When you think ordinary (about yourself)
someone else is seeing extraordinary.
Who is looking at us and seeing extraordinary? Who might be watching us and what impact might we be making? How might we influence another brother or sister or child, how might we influence another couple or even a family? Which teacher are we making a difference to? We just never know and therefore we should be the example and light that the Savior exemplified for us. We are to be Christ like; loving and charitable, accepting and embracing, reaching outward and loosing ourselves in this work, His Work, and lifting where we stand.
December Reading Camp
Sister Holbrook conducted English Reading Camp with these groups of children who live in the two near by villages. What an experience where the children were introduced to a world of new horizons and we were introduced to some very fond and lasting relationships with these children.
We are grateful for family who love and support us while we are away.
Wednesday, December 10, 2014
End of School Year
The Southern Hemisphere is in summer and the school year is ending. Here are pictures of “end of year school events and graduation 2014."
External Exams are administered by the Ministry of Education at the end of each school year. These exams are required to promote to the next grade.
Sister Holbrook helping give awards from the Honor Stage
The Senior Class and their Principal Fafafehi Fifita
Outstanding Senior Students and recognition leis
Graduation Procession down center aisle and up to the stage
Graduation Ceremony
Graduation Celebrations with leis placed layer after layer by family and friends
Graduation Ball ... a fanfare celebratory event for graduates and family
Floor Show
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