From Tonga
06/02/07 , by Posted by: admin
Malo e lelei! Greetings from Tonga!
I will try and write updates from Tonga when I can. But before I get started I have to say a few things:
You must understand that Tonga is where 'time begins', and although time can control people, here in the Friendly Islands, Tongans control time. (it can take so long to get things done in Tonga!)
My typing (and subsquently my spelling too), is very dodgy. (i'm no journlist)
Internet time in Tonga is rather costly. (should save money for porjects, huh?)
Few reasons why I am in the Kingdom: to oversee the 'Uiha Kindergarten Project (Kindergarten): to see what urgent needs which would be potential projects: and if possible play some rugby! (I may have a little bit of a holiday too).
I have not had time to check up with the Kindergarten project yet, although I understand we have to wait for a response from AusAid (explain later). I hadn't realise that submitting grant proposals for AusAid has to go through the Government Central Planning Department first. So my next step is to find out more details about grant proposals and where things are regarding the Kindergarten building project. Government opens Tuesday 5th (Mon 4th is a public holidays here in Tonga), and I will try to see building authorities (Ministry of Works, Ministry of Health, Fire Department ... etc).
I managed to drop by at the Wesleyan Education Department (since I am staying across the road), to pick up some information regarding schools. The Wesleyan church (SUTT) is probably second to government with the highest number of schools in Tonga. I have yet to check this for certainty but the Catholic and Mormon churches have many schools too.
After talking to some of the staff in the office I walked away feeling sad, but upbeat. Upbeat because there certainly loads of work (potential projects), but sad because I know that power and principality(s) are the forces we have to deal with if we want to build His Kingdom on earth. But off-course powers manifest through people.
Rugby - where do I start! It has been an eventful last few days on the rugby front in Tonga. I am blogging before Tonga takes on Japan in the Pacific Nation Competition. After a rather high scoring game v. Australia A last week, the 'Ikale Tahi should bounce back with a good win v. Japan tonight. But off the field here in Tonga there are major re-structuring to the rugby management and it'll take a few days for the dusts to settle. And depending on which newspaper you read, I have a feeling the verbal tennis between the Pro- Democratic and the Pro-Government is spilling over to rugby affairs. I saw the reports are already comming through the internet, and please they are all 'heat of the moment' reactions: like everything else comming out from Tonga these days and like the X Files - the truth is still out there. Don't take the news comming through too serious yet!
Anyways, as a rugby player, it is difficult because you just want to put on the red jersey and represent your country, but when it is messy and players don't know what's happening next, (like it is now), the passion to play for Tonga is being slowly drained.
It is sad but that's reality here in the Kingdom. However, I am glad to be here in Tonga again see families, catch up with friends, and most importantly to do some work.
Malo for now!
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June 19, 2007, 12:05 pm -
manu-o-pangai
Ti,
I just got your email and browsed through the site right away and its beautiful. Great deals. Your visions and intentions touches me. May God bless this wonderful establishment to flourish and progress towards perfection.
'Ofa atu pea news mai ki 'Uiha he 'oku mau mate he 'ofa atu ki hotau ki motu 'ofeina.
tu'a 'ofa atu
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June 4, 2007, 2:45 pm -
jhavea
masi'i, 'ohovale pe kuo ke 'i tonga na. ka mou fou mai heni pea ke fakalea mai. kei fika tatau pe