Mountains, Caves, and General Authorities

Hey, this is Rhett coming at you this time from a crowded upstairs internet cafe full of tongans and the smell of B.O. So a lot has happened since we got off the boat, so this will just have to be a few of the highlights of the things we've done. First of all, we're staying at this Backpacker place that's pretty sweet. We stay in a dorm-style room with 2 frenchies- a bro. and sis. named Vincent (ven-SAHN) and Clemence. There's a warm shower and a full kitchen and a refrigerator that's open for all the guests to use and we've been surviving on Oatmeal and canned peaches for breakfast and Rice and pineapple for dinner with in-between snacks of crackers, watermelon, and best of all- Hokey Pokey ice cream!!! (found at your local Wholesale Foods market). The Elders have been our Taxi service. We just ask if we can ride along wherever they're going to see the rest of the island. It is amazing here, much better than mainland Tonga. Friday the Elders took us and the frenchies to see the highest point on Vava'u. On the way, we picked up two brothers- a 14 year old and 16 year old- to be our tour guides. They didn't speak much english, but we managed. On our way there the road kinda just disappeared into a dirt path. There was grass and leaves from tree limbs coming in the windows of the van and we bounced up and down and side to side making our way to the hike. Finally we arrived and started up the trail. We were in sandals, but felt better seeing the 14 year old was bare-foot going over the metamorphic rock and dirt. The smell of coconut filled the air as we made our way towards the top being shadowed by the tropical treetops. 15 minutes later we're at the top, a breathtaking view of the entire island and all the surrounding islands. All you can see is green and blue, island and ocean and sky.

Saturday we made our way to the veimumuni caves- a destination we spotted on the map that was within walking distance of the place we're staying. We made our way, again with our French friends, a found ourselves facing a hole in the side of a cliff that sat right on the ocean. There were a few local kids inside the cave and heard what seemed to be the sound of swimming coming from inside. Upon further inspection we see that this isn't just a cave- it's an underground freshwater lake! So we dove in as fast as we could. We couldn't figure out how it was freshwater considering we could hear the ocean waves crashing into the rocks just on the other side of the cave, but it didn't matter. We couldn't help but feel like some underground lake monster was gonna get us, then we realized we were 21 and 22 years old and could kill whatever would come after us. It was definitely an adventure unlike any other either of us have experienced and we'll probably go back before we leave.

Sunday we attended a tongan sacrament meeting and luckily sat by a tongan who served his mission in Hawaii and spoke good english. After sacrament he told us about a fireside that would be at the stake center that night for the young adults. That night, as we were walking to the stake center, our luck began as the elders passed us by and gave us a ride. We found a seat in the back of the crowded open-windowed building, fans blowing full speed overhead. We were the only palangi's in sight and definitely stood out like a sore thumb. After a few locals spoke and bore testimony, the guest speaker was introduced- Elder David S. Baxter of the quorum of the seventy, first counselor in the Area Authority Presidency. It just so happens that this man happens to be a close friend of James Canon, someone Austin was companions with for 6 months of his mission. And here we were on a remote island in the south pacific hearing him speak. He gave a great talk on the good and the evil that's in the world and how important it is to know the difference between the two, especially when using the internet. After the fireside, Austin went and approached Elder Baxter while I went in search of refreshments (oatmeal and rice gets a little old). What I found was a room set up with tables and tables of different dishes and plates of food with a table set up next to it lined with chairs for special guests, most likely Elder Baxter I assumed. So I got a drink from the drinking fountain and met Elder Baxter as he and Austin were talking. Turns out he lives in Auckland, NZ, which is our next stop after Fiji. After we exchanged information, we started to make our way home from the fireside. Just as I began telling Austin about the spread of food I saw in that room and was expressing to him how much a wished we'd been invited to eat with them, one of the Tongan Stake Presidents comes after us. "Please, won't you join us for some tea before you go?" he says. "Uh, sure, yeah that would be great!" I say as we make our way back. I could hardly contain myself and wasn't able to stretch my cheeks far enough to smile as big as I wanted to. We got to sit down right by Elder Baxter at the table. The only other ones there were 11 different Tongan Stake presidents and priesthood leaders. We along with Elder Baxter had first choice over all the food. After stuffing ourselves on the tongan dishes (Austin's favorite was the lobster pizza), the women brought out huge bowls of ice-cream over some type of pineapple cake. It was amazing. But honestely the best part was just getting to be there, food or no food, with Elder Baxter and those great men and feel the spirit that was with them, as well as getting to experience they're senses of humor. Tongans are the best. We love you all and hope to hear from any and all ove you as often as possible.