The Fair

Saturday morning is The Fair. Here you can buy all sorts of odds and ends. The Tongans who move off island to Australia, New Zealand, or U.S. send goods home for their families to sell for income. Hence, if you see something you want, get it now. It may not be here next week ... or even later if you plan to stop on the way back to your car. I lost out on caramel sauce last week.

Items for sale vary from food, toiletries, clothes, shoes, tools, cooking utensils, and more. This past Saturday the man who is a guard at our office in Mu'afunga was selling stuff. It was fun to see him in another setting.

We went with Elder and Sister Heiner. Here the guys are moving on ahead. I think Elder Heiner is holding the big sack of rice we each bought. We also bought liquid soap, shampoo, and various canned goods. Elder Heiner also bought a Hawaiian type shirt. Elder Thomson did not find one his size. We will buy him one in town.

                        
   
These boys are manning the stall for the
family. I love the smiles, and they are
always ready for a picture.                                                 US brands. I got Tresemme shampoo.

      

PRODUCE SHOPPING

There are 2 main places to purchase vegetables and fruit. First and foremost is the market. But they close at 4, so it must be done during the day and not after work. We buy all sorts of veggies here. I even bought eggplant, and decided it is not all that bad. When making banana chocolate chip muffins I was short of bananas so I added some boiled eggplant. We couldn't tell the difference between that batch and the others. We also tried Chinese green beans .. they are very long (maybe 15 inches); we rather liked them.

The other place to buy produce is the side of the road. The prices generally are cheaper the further from Nuku'alofa. We like to buy bananas at a stand by the prison. We also like to stop at a stand on the way home closer to Liahona. These stands are in front of homes, and it seems they get fewer people buying here so we like to support the small home stand.

THE MARKET

Carrots, cucumber, green peppers, red peppers, lettuce, cabbage, green beans, lettuce, eggplant, bananas, papaya, and more.

Tables are also set up outside the market, with the same fresh produce. The prices are generally the same for all the vegetables, although sometimes we have found cheaper prices inside.

We also buy apples and oranges, usually from New Zealand.

Crafts are also made while waiting for customers and then sold. We have seen women making tapa cloth and kiekies.  There are very beautiful kiekies waiting to be sold. A kiekie is an ornamental "girdle" worn around the waist. I will have a post another time about Tongan traditional wear.

PRODUCE STANDS

This is the vegetables stand on the way to Liahona from work in Ma'ufunga. Currently tomatoes are in season. We also get onions, bananas, and want to try the peanuts. We have not bought any yet, but I think we will and then roast them in the oven before eating them. At least, we want to try them that way. Maybe a local Tongan will advise us on a better way to roast the peanuts.

This banana stand is on the road home from Veitongo, and on the way home from the airport as well. There are many varieites of bananas, some fat, some skinny, some long, some short, and all very very tasty. All the fruit has more flavor than those bought in North America. 

These ladies are very friendly. They let you pick your own bunch of bananas, and help you find the most green or most yellow depending on your preference.

Behind the ladies the ground is covered with bananas, just waiting for more room on the table.

Pineapple Season

Pineapple season has just arrived. The cost now is 3 for $10. However a couple weeks ago, we spent way to much. We saw pineapple on the side of the road on the way to work, and our mouths watered for fresh pineapple. We got taken for $12 for one little pineapple -- YIKES. We did not do that again.

The pineapple is so yummy. No acidic flavor at all. Just totally sweet. We will be buying more of these while they are in season ... about 2-3 months.  Also there are several little pineapple plants behind the Zemps who live behind us. They shared the bananas so I am hoping they will also share pineapple.

SHOPPING IS CHALLENGING

Shopping takes time. There are no department stores or one-stop shops in Tonga. A list of maybe 10 items will take at least 4 stops. Here are some of our usual shopping places with an explanation of what to find at each.

COSTLOW

The missionaries told us before we came that they were so excited because CostLow opened. They could now buy items they were used to. Brand name is Kirkland ... recognize that? When we were arrived, we were so surprised at the size of CostLow ... not quite what we expected. It is about the size of a 7/11, but at least there are US food stuff that we recognize. Just 3 aisles.

Much is crammed into small aisles. No room for carts, just what you can carry. Prices are per item not bulk, if you can make out any of the prices.

 

SUNSHINE STORE

 Don't be misled. Sunshine store not 2 levels. It is only one. And yes, it is dark inside. They do not waste electricity on lighting the store.

This is where we have found the cheapest milk (sold in boxes not refrigerated until opened), black beans, canned corn, and rice. They have other items but we have not found the black beans or canned corn elsewhere (except the fair).

BREAD STORE

Bread is baked daily white, brown, multi-grain.
We have to buy it early or it may be sold out, especially if we wait until after work.


There are also homemade rolls, cakes, and other goodies.

The are a few other bread stores on the island. We hear the one in Veitongo sells yummy cinnamon rolls. You can bet we will be going there. In fact, I wonder why we have not been there yet.

DAIRY STORE

The dairy store is next to Cowleys. So while buying bread, we also get our yogurt, sour cream, whipping cream (only on Friday), butter, and cheese. They have a variety of cheese, but cheddar is harder to find. We usually get colby, edam, or mozzarella.

FISH STORE 

As you may guess, fish is fresh from the sea. This little shop is small but sells the best fish. It is fresh, filleted, and .. oh, so delicious. We have purchased mahi mahi, marlin, and sail fish. Can't be any better unless caught by yourself, which we will be doing!

There has also been tuna which we will get another time. Our neighbors and good friends, the Heiners from Idaho, bought tuna. We will have them over for sailfish and they will have us over for tuna.

CHINESE STORES

Every village has a Chinese store. They sell a little bit of stuff -- mainly junk food. Is it surprising that they are nearly always across the street from schools? This one is across the street from Liahona. I have bought bleach and pineapple cake mix here, and minutes for my phone.

EGG STORE

We buy eggs at the little shop on the way home to Liahona on Hihifo Road. They cost $12/dozen white and $15/dozen brown. 

     

TWINS

We met TWINS (Nancy and Otolose Carlos) in Nukunuku this week when we were delivering chicken wire. My heart melted because I am a twin. 

The one in pink (Otolose) would smile and run around. The twin in green (Nancy) would run and hide when I tried to talk or take her pictures. Grandma tried to get her to smile and look at the camera but to no avail.

As we left, I thought of the twin teddy bears in our warehouse. Elder Thomson and I decided to give those bears to the twins.  

We returned to the house in Nukunuku with the bears. The twins were skeptical at first. But by the time we left they were smiling and waving good bye.

This was a FUN experience. We love the people of Tonga. They are all so friendly. The children are so special. 
                

Jesus said, Suffer the little children to come unto me for of such is the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 19:14

3 Nephi 17:21-23  .. .He [Jesus] took their little children, one by one, and blessed them, and prayed unto the father for them. And when He had done this He wept again; And He spake unto the multitude, and said unto them: Behold your little ones.


Christ’s interactions with children teach everyone to see children for who they really are, and as each person becomes more like a little child, it helps each person to see themselves for who they really are and the eternal potential of all people.

Methodist Primary School Devotional

                                                                             

The principal, Sapaloni Folau, of the Methodist Primary School invited us to come the Friday after renovations for the devotional and to take pictures of the students. These children are so well behaved. They filed in rows to the room for the devotional. No acting out during the devotional. They sang and listened to the vice principal give a message from the Bible.


Then it was Sister Thomson's turn to talk. I talked about the Savior wanting us to be kind to one another and to treat each other as we would want to be treated. Children often pick on other children. The Savior would want us to all be friends with one another. I gave an example from one of my boys growing up and being assigned to do a group project with a boy who was picked on. Through this assignment, the boys became friends. I challenged the students at the Methodist School to do the same. If there is a student in their school who others make fun of, go and make a friend of this student. Everyone will benefit and the school will be a happy place for everyone.