Hoagland Mission: "The Dance"

On Wednesday when we went to Cobden to teach Moni and Tupou their piano lessons, I noticed a very large crane in the next block. I walked over to investigate and found them trying to move a large house onto new foundation pilings. There were four cables hooked to the crane which came up from the bottom and up over the eaves. They put blocks between the cable and the fascia but I could not see how that would be strong enough to hold the weight of the whole building. I was right. When they tried to lift it the weakest point failed and crushed up against the side of the outside wall. Not sure how they solved their problem.

We finally got video skype up and running with at least Jenni's family. The first time was kind of exciting seeing all the grandchildren. One had just awakened from a nap and it was fun to see the look on her face when she realized she could see and talk to us. The next time was priceless. Jenni's 5 year old had snapped his eye with an exercise elastic and they had put one vertical and one horizontal bandage over his eye.

Jenni and Rob adopted a baby, named Zachary, almost ten years ago and he turned out to have cerebral palsy. While he can walk and talk, he is not very strong and his words are less clear. It also manifests itself with a lack of social inhibitions. Their computer and camera are located in their master bedroom. You can see the bedroom door and the master bathroom door in the background. While we were talking he was in the bathtub having a bubble bath. Just as we were about to finish our conversation in walks Zach through the bathroom door naked and covered with bubbles. He walked right up to the camera and then turned around and walked back to the bathroom. The whole time we were just laughing our heads off. A great start for our video talk experience.

On Friday we had zone conference in Nelson. It was a long drive up and back but one information sign caught my eye. There are several signs warning drivers of driving while tired and drunk. They call drunk driving here Drink Driving. The sign that caught my eye said, DRINK DrIvE.

Last weekend was branch conference. Saturday was our big dance and Sunday we had a meal for everyone following branch conference including our district visitors so that they could make the long trip home well fed. Here are our wonderful youth who cleaned up and washed the dishes. In front are Pone, Lisa, Moni, and Tupou. In back are Tim and Samu (Sam). Lisa is visiting from Tonga with her mother and will return within the week. She is a lovely girl and a delight.

Moni and Tupou after the dishes were put away.

On Friday we held our zone conference in Nelson. This is our new Elder in Greymouth, Elder Heywood from Gilbert, Arizona. We have only known him for a week but find him a very capable missionary. He is hard working and very knowledgeable. He even whistles while he works.

This was the sunset from our flat this week.

As zones go, we have a very small one. Four companionship's and us. Front row, Sister Jolliffe, Sister Hoagland, Sisters Wagstaff & Iva. Back row, Elder Tupou, Elder Tamale, President Jolliffe, Elder Hoagland, Elder Baguley, Elder Heywood, Elders Boster & Lorhmann our zone leaders.

The two children on the left are Tupou's little brother and sister, Ha'angana, and Lisa. Ana (Mufi) and Lisa had just finished one of the Island dances for our entertainment. Mufi wanted out of her costume as quick as she could.

We teach Manui and Aho Langi's son Lesili English. Here they are at the dance.

Fun for everyone. The children are free to do as they please and we don't bother them and they don't bother us. We had European, Hendi, Tongan, Phillipino and Moari represented on the floor.

That is Lesili running around on the left as Sister Carpenter, our relief Society president dances with 14 year old Sione. President and Sister Kohu of the Nelson district and Sister Scott dancing with Tim (16).

Here is part of our floorshow with our young women dancing some island dances. They were taught the dances by Sister Tama'a Langi on the left who is the young women president. She is doing a great job.

Here we are with Tama'a and her husband Puta Langi just as the dance was getting underway.

We are seated here with Noila and Fatui Tau, the parents of Tupou and Sam. Fatui wants to be faithful to his Tongan Church but lets his family fully participate in church.

Here I am with my guys. The boy on the far left is a friend of Tim's. Next is Sione, me, Pone and the young men president, Puta.

We were happy the President Kohu was able to be here for the dance. He and his family are a delight and their oldest son is beginning a mission in South Africa.