Well the answer came on Toetu’u or Easter weekend. There was some sort of camp Friday night. I didn’t really get it but it seemed that we would go to church in the evening and then have a sleepover, boys in the hall and girls in the preacher’s house. Ok fair enough I will go. So I went to the church service and afterwards there was some sort of meeting. I could tell that they were voting, but I didn’t know why. Still I realized that Asolua was the secretary and Steveni was the chief there was also a father, but I didn’t recognize the name. Next they voted on the fa’e or mother. When they asked for a nomination someone said ‘Alisi and when they asked for a second the whole church was silent. So Sione just chuckled and said ok ‘Alisi is the mother. Immediately I turned to Elenoa and asked what just happened and what I had to do. She replied don’t worry you just have to watch over all the children and go to everything. In the end it was just their way to say we like having you around and want you here, so I was touched, I guess.

So everything was way more than I bargained for. Apparently the camp was actually 4 days long, good to know. Church starts at 6am, then breakfast and then bible study and discussion, lunch, church, activities, dance practice, dinner, church, tea and sleep. Wow ok. On Saturday I was a good sport about it, I went to everything and at the point that we started discussing whether or not you have accepted Jesus into your heart, Mikala rode up, what timing. Oh well we will have to leave that discussion for another time. We were going to go to the beach, but as mother I had to make a thank you speech at lunch. Being Tonga, lunch started about 2 hours late so we didn’t end up going to the beach, sorry Mikala. I did have fun though, mainly because I could hang out with friends and I don’t understand most of the preaching.

Saturday night church was long, maybe 3 hours lots of church and then praying while touching the cross. Afterwards Asolua walked me home and told me to sleep there and just come to church at 10 not 6. Thank you Aso!

I was a good sport the rest of the day and went to everything. One fun thing was there was 2 police officers who would report misbehavers and the offenders would be fined. A few examples were Loa accused Asolua of stealing his bread and giving it to Fusi, and Saia of being late to church. Fusi accused all the boys of asking me to tou’a, and the babies of disrupting the prayer. All in good fun, some folks had to offer an explanation or pay a fine like $1 or something. Tangulu also accused Loa and I of talking during the prayer. Fair enough we were talking, but in my defense I didn’t know we were praying as she gave a speech and then went right into the prayer with no clear indication of the switch. Yes she probably said lets pray in Tongan, but I didn’t understand it. Our punishment was to take the chaperones home as we had to be punished together. Again all in good fun.