Tongan Devotional and "Graduation' Party

Tongan Devotional and "Graduation' Party

September 14, 2013

These are some of the people that work in the Tongan Village here at the PCC.  These dresses and shirts were made the week before by the seamstress department.  I made some of them.  I remember making the one for Sela, she is the woman with the leis on and the ring of flowers in her hair.

The Tongan people have exceptionally beautiful singing voices.  One of the challenging things for me was singing the opening and closing songs in the Tongan language.

After the devotional they had a "Graduation"party for Sela.  She was retiring after many years at the Tongan Village.  This is her after so many people gave her leis that she could hardly see over them.

After many people talked about her contributions to the Tongan Village and the PCC, Sela spoke.  She was given about 15 more leis than these.  They had to keep removing leis so that more people could give her leis.

Sela joined in the song.

These are some of the extra leis and gifts.  The wooden curved piece with short legs is a Tongan pillow.  Doesn't look too comfortable to me!  People started tucking money in around the leis and throwing it up to rain down on her.  The children had fun picking it up for her.

These are some of the gifts.

More gifts.

The children looked so cute in their costumes.