Tonga!

Thursday, June 13th

Happy Birthday Amberly!! WOW, our beautiful little Amberly is turning into a beautiful young woman. How did that happen? The years are flying by!!

We spent most of the day in Nuku’alofa today. It was the opening of Parliament and it is a huge celebration associated with it. All of the school children march in a parade through town and the King rides down the street as well, on his way to Parliament. The children and the bands march by, then they stop and line the street while the King passes. Then everyone stands and waits until he open Parliament and gives his speech. When he comes back out and gets in his car to drive to the Palace all the children form up again and follow him. Then they march across the Palace lawn so he can view each school. It is quite the production. We were there watching all of this happen from 8:30 in the morning until 1:30 in the afternoon.

Liahona was the last school to march. (either they saved the best for last or they don’t like the Mormons so they put them at the end.) When they passed us they invited us to march with them. It is the only way you can ever get onto the Palace grounds so we jumped at the chance. I took pictures.

We ended our day at the Temple. It felt good to sit down, relax and feel the Spirit.