One Fine Day at the Auckland Zoo




We visited the Auckland Zoo on a recent Saturday when the weather was perfect (around 70 degrees). We were very impressed with the zoo ranking it as one of our all-time favorites. The setting is beautfiul and the animals were active, probably due to the moderate temperature.

 

This elephant was right by the entrance. We walked around the entire zoo. It was quiet and serene.

  



As we walked around the zoo I kept feeling like we had ventured into the Garden of Eden. It was an idyllic setting.



A very aptly named flower...Bird of Paradise

The sea lion enclosure was excellent. We happened to walk by as the animal trainer was doing a little "show" with the sea lions. He was telling us here not to throw fishing line or rope into the ocean as it is dangerous to the sea lions (shown here wearing a version of the dangerous stuff, for demonstration purposes only).



The baboons were especially interesting to Elder Jacobsen as he hunted them while living in Ethiopia with his family in 1965. They were considered "crop destroyers" and so hunting them was allowed.



The giraffes and zebras happily coexisted in their enclosure.




This is the bird enclosure and the buildings on either side contain other additional bird exhibits and enclosures including one for nocturnal animals like the Kiwi .



The Kiwi exhibit replicated their habitat of trees and bush. Unfortunately for us the Kiwi were not interested in making an appearance while we were there. The Kiwi is now an endangered species falling prey to attacks from domesticated dogs. They are found in a few remote spots on islands and places where the predators can be closely controlled.

At first we were standing by this enclosure for Ringtailed Lemur and could not see a single one. Then the trainer came into the enclosure to feed them and suddenly they were everywhere.  

Love and hugs 'til our next post!

The Kingdom of Tonga - Part 2 - Vava'u



Arriving on the island of Vava'u. Elder Jacobsen gets off the DC3 that was our aircraft. This plane has a long and storied history from flying military missions for the New Zealand airforce just after WW II ended to flying around the Pacific Islands as a commuter plane for Chatham Pacific Airways.





Another view of the airport at Vava'u. It sits out in a large field.





Elder and Sister Forsyth are the newest ITEP couple in the Pacific. They are assigned to Saineha High School. Elder Forsyth has a background as an elementary teacher and an elementary principal. Sister Forsyth was a long-time elementary teacher. They will be a great asset to the teachers working at Saineha.



We were warmly welcomed to Saineha High School (grades 7-13) by the Forsyth's, Etta, the newly appointed principal, and Linda, an incredible lady who is retiring as principal this year. We enjoyed the time we spent talking with them and their sense of commitment to their students was inspiring. All of the administrators at Saineha teach a class each year. Five-hundred students attend Saineha. When Elder Jacobsen and I were there for our visit students were busy taking end of year exams.





Motuliki is the school counselor at the school. He is a master of the SSEOP and understands the value of keeping data about the progress of each student. The ITEP couple have an office right next to Motuliki and they reported to me that he always has students in his office. He meets with students from all grade levels and is a calm mentor to them. He also teaches a Chemistry class and on the night before the end of year exam he met with students at the school to help them prepare. On this small island this type of commitment by teachers and staff to help students be successful is common.



Sister Forsyth is using the broom to sweep off her patio at the back of her home on the school grounds. When she asked the workers for a broom this is what they brought her. It is one they made from one of the trees at the school. It works just great!



A view of Saineha from the back of campus where the Forsyth's and a few of the teachers live.



This is the harbor of Vava'u where many of the sailboats moored there have people living on them. The local people call them "the yachties".



The daily catch at the market.





Bringing in the catch to sell.



Elder and Sister Forsyth are ordering some baskets and mats at the market. This particular vendor was also a long-time teacher and her son is a teacher at Saineha. I think they got a fair price. :)





The market at Vava'u.



This is a cemetery. It is not possible to dig deep holes to bury loved ones so sand is used to build up the gravesite.





Pigs are a common site around the island.



Elder Jacobsen looks out at the water at the Botannical Reserve. This place caters to tourists and groups so there is a restaurant just behind Elder Jacobsen. It wasn't opened when we were there.



One lovely evening we ate dinner at the Tongan Beach Resort.





A view from the dock to towards the beaches of the resort. It was very quiet and we had a great dinner.



Elder Jacobsen is showing off this beautiful lei that was given to him at church on Sunday. We attended a Tongan ward and loved being there listening to everything in Tongan. We didn't understand the words but the spirit was there in abundance. There are many in Tonga who speak excellent English and we had a couple sitting next to us who translated for us from time to time.



I was also the recipient of a beautiful and fragrant lei. I wish I could convey in this blog the beautiful nature and spirit of the Tongan people. They are kind and welcoming to strangers and want to make sure your visit is a good one. We have been invited to come back so they can prepare an "umu" (roast pig barbecue) for us.  



The Kingdom of Tonga - Tongatapu

Elder Jacobsen and I visited Havelu Middle School just after our arrival in Tongatapu (the name of the most populated island in Tonga, which is made up of 176 islands) . We met the principal, Lavenia, and admired this bulletin board in the conference room made of Tongan Tapa cloth. Tapa cloth is made of the bark ot the Mulberry tree. It is painstakingly pounded and stretched by hand over  many days and is then painted with designs.



The Szoka's are one of four ITEP Missionary Couples assigned to the church schools in Tonga. They live and work on the campus of Liahona High School providing BYU Hawaii classs to the teachers and other professional development. They were wonderful hosts to us and transported us all around the island. Another missionary couple (the Johnsons) will be arriving in November and will be assigned to work with the five middle schools in Tonga (three on the island of Tongatapu, one on the island of Ha'apai, and one on island of Eua).

 

This tree sits in the middle of the courtyard between the two classroom wings of the school.



We visited several classrooms while we toured Pakelau and Havelu Middle Schools. Looks like some learning is going on here. :)  These students are learning in their second language and teachers do a great job helping students find success.



The LDS Temple in Tonga is located right by the campus of Liahona High School. We ran into these missionaries who are wearing the traditional Tongan tupenu (lava lava) with the ta'ovala (woven mat) tied with the kafa (rope).
Elder Jacobsen and I were able to attend a 6 a.m. session in the Temple the second day we were in Tonga. It was in Tongan but we wore headphones and listened in English. There was a very special spirit there.  



 

We met with the three counselors and the the principal, Inoke Kupu (second from left), after arrving at Liahona High School. The counselors are: Vika, Vatuniloka, and Sila.

This is the entrance to the Liahona High School campus. It is the largest of the 15 church schools in the South Pacific. There is a middle school and a high school located here with 1,100 students in the high school and 500 in the middle school.

Elder and Sister Szoka in front of the ITEP office on the campus of Liahona High School



The counselors welcomed us with handmade Tongan rope leis. We were touched by the generosity and kindness of the Tongan people. They are always concerned that a visitor feels welcomed. And WE DID!



More gifts! Liahona High School counselors Sila Fonua and Vika Kaufusi. The registrar is on the far right.



Students always meet you with a smile as you pass them in the walkways. Liahona is a large campus and they could have some distance to cover as they walk to their next class.

 

Hard at work getting ready for end of year exams.

These cute students are in Form 1 (grade 7) and many are just learning English. In this homeroom class the teacher presents the career guidance curriculum and the students work on their personal portfolios. Because there is only one counselor for five middle schools the teachers have to be very involved in making the Comprehensive Counseling and Guidance program work in the middle school. Moana Kupu is the counselor and does a super job in getting the curriculum organized and training the teachers. She also follows up with the teachers after they meet with students in their SSEOP (Student Spiritual, Education, and Occupational Plan) and checks all of the portfolios.

Principal Harvelene Sekona at Liahona Middle School with counselor Moana Kupu



This teacher is conducting an SSEOP interview with a student as they review the student's portfolio. 

Elder and Sister Szoka took us to see the "blowholes" on Tongatapu. As waves come into the shore they are forced up through holes in the coral rock. You can watch the water shooting up as it hits the shoreline all down the coast as far as you can see. It was spectacular! These pictures don't do it justice.



Love and Prayers 'Til Our Next Post!

Coming next....The Kingdom of Tonga - Vava'u