Trip to Suva for Temple Rededication Day 1 Part 1

     Ned Taito, our Self Reliance Manager, called the day before our Suva trip to tell us that we would be picked up at the airport, taken out to lunch, and then attend a training meeting. At the time, my thought was, “Self RelianceTraining is not what I was planning to do when I went to Suva.” However, it turned out to be one of the most incredible days of our mission! The Willis and Smiths met us, and the Vermeerens and the Czieps from Taveuni, at the airport. We had a good visit as we drove to the Korean restaurant. The food was amazing! Sonny sat at the head of the table. (He is the one who fixed the birth certificates and passports to make it possible for the two little children from Nakawakawa to go to the Tongan Temple and be sealed to their families.) In the middle of the lunch, Sonny made an announcement. He looked a little disappointed as he spoke. He would no longer get to be the spokesperson at the welcoming ceremony for President Eyring where he would be presented with three whale’s teeth. Sonny would instead be the translator who stood behind President Eyring and told him what the others were saying. He also announced that all of us were invited to the “secret” ceremony. Really! I had heard of these whale tooth ceremonies, but I never thought I would be able to witness one!

     The training meeting was well prepared and lasted only 45 minutes. They sent us home with a beautiful binder of materials and a flash drive with all the latest information, videos, and certificates. We told them thanks and appreciated all the hard work they had put into making them.

     Next we were escorted into a cultural hall where the ceremony would take place. We were in the midst of VIP’s –past mission presidents and their wives; Sonny Maiwiriwiri’s mother, who is also the mother to our District President; the temple president and his wife; three other invited Senior Couples-Smiths, Whiteheads, and Martins; and a few other distinguished guests. President and Sister Layton looked a little surprised when they arrived and saw us there. This was supposed to be a “secret.” They had not invited anyone - the Roths or Harwards or any of the office staff.

     As we visited before the ceremony, I wondered if President Wooley was one of the past mission presidents there. He is the one who connected us with William and Pennie Brown who baptized the Chettys and the Prasads. I asked the couple in front of us. He was the one! We thanked him profusely and told him what a blessing it was to these people.  The ceremony was incredible! We couldn’t believe how honored we were to be part of it. 

As we arrived, we saw guards outside practicing their stance.

    Sister Maiwiriwire, a Fajian Pioneer --one of the first three baptized.

Mother of Sonny & our District President.

President Eyring accompanied by members of the Pacific Area Presidency,
Elders Cook and Richards and their wives, etc.

Presenting a Whale's Tooth

Sonny did a great job taking care of President Eyring and his needs.

Performing the Meke, a Fijian War Dance

President Eyring had the biggest smile on his face the whole time, and he and clapped his hands with joy. He reminded me of a little child in his excitement. 

The guards had to keep this stance for about an hour.
Near the end, he was quivering a bit from the strain.
(Sister Wooley is partly in the frame.)

Three whale's teeth. You can tell size by comparing them to the man's foot.

What an honor to be by these great men & Elder Cook's wife