in Tonga
Following the service Paul and Janet went to the Villa of Princess Angelika (Tongan High
Commissioner to Australia) for a celebratory Luncheon. There were 1600 people in marquees,
with tables stacked with food by the people of Pea, the King's village.
On 7 July, Paul and Janet were woken in the early Morning by a magnitude-6.2 earthquake that
struck east of the capital of Tonga in the Pacific Ocean. Its epicentre was recorded as 10 Km
below the seabed.
Later (that night) Paul was the speaker (Malanga) at one of the four ‘Polotus’ that were held
around Nuku’alofa to mark the beginning of the Free Wesleyan Church Annual Conference.
A ‘polotu’ is a gathering of choirs and people. There were five choirs at Paul’s ‘polotu’ and he
described the music as spectacular! The ‘Sea’ (Chair) for the evening was Rev Dr Tevita Havea,
FWC General Secretary. The theme of this year’s Conference was ‘Fakafo’ou –
‘Evangelelliō’ (The Future of Evangelism). Paul drew on a meeting of the Asian Movement for
Christian Unity he attended in Bangkok in 2013 to ask what might be achieved for the future of
evangelism in Tonga if the five Methodist
churches in Tonga (yes, five denominations)
were to come together and speak with one
clear voice. He suggested that the Conference make a decision to open conversations
wit h the other four Methodist Churches in
Tonga about a possible union. He thought he
might get back to their house (right) to find his
bags packed. But his friend, Tevita, was very
positive in his thank you speech at the end of
the ‘polotu’. And Paull survived as a member
of the Conference.
All photos on these two pages (and most of the words) copied from Paul Swadling’s Facebook page with permission.
St Margaret’s News
9
July 2015