FROM THE SENIOR PASTOR'S DESK
LABORS WITH TEARS, REAP WITH JOY
We cannot afford to stop working, trying, dreaming, wishing to achieve better fruits when there are no job. We must keep on laboring, looking for a job, finding a job even if it is hard to find a job these days. We must keep on trying knowing that God is with us. Once we find a job we will be happy, we cannot afford to stop “trying”. Once we stop trying, we will start to sit back, relax and do nothing. When we do nothing, we will begin to complain a lot and criticize others.
Psalm 126: 5 – 6
May those who sow in tears reap with shout of joy! He that goes forth weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing the sheaves with him.
Hard labor in Lord’s Mission is like the Tongan saying, “Fakala’aa ‘I Siamelie” meaning that hard working burning out at the sun at Siamelie, where Siamelie is a place of good hope. Even though there are many obstacles and consequences of serving the Lord, there are sweet thoughts and good hopes. As Apostle Paul said to the Corinthians:
“Therefore my beloved brethren, be steadfast immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain,” I Corinthians15: 58
The consequences of sowing is tiredness, sweating, natural disasters, working in the hot sun or in the pouring rain. Often times we labor in tears, going to work in early hours, returning home with doubts not knowing how children are doing at home. However, we are thankful that although we may be sweating we must continue to trust in God for He is trustworthy. As in Psalm 127 verses 1 and 2a –
“Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the City, the watchman stays wake in vain. It is in vain that you rise up early and go to rest late.”
On the second of December we welcome the Bishops of the Western Jurisdiction to the First Tongan United Methodist Church at Vaikau’aki. We count this opportunity as an abundant blessing, as welcoming the men of God into your house brings good hopes and happiness. A Tongan feast was prepared in the Vaikau’aki Fellowship Hall, and sounds of choirs welcome them and of course the Youths and Young Adults perform some numbers from all over the Pacific Islands. It was such an unforgettable evening and the sweet memories will linger in our minds.
Allow me to thank the assistant pastor, the lay leader and all the families of the church for your willingness to make that event a successful and memorable one. May the Lord continue to bless each and every member of our church so that we may continuously glorify thy name.
To conclude this report, I would like to thank the Lay Leader; Liongi Fifita, Chairman of the Administrative Board; Lisita Hala’api’api and Taumalolo, all office holders and to the elders of the Church; La’ahilimai Pakileata, Timote Manufekai, Toakase Hu’ahulu, ‘Ilaisa and Koloveketi Mikaele and all the church members for your continuous support that enable us to carry out our tasks.
Even though we faced hurdles and bumps trying to complete our new building and bathrooms, we have witnessed the useful purposes these completed projects has benefited us and our daily hygienic needs. We still have a few steps until construction is fully completed but God would not let go of us. The tears and hard feelings will give us hope for the future.
May I on behalf of all the families of the First Tongan United Methodist Church wish Bishop Mary Ann Swenson and her Husband, the District Superintendent; Rev. Tom Choi and his family a Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year. And to all my brothers and sisters in Christ here at Vaikau’aki, may we all welcome the Prince of Peace to guide us through to the New Year and the heavenly Joy will be showered upon us all.
Shalom and Agape.
Langi Fine
Mei he Tepile ‘a e Faifekau Pule
NGAUE TANGI, KAE UTU FIEFIA
‘Oku ‘ikai ke fakapotopoto ke tuku ‘etau ngaue, ‘etau feinga, ‘etau faka’amu ke ma’u ha fua ‘oku leleiange kapau ‘oku ‘ikai ma’u ha’atau ngaue. ‘Oku totonu ke tau kei kikivi atu pe ke ha’ao ha ngaue neongo ‘a e hangee ‘oku ma’ungata’a ‘a e ngaue he ngaahi ‘aho ni. Ke ta’e’unua ‘etau feinga ‘i he ‘ilopau ‘oku ‘iate kitautolu ‘a e ‘Otua, pea ka faifai ‘o ma’u ha’atau ngaue ko e fu’ufu’unga fiefia ia. ‘Oku ‘ikai pe totonu ke tuku ‘etau feinga, ko e taimi ko ee ‘e tuku ai ‘etau feinga, te tau fakafiefiamalie leva mo nofonoa, pea ‘e iku pe ke tau fa’a launga pea mo fakaanga’i e kakai kehe.
Saame 126: 5 – 6
Ko kinautolu ‘oku fai tangi pe ‘enau fakaheka, Te nau utu mo e hiva fiefia. Si’enau ‘alu ko e ‘alu tangi e, ‘o to’o ha falukunga pulopula; Ka ko si’ene ha’u ko e ha’u fiefia, ‘o ne to’o ‘ene ‘u fua.
Ko e totoivi mo e ‘osikiavelenga he Ngaue ‘a e ‘Eiki ‘oku hangee ia ko e lea Tonga ‘oku pehee, “Ko e fakala’aa ‘I Siamelia” Neongo e velahia mo e ta pupuha ka ‘oku ‘i ai e ‘amanaki melie ki ha ola ‘oku lelei. Ko e ngaue ma’a e ‘Eiki ‘oku ‘i ai hono ngaahi ta’au pea fele mo e ngaahi fakafe’atungia ka ‘oku ‘i ai ‘a e fakatu’amelie mo e ‘amanaki lelei. Hangee ko e lau ‘a e ‘Apositolo ko Paula ‘I he’ene tohi ki he kakai Kolinito:
Ko ia, si’oku kainga ‘ofa’anga, ke mou tu’u ma’u, ta’engaue, ‘o mou tupulekina ma’u aipe ‘i he ngaue ‘a e ‘Eiki: ‘I ho’omou ‘ilo ni, ko e me’a ki he ‘Eiki, ko homou fakaongosia ‘oku ‘ikai ko e laufano ia. (IKolinito 15: 58)
Ko e ha’aha’a ‘o e to ta’u ko e ongosia, ta pupuha, ko e faingata’a fakanatula, ko e velahia he la’aa, pea mo e ‘uheina . Ko e taimi lahi ko e ngaue pe mo ‘oi, tu’u hengihengi, foki po’ulia ki ‘api ‘ikai fakapapau’I pe ‘oku tukungamalie ‘a e fanau mo e ngaahi fiema’u ‘a e famili. Kae malie ko ‘etau ta pupuha ni ‘oku tu’u pe ‘etau falala ‘i he ‘Eiki. Hangee ko e fakaloto lahi ‘a e Tohi Saame 127 veesi 1 mo e 2:
Ka ‘ikai langa ‘e Sihova ‘a e fale, Ko e ongosia ‘a e kau langa ko e kulanoa pe. Ka ‘ikai le’ohi ‘e Sihova ‘a e kolo, ‘oku ‘a tu’unga’a pe ‘a e tangata le’o. Ko e kulanoa ho’omou ‘a hengihengi, Ho’omou mohe tuai.
‘I he ‘aho 2 ‘o Tisema na’a mau talitali mai ai ki he First Tongan United Methodist ki Vaikau’aki e kau Pisope ‘o e Western Jurisdiction. ‘Oku mau lau ‘eni ko e fu’ufu’unga tapuaki, he ko e lau ‘a e Folofola ko e ‘ete talitali lelei ‘a e tangata ‘a e ‘Otua ki hoto fale ‘oku ne ‘omi ‘a e ‘amanaki lelei mo e fiefia. Na’e ‘osi teuteu ‘i he Holo Vaikau’aki ha talitali ko e me’atokoni faka-Tonga ko e ‘ilo efiafi ‘a e kau Pisope. Na’e ongo malie ‘a e le’o ‘o e ngaahi kau hiva hono talitali fiefia ‘o e kau Pisope. Na’e fakahoko ‘e he To’utupu ‘a e ngaahi faiva fakaholo’ilo pea hangee ha’anau taki mamata e kau Pisope ki he ngaahi ‘Otumotu kotoa ‘o e Pasifiki. Ko e feohi’anga fakangalongata’a pea ‘e manatu fuoloa ki ai e kaingalotu mo e fanau ‘a e Siasi.
Tuku mu’a ke hao atu ha fakamalo ki he Faifekau Tokoni, Setuata mo e ngaahi famili kotoa ‘o e Siasi ho’omou lototoo mo fai vekeveke ‘o hoko ai ‘a ‘etau talitali ko ha Polokalama laulotaha. Fakatauange pe ‘e kei tu’uholoaki ‘a e faitapuekina fakafo’ituitui ‘a e kaingalotu ni ‘e ‘Eiki pea ke kei hokohoko atu ‘etau fakalangilangi’I Hono Huafa.
‘Oku ou faka’amu pe ke faka’osi’aki e fakamatala ni ‘eku fakamalo ki he Setuata; Liongi Fifita, Sea ‘o e Komiti Pule; Lisita Hala’api’api mo Taumalolo, pea ki he kau ma’u lakanga kotoa pe kae’uma’aa e kau tangata’eiki mo e kau fine’eiki e lotu; La’ahilimai Pakileata, Timote Manufekai, Toakase Hu’ahulu, ‘Ilaisa mo Koloveteki Mikaele mo e kaingalotu hono kotoa pe ‘i ho’omou kei poupou ‘o malava ai ‘o fakakakato hotau ngaahi fatongia.
Neongo ne tau fetaulaki mo e ngaahi faingata’a mo e tokatamaki ‘i he langa hotau Holo mo e ngaahi falemaloloo. Ka kuo tau fakamo’oni kotoa pe ki he ‘aonga mo e tokoni lahi ‘a e ngaue ni ki he’etau mo’ui Haisini mo e mo’uilelei. ‘Oku kei toe pe ‘a e ngaahi lakanga ke fakakakato he ngaue langa ni, ka ‘oku ‘ikai ha tala’a ‘e ‘ikai ‘aupito li’aki kitautolu ‘e he ‘Eiki. Ko e ngaahi lo’i fofonga mo e kakava kuo too ‘oku ne ‘omi ‘a e ‘amanaki lelei ki he kaha’u.
Tuku mu’a ke u fakafofonga atu e ngaahi famili kotoa pe ‘o e First Tongan United Methodist Church ‘o Vaikau’aki ha Talamonuu kia Pisope Mary Ann Swenson mo hono husepaniti, pea ki he Pule Fakavahe Faifekau Tom Choi pea mo hono famili ke mou ma’u ha Kilisimasi Fiefia mo ha Ta’ufo’ou fonu ‘I he Monu’ia. Pea ki he ngaahi tokoua mo e ngaahi tuofafine kotoa pe ‘ia Kalaisi ‘I he Siasi ‘o Vaikau’aki, tauange ke tau talitali ‘a e Pilinisi ‘o e Melino pea ke ne tofa ‘etau fononga ki he Ta’u Fo’ou na. Pea ke tau ‘inasi kotoa pe he Fiefia mei lotoHevani.
Shalom and Agape.
Langi Fine
Ko ho’omou Faifekau.
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First Tongan United Methodist Church
41-510 Flamingo Street
Waimanalo, Hawaii 96795
