Ahh, Easter. A time for church, candy, and good food with family. Ryan and I were not quite prepared for how much church we had coming our way. We really should have known better. For weeks now people in our village have been saying, "Oh, Easter is REALLY important to you Catholics huh?" But after January's uike lotu (week of church) we thought the worst was behind us. Well, in the immortal words of Bachman-Turner Overdrive, "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet". After a total of 12 hours of church in the span of four days, we now understand better.
There was no school on Maundy Thursday, so we went to town to have lunch with our Peace Corps friends and re-up on supplies for the coming week. We came home, bathed, and got picked up at 8 p.m. for church. After a two hour service, another 40 minute children's service and 30 minutes spent in diligent prayer, we were ready to go home. Enter the scariest car ride of our life. Dark jungle road + driver who thinks he is practicing for Nascar + driver being old and hard of seeing = scary. This man got so close to taking out a dog walking right next to man on the side of the road Ryan actually screeched, I mean, gave a manly yelp, in preparation for impact. We barley missed the dog and the man in the front seat took it upon himself to warn our driver of upcoming hazards. The next incident was moments later where the side-seat driver started screaming, "Horse, horse, do you see the horse?" Throughout the drive we almost killed a cow, a goat, the dog, the horse and a chicken, all of which were obstructing the road at some point or another! Oh dear Lord. But, We made it home safe and exhausted.
Day 1: smiling and ready to go.
Friday: Yep, turns out this was another long one as well. At 3:00 p.m. we stood on a large rugby field preparing to participate in the stations of the cross. We made our way parade like along a route set up to take us through all the stations. Everyone was dressed in full funeral garb. The main road in the capital had to be shut down for us to do our march. It was strange to see tourists in their beach wear along the side of the road taking pictures of us. Being the only white people amongst hundreds of Tongans, I guess we did sort of stick out. I thought this was actually pretty cool. We finished the last station at the church. Here is where I lost it a bit. The stations of the cross took about and hour and a half to complete. This was walking in full church wear in the baking sun, kneeling in the middle of the road for most of the time. I was hot, sore, and ready to go home. But, we then participated in a full mass with communion AND every member of the church having to walk up and kiss the cross. 2 1/2 hours later, we were done. Ryan and I arrived home beat beyond belief. But, some care packages had come our way so at least we got to finish the night with some Easter candy!
Saturday: The Easter bunny decided to deliver to us the best gift of all on Easter Saturday: our rat poison was working! While on the phone with my sister, Ryan discovered a rat that had fallen from a beam in our shower and broke it's legs. Yes! Kill #1. We were so happy to know that all the poison the rats had been eating like cat food was starting to disorient and do it's thing to the rats.
30 minutes later, another rat appeared on our porch while I was on the phone to my mom. He too was a bit slow and stupified. Ryan took to arms and trapped him in the grass with a broom. He then savagely bludgeoned the thing to death with a tree branch. I am not sure when we turned into the couple where the wife is cheering on her husband while listening to the squealing cries of the rat he is desperately trying to kill. But, find rat poop over all your dishes and cooking surfaces, see their teeth marks in your soap, their poop on your toilet seat, and watch one fall on your head and I think you will understand. So, needless to say, we were pretty happy to get kill #2 of the day.
On Saturday when it was time to be picked up for another church service, here is what I did:
Don't judge. Everyone has a breaking point. Poor Ryan had to tell them we couldn't go because we really needed to talk to our family. Thanks all.
And finally, the grand finale: Sunday Easter mass. We got dressed up in our Tongan finest and attended morning mass with our family. Oddly enough, this was the shortest and most relaxed service of all.
This is the Catholic Church located in Vava'u's capital, Neiafu. This is where we attend church every Sunday since the priest has not been traveling to the villages.
Hope you all had a wonderful Easter holiday as well!!
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