They may live miles away from home, but come Sunday and they might as well be back in Tonga, with their ta’ovala (waist mats) and kiekie, ready for church.
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Last Sunday, the Tongans celebrated the annual Children’s Sunday, known as the Fakame, similar to Lotu Tamaiti celebrated in Samoa.
The children wore white, performed skits and memory verses.
The service which is held every Sunday at the University of the South Pacific Campus at Alafua, is made up of the Tongan students and a few of the Tongans who work here in regional jobs.
It is also attended by students training at the Australia-Pacific Technical College at the National University of Samoa. Most of the Tongans here are married to Samoans.
There are currently 14 Tongan students attending Alafua and four at A.P.T.C.
Church steward Siosateki Fangupo told the Samoa Observer that the children’s programme aims at providing a foundation in their spiritual lives which is nurtured by their parents and families as they grow older.
“It’s to build up their faith as children and prepare them spiritually as Christians.
At least when they grow older, they have that foundation on which they can base their decisions in life.”
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