The Kingdom of Tonga

From June 28 to July 3, Golden Year 3 (2006), 13 initiates from Auckland, New Zealand Center went to the Southern Pacific to spread Master’s compassionate message of Alternative Living during their school holidays.

Upon arriving at Tonga, we tried to rent a car from two rental companies but none of them had any available. Walking on the street, we did not have any idea what to do next. Suddenly, a touring bus appeared in front us. The driver asked us if we needed any help. After a short conversation, we found that the driver was a local tour guide and he was willing to drive us to each of the villages to distribute flyers.

The next day, we got on the bus and set out early in the morning. The guide told us that the people of Tonga love meat. Recently, a prince died of a heart attack in the prime of his life. From this, we all realized how important it is to disseminate the message of Alternative Living in this area. Upon arriving in the first village, we formed groups to distribute the flyers and News magazines, along with candies door to door. The villagers were very friendly. They all happily accepted our offerings. Some people even said that this is the exact message that their country needs the most. Shortly after we started, it began pouring rain and continued until the next day. This was extremely rare in the dry winter season for Tonga. The guide suggested that we could deliver Master’s books to school libraries.  So we brought some of Master’s books, News magazines and sample booklets to a nearby technology college that trains teachers. The dean of the college was pleased to accept the books. We also mentioned to her the purpose of our trip and asked her to give the flyers to the students so that they could bring them home to their family. Not only was the dean very willing to do so but also she said, “I myself should have started a vegetarian diet long time ago.”

During this extremely wet weather, we visited 11 high schools, 2 technology institutes and 1 university. Every principal was very pleased to accept the sample booklets and News magazines we offered and would distribute the flyers to the students to take home. One of the high school principals was very curious about our organization and asked us, “Did you know that Tonga people like to eat meat before you came? Did you know about Tonga before coming here? The wind is so strong and the rain is so heavy. The weather is so bad…”  We responded, “We came here because of love. We wish to share with your people this very important message of the vegetarian diet. Even if not all of our generation could become vegetarians, we should still pass the concept of the vegetarian diet to the next generation, educate them, and give them the opportunity to make a right choice, so that our earth planet would become better and better.” Hearing our answer, the principal was very touched and said, “I’d like to know more about your group.” Not only did he happily accept our book contributions and flyers but also he put on Master’s picture pin that we gave to him.

The secretary of a private high school principal told us that all the initiates looked so young and had shining skin, which must be due to our vegetarian diet. Therefore, she also wanted to try it. She asked us, “Are you the group that was promoting a healthy diet on television before?” Then, we realized that Master had arranged another pioneer group to help us to introduce some concepts of health and diet to the Tongan people so that it would be easier for them to accept the vegetarian ideal that we were introducing to them now.

When we were presenting Master’s sample booklets and magazines to the principal in a Boys High School, he pointed to his mouth and forehead and said, “Often we pay too much attention to satisfy the desires of our mouth and stomach but forget about our spirituality.” The instant effect of Master’s magazines, sample booklets and flyers on him deeply touched the hearts of each initiate present. Learning of the ecological and environmental importance of the vegetarian diet to the earth, another high school principal immediately agreed and said, “Due to over fishing by the Tongan people, fish are now rarely seen in the sea near the main island of Tonga. Maybe this is a kind of warning.”

That afternoon, we went to the biggest local newspaper. An agreement was reached to put the Alternative Living flyers in the newspaper so that everyone on the island would have the opportunity to receive this message of God’s love.

Coming out of the newspaper office, the guide told us, “It is because of the heavy rain in these last two days that the water towers could be filled in this arid weather.” (Note: In the Kingdom of Tonga, there is no running water system. Water is supplied by water towers.) Due to this recent weather change, Tongans will not have to suffer from drought. We also thank Master for guiding us through the rain to convey God’s message and blessing to the Tongans in the most efficient ways.

After spending two days together, not only did the guide acknowledge the ideal of vegetarianism but also kept on commenting, “Your presence has brought wonderful blessings to our country.” In order to let him personally taste the delicious flavor of vegetarian food, the initiates invited him and his family to have a dinner with us the next evening.

The next day, the weather was fine. In the early morning, as soon as the guide saw us he told us, “Yesterday, when I talked to my wife about you and the vegetarian ideal you are introducing, my wife said to me right away, “Let’s also start a vegetarian diet!” I have had vegetarian customers before. But I wondered at that time how I could survive on a vegetarian diet. I did not expect at all that one day I would become a vegetarian.”

That day happened to be a weekend, the time when Tongans usually do their shopping. So, we went to every shop in the downtown area and asked the owners if we could post the Alternative Living flyers on their windows and also place some on their counters for their customers to take. Amazingly, some non-vegetarian Chinese restaurants especially welcome us to post the flyers in their restaurants. They also brought some home for their relatives. We recommended to the owners that they should have available vegetarian dishes for their customers.

Later on, we distributed in the most crowded market. Both vendors and customers cordially accepted and attentively read the flyers. Among these, there was a nurse who supported what we were doing very much and asked for many more flyers, so that she could place them in the hospital where she worked for the visitors and patients. After reading the flyer, one vegetable vendor liked the vegetarian ideal so much that he asked us to teach him vegetarian cooking.

In the afternoon, we continued to visit school principals and pastors in churches as well. Through our incisive introduction of the flyer and our sincere request, they were all very happy to hand out the flyers to the students or the followers in their churches. We were very surprised and deeply touched by the open-minded attitude of the principals and pastors. But what astonished us the most was that the guide was not only familiar with each school and church, but also knew the residences of the principals, teachers and pastors so that we could accomplish our task smoothly. All the initiates believed that this guide, seemingly descended from heaven, must have been a messenger sent by Master to assist us on this job.

That evening, to treat the guide and his family, the initiates prepared a banquet of nine attractive and delicious vegetarian dishes with limited materials and cooking equipment. Upon arrival, he said to us, “Today, when I got home I called all my children and announced to them seriously that from now on, there would be no more of any meat in this house. My daughter agreed and said, ‘In school we were also taught to eat more fruits and vegetables to be healthier.’” After the dinner, the guide acclaimed that it was the most beautiful dinner he ever had. Moreover, after discussing with the initiates, he got to know more about Master’s teachings. Then, he and his wife requested to learn the Convenient Method. Both of them had very good inner spiritual experiences in their meditation.

Before leaving for Tonga, we learned that in the Kingdom of Tonga, churches have great influences. On Sundays, every Tongan must attend church service. Except for bakery shops, no other businesses are allowed to be open on Sundays. Sunday morning, when the people of Tonga went to church, we meditated to get recharged. In the afternoon, we continued to visit the principals and pastors. At almost the end of our schedule, we learned from the guide that there was a slum in the coastal area and there were nearly 100 poor families living in the garbage disposal site. Hearing this, we immediately went to a bakery to buy 100 loaves of bread. We delivered them, along with candy, sample booklets, News magazines and Alternative Living flyers, to each of the families, hoping to convey God’s love and blessings to them. The most touching thing was that even though they were living in poverty, they were very simple, kind and honest. Also, they are not greedy; they help and take care of each other. Among them there was a woman who was living with three other families in a small shabby house. Her only request to us was that we must give her one of Master’s News magazines. Since we arrived there at twilight, it was already dark before we finished distributing. With only the flashlight we borrowed from the guide, we were able to deliver all of these gifts from God to each family in that area. The guide was very touched and said to us, “God must be very pleased with what you’ve done today.”

On the day we left Tonga, we heard that there would be a parade in the city, celebrating the King’s birthday. We felt a little regretful that we would not be there to give out more flyers. However, the personal secretary of the hotel owner told us that she would be very happy to help us by distributing the flyers to the spectators during the parade.

Full of Master’s boundless love and indescribably touched, we returned feeling very peaceful. Due to Master’s perfect arrangement and infinite love, many Tongans received God’s blessing and great message of love.

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