The Flight to Tonga

After 2 long months of being in the MTC, I was completely over it and ready to get down to the islands to start my work. Fortunately we got to leave 3 weeks early as our Mission President wanted us to spend some time down in the 'Tongan MTC'. I had no idea what that would be like and at the time it sounded a little intimidating but at the same time, sounded adventurous.

The day finally came when all 7 of us missionaries loaded up into the big white van and made our trek down to the SLC airport. We said our last goodbyes with family and then boarded the plane. It was pretty hard seeing my family again and still seems like a really weird dream, but I was so full of excitement and energy at the time, I didn't think much of it.

I do remember how strange it was being the last one out of our group to walk into the terminal and have them shut the door behind me, and looking back through the glass window of the door seeing my mom crying and everyone else with a half-smile half-frown look on their faces. It was a weird feeling knowing that I was not going to be on American soil for another two years and I had about 75 feet of the loading terminal to walk down before I boarded the plane to L.A. Man it was a long walk to that plane and my heart was pounding but at the same time, I couldn't get over my excitement I was feeling. I also had a very calming feeling come over me letting me know that my family and everything would be watched over and protected for the two years I would be gone.

So we boarded a small plane and flew over to Los Angeles. We had a layover there for like 3 hours I think. I was really excited for the flight to New Zealand next. I had heard nothing but great things about Air New Zealand and how they were one of the best airlines in the world, so I was excited to check out the plane.

This is an Air New Zealand Plane at LAX airport about to take off to New Zealand.

The flight was a red-eye so I really don't remember much about it other than they played U-571 on the big screen. I ended up falling a sleep during the movie and waking up with about an hour and a half left in the flight. The flight was about 16-17 hours to New Zealand so I ended up sleeping for about 12-13. Not too shabby. But as everyone knows, missionaries can sleep very well.

When I woke up and found out that we had about 1 1/2 to 2 hours until we landed, I had a strong feeling that we were directly above the Tongan Islands. It was really weird. I could already sense the warm balmy air below, and the lush tropical forests and white sandy beaches beneath me. I got some headphones and plugged them into the radio jack and turned the stations to see what I could find. Surprisingly, I found a station that was playing Polynesian music. I was super stoked! With those thoughts in my head, and the music in my ears, I was so excited to finally greet the Tongan people in less than 10 hours! My island home awaited me.

I ended up dozing off again for another hour or so and was awoken by a sudden drop. It was the plane preparing for landing into Auckland New Zealand. I quickly looked out the window and noticed the city lights beneath me. I saw a ton of drivers on their early morning commutes. I noticed something very strange though, everyone was driving on the wrong side of the road! It was so weird to me that I woke up the other elders around me and showed everyone. It was very cool to see.

We made our way into the airport just as the sun was starting to come up over Auckland. It was one of the most beautiful mornings I have ever seen in my life.

The Auckland Airport was pretty cool. As we got off the plane, large Maori tiki statues surrounded us in the hallway. New Zealand has done a great job of keeping the Maori culture alive there.

A very strange welcome sign greets you as you walk in. Three heads and octopus legs? Cool.

The layover in New Zealand was pretty brutal. 6 1/2 hours. We saw everything you could see in about 2 hours of walking around and looking at every single thing in every little shop. We couldn't get over how awesome everyone's accent was. Funny thing was, everyone thought the same about us.

Right when we got off the plane, I needed to go to the bathroom so I walked over to a lady who worked at the airport and asked where they were.

She said "Are you from America?"

I said, "Yep!"

"You guys just have the best accents, I love them!"

It was pretty strange to hear that coming from somebody else but cool at the same time. It sounds weird but living in America, we take a lot of things for granted, even our accents. I came to appreciate American accents by living in a foreign country. I will explain this story further on when I post about serving in Niue.

This is in the center of the Airport in Auckland.

After our 6 1/2 hours of sheer boredom was up, it was time to board our plane to Tonga. Man was it an exciting time. We were all so thrilled that in two hours time, we would be in the islands and stuck there for two years!

Video, taking off out of Auckland towards Tonga...

We boarded the plane and I think this is when I realized what I was in for for the next two years of my life and finally it set in that I was on a mission and far far away from my homeland. Everyone on the plane had brown skin. Not only that but they were several pounds heavier than any of us. Even most the women. It was definitely a different experience. We didn't get to talk to anyone really as we all were pretty nervous about speaking the language to them and them not understanding a lick of it.

After an hour or so of talking about how amazing it was going to be, I could feel the plane lowering into our final descent into Tonga. Man I was thee definiton of giddy. I wish I could have seen my face that day!

I remember the captain coming over the intercom and telling us to look out the window as we were approaching the island of Tongatapu, which is the main island in Tonga. I looked out as he said that and saw that we were approaching a large pure green land mass. It was beautiful! As we got closer, I saw giant waves crashing against the outer reef of the atoll thousands of feet below.

I then started to notice, small houses roads and villages next to blue-turquoise waters. It did not seem real at all. I couldn't even believe what I was seeing. It all seemed like it was out of a movie. 6 months earlier I had gotten my mission call and was looking at pictures online of Tonga and now I was finally there. It was incredible.

As the plane was about to land, I noticed all of the coconut trees that went on for miles and miles. Coconut, or Copra (dried meat of coconut) is Tonga's main export good so the trees are everywhere. It was beautiful!

The plane touched down and we all had huge grins on our faces and could not believe we were there. We didn't know what to say other than, "Can you believe we are here?" There are no terminals in Tonga, just the airport. So you get off the plane just like the old days, or for anyone who has ever flown into Long Beach, CA, you know what I am talking about. The Tongan Airport is about the same size, but actually has two floors!

As the flight crew opened the cabin door, I could immediately feel the warm humid air and smell the tongan island scent that I loved since first whiff. Yep, it was love at first whiff.

After entering the airport, it was time to do all the fun customs crap. But you know Tongans, super laid back so it was a breeze and didn't take long. Here is where you get your baggage. LOL. When I was there, there were kids drawings all over the place like you were at a Grocery store. It was pretty funny. Welcome to Tonga!!

We ended up meeting with two American elders and the Mission President and his wife. It was so cool to meet everyone and finally be there! Here are a couple more shots of the aiport: