![]() ![]() ![]() We would see him in person, this monarch we’d only seen in pictures and all of us were excited. The king lived 300 miles away on the main island of Tongatapu.Īfter settling into our hosts’ home we discovered a big celebration would occur during the next three days. We came to the Tongan islands representing South Seas Christian Ministries (SSCM), in August, 1998, leading a team of 12 young adults and five leaders for an outreach. “You look beautiful, like a Tongan woman.” Amazing! I felt anything but beautiful, damp with sweat and hair done without benefit of hair dryer or curling iron! He could see me through a window and spoke to me, admiring my traditional dress. The king’s chef busily prepared a sumptuous feast for his majesty and distinguished guests, which, I presumed, included the beady eyed fox-bats. I sat straight as a board, sweat beading on my forehead. However, the finely woven Pandamus leaf mat, which extended from my midsection to knees, made it hard to breathe. My gracious Tongan hostess had cinched a Tongan ta’ovala tightly over my dress so I’d be appropriately dressed for the King. I sat awaiting my meeting with King Taufa’ahau Tupou IV of Tonga in a covered area next to the Royal kitchen. Bats are an island delicacy and would, no doubt, be part of the fare. Their tiny fox-like heads and beady eyes stared at me although they were dead and prepared for cooking. ![]() The Day I Became a Friend of the King of Tongaīats! Skinned bats’ wings poked out of hand-woven grass baskets. ![]()
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