Then the Lord said to Jacob, “Go back to the land of your fathers and to your relatives, and I will be with you”- Genesis 31:3

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to experience life in the country of your ancestors, surrounded by unique cultural traditions and being immersed in the way of life that your parents and grandparents experienced? Two brothers from the Afeaki family, Simi (10/KL) and Edwyne (8/KL) were granted this wish when they recently returned to Tonga as part of the touring party of over 90 students who traveled to Tonga to enjoy the sesquicentennial anniversary of Tupou College.

Having both been born in Sydney, Simi and Edwyne have formed an appreciation for their Tongan heritage, mostly through their parents, Sidney and Anne, as well as playing rugby and learning alongside various Tongan students who form an important part of the fabric of Newington. Yet, to experience the heart of Tongan heritage, spending time with their extended family and returning to important landmarks would be key to grasping the essence of what it meant for them to be Tongan.

When boarding the plane to Nukuʻalofa, both Simi and Edwyne wore a ‘Faka’ufilani’; a large traditional necklace (‘lei’) which serves as a symbol of their heritage and something they intended to give to a chosen uncle and aunty as a sign of respect. They both shared the expectation of not experiencing anything that they weren’t already accustomed to, yet very much looked forward to spending time with their extended family. As an added blessing, Sidney and Anne (dad and mum) would join the boys in Tonga later in the week.

While in Tonga, the boys had the chance to visit the burial site of their great-grandmother, Ana Lolohea Salamasina Kolo (Sala), who passed away on the 1 December 2014. Sala was the Aunty to Rev Lopeti Taufa, one of the ex-presidents of the Tonga Methodist Church and former Tupou College student. Sala was a dedicated Christian whose faith in God has been a testimony to many. Her strong faith and dedication to worship has left a legacy that will live within the Afeaki family forever. Simi and Edwyne witnessed Tonga’s spiritual dependency, where God is everything and everything is God! Simi and Edwyne have become enlightened and strengthened in their faith and worship of God, knowing they are nothing without him.

The Tongan word for respect is ‘Faka’apa’apa’. There is no direct English translation of Faka’apa’apa, yet it forms the basis on which the whole Tongan culture is built. After their Tongan experience, Simi and Edwyne now carry a deep pride within, having witnessed firsthand the notion of Faka’apa’apa, and how it is represented within the Tongan way of life. When they visited their grandmother and uncles in Tofoa, they walked into a house with a table full of food cooked in the Umu (underground oven). No one else was present in the room, so the boys asked their uncles where everyone was, only to learn that their aunties and cousins were in the back shelter preparing the food and had been there for several hours. Being humbled by the generosity and servanthood of their extended family, Simi and Edwyne decided to roll up their sleeves and help with the preparation, which is exactly the notion behind the virtue of ‘Faka’apa’apa’.

Simi and Edwyne feel their visit to Tonga has given them the resolve to give their best to the many privileged opportunities they are presented with here at Newington. Simi has his heart set on studying Law in his senior years, while Edwyne is developing an interest in Business Studies. Both desire to return to Tonga to visit Vava’u; the island where their dad is from, and to share their knowledge, skills and talents with their extended family. Simi and Edwyne’s story serves to inspire all of us to return to our roots, to explore the foundations of our own heritage and learn from the important values that our ancestors stood for.

Reverend Geordie Barham
College Chaplain