Leaving Tonga

Waking on Saturday morning, I was acutely aware of the fact that we are returning home to NZ this evening.
I ate my breakfast as usual and got ready to begin packing up. 
Some of the team raced upstairs to watch the All Blacks play Italy, but I packed my bags and considered how to transport some of our more delicate items.
When the team took off to watch some of the girls play their soccer match, Jonty and I stayed behind to pack our bags, move some beds, and mop the floor of the main area. We got all of this done, just as the team returned. 
In the next couple of hours, there was a lot of work done packing up the kitchen, giving away food, cleaning and getting ready to head into town for the last time. 
We stopped at Friend's Café, but then discovered that the power was out and we wouldn't be able to order lunch. We quickly changed plans to head to the Builder Burger Café at the swimming pool, but it was closed. So we went to the market and bought stall food: kebabs, filled BBQ rolls, and roasted chicken. 
After eating our food we went back to Friend's Café for a selection of cold drinks. We stayed for quite a while, just relaxing in the cool. While there, another group entered the café and Jo recognised one of the characters and a conversation ensued. Unsurprisingly, this young man also knew Max, and it turned out that he was here with a Seventh Day Adventist mission group, so our two groups started chatting and swapping notes. It was a very encouraging time. 
About this time, some of us were receiving email messages advising of a flight delay for our trip home. 
We went around to James and Mafi's house for a light dinner and chilled out singing Himi until our airport rides were ready at Halaleva.
The trip back to Halaleva was quick, and we packed up our luggage into three different vehicles, ready for our trip to the airport. 
Ben, Jonty and I had the fortune of travelling in Vili's Lexus for the first time; and I had a great chat with Vili on the way. 
We have had an awesome time. 
After arriving, we checked in our baggage and said our final goodbyes to our hosts. 
We received another email advising of an additional delay, but we progressed through security and perused Duty Free at our gate. 
While munching on chips from the nearby café, we did our final devotion for the week. It was a lovely way to end our time in Tonga. 
AirNZ offered passengers free food, in response to the delays; but finally we were moving, and managed to get on the plan before midnight (when Sabbath Law would prevent plane travel)
The flight home was an uneventful three hours. It was great to have friendly AirNZ staff, and to see funny safety videos again. 
Everything went relatively smoothly after landing, and the SuperShuttle was there to pick us up this time; dropping us home by 4:30am. 
It was such an awesome journey, where we created new friendships, as well as rekindling old ones. Praise God! Ofa atu!

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