Tongan Youth Trust/ To'utupu Tonga Trust

Ko e Tatau kia Rev. Prof. Dr. Jione Havea

Tuku mu’a ke u fakafofonga atu ‘a e Tongan Youth Trust he ma’alali e mo’ui kuo hiki atu mei hotau lotolotongaa ke maloloo he nonga mo e fiemalie ‘o hono ‘Eiki, Rev. Prof. Dr. Jione Havea. Ko e talanoa nounou [reflection] ni ‘oku makatu’unga ia ‘i he mahino kia au ‘a e mahu’inga ‘o e mohu me’a [mana] ‘o e faifekau ni. Tukukehe ange ‘a ‘ene ‘iloa he mala’e ‘o e ako faka’ekatemika mo e teolosia ka kou fie lave [reflect] ‘i he tokoni ma’ae to’utupuu mei he ‘ene mahino’i ‘a e Tohitapu ‘i he ‘atakai ‘aho ni.

Ko Jione Havea ko e taha ’i he ni’ihi ‘o e kau faifekau Tonga tokosi’i ‘oku nau lava ke ‘omai ‘a e tala’otua/teolosia ‘o e Tohitapu, ‘Otua, Siasi, Fakamo’ui [salvation] talanoa ‘o e fakakatupu/’atakai [creation/environment] ke vaofi pea ‘uhinga malie [meaningful] ki he to’utupu ‘o fakatatau pea mo honau kuongaa ‘i he ‘aho ni [here and now]. ‘Oku ‘ikai ko ha me’a faingofua ‘a e liliu [transformation] ‘a e loto mo e ‘atamai ‘o e to’utupu/youth, ka ‘oka ‘i ai leva ha faifekau [church/community leader] ‘oku ne ofongi/paotoloaki ‘a e fakakaukau ko iaa koe’uhi ke tokoni’i ‘a e to’utupuu ‘o hangee ko Jione Havea pea ‘oku ou kau au he poupou kakato mo salute ki he ni’ihi ko iaa.

Na’e hanga ‘e Jione Havea ‘o fakanaunau’i [equip] ‘a e to’utupu ‘a e to’utupu, fanauako, kau faifekau ke nau fakakaukau ke lahi mo loloto ange ki he Tohitapu, mahino’i/’ilo’i ‘o e ‘Otuaa pea mo hono ngaue’aki ‘a e mahino ko iaa ke tokoni’i ‘a e to’utupu/fanau mo honau ngaahi famili ke nau ma’u ‘a e mo’ui ‘o lahi ‘aupito pea tupulekina foki mo ‘enau fanau he tapa kotoa ‘o e mo’uii. Hange ko e folofola ‘a Sisu, “ke mou ma’u ‘a e mo’ui pea ma’u ‘o lahi ‘aupito” [Sione 10:10]

Na’a ne hanga ‘o fakafuo ‘ene ngaahi fakakaukau ‘i he ‘ene mo’ui ‘o tatau ai pe ‘oku tui ki ai ‘a hono kaungaa faifekau pea mo e kau taki ‘o e siasii. Pea ne hanga ‘o malanga’i ‘a e teolosia ‘o e ‘kau katoa’ [inclusiveness], tatau [equality], tangatakakato [humanity], ‘amanaki ki he ta’e’amanekina [hope for marginalized] pea mo e ngaahi teolosia ‘oku hoko ia ko e fakaloto lahi ki he to’utupu neongo ‘oku tukuhifo ki nautolu ‘i he ngaahi ha’ofanga lahi ‘o kau ai mo e siasii.
Mau salute atu Jione Havea. Ko e faifekau anga fakatokilalo lahi koe pea na’a ke fakaivia ‘a e to’utupu ‘i ho’o founga ngaue fotungofua pea mo ho’o anga fakatokilalo. Tauange mo e ngaahi matangii ke nau fai kapau koe ke ke fononga ‘o maloloo he nonga pea mo e fiemalie ‘a ho ‘Eiki. ‘Ofa atu lahi atu mei he To’utupu Tonga Trust kae’uma’aa honau kau faifekau na’a tau tui tatau ‘i he ‘etau founga fakamisiona ma’ae to’utupu. MAU ‘OFA LAHI ATU KI HE UITOU MO E FAMILI.

Farewell to Tongan Youth Empowerment Rev. Professor Jione Havea

The Tongan Youth Trust is devastated to hear that Rev. Professor Jione Havea passed away recently. TYT [Tongan Youth Trust] is a practical fan of Jione Havea because his theological views are aligned with the belief and theology of the Trust. His contextualisation and practical theological perspectives on God, Bible, Salvation, Creation/ Environment and way of churching today enable church to be more meaningful. In other words, his contribution on doing theology, church, identity are very powerful and inspirational message to young people today. This is very much appreciated by Tongan Youth Trust because most youth today seems to believe that Church is out of touch.

Jione Havea lived his faith to its fullest and he embodied his theologies in the way he act, dressed and speak, eventough his theologies and views were not always welcomed by most of his faifekau colleagues in Tonga and diaspora. He had no fear in sharing openly his view on Bible, inclusiveness, equality, sexuality, humanity, creation/environment, cultural values, hope for mariginalised community and theology. That attributions inspired young people to see ‘hope’ in terms of knowing/understanding God in a different way comparing with traditional view of Christianity. He was a liberator and life-giver to young people just like Jesus did. For example, Jesus declares, “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly” [John 10:10]

Tongan Youth Trust and I personally salute Jione Havea. He was a very humble faifekau/presbyter, youth advocate and a practical theologian of contextual theology in society. He was a real youth advocate, liberator and motivator. He encouraged young people and church leaders to be critical thinkers and think deeper to understand Bible and realistically in our context today. And if we truly love our youth, we have to be flexible in order to transform and produce quality changes in the lives of young people. May the winds of the four corners wing you to rest in the peace of your Lord. Lots of love to your lovely wife, daughter and family.

This has been the hardest post to write.

Last week, our beloved Betty Soi passed away unexpectedly. Today, we laid her to rest. Our hearts are heavy, and our Tongan Youth Trust family is grieving deeply.

Many of you will remember Betty as one of the first faces you met when you came to the Trust. She was a powerhouse; steady, tireless, and full of heart. As we shared at her burial service today, Betty didn’t just work at TYT, she thrived.

When Betty first started with us nearly two decades ago, she had little community experience. Twenty years on, she was single-handedly holding so much together. She knew the systems, the families, the young people, the history, and the heart of this place. She carried responsibility with humility and served with quiet strength.

From all the mentors, staff, and the many young people whose lives you touched, we miss you deeply, Betty.

Alongside Betty’s family, this loss feels unbearable. For our CEO, Rev Iki, the past week has been especially hard. He has reminded us again and again, “It is really hard to let go of someone you can trust in this line of work.” Betty was that person, trusted, faithful, and unwavering.

There is a Tongan hymn that speaks powerfully to Betty’s life:

Vakai hono nima hena
Aonga ki he ha
Ko sisu ne ne pehee
‘e lava noa ke tolo maka
Ke too ha to’a

Which in English reflects this truth:

“Look at the wounded hand —
what good could it possibly do?
Yet Jesus said,
even that hand can move stones,
and bring down giants.”

As we all know, Betty worked with one hand. But as this hymn teaches us, what the world may see as a limitation, God sees as strength. With one hand, Betty transformed lives. With one hand, she moved mountains.

On behalf of all the children you loved at Tongan Youth Trust, all the mentors, staff, and parents, thank you, Betty.

Go well, our friend.
Rest now.
Journey peacefully to be with your God.
May you dwell in His calm, His light, and His everlasting peace.

Ofa lahi atu.

🕊️

Be a zero waste champion today!

I ho’o mavahe mai mei api to’o mai ha’o ki’i koniteina, pe ha hina vai mo ha’o ipu kofi ke ke ngaue’aki🥤

Fakatau ha koloa e malava ke ke toe ngaue’aki ’o hange koe ngeesi hina moe sia sioata🫙

Fakatau ha koloa motu’a oku kei lelei ki hono ngaueaki kae oua e fakatau ha koloa fo’ou hange ko e naunau ki ha’o fale (sea, tepile etc.,)🪑🪞

Meet the boys and show em your support as we prep for our match against the Kiwis. Fan Day in Ōtāhuhu this Thursday❤️🇹🇴
Big thank you to for your support, to for MCing and for keeping our event safe.
See you all there. Ofa atu

Job opportunity. Tongan and English versions.

An awesome atmosphere to celebrate our cultures.

Ōtāhuhu Food Festival Over 150+ food trucks and stalls showcasing food from around the world, lining the entire Otahuhu Town Centre.

Manuia le vaiaso o le gagana Samoa.

Sivi ki he kanisa e ngutu oe taungafanau (Cervical Cancer)

Toe pe ae uike e 2 pea kamata ae polokalama ni.

SIVI KEI TAIMI, FAITO'O KEI TAIMI !!!!!

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Cervical Cancer Screening

2 more week before it starts in Tonga.

Test early for early treatment