Funeral service for Royal Couple

Popoaki fie kaunga mamahi - ‘Ipolito Lasalo, Australia
‘Oku ou faka’apa’apa lahi kae fakahoko atu ‘o fakafofonga’i atu ‘a e kau ako tutuku Tonga ‘i muli ni, ‘o e Australian National University, ‘a e popoaki tu’a mo fiekaungamamahi ki he famili ‘o e ongo pekia ko Pilinisi Tu’ipelehake mo Pilinisesi Kaimana Tuku’aho.

‘Oku mau ongo’i mo’oni ‘a e mole ‘a e Pilinisi Tu’ipelehake pehe ki homau kaunga ako ka ko e Pilinisesi ‘ofeina ‘o Tonga, ko Pilinisesi Kaimana Aleamotu’a Tuku’aho.

Na’e kau foki ‘a Pilinisesi Kaimana ‘i hono fokotu’u ‘i he 1996 ‘a e Australian National University Alumni Asoociation ‘i Tonga. Na’e ako foki ‘a Pilinisesi Kaimana ‘i he ‘Univesiti ni ki hono mata’itohi Master in International Relations Studies.

Na’e kau ‘i hono fokotu’u ‘a e ako tutuku ni ‘i Tonga ‘i he 1996 ‘a H.E. Andrew Mullins (1996 Australian High Commisioner to Tonga), Pilinisesi Kaimana Aleamotu’a Tuku’aho (Pekia), Lupe ‘Ilaiu, H.E. Dr. Sione Ngongo Kioa, Mele Polutele, Halahingano Siufanga Rohorua, Viliami Tiseli, Maliepo Toma mo ‘Ipolito Lasalo.

‘Oku ou lave’i pe na’e ‘i ai pe mo e kau faiako mo e ako tutuku Tonga ‘iloa ‘o e ‘Univesiti ni kimu’a mo kimui ni mai ‘i he 1996 hange ko Dr. Sione Latukefu (Pekia), ‘Eseta Fusitu’a, Sione Tupouniua, ‘Ilaisaane Pongi, Dr. ‘Okusitino Mahina, Dr. Kalolaine Fusimalohi, Dr. Saia Kami, Koloale’o Soakai, Mata’i’ulua Fusitu’a, Lu’isa Tu’i’afitu, Meipele Finau, Posesi Bloomfield, Rosamona Bing.

‘Ofa ke tukulaumea ‘a e melino, ‘ofa mo e faitotonu ‘a hotau ‘Eiki huhu’i, ko Sesu Kilisito, ‘i Tonga ‘o hange na’e mo’ui ‘aki ‘e Pilinisi Tu’ipelehake mo Pilinisesi Kaimana Tuku’aho. ‘Ofa ke na toka ‘i he fiemalie ‘a e ‘Eiki.

‘Ofa atu mo e hufaki,

‘Ipolito Lasalo - Australia

Royal funeral and God's sovereignty - Dr ‘Eva Puniani - Ottawa, Canada
It is with solemn sadness that I learnt of the tragic demise of Prince Tu'ipelehake, Princess Kaimana and their driver. Thank you so much for updating us overseas with the funeral processions in Tonga, services and pictures which I believe many are watching with a tearful eye.

Please relay my condolences to Princess Siu'ilikutapu, Hon. Mailefihi and their family. My deepest sympathy also to Tuna, Hon. Fielakepa and family, as well as to the Hefa family. Our love and humble prayers are with you all during this lamenting time. Please PRAY-ON for these bereaved families. I pray that you take solace in Christ and the power of His resurrection, and also in a genuine recognition of God's Sovereignty.

Job who lost everything in one day, not only recognized God's Sovereignty, but he also rejoiced in it. Hearken to his sublime words of submission, “The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21).

The announcement that Eli's two sons in the prime of their manhood (utterly unprepared to die) will be struck by sudden death must have been appalling. Yet, what was the effect upon Eli? “And he said, It is the Lord: let Him do what seems good to Him” (1 Sam. 3:18).

The recognition of God'’s Sovereignty is supremely and perfectly exemplified by our Lord Jesus Christ. In Gethsemane, he bowed to Divine Providence with strong crying and tears, as it were, great drops

of blood. May the word of Christ still your heart today, “Father, if Thou be willing, remove this cup from Me: nevertheless, not My will, but Thine be done” (Luke 22:42).

God's Sovereignty humbles as nothing else does!!! It causes us to hold our plans in abeyance to God's will. It cause us to recognize that the Divine Potter has absolute power over the clay and moulds it according to his own imperial pleasure (Jer. 18:6). It causes us to heed the scriptual admonition so generally disregarded…—”Go to now, you that say,

Today or tomorrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that you ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that”

(James 4:13-15). To really learn this lesson by grace, is to attain one of the highest form in the school of the Holy Spirit.

The realization that the Sovereign Himself is our Father by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (Gal. 3:26), that not a sparrow falls to the ground without His knowledge, ought to overwhelm and console the hearts, causing us to bow in adoring worship crying “Holy, Holy, Holy

is the Lord God Almighty "Even so, Father, for it seems good in Thy sight…” (Mat. 11:26). So, hold fast to your confession of faith" To live is Christ and to die is gain" (Phil. 1:21), amen.

Let this Tongan hymn that well illustrate our meaning, minister love, faith, hope and the SHALOM of Jehovah to you, on this special day:

'Eiki neongo ko e ha, Pule 'a'au 'oku fu'u e'a

Te u 'ahi'ahi ke talia,

Ke fai ho finangalo ia Kapau 'e pule mai 'a Langi,

ke u fou pe 'i ha fu'u mamahi

Te u 'ahi'ahi ke talia, Ke fai ho finangalo ia

'Eiki liliu 'a hoku loto, Ke u tui ai pe ki ho poto

Ka e faingofua pe ke u talia, Ke fai ho finangalo ia

Faka‘apa‘apa atu mo e lotu hufia mavahe ma'ae feitu'una,

Dr. 'Eva Puniani