More Singing and Dancing and a Tragic Death

Students and staff at Moroni High School often welcome special guests using some of the tradition dances and songs with a few modern twists.   They love to sing and dance and have a lot of fun practicing and performing.  

The video clips are from a few months ago performed for guests Leo a principal of a school in Samoa, Folau an assistant area school director from Tonga (former principal of Liahona Middle School), and the Derek an accountant from the Philippines.  An earlier post in this blog talk more about their visit

Traditional Dance to welcome special guests to the Moroni High School campus - performed by students in the cultural hall.  At the end of the dance a floral garland is placed on the head of the guests

This performance illustrates an I-Kiribati man using some very creative dance steps combining traditional with a modern twist to court a young lady (or is the young lady courting him?  You be the judge!)

A traditional I-Kiribati Dance performed by Moroni High School students as a welcome to guests from Tonga and Samoa.  Students in the front - are wearing traditional dress

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The Tragic Passing of Brother Teraoi Mwea

Last Friday - September 7, 2012 - we attended a training session and social for teachers and other church employees at the Tarawa West stake center.  It is a beautiful chapel next to the ocean with a marvelous view of the Tarawa atolls.  One of the activities the people really enjoyed was tie dying.  The ladies would take white cloth about 3 yards long and fold it in various ways and then soak it in different colored dyes and then spread it out on the ground to dry.  Many beautiful designs emerged from checkered patterns, shapes like sea shells, multicolored circles and other designs.  Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the activity.  Unfortunately, we did not bring our camera to take photos.

Next one of the physical education teachers at another school led the group in aerobic exercises.  People were enjoying the various moves and then they did some sitting exercises.  Then Brother Teraoi Mwea who lives a few houses from us led another round of aerobic steps to music.  Everyone was having a great time and really enjoying themselves, when suddenly he collapsed.  Efforts to revive him were unsuccessful.  He was transported to the hospital which was near by.  He died of an apparent heart attack.  He was only 38 years old, a father of 4 children and several other adopted and foster children who live in their home.  His wife is Rosila, the vice principal of Moroni High School.  Bro. Mwea was a large physical man about 6' 2''  and has been involved in athletics most of his life.  He served as the tennis coach for the young children who come to the Moroni tennis court every morning and evening and play for hours each day.

Because their are no mortuaries on the island, the funeral and burial usually occur within 24 hours.  Bro. Mwea's body was brought from the hospital to the maneaba on the Moroni campus and placed on some large tables while an all night wake was held.  Friends and family members visited, sang songs, and spend all night in the maneaba with the body.  A wooden coffin was purchased where he was placed.  Unfortunately the sides of the coffin were not tall enough, so another one had to be made during the night.  It too was also not tall enough so they had to remodel part of it.  This delayed the funeral for nearly two hours.

The funeral was held on Saturday and scheduled to start at noon but was delayed because of the problem with the coffin.  It was a nice service.  Two of his teenage children spoke and a daughter gave the prayer.  His wife Rosila also spoke which must have been difficult but she held her composure very well.  Their son that spoke is deacon age and the daughter is mia maid age.  The services were in Kiribati so we understood little of what was said but the Spirit was there in abundance.  Bro. Mwea's younger brother spoke as did Lita, Pres. Tune and the new stake president.

Following the services the body was placed in a large truck and the pall bearers and others rode to the family home where he was buried in their yard.  Life expectancy in the islands is short, heart ailments, diabetes and other diseases which could be treated with appropriate medical care are prevalent on the island.  During the past few months a Bishop and a counselor in the stake presidency have died of heart problems (both of them were in there late 40's).  Most men do not expect to live long after reaching 50 or 60 years of age.

Our heart felt sympathy goes out to Rosila and her young family.