Ngueni Vani Tā mo Lei Mai Lieni—Vietinemi

ʻI ha pongipongi Sāpate ʻe taha, ʻi he fonua moveuveu he taú ʻo Vietinamí, naʻe hū atu ai ʻa Ngueni Vani Tā (Nguen Van The), ko e palesiteni ʻo e kiʻi Kolo Saikoní ʻi he ʻuluaki matapā ʻo e ʻaá ki ha fuʻu fale faka-Falanisē, naʻe hoko ko honau falelotu fakafeituʻú. ʻI he taimi pē ko iá, naʻe ʻātakaiʻi ia ʻe he kau mēmipa ʻo e kiʻi koló, ʻoku fotu mei honau fofongá ʻa e taʻefiemālié mo e ʻamanakí. “Palesiteni Tā! Naʻa nau kaila, “Palesiteni Tā!” “Ko e hā ha ongoongo kuó ke maʻu?”

Naʻá ne maʻu ha ongoongo, ka naʻe ʻikai ke ne fakapapauʻi pe ko e hā e anga e ongo ki ai ʻa e koló. Naʻe lue atu ki he matapā ʻo e falelotú, pea muimui atu ki ai ʻa e Kāingalotú, mo kaikaila atu mo ha ngaahi fehuʻi lahi ange. Naʻe ʻikai ke ne tali, ka naʻe tātaaʻi pē ʻe Palesiteni Tā ʻa e tuʻa ʻo e kakaí. Naʻe puke ia ʻe Kongi Toni Nu Tuongi-Vī (Cong Ton Nu Tuong-Vy ) ʻi hono nimá, ko e palesiteni Fineʻofa mo e pule liliu lea ʻo e Tohi ʻa Molomona Faka-Vietinemí.

Peá ne fehuʻi ange, “Ko e hā haʻo faleʻi Palesiteni Tā?” “Ko e hā te u talaange ki he kakai fefiné?”

Talaange ʻe Tā, “Hū mai ki loto Sisitā Vī.” Te u talaatu kiate koe ʻa e meʻa kotoa ʻoku ou ʻiló, ʻi he ʻosi ʻa e houalotu sākalamēnití.” Peá ne tapou leva kiate kinautolu kotoa ʻi he kakaí ke nau fakalongolongo hifo. “ʻE tali kotoa atu hoʻomou ngaahi fehuʻí.”

Kuo lauitaʻu, ʻa e hoko ʻa Vietinemi ko ha fonua movetevete. Naʻe mapuna hake ʻa e fepakipakí ʻi ha taimi nounou pē mei he Tau Lahi ʻa Māmani hono II, ʻi hono kapusi ʻe he ngaahi kongakau Vietinemí ʻa e kau pule faka-kolonia Falanisē naʻa nau puleʻi ʻa Vietinemi talu mei he senituli taha-hivá. Ko e taimi naʻe ʻikai tali ai ʻe he ngaahi paati fakafepaki ʻi Vietinemi Tongá ʻa e pule fakakominiusí, naʻe aʻu ai ʻa e feituʻú ki ha fepaki fakatau-toitoi fakalilifu. Naʻe kau fakataha ʻa e ngaahi kau tau ʻAmeliká mo e kau Vietinemi Tongá ʻi ha meimei taʻu ʻe hongofulu, ka naʻe hanga ʻe he lahi ʻo e maté ʻo ʻai ke ʻikai manakoa ʻa e ʻIunaiteti Siteití, ʻo fakaiku ai ki he holomui māmālie ʻa e fonuá mei he taú. Kuo ofi ʻeni ʻa e ngaahi konga kau Vietinemi Tokelaú ki he kolomuʻa fakatonga ʻo Saikoní, pea mavahe leva ʻa e toenga ʻo e kau ʻAmeliká.

Naʻe fakamanamana ʻa e ngaahi kongakau Vietinemi Tokelaú ke fakangata ʻa e kiʻi kolo Saikoní. Naʻe mamata ʻa e kiʻi koló ki he kau mai ʻa ha kau mēmipa foʻou he māhina kotoa, ʻo aʻu mai ki he uike ki muʻá, ʻa ia naʻe ʻave fakavavevave ai ʻa e kau faifekau ʻo e Siasí mei he fonuá. Naʻe laka hake ʻi ha Kāingalotu Vietinemi ʻe uangeau tupu naʻa nau lotu maʻu pē mo e kāingalotu ʻo e Siasí mei he ʻIunaiteti Siteití. Ka kuo ilifia ʻeni ʻa e Kāingalotu Vietinemí naʻa tauteaʻi kinautolu ʻe he kau Vietinemi Tokelaú ʻi heʻenau feohi ko ʻení. Naʻe ʻi ai ha kau mēmipa ia ʻo e Siasí naʻa nau ʻosi movete, ko hanau tokolahi naʻa nau kau atu ki he kakai ʻi he ngaahi malaʻe vakapuná, ʻo ʻamanaki ke nau hola mei he fonuá.

Ko e taimi naʻe hū ai ʻa Tā ki he falelotú ʻo tangutu ʻi muʻa ʻi he lokí, naʻe lava ke fanongo ki he fepāpaaki ʻa e mahafú—pea ko ha ngaahi fepāpaaki ʻe niʻihi naʻe ofi mo fakailifia ʻene ongo maí. Ko hono mālie ʻo e mōmēniti ko ʻení he naʻe ʻikai ko ha meʻa foʻou eni kiate ia. Ko e taú naʻá ne ʻomi ʻa e kau sōtia ʻAmelika naʻa nau fakafeʻiloaki iá mo ha Kāingalotu Vietinemi tokolahi ki he ongoongolelei kuo fakafoki maí. Ka ko e tau tatau pē ʻeni te ne veuveuki ʻa e kiʻi koló ke movete. Naʻá ne ongoʻi ʻo hangē ʻokú ne ʻi ha meʻa-fakaʻeiki maʻá e kiʻi haʻofanga lotú.

Naʻe ʻi ai ha kāingalotu ʻe toko 125 ʻo e kiʻi koló ʻi he fakatahá, ʻi heʻene tuʻu ʻo laka atu ki he tuʻunga malangá. Naʻa nau fotu taʻemanonga, pea naʻe tangi hanau tokolahi. Naʻá ne ongoʻi pehē foki mo ia, ka naʻá ne mapuleʻi pē ia ʻi heʻene kamataʻi ʻa e houalotu sākalamēnití. Naʻe hivaʻi ʻe he Kāingalotú ʻa e “Hau Kāingá” mo maʻu ʻa e sākalamēnití. Pea fakahoko leva ʻe Tā ʻene fakamoʻoní mo fakaafeʻi ha niʻihi kehe ke nau fai ʻa e meʻa tatau. Ka ʻi he tuʻu ʻa e Kāingalotú ʻo fai ʻenau fakamoʻoní, naʻe ʻikai ke ne lava ʻo fuʻu fakatokangaʻi ʻenau ngaahi leá. Naʻe fakafalala ʻa e Kāingalotú kiate ia ʻi he taimi faingataʻá ni, ka naʻá ne ongoʻi taʻe-taau ia.

ʻI he ʻosi ʻa e houalotú, naʻe talaange ʻe Tā ki he Kāingalotú kuo loto fiemālie ʻa e ʻŌfisi Faka-ʻAmipasitoa ʻo e ʻIunaiteti Siteití ke fetukutuku ʻa e kau mēmipa ʻo e Siasí mo ha taha pē ʻoku mateuteu ke papi. Ka ko e Kāingalotu ko ia ʻoku ʻi ai honau ngaahi fāmili naʻe ʻikai mēmipa ʻi he Siasí ko ʻenau fili ke tuku pē honau ngaahi ʻofaʻangá pe ko ʻenau nofo pē mo kinautolu. Naʻe siʻi tangi mamahi ha Kāingalotu ʻe niʻihi ʻi he ongoongo ko ʻení. Naʻa nau fehuʻi ange, “Kae fēfē siʻoku fāmilí?” “He ʻikai ke u lava ʻo mavahe taʻe-kau ai hoku fāmilí!”

ʻI he tokoni ʻa e kau mēmipa ʻo e kiʻi koló, naʻe fokotuʻutuʻu leva ʻe Tā ha lisi fetukutuku ʻo fakamahino ai ʻa e Kāingalotu ʻe ʻuluaki mavahé. Neongo e kole ʻa e ʻŌfisi faka-ʻAmipasitoá, ka naʻe kau ʻi he lisí ha ngaahi fāmili taʻe-siasi mo ha ngaahi kaungāmeʻa ʻo e kau mēmipa ʻo e kiʻi koló. Naʻe kau ʻa e uaifi ʻo Taá, ʻa Lieni, mo ʻena kiʻi fānau ʻe toko tolú ʻi he Kāingalotu he lisí. Naʻe vili ʻa e kau mēmipa ʻo e kiʻi koló ke mavahe leva ʻa e fāmili ʻo Taá koeʻuhí kae tokanga kakato ki hono fetukutuku atu ʻo e toengá. ʻI heʻene hoko ko e palesiteni fakakoló, naʻe ongoʻi ʻe Tā ko ia ʻoku totonu ke toki mavahe fakamuimui tahá.

Naʻe puna ʻa Lieni mo e fānaú, fakataha mo ʻene fineʻeikí mo e ngaahi tokouá mei Saikoni, ʻi ha ngaahi houa siʻi mei ai.

ʻI he ʻaho hono hokó, naʻe laku pomuʻi ʻe he kau Vietinemí ʻa e malaʻe vakapuna ʻi Saikoní, ʻo maumau ai ʻa e leleʻanga ki he vakapuná pea ʻikai toe lava ai ha vakapuna fakakautau ke toe tō. Pea, ʻi he houa ʻe fāngofulu mā valu hono hokó, naʻe fetuku helekopeta ʻa e toenga ʻo e kau ʻAmeliká pea mo ha kau kumi hūfanga Vietinemi pē naʻa nau lava ke ʻave. Naʻe fakatovave ʻa Tā ki he ʻōfisi fakaʻamipasitoa ʻAmeliká ke maʻu ha founga ke mavahe ai mo e toenga ʻo e Kāingalotu naʻe kei ʻi he koló. ʻI he taimi naʻe aʻu atu aí, kuo ʻosi vela ʻa e falé mo kohu tuʻu ki he ʻataá. Naʻe fakatahataha ʻa e kau tāmate afí mo e kakaí ʻi tuʻa, ka naʻe ʻikai ha toe taha ʻi he ʻōfisi fakaʻamipasitoá. Kuo ʻosi mavahe ʻa e kakai ʻAmeliká mei he koló.

ʻI heʻene holiholi vale ke tokoni ke hao ʻa e toenga ʻo e kau mēmipa ʻo e kiʻi koló, naʻe heka paiki leva ʻa Tā mo ha mēmipa ʻe taha ko Tuleni Veni Ngohia (Tran Van Nghia) ke kumi tokoni mei he Kolosi Kula Fakavahaʻapuleʻangá. Ka naʻe ʻikai fuoloa kuó na fetaulaki mo ha fuʻu kakai tokolahi ʻoku nau lele ilifia mai ʻi he halá, ʻo huʻu ki he feituʻu pē ʻe taha. Naʻe ʻi ai ha tangikē tau mo ha fuʻu meʻafana lahi naʻe lele muimui vave ange ʻiate kinautolu.

Naʻe afeʻi leva ʻe Ngohia ʻa e paikí, ka na feinga atu mo Tā ke toitoi ʻi ha loto luo. Naʻe lele mai ʻa e tangikē taú ʻi hona tafaʻakí, pea ngalulu ʻa e kelekelé ʻi heʻene fakalaka haké.

Kuo maʻu ʻe he kau Vietinemí he taimí ni ʻa Saikoni.

ʻI he ʻosi ha uike ʻe taha mei ai, ʻi Mē ʻo e 1975, kuo hifo atu ʻa Lei Mai Lieni (Le My Lien) mei ha pasi fonu ʻi ha nofoʻanga fakakautau ofi ki Senitieko, Kalefōnia, ʻi he Matāfanga Fakahihifo ʻo e ʻIunaiteti Siteití. Naʻe tuʻu ʻi muʻa ʻiate ia ha ngaahi tēniti lahi fau, hangē ha fuʻu koló, naʻe fokotuʻu ke fakamalumalu ai siʻa kau kumi hūfanga ʻe tahamano valuafe mei Vietinemi. Naʻe ʻuʻufi ʻe he musié mo e ʻoneʻoné ʻa e funga kelekelé, pea tōtō-holo ʻa e ʻuluʻakaú ʻi he ngaahi tafaʻakí. Naʻe lue takai ʻa e fānaú ʻi ha ngaahi sāketi fakakautau lalahi, pea femoʻuekina ʻa e kakai lalahí he ʻahó ʻo ʻikai siʻa fofonga malimali.

Neongo naʻe ʻi ai ʻa e fineʻeiki ʻa Liení mo hono ngaahi tokouá, ka naʻá ne ongoʻi loto-mamahi. Naʻe kei tokakovi pē mei heʻene fononga mai ki he nofoʻangá. Naʻe ʻikai ke ʻi ai haʻane paʻanga pea fuʻu siʻisiʻi mo ʻene ʻilo ki he lea faka-Pilitāniá. Pea toe ʻi ai mo ʻene kiʻi fānau ʻe tokotolú ke tokangaʻi lolotonga ʻene tatali ki ha ongoongo ki hono husepānití ʻi Vietinemi.

ʻI honau ʻuluaki ʻaho ʻi he nofoʻangá, naʻe talitali ʻa Lieni mo e kau mēmipa kehe ʻo e Kolo Saikoní—ko e tokolahi tahá ko e kakai fefine—ʻe ha kau ngāue tokoni ʻoku ʻi ai hanau ngaahi pine ke ʻiloʻi ko e kau mēmipa fakalotofonua kinautolu ʻo e siteiki Kalefōniá. Naʻe fakafeʻiloaki mai ha fefine teuteu fakaʻofoʻofa ko Tolofī Heeli (Dorothy Hurley), ko e palesiteni fakasiteiki ʻo e Fineʻofá. Naʻe ʻi ai mo e kau ngāue tokoni kehe ʻo e siteikí ke tufa ha meʻakai, vala, mo ha faitoʻo ki he Kāingalotu kumi hūfangá, mo fokotuʻutuʻu kinautolu ki ha ngaahi vāhenga faiako fakaʻapi, pea mo fokotuʻu ha Palaimeli mo ha Fineʻofa. Naʻe hangē ʻa e kau fafine ʻo e Fineʻofá kia Lieni ha kau ʻāngeló.

Naʻe fakaʻaongaʻi ʻe he kau mēmipa ʻo e Kolo Saikoní ʻa e toenga ʻo e hoʻataá ke ʻaʻahi ʻo mamata ʻi he nofoʻangá. Naʻe makulu ʻa e makamaka ʻi laló ʻi he taimi naʻe taki mamataʻi ai ʻa Lieni mo hono fāmilí ki he feituʻu faiʻanga kaí, feituʻu ʻo e Kolosi Kulá, mo e ngaahi fale siʻí. Naʻa nau lue takai holo ʻi he hoʻataá kakato, pea fuʻu ongosia ai ʻa Lieni. Naʻe ʻikai ke aʻu hono mamafá ki he kilokalami ʻe hivangofulú, pea naʻe fuʻu vaivai hono sinó ke maʻu ai ha huʻakau maʻa ʻene kiʻi taʻahine kei valevale ko Liní.

ʻI he pō ko iá, naʻe fai ʻe Lieni hono lelei tahá ke fakafiemālieʻi ʻene kiʻi fānaú. Naʻe ʻikai ke ʻoange ʻe he nofoʻangá ha sipi kafu pea naʻe taha pē kiʻi moheʻangá. Naʻe fakaʻefihi ʻene ongo kiʻi tamaiki tangata ko Vū mo Huí ʻi he kiʻi funga mohengá kae mohe ʻa e kiʻi pēpeé ʻi ha kiʻi mohenga tautau (hammock) naʻe faʻu ʻe Lieni mei ha tupenu kafu mo ha ngaahi lapa peni (rubber bands).

Naʻe ʻikai ha potu ia ke tokoto ai ʻa Lieni, pea siʻi mohe tangutu ai pē ʻi he tuliki ʻo e kiʻi moheʻangá, ʻo falala ki he pou ʻo e tēnití. Naʻe momoko ʻa e ngaahi poó, pea naʻe ʻikai tokoni ʻa e ʻea momokó ki he hōloa siʻene moʻuí. Naʻe ʻikai ke fuoloa kuo maʻu ia ʻe he fatafata vaivaí.

Neongo siʻene puké, ka naʻe ʻā hengihengia ʻa Lieni ʻi he pongipongi kotoa ke ʻomai ha fanga kiʻi hina huʻakau pēpē ʻe ono maʻa ʻene kiʻi pēpeé mo fafanga ʻa e ongo kiʻi tamaiki tangatá. ʻI he taimi kaí, naʻe feʻefiʻefihi ʻa e feituʻu faiʻanga kaí ʻi he kakaí ʻo tatali ki honau taimí. Naʻá ne fua ʻene kiʻi taʻahiné, mo tokoniʻi siʻene ongo kiʻi tamaiki tangatá ke faʻo mo toʻo ʻena peleti meʻakaí. Naʻe toki ʻalu pē ke maʻu haʻane meʻakai ʻi he taimi naʻe ʻosi ai siʻenau kaí.

Naʻe ongo moʻoni ki he loto ʻo Liení ʻi he taimi naʻe sio ai ki siʻi longaʻi fānau kehé ʻi siʻenau tatali fiekaia ʻi he lainé. Koeʻuhí naʻe faʻa ʻosi vave ʻa e meʻakaí ʻi he feituʻu faiʻanga kaí, naʻe faʻa ʻoange ai ʻe Lieni ʻa e meʻakaí ki he longaʻi fānaú ke fakapapauʻi ʻoku nau siʻi kai. Naʻe ʻi ai ha niʻihi naʻa nau vahevahe ange ʻenau kālotí mo e polokolií mo ia.

Naʻá ne lotu maʻu pē ke kei sino mālohi siʻono husepānití, mo tui kapau te ne lavaʻi hono faingataʻaʻiá, ʻe pehē pē mo hono husepānití. Naʻe teʻeki ai ke ne ongona ha meʻa mei hono husepānití talu ʻene hola mai mei Saikoní. Ka ʻi ha ngaahi uike siʻi hili ʻene tūʻutá, naʻe haʻu ʻa ʻEletā A. Fiotoa Tatolo (A. Theordore Tuttle) ʻo e Fakataha Alēlea ʻUluaki ʻo e Kau Fitungofulú ki he nofoʻangá ʻo ʻoange kia Lieni ha pōpoaki fakafoʻituitui meia Palesiteni Sipenisā W. Kimipolo, naʻe ʻaʻahi mai ki he nofoʻangá ʻo fakataha mo e kau kumi hūfangá kimuʻa pea toki aʻu mai ʻa Lieni ki aí.

Naʻe pehē ʻe he pōpoaki ʻa e palōfitá, “ʻOku ou fakamoʻoniʻi atu ʻe fakahaofi ho husepānití, pea ʻe fakatahaʻi kimoutolu ko ha fāmili, ʻi he taimi ʻa e ʻEikí.”

ʻI hono teketeke ʻe Lieni ʻene kiʻi pēpeé he taimí ni ʻi heʻene tangi he pongipongí, naʻá ne tangi foki mo ia.” Naʻá ne kole taaumaʻu ki he ʻEikí, “Fakamolemole muʻa, ʻo tuku pē ke u moʻui ʻi he ʻahó ni”

ʻI he 1976, naʻe tukupōpula ai ʻa Ngueni Vani Tā ʻi Tani Ongi Nemi (Thành Ông Năm), ko ha kolotau Vietinemi ʻi ha tuʻunga taʻefakafiemālie ʻaupito ʻa ia naʻe hoko ko ha ʻapitanga pōpula. Naʻá ne fiemaʻu moʻoni ha ongoongo fekauʻaki mo hono uaifí mo siʻena kiʻi fānaú, ka naʻe tuʻusi fakaʻaufuli ia ʻe he ʻapi pōpulá mei māmani. Ko e meʻa pē naʻá ne ʻilo fekauʻaki mo e feituʻu ʻoku ʻi ai hono kiʻi fāmilí naʻe maʻu mei ha mākoni mei he palesiteni ʻo e Misiona Hong Kong: “Sai pē ʻa Lieni mo e fāmilí. Mo e Siasí.”

Naʻe maʻu ʻe Tā ʻa e mākoní kimuʻa pea toki hū ki he ʻapi pōpulá. ʻI heʻenau feinga ke maau ʻi he hili hono kapa ʻa Saikoní, naʻe fiemaʻu ai ʻe he puleʻanga ʻo Vietinemi Tokelaú ʻa e kau mēmipa tutuku kotoa ʻo e kau tau Vietinemi Tongá ke nau tukulolo ki ha kalasi “toe akoʻi foʻou” ʻi he ngaahi tefitoʻi moʻoni mo e founga ngāue ʻa e puleʻanga foʻoú. Koeʻuhí naʻe ʻosi hoko ʻa Tā ko ha ʻōfisa tokoni mo ha faiako lea faka-Pilitānia maʻa Vietinemi Tonga, naʻe ʻalu ai ʻo fakahā ia kiate kinautolu, mo ʻamanaki ʻe ʻaho pē ʻe hongofulu ʻa e toe akoʻi foʻoú. Ko e ʻosi ʻeni ha taʻu ʻe taha, pea fifili pe koe fē ʻa e taimi ʻe toe tukuange aí.

Ko e moʻui ʻi Tani Ongi Nemí naʻe mātuʻaki fakamā. Naʻe fokotuʻutuʻu ʻa Tā mo hono kaungā pōpulá ki ha ngaahi ʻiuniti mo nau nofo ʻi ha nofoʻanga fakakautau mohu he kumaá. Naʻa nau mohe ʻi he falikí ʻataʻatā pē kae tālunga hono ʻai ʻe honau kau selá ke nau faʻu ha ngaahi mohenga ʻaki ha ngaahi kongokonga ukamea. ʻI he siʻisiʻi mo e mafu ʻa e meʻakaí, fakataha mo e ngaahi tūʻunga ʻuli ʻi he nofoʻangá, naʻe iku ai ʻa e kau tangatá ke maʻungofua ʻe he puke ʻi he tuʻu totó (dysentry) mo e fakaʻauʻausinó (beriberi).

Naʻe toe kau foki ʻi he toe akoʻi foʻoú ha ngāue lahi fau mo hano akoʻi fakapolitikale. Ko e taimi naʻe ʻikai ke nau tutuʻu ai ʻa e ʻuluʻakaú pe tokangaʻi ʻa e ngoué ke fafangaʻaki ʻa e nofoʻangá, naʻe fakamālohiʻi ʻa e kau tangatá ke nau ako maʻuloto ha tokāteline mo vete ʻenau ngaahi faihia ki Vietinemi Tokelaú. Ko ha taha pē te ne maumauʻi ʻa e ngaahi tuʻutuʻuni ʻo e nofoʻangá ʻe ʻamanaki ki hano tā fakamamahiʻi pe tuku pōpula ʻi ha puha veve - hangē ha puha ukameá.

Kuo moʻui mai ʻa Tā ʻaki ʻene fakalongolongo pē mo pīkitai ki heʻene tuí. Naʻe feinga ke talangofua ki he ngaahi tuʻutuʻuni ʻo e nofoʻangá mo fakaʻaongaʻi fakapulipuli pē ʻene tui fakalotú. Naʻá ne tauhi ʻa e Sāpate ʻaukaí, neongo ʻene fasimanavá, mo ne lau fakalongolongo pē ʻa e ngaahi potu folofolá mei heʻene manatú ke fakamālohia ʻene tuí. Ko e taimi naʻe ʻoange ai ʻe hano kaungā Kalisitiane ha Tohi Tapu naʻe fakafufuuʻi maí, naʻá ne lau kakato tuʻo ua ʻa e tohí ʻi he māhina ʻe tolu, mo fakamahuʻingaʻi ʻa e faingamālie ke toe lau e folofola ʻa e ʻOtuá.

Naʻe fakaʻānaua ʻa Tā ke tauʻatāina. ʻI ha taimi ʻe taha, naʻe fakakaukau ai ke hola mei he nofoʻangá. Naʻá ne fakapapauʻi te ne lava ʻo fakaʻaongaʻi hono akoʻi fakakautaú ke hao mei hono kau pule pōpulá, ka ʻi heʻene lotua ha tokoni ʻi he holá, naʻá ne ongoʻi naʻe taʻofi ia ʻe he ʻEikí. Naʻe fanafanga ange ʻa e Laumālié, “Kātakiʻi pē.” ʻE lelei ʻa e meʻa kotoa “ʻi he taimi totonu ʻo e ʻEikí.”

ʻI ha taimi kimui ange, naʻe ʻilo ai ʻe Tā ko siʻono tuofefine ko Paá, ʻe fakangofua ke ʻaʻahi ange ki ai ʻi he nofoʻangá. Kapau te ne lava ʻo mono fakafufū ange ha tohi, te ne lava ʻo ʻave ia kia Palesiteni Uite (Wheat) ʻi Hongo Kongo, pea te ne lava ʻo ʻave ia kia Lieni mo e kiʻi fānaú.

ʻI he ʻaho ʻo e ʻaʻahi mai ʻa Paá, naʻe tatali ʻa Tā ʻi he lainé kae tomuʻa sivi fakaʻauliliki ʻe he kau leʻó ʻa e sino ʻo e kau pōpula naʻe ʻi muʻa ʻiate iá. ʻI heʻene ʻilo ʻe fakafoki hangatonu ia ʻe he kau leʻó ki he feituʻu malú, naʻá ne fufuuʻi ʻa e kiʻi pōpoakí ʻi he tupenu haʻi ʻi loto ʻo hono tataá. Naʻá ne faʻo leva ha kiʻi pepa mo e peni ki he loto tataá pea tuku ki he kelekelé. Ka monūʻia, ʻe taki ʻe he kiʻi pepá ʻa e tokanga ʻa e kau leʻó ʻi ha kiʻi taimi feʻunga ke tohoakiʻi ai kinautolu mei hano hua ʻa e toenga ʻo e tataá.

Ko e taimi naʻe hoko mai ai e taimi ke fā iá, naʻe feinga ʻa Tā ke nonga pē. Ka ʻi he sivi ia ʻe he kau leʻó, naʻe kamata ke tetetete. Naʻe fakakaukau ki he tuku pōpula malu ʻoku tuʻunuku mai kapau ʻe maʻu ʻe he kau leʻó ʻa e tohí. Naʻe ʻosi atu ha ngaahi mōmēniti faingataʻa, pea hiki e tokanga ʻa e kau leʻó ki hono tataá. Naʻa nau sivi ʻa e pení mo e kiʻi pepá, ka ʻi he ʻikai ke nau maʻu ha meʻa faikehé, naʻe ʻikai ke nau toe tokanga kia Tā ka nau tuku ia ke ʻalu.

ʻIkai fuoloa kuo sio ʻa Tā ki siʻono tuofefiné, ʻoku haʻu, ko ia naʻá ne toʻo fakalelei leva ʻa e tohí mei hono tataá ʻo kukuʻi ia ki hono nimá. Naʻe siʻi tangi ʻi he taimi naʻe ʻoange ai ʻe Pā ha meʻakai mo ha paʻangá. Naʻá ne fakalele mo hono husepānití ha pisinisi ngaohi koloa, pea naʻe ʻikai ke na maʻu ha meʻa lahi fēfē. Naʻe fakahoungaʻi ʻe Tā ʻa e meʻa kotoa naʻá ne lava ʻo foakí. Naʻe falala ʻi heʻena māvaé, te ne lava ʻo ʻave ʻene tohí kia Lieni.

ʻOsi ha māhina ʻe ono, kuo foki mai ʻa Pā ki he nofoʻangá mo ha tohi. Naʻe ʻi loto ha tā ʻo Lieni mo e kiʻi fānaú. Naʻe fakatēloʻimata ʻa Tā ʻi heʻene sio fakamamaʻu ki honau ngaahi fofongá. Kuo lalahi ʻaupito ʻene kiʻi fānaú. Naʻá ne ʻiloʻi heni he ʻikai ke toe lava ʻo tatali.

Naʻe pau ke ne kumi ha founga ke hola ai mei he nofoʻangá ke aʻu ki siʻono fāmili.

ʻI ha efiafi mokomoko, ʻaoʻaofia ʻi Sānuali 1978, naʻe tangutu tailiili ai ʻa Lei Mai Lieni (Le My Lien) ʻi ha kā naʻe fakataumuʻa ki he Malaʻe Vakapuna Fakavahaʻa-puleʻanga ʻo Sōleki Sití. Ko ʻene ʻalu ʻeni ke tali hono husepānití, ʻa Ngueni Veni Tā, ko e fuofua taimi ia ʻi ha meimei taʻu ʻeni ʻe tolu. Naʻá ne manavasiʻi pe ko e hā ha fakakaukau ʻa hono husepānití ki he faʻahinga moʻui kuó ne fokotuʻu maʻa hona kiʻi fāmilí ʻi he lolotonga ʻo ʻene mavahé.

Ko e konga hono misioná ke tokangaʻi ʻa e ngaahi fāmilí, pea naʻe aleaʻi ai ʻe he Ngaahi Potungāue Fakasōsiale ʻo e Siasí (LDS Social Services) mo ha kau mēmipa ʻo e Siasí ʻi he ʻIunaiteti Siteití ke nau tauhi ha kau kumi-hūfanga Vietinemi ʻe 550 nai, ko honau tokolahi tahá naʻe ʻikai ko ha kau mēmipa ʻo e Siasí. Naʻe maluʻi ʻa Lieni mo hono kiʻi fāmilí ʻe Filipe Feleima (Phillip Fralmmer), ko ha palōfesa ʻi he ʻUnivēsiti Pilikihami ʻIongí, mo hono uaifi ko Militeletí (Mildred). Naʻa na tokoni ke hiki ʻa e fāmilí ki Polovo, ʻIutā, ʻa ia naʻe lava ʻa Lieni ai ʻo nofo totongi pea fakatau kimui ha ʻapi nofoʻanga (mobile home) mei ha Kāingalotu he feituʻu ko iá.

ʻI he kamataʻangá, naʻe faingataʻaʻia ʻa Lieni ke maʻu ha ngāue ʻi ʻIutā. Naʻe ʻave ia ʻe Filipe ki he falekoloá ke kole ha ngāue tauhi fale (janitorial position). Ka ʻi he lolotonga ʻo e ʻinitaviú, naʻe hae ʻe he pulé ʻene tipiloma he ako māʻolungá mo talaange, “ʻOku ʻikai ke ʻaonga ʻeni ia ʻi heni.” Naʻe tangi ʻa Lieni ʻi heʻene tānaki ʻa e ngaahi kongá, ka naʻá ne fakapipiki fakataha kimui mo fakaʻesia ia ki he holisí ke fakaʻaiʻai siʻene kiʻi fānaú ke nau feinga ki ha tuʻunga ako māʻolunga ange.

Naʻe ʻikai fuoloa kuó ne maʻu ha ngāue fakataimi ʻi ha ngoue fuaʻiʻakau ofi pē. Peá ne toki maʻu ha ngāue ko ha tokotaha tuitui pea tānaki mai ki heʻene paʻanga hū mai ʻa ʻene taʻo ha ngaahi keke mali. ʻI he tokoni meia Filipé, naʻá ne toe maʻu mo ha paʻanga ʻaki haʻane taipe ha ngaahi lipooti maʻa e fānau ako BYU.

Ko e taimi naʻe faaifeinga ai ʻa Lieni ke tokonaki maʻa hono kiʻi fāmilí, naʻe faaifenga mo siʻene kiʻi fānaú ke nau anga ki heʻenau moʻui foʻou ʻi ʻAmelikā. Ko e siʻisiʻi tahá, ʻa Lini (Linh), naʻe fasi manava pea faʻa puke. Ko e ongo tamaiki tangatá, ʻa Vu mo Hui (Vu and Huy), naʻe faingataʻa ke na fakamaheni ʻi he ʻapiakó koeʻuhí ko e lea fakafonuá mo e ngaahi faikehekehe ʻo e anga fakafonuá. Naʻá na faʻa lāunga kia Lieni fekauʻaki mo hono fakamataliliʻi kinaua ʻe hona toʻú.

Neongo ʻa e faingataʻaʻia hono kiʻi fāmilí, ka naʻe kei tuitala pē ʻa Lieni ki he ʻEikí. Naʻe ʻalu maʻu pē ki he ngaahi houalotú mo kei lotua hono kiʻi fāmilí mo hono husepānití. Naʻá ne faʻa tautapa ki heʻene Tamai Hēvaní, “Foaki mai muʻa ha ivi.” Naʻá ne akoʻi ʻene kiʻi fānaú ki he mālohi ʻo e lotú, ʻi heʻene ʻilo te ne tokoniʻi kinautolu ʻi honau ngaahi faingataʻaʻiá.

Pea ʻi he konga kimui ʻo e 1977, naʻe ʻilo ai ʻe Lieni ko hono husepānití ʻoku ʻi ha nofoʻanga kumi hūfanga ʻi Malēsia. Naʻe malava ʻo mavahe mei Vietinemi ʻi ha vaka toutai ʻi he fāifai pea tukuange mei he nofoʻanga ʻi Tani Ongi Nemí. Kuo mateuteu ʻeni ke fakataha mo hono fāmilí. Ko e meʻa pē naʻá ne fiemaʻú ko ha taha maluʻi.

Naʻe kamata ngāue leva ʻa Lieni ʻi ha ngaahi houa lahi ange ke tānaki ha paʻanga feʻunga ke ʻomai ʻa Tā ki he ʻIunaiteti Siteití. Naʻe ʻoange ʻe he Kolosi Kulá ki ai ha lisi ʻo e ngaahi meʻa kotoa naʻe fiemaʻu ke ne fai ke maluʻi ai iá, peá ne muimuiʻi lelei ʻa e ngaahi fakahinohinó. Naʻá ne toe talanoa foki ki he kiʻi fānaú fekauʻaki mo e foki mai ʻenau tangataʻeikí. Naʻe ʻikai ke toe manatuʻi ia ʻe hono kiʻi ʻofefiné ʻa Tā, pea mālō pē hono kei manatuʻi ʻe he ongo tamaiki tangatá. Naʻe ʻikai ke nau mafakakaukaua pe ʻe anga fēfē ha feohi mo ha tamai.

Hili ʻene aʻu ki he malaʻe vakapuná, naʻe kau fakataha ʻa Lieni mo ha ngaahi kaungāmeʻa mo ha kāingalotu ʻo e Siasí naʻa nau ōmai ke talitali ʻa Tā. Naʻe pukepuke ʻe hanau niʻihi ha ngaahi foʻi pula naʻe ulo ʻi he maama ʻo e efiafí.

Naʻe ʻikai fuoloa kuo fakatokangaʻi atu ʻe Lieni ʻa Tā ʻoku hifo mai ʻi he sitepu ʻuhilá (escalator). Naʻá ne ʻasi haufalea mo hangē ʻoku heé. Ka ʻi he ʻasi atu ʻa Liení, naʻá ne ui mai hono hingoá. Naʻá na feaʻutaki ʻi he taimi tatau ʻo fepukeʻaki nima. Naʻe ake ha ongo ʻi he loto ʻo Liení.

Peá ne fusi mai ʻa Tā ʻo fāʻofua ki ai. Naʻá ne fanafana ange, “Fakafetaʻi ki he ʻOtua ʻi he langí, kuo fāifai peá ke aʻu mai ki ʻapi!”