Visit to Tonga Prison

On February 14th we had an interesting excursion.  A group of the Senior Missionaries went on a tour of the Tonga Prison.  It is the first time this has happened here in Tonga, for tourist to go through the prison and it will probably will not happen again.  The reason that we had this privilege was because of one of the prisoner's daughter was just baptized a member of the Church.  He is very thankful for the members that are taking an interest in her as he wants her life to be better than his.  He will not be released until 2020.

Here we are entering the prison.

Here is Sister Beckstrand and Sister Holbrook and Elder Murdock behind bars!

This is our group crossing the Prison yard.

This is the prisoner that his daughter was baptized and it is because of him that we were able to do this.  He is very respected within the prison walls and they will usually let him do what he wants to do.  He even was able to get out to go to his daughter's baptism!  He is standing in front of their dining hall.

This is one of the cell blocks and a few of the prisoners.  We were allowed to visit with them.  Sister Beckstrand is a dental assistant to her husband, Elder Beckstrand.  They are planning 2 days to do all dental work on the prisoners that are needing it.

This is inside one of the cells.  Not much there for them.  They do their own laundry in a five gallon bucket.  We thought that maybe some of the prisons in America needed a page out of this prison's book!

We visited with this prisoner and discovered he had lived before in Pocatello and Rexburg .  He knew where Inkom was!

This is the Prison Farm where they grow their own food and the surplus they sell in their little market as they have to pay the government so much every year.  Again America could learn from this!

This is their little market where they sell their surplus vegetables.