Sights around Tongatapu in July 2015

Following are some pictures of things of interest to us around Tongatapu.  We hope that you enjoy them as well.

This is a combined US Marines, Australian, New Zealand, and Tonga Band.  They were quite amazing.

This is the King inspecting his troops.

This is the combined band.  Can you pick out the US Marines?  They are the best dressed and more conformed than any of the others.

One of the many arches around Tongatapu in honor of the Coronation.

They were amazing to see them lit up at night!

More lighted arches.  As you can see there are two right in a row here.

When we have closing ceremonies we usually have our trunk of our car loaded with baskets like these.

This little van is usually all over town delivering their eggs.  They do not refrigerate their eggs here!

This is inside of the little egg van.

More arches.

This is a little girl that sat next to me at a large fireside.  She was looking at my pictures so I took one of here and I.  She is a little girl that Sister Vaenuku is trying to adopt as both of her parents have passed away.  That happens a lot here in Tonga!

"When we rejoice in beautiful scenery, great art, and great music, it is but the flexing of instincts acquired in another place and another time."    Neal A. Maxwell

Water Engine for Fatumu July 2015

This project was a long time coming as we had some difficulty in getting the water engine here that we needed.  When it finally came in the men went right to work and had it installed in no time.  The people were so very happy to have an engine that would pump the water to their water tank so that they might have sufficient water for their village, Fatumu.  Following are some pictures of this project.

Finally the arrival of the water engine.  These men are from EM Jones are helping load the engine in the truck.

Here the engine has been delivered.  Now it just needs to be installed.

This little child was wondering down the road in the village of Fatumu where we delivered the water engine.  You see this quite often!

Here is the new engine installed!

Ana and Elder Murdock doing their part in the Handover Ceremony.

This is the Champion of our project, xxxxx.  The rest of the group are the Bishop, a councillor in the Stake Presidency and a Minister of another faith.

Here we have started the refreshments for the ceremony.

While we were enjoying the refreshments they had music playing and the ladies were getting with the mood!  They were very happy to have a new engine!

Elder and Sister Murdock following the Handover Ceremony at Fatumu.

A group of people involved with this project.

"Welfare Services is nothing more or less than the gospel in action."   Spencer W. Kimball

Some Project Work in July 2015

In our Peanut Farm Project we had some problems after we distributed the peanut seed.  There was a little house that housed two of the families in our project, so they had two bags of the peanut seed in their home preparing it to plant.  The Grandparents, who are not members, own the house, left for a meeting one evening for only 20-30 minutes.  Their seven year old Grandson was living there as well and had fallen asleep, so they left a candle burning, as they have no power, so that he would not wake up to the dark.  Something happened and the house caught fire burning it to the ground including the little seven year old boy and their peanut seed.  We visited the family to give our condolences and to assure them that we would find the funds for two more bags of peanut seed so that they could still be a part of the project!

This is what is left of the little house.  In the back ground you can see flowers where they found the little boy.  The little boy is standing on the burned peanut seed.

Here he is picking through the peanuts finding the ones that are not too burned to eat.

This is the Grandmother and Grandfather who owned the house. The wrap she is wearing is when a family member dies.  Sometimes they were it for 6-12 months!

This Grandma holding a picture of her little Grandson.  This was a very hard day for Elder and Sister Murdock.  It was so very sad.

This next project was for Kolomotu'a GPS School.  We remodelled five classrooms with new flooring, walls, doors, windows and paint.  It made such a difference.  This school was our Supervisor's, Ana Ika, school when she was a little girl.  They are using the same desks that she had when she was there.  We have given some new used desks to them to make the learning environment a little better for the students.  Here are some before pictures and after pictures of the school.

As you can see the floor is terrible and the door by the table has a big whole in it.

Another door with a whole.  This happens a lot in the schools here, we are not sure why.  And the desks are not up to what they should be.

This is one of the men doing the work on this school.  Even the children help when they can.

Doesn't this look much better!  We were so proud of all that they did in 7-10 days time.

Another room, see no wholes in the doors and new tile on the floors.

These are the students of this school.  The little boy standing next to Elder Murdock, if you will look closely you can see how crooked his little leg is.  He broke it and this is how they let it heal.  That is what happens here in Tonga!

This is Elder Murdock and Ana Ika doing the Handover Ceremony.

"Life does not begin with birth, nor does it end with death."  Russell M. Nelson

"Education is not a posture, stance, or recognition.  It is, in fact, a continuing process.  When learning is applied properly, it can become power.  Wisdom and integrity must become an integral part of a truly educated person.  Education is not an arrival achievement.  It is a journey."  Marvin J. Ashton

Our Special Kindergarten Project

This Handover Ceremony was a special one for us. We were helping a Kindergarten receive some new toys, playground equipment and a little bed set with cupboards to put their toys and books in.  This kindergarten has been operating for 22 years and has never received anything new for the the students.  They were very pleased with what we were able to get for them.  Following are some pictures of the event of this project.

All loaded and heading to the Kindergarten in Navutoka!

Here are some of the students.  We thought this little one was pretty precious!

This is part of the Handover Ceremony.  This is President Kaufusi, who is a councillor in the Mission Presidency.  It was he and his wife that started this Kindergarten 22 years ago.

This Elder Murdock and Ana Ika doing their part in the Handover Ceremony.

This is our refreshments for the Ceremony.

This is Elder Murdock, Ana Ika, and the other two ladies are from the Ministry of Education for Tonga.

The children loved it when Elder Murdock sat in the middle of them!

Sister Murdock serving some refreshments to the little children.  They were just like Sister Murdock's grandchildren, they loved the ketchup! Or they would call it tomato sosi.

Here are the children playing on some of the playground equipment.

The girls loved the slide.

It is always amazing to see religious pictures in the schools here in Tonga.  What a blessing that is to these students.  America needs to take a look at this.  They feel it is important that the children grow up knowing that there is a Heavenly Father in Heaven who loves them!

"Education should be universal in its benefits, and all the world should be made better by its teachings."   BYU Studies

New Senior Missionary Arrivals

We had two new Senior couples join us in the work here in Tonga.  One is from Tonga who will be helping in the mission office.  The other one is Elder and Sister Bearce from Utah.  They are TVET Missionaries with the Liahona School.  They are both a great asset to the Mission Field here in Tonga!

The arrival of Elder and Sister Bearce.  This brought back memories to Elder and Sister Murdock!

There they are - Elder and Sister Bearce!

Elder and Sister Bearce with President and Sister Tupou.

Here we are at the President Dinner with Elder and Sister Bearce telling us a little about themselves.

This is Elder and Sister Tautua'a who are service missionaries for the Mission Office.  They are from Tonga.

Over view of the President's Dinner.  This is always a fun night for the Senior Missionaries!

"Our constant, unwavering objective must be to assist our Father in Heaven in His work and glory, to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man."    Gordon B. Hinckley

Vaevae Manava Food for Families Project

This month we have started a new farming project.  The people came to us for help with expenses for the ploughing of the ground and peanut seed for 18 acres which will provide for 18 families, members and non-members.  This village is a very poor village and was struggling just to put food in their families mouths.  With this project they can raise the peanuts, then sell them and budget their money so that the next planting cycle they will have their own funds for the tractor services and they will have their own peanut seed; as well as funds to pay for their children's tuition for school and their uniforms.  They will also be planting other vegetables such as cabbage, lettuce, bananas, etc, to provide food for their families.  Following are some before pictures of them starting to prepare the land for planting.

This is one of the parcels of land in this project.  As you can tell it will take much work to prepare the ground for planting.

This is the hired tractor doing the slashing to get rid of the tall grass.

One of the parcels all slashed and ready to be burned to finish cleaning up the grass.

And the burning begins!

Another parcel being burned.

Elder Murdock with the van loaded with peanut seed.

This is their Town Hall where they unloaded the seed and are getting ready to distribute it.

This is part of the families, all could not be there, but they sent a representative to pick up their seed.  The people were so very happy that they could plant their own crops and provide for their families.  They had hope in their eyes!

"The Lord does help when we go to Him in times of need, especially when we are committed to His work and respond to His will.  But the Lord only helps those who are willing to help themselves.  He expects His children to be self-reliant to the degree they can be."   L. Tom Perry