Events in October

Back Row - Elder and Sister Beckstrand, Elder Berger, the only single mail serving a service mission and we found our that he is related to us through the Bergers.  His Grandfather and our Grandma Simons were brother and sister. Dr. and Sister Lorenz, the other dentist doing a service mission, Elder and Sister Moon and then us.  Being new we did not have a costume.
Front Row left to right - Elder and Sister Vaenuku , Elder and Sister Van Den Akker, Elder and Sister Wood, Sister Burbank, she is the nurse for the mission, Sister Kinikini

This was quite the Halloween party. It was held on October 27, 2014.  These people like to have fun!! If you will look closely at the jack-0-lantern, it is carved out of a Tongan watermelon since there are no pumpkins here. It was hoot!We did feel bad that we did not have a costume but we were so new that we still had the "deer in the headlights" look. Our favourite costume was Elder and Sister Wood, she was a witch, such a cute one, and he Julius Cesar, leaves in his hair and all.  They are so much fun to be around.

Elder and Sister Wood, Sister Van Den Akker, and Elder Beckstrand 

This was the Truck-or-Treat out on the Rugby Field at Liahona on October 31, 2014.  All the Senior Missionaries came and we handed out candy to the kids,  Some things are the same no matter where you are. We thought the kids were very cute!

After the Trunk-or-Treat we all headed to the Grand Ball at the Liahona High School.  It is like our Senior Ball.  They always have special seats for the Senior Missionaries to sit and watch the festivities.  Following in some of the pictures from the Grand Ball held on October 31, 2014.

Kids waiting to enter hall for the Grand Ball

The first in the procession is the King and Queen of the Ball.  Notice the Leaves hanging from the ceiling, they are real and spray painted silver and gold. They were beautiful.

Quite the Tux! All the boys shoes were long and pointed!

You will notice in the other pictures the hall is surrounded by these tables with these beautiful real flower center pieces.

"Be cheerful in all that you do. Live joyfully.  Live happily.  Live enthusiastically, knowing that God does not dwell in gloom and melancholy, but in light and love.."   Ezra Taft Benson
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Arrival in Tonga

Tonga is made up of 176 islands but only 40 islands are inhabited. They were named the "Friendly Islands" by Captain James Cook in 1773. With its unique and cultural heritage that dates back to the arrival of Polynesians some 3500 years ago, Tonga is the world's only remaining Polynesian monarchy.  It is the only South Pacific country never to have been colonized by a foreign power.  It is a sports-enthusiastic country, the small island Kingdom was highlighted during the Rugby World Cup 2011 in New Zealand by the national team - 'Ikale Tahi and to this day, the love of rugby is as strong as ever. Togans are humble and very down to earth people.

They are very religious.  They are Christians whether with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints or some other religion.  On their Sundays, everything is closed, including the air port, no flights in or out, no boats in or out.  The children are not even allowed to play in the water as the police patrol those areas to make sure it is enforced.

This is our arrival in Tonga at the airport on October 24, 2014.  The top picture is President and Sister Tupou, the mission President.  The next picture is of some of the senior couples that came to meet us.  We were surprised that so many would come to meet us as it was 10 PM.  From left to right is Elder and Sister Van Den Akker, they are from Boise, ID, us, the President and Sister Tupou, they are from Alaska, the back row is Elder and Sister Beckstrand (behind Kent), they are the dentist from Fillmore, Utah. Next is Elder and Sister Holbrook, Sister Holbrook is related to Sister Simonson in our ward in Inkom, Elder Moon (Sister Moon is taking the picture I believe), then Elder and Sister Wood who are from Huntsville, Utah.  He is related to Alan Buttars', who was in the Air Force with Kent, wife.  Such a small world. In the next picture Elder Moon is putting a lei on Elder Murdock.  We were pretty overwhelmed with it all.


"We share the gospel because we know it will help others become better, happier people."
                                                                                                                  Clayton M. Christensen

Training in Auckland NZ

Another view from our room that was on the top floor.

 

This Elder and Sister Winters, from South Jordan, Salt Lake.  They took us around for some sight seeing on our third day just before we flew out for Tonga.

Training in Auckland, NZ

This is the Spencer on Byron, the hotel that they put us up in while in Auckland for training.   It was very nice, 4 1/2 Star hotel.  The breakfast for us each morning was a full buffet

This a view from our hotel room looking down on the office that we walked to for our training here in Auckland.

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Lay over in LA

Here we were able to spend time with Debbie and her family.  Debbie picked us up that evening, on Saturday Oct 18th and we headed to Amanda's.  There we had a good visit with them,  We then took Debbie's car and went back to our hotel in LA.  The next morning we took Debbie's car and met them all for church.  After church Debbie took is back to our hotel where we said our goodbyes.  Then Drew and Darlene came and picked us up and took us to dinner at a very nice place and took us around to see some of the sights.  Below are some of the things that we were able to see with them.

Kent and Charmain in front of the Queen Mary, the ship that Kent's father, Norris, came home from the war on.

Kent touching first Elvis Presley's star and then the Beatles' star on the Star Walk in Hollywood.

"The Church exists to exalt the family.  And the family is the fundamental unit of the Church."
                                                                                                                   Russell M. Nelson

MTC EXPERIENCE

This was us in the MTC on 6 October 2014 where we had Preach my Gospel training the first week then we had welfare humanitarian training where we went to the welfare center in Salt Lake City Utah.

These are the couples that we were in humanitarian training with. From left is E/S Laqua from Canada going to Ontario to the head bishops store house. Next is us going to Tonga then  E/S Crandall going to Sudan Jodan. Next is a E/S Porter going to a small island off of south Africa

This is from the top of the Joesph Smith building where we had a lunch training meeting. Here we were introduced to some of the leaders of the Welfare/Humanitarian group. After our training on the second week we went home to pack for going 1st to Auckland NZ for more training then on to Tonga. We first would be stopping in Los Angeles for a two day lay over.

"Missionary work is the lifeblood of the Church.  There is no greater work, no more important work.  It blesses the lives of all those who participate in it.  It will continue blessing future generations."
                                                                                                          Silivia H. Allred