Hans T. Sorensen Visits Tongatapu

On May 27th Hans T. Sorensen, South Pacific Area Welfare & Humanitarian Manager, came to visit us to tour some of our projects, church farms, meet with Diabetes Committee, the Dental Group, and the Dialysis Foundation Committee.  It was a very busy week for us as well as being very beneficial.  After he arrived our first visit was to the Veitongo Farming Project.  Here we were able to meet some of the participants in this project.  Following this day he headed to 'Eua to inspect the church farm there.

Hans T. Sorensen's arrival.

When we arrived at the Farm Project, the people gave us some green coconuts for us to drink.  They were very sweet ones!

The man in black is a Catholic man who is involved in the project.  He came up to us, with tears streaming down his cheeks, thanking us for the help we are providing his people.  He said that we were from "God", that we were his answer to his prayers as to what he could do to help his people.  It is amazing how the whole community is pulling together on this project, members and non-members!

These are some more of the people involved in the project.  These ladies decided to make tau pa cloth for sell to raise funds for this project so that it may continue after we are no longer involved.

This is there vegetable gardens in the project.  They have just planted this whole field.  There is cabbage, pok choy, lettuce, and carrots.

This is there little nursery that they have set aside to start the plants from seeds, not like we have to at home start in our windowsills in the house.  When big enough, they then transplant to the bigger fields.

This Hans Sorensen and Bishop Huni, our champion in this project, over looking the little nursery.

From left to right - Tui Vata, another Champion in this project, Elder Murdock, Bishop Huni, "The Champion" in this project, and Ana Ika, our Supervisor.

Here are the two tractors ploughing some more of the third phase of this project.

Hans, Elder Murdock, Bishop Huni, Tui Vata, and Ana over seeing the ploughing of the fields.

On Hans return, we discovered his plane had been cancelled, so he and Howard Nui had to come on the ferry from "Eua.  They arrived around 8 PM  and was ready to go home and rest.  On Sunday we picked up Hans and headed to church at Bishop Huni's ward.  We were the program for this Sacrament meeting.  There were many in attendance that were not members of the church, including our catholic friend.  It was a very nice meeting.  Following the meeting, Bishop Huni's wife had cooked us a beautiful meal for our dinner.  It was one of the best Tongan feast that we have had!

On Monday we started early by picking up Hans to get ready for our Diabetic Lunch Meeting, following that the Dental Meeting with all the Dentist on the island, then to Liahona to meet with Tevita Makehele, Managers of the Liahona Farm and Ladene Itaaehau, Finance Manager.  Following this meeting we headed to the Black Pearl for our dinner meeting with the Tongan Dialysis Foundation.  We were hoping that the Crown Prince would be able to meet with us in this meeting, but he was out of the country, so his wife came and met with us.  She was very easy to be with and to converse with.
Following are some pictures of these events.

This a new Little India Restaurant that was just built.  This is where we held our Diabetes Lunch Meeting.

This is our Committee that we met with for Diabetes.  From left to right is Dr.  Taniela Palu, NCD Consultant; Hans T. Sorensen, Pacific Islands Area Welfare Manager; Seini Filiai,  CEO of Tonga Health, Sarah; Seilini Soakai, Supervising Sister for NCD Nurses. With backs to us, Sister Murdock; 'Elisiva Na'ati, Sr Nutition MOH & Diabetes Association; Ana Ika, our Supervisor.

We were very surprised when we walked into the Dental Clinic at Vaiola Hospital.  It was very nice.  They received this clinic from China Aid.

This is Ana Ika and Dr. Amanaki, Head of Dentistry in Tonga.

This is our meeting with the other dentist here in Tonga.  In front is Elder and Sister Becstrand, Senior Missionaries here for the dental clinic in Liahona.  At this meeting Hans instructed all of us as to what Church Headquarters are wanting to do with the Dentist program here in Tonga.  They want to eventually make it so that Tonga is self -reliant and can eventually operate without us.

This is our meeting with the President of the Tonga Dialysis Foundation, Siosaia Moehau, and owner of the Black Pearl Restaurant.  He was able to explain to Hans exactly as to what they are wanting us to do and how the church can help with this plan.  Following this we all sat down to dinner with the Crown Princess at the Black Pearl Restaurant.

This is a picture of our group that we had dinner with for the Dialysis Purposed Project. Back row - Ana Ika, County Welfare Manager; Poasi Tei, Minister of Public Enterprises; Ahongalu Fasimalohi, Secretary for Dialysis Foundation; Siosaia Moehau, Presdient  of Dialysis Foundation; Taunisia Paea, Assitant Secretary of Dlialysis Foundation. Center Row - Hans T. Sorensen, Area Welfare Manager for the Pacific Islands; Crown Princess Sinaitakala Tuku'aho; Elder Norris Murdock, Tonga Humanitarian Specialist. Front sitting down - Lady Tu'ipelehake, and Sister Linda Murdock, Tonga Humanitarian Specialist.

"Brethren and sisters, all life is a gift of God.  Appreciation of that fact should inspire us with a desire to live daily exemplary lives, that others, seeing our good deeds might be led to glorify our Father in heaven."    David O. McKay