June 2015 Projects in Progress

This project was Furniture and Supplies for six Government Primary Schools here in Tonga.  All furniture and supplies, two twenty foot containers, were donated by schools in New Zealand that were updating their furniture and supplies.  The church then paid the shipping cost from New Zealand to Tonga.  It was a fast and furious week for us to get them all unpacked and organized for the day that we would have the Hand Over Ceremony.  Following are some pictures of the event.

This is just one of the truck loads of furniture and supplies delivered to our office complex from the ship.

Still unloading!

This is half of the furniture to be unpacked.......

and this is the other half.  Much work to do to unpack all of these desk and chairs and organize into groups before the Hand Over Ceremony in two days!

Starting the unpacking!

Now what to do with the packing material so that we have room to organize the desk and chairs into groups.

We called a wood carver that does a lot of shipping of his art work thinking he might like a little of the packing material.  He wanted it all!!  But we did take a load to one of the worker's house.  He wanted to use it to line his inside walls as there were many cracks with the wind blowing through.

Here we are all organized into sections.  Very tired, but glad it is ready for the Hand Over Ceremony tomorrow.  We are wearing our LDS Charities shirts that we received at the Fiji Conference.

Here the Stake President is officially handing over the furniture and supplies to the Ministry of Education of Tonga.

Part of the Hand Over Ceremony.

Refreshments following the Hand Over Ceremony.

Elder Murdock serving some refreshments to some of the children that were there to help load the desks, chairs, and supplies.

This is one of the schools with their load of desks and tables.  We were worried that they would not make it back to the school.  The children were on top holding the desks and tables so they would not fall out of the truck.

Another truck load on its way!

Final truck load and the parking garage is empty!

Also this month we made a trip out to our Veitongo Farming Project to see how they are progressing.  We were amazed at how the crops are growing.  We are so very proud of the people in this Village, how they have pulled together to make this project a success!  Following are some pictures, hope you enjoy them.

This is the first phase and the manioke is growing well.

Another parcel of the first phase  and the manioke is flourishing.

We were so excited to see how beautiful all the crops are and how well they are doing.

The farmer of this parcel wanted to plant peanuts in his acre.  This is the second phase of the project.

Another beautiful field of ufi and giant taro growing and doing well.

In this month we have had four new projects approved as well. One is for a new engine and a pump for the Village water, a new school library, new play ground equipment for a kindergarten, and a new farming project where they will grow peanuts and sell them to help provide income for the families of the Village.  As progress on these we will keep you updated with photos.

"We must live as true followers of the Christ, with charity toward all, returning good for evil, teaching by example the ways of the Lord, and accomplishing the vast service He has outlined for us."  Gordon B. Hinckley