Water Project Closings for September 2015

This month we had two water projects that we were able to finish out.  It is always a very satisfying experience to have projects succeed and to provide benefits to the people here in Tonga!  They are always so very appreciative, as you will see from the pictures that we have.  We hope that you can catch the wonderful spirit of these people through our pictures of these projects.  The first pictures are of the water project with the Village of Longoteme.  The Closing Ceremony was done on September 17, 2015.

This is a group of the school children who were invited to the closing ceremony to sing for us and as usual it was beautiful!

This is Elder Murdock speaking to the group about the project and what is expected for them now that it will be turned over to them.  Ana always does the translation so all will understand what he is saying.

This is Ana Ika, who is our Supervisor, the Country Welfare Manager.  We are never sure as to what she says, as it is all in Tongan, but I am sure she is restating the importance of them taking care of what the church has given them.

This is the Town Officer of the Village accepting the new water pump and engine and the responsibility of all maintenance and care of the equipment from this day forward.

After the ceremony was over we had some refreshments for all.  We had some special cream buns for the children.  They were very excited to be able to have a treat.  Usually, in Tonga, children do not eat until the guest are all done eating, then they get what is left over.  Sister Murdock has a hard time with that so we purchased cream buns just for the children.

This is the new water pump installed and ready to work thanks to Palu Development!

This is their new TR1 Lister water engine, again thanks to Palu Development it is ready to go!

And here we have the water flowing.  It is always a wonderful sight to see clean water for the Village!

This is Siose Palu from Palu Development.  He is our engineer that helps us with our water projects.  We would be so lost without him.  We have grown very found of him!

This is the group enjoying the refreshments.  You can see in the back ground one of the water stands that the water is pumped to and then is fed to the houses in the Village.  It was reported that they have had water for 24 hours without running out.  The Village is very happy about that!

On this water stand they made a little sign just for the ceremony for us.  We thought it was pretty special!

We then get to our car and find the trunk filled with wonderful fruit and vegetables.  They always want to show their appreciation and this is all they have, but we definitely enjoy them as well as all the Seniors Missionaries at Liahona!

Our next water project was with the Village of Nukuleka.  Again we hope that you enjoy the pictures we have.  Instead of having our ceremony at the water sight, it was held in the new Town Hall in the Village.  The water sight is about two miles away from the Village.  That is done so that the well water will be purer.  The Village is located right next to the shore and if they drilled their well there, they would have salt water for their water.  Instead of filling out trunk with fruit and vegetables we were treated to a Tongan Feast, which was very nice!  We are either getting use to the Tongan food or it is getting better!  We were also entertained while we ate.  The Closing Ceremony was held on September 18, 2015.

Here we are meeting at the well sight to see the new water engine and pump.  This is the water committee and Palu Development with us.

This is the new water pump and the new engine, a TR1 Lister engine.  They have rebuilt their shed and made it much nicer to house the pump and engine.

This is the operator of the water committee that has started the engine and the pump is pumping water.  Wonderful Sight!  It then is pumped to the Village that is about two miles away.

This is the new Town Hall that was donated by US Aid along with the table and chairs.  It was built so that if there is cyclone it will be a safe haven for the Village people.  It was one of the nicest ones we have been in.  Our Closing Ceremony has happened on the same day as the Grand Opening of the new Town Hall.

This was our table laid with all the food you can eat and more!

This is Elder Murdock and Ana translating, handing over the water pump and engine to the Village of Nukuleka.  It is now their responsibility to maintain and take care of the equipment!

We had a very beautiful women do a beautiful Tongan dance for us as we ate our feast.

This is Elder Murdock in front of the New Town Hall.  On the wall is a sign stating it was donated by US Aid.  This is the first sign that we have seen stating US Aid.

"Being compassionate is a great work of our Heavenly Father and a fundamental characteristic of who we are as people.  We are commanded to 'succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees' (D&C 81:5)."   Dieter F. Uchtdorf