Handover Ceremony for October 2015

On October 8, 2015 we had a very special Handover Ceremony at Atele Si'i GPS.  We tiled four big class rooms, the veranda, and some paint to clean up the front of the building.  It was amazing to watch the people how hard they worked to accomplish this project in such a short period.  We were able to have the materials delivered on October 1, 2015 and on October 6th the students were to have the big government test that they must pass to enter High School.  The PTA was wanting to finish all the floors before the testing, and they did succeed.  They worked many long hours!  We were very proud of them and the students were so surprised to see nice clean rooms for them to take their test in.  Following are some pictures of the "before floor" and "after floor", as well as the Handover Ceremony that we had.  Hope that you enjoy them!

Before the new flooring!

They definitely need some flooring here!

You can see how uneven this floor is!

Here are the men working very hard.  They accomplished so much in such a short time!

More men pulling together to get the work done on time!

These Tongans know how to work and to get the job done!

Here is a classroom that has been finished.  This is Ana Ika and Fine from PTH Building.  He is our big contact in many of our building projects.  We would be lost without him!

The Sunday before the students were to take their test, Ha'ateiho Ward invited all the Class 6 students, members and non-members to Sacrament Meeting.  We were invited as well.  They were wishing the Lord's blessings on them for the day of their test.  Following Sacrament meeting we went into the cultural hall and had a little spiritual meeting.  Following which they fed all 80-100 of us a meal.  It was an amazing meeting!

Here is one of the classrooms set up for the testing.  We donated the desk to them, but they had to rent chairs, as they do not have any.  We are hoping that we will be able to provide chairs in the future for them.  Doesn't the floor look wonderful.  Everything looks so much cleaner and brighter.  We are sure that it will have an effect on their efforts in the testing.

Here is Elder Murdock with the Class 6 students, ready to take their test!  We wished them all well!

This is at the Handover Ceremony on October 8th.  This is the Principle of the school.

And of course the media is always to our Handover Ceremonies!

On left is Bobstoddard, he played a big part in getting the job done!  On the right is the Ministry of Education accepting the Handover.

And of course Elder Murdock representing the Donner, LDS Charities.  He is instructing them to take care of what we have given and it should last a long time for them.  He also tells the children that they are the future of Tonga and that they need to prepare themselves for that.

Following the Ceremony we had refreshments for all.  Cream Buns for the children, which they loved!

Here are some enjoying their refreshments.

We also had some finger foods for the workers, teachers, and guest.

Here they are enjoying the refreshments.

And of course we can never leave empty handed!

Our next project was of a new water pump and engine for Pea Village.  We had the Handover Ceremony on October 9, 2015.  The people in this village were in great need of this as the old one was not working and they were out of water half of the time.  This ceremony was a very moving and emotional one as they thanked us endlessly for all that we had done for them.  They themselves worked hard in coming up with 10% of the project expense, as well as fixing up the building to house the new pump and engine so that it would be protected from the elements.  Following are some pictures of the day.

Elder Murdock has applied our LDS Charities donated by stickers to the new pump and the water engine.

Here we are getting ready to hold the Handover Ceremony, and of course the Media is here!

This is Elder Murdock representing the Donner, LDS Charities and Ana is translating for him.  He instructed the Village of the importance of doing correct maintenance on this new system so that it would last them for a while.  He also instructed them the importance that they prepare now for the future when they need another new one, by starting a maintenance fund.

Sister Murdock was then presented and beautiful fan and bag thanking us again for all that we had done for this Village!

This is the Champion in our project.  He was very humble and thankful for all that we had done for them.

And now for the climax, the engine is started the water flows.  It is always very rewarding to see this happen!  We were impressed that they made a sign to put on the outside of the newly painted and remodeled building.

The media was able to get a good shot of the flow as well as the Town Officer and  the Stake President going to have a taste of the water flowing!

And again we can not leave empty handed!

The next Handover Ceremony that we had was on 22 October 2015 for our Furniture & Supplies School Project.  In this project we had received one 20 foot container from New Zealand with desk, chairs,one table and one couch.  We were able to give them to 11 different schools.  They were so happy with what we were able to give to them as their need is so great!

Here Elder Murdock is instructing them that they need to have the children help clean the desks before they put them into their schools, as well as telling them about the Humanitarian Aid they have received.

Here are some of the chairs and desks that we are giving away to the schools.

Here the schools are loading and taking their share.  They had students from some of the schools helping with the loading.  It was amazing to see how strong those young men are!

See, they are strong!

Here is one school all loaded and heading out!

And another one as well.  All smiles and very happy!

 This Handover Ceremony was held on 23 October 2015 and was very special to us!  It was with a group called the "Loving Heart of a Good Samaritan."  Their group of volunteers go to elderly and disabled people here in Tonga.  They currently have 60 patients that they deal with.  Some of these elderly are all alone and have no family to care for them so they are just sitting in their little shacks wasting away as they have no transportation and a lot of times no food.  One of these elderly gentlemen had been in his little shack for 11 years and had not been out to see the changes in his island.  This group bake coconut buns, sell them to stores and people, and with the proceeds they purchase food and other items that these people need.  They only had an old van that was continually breaking down, so then they would have to deliver the items by bicycle.  As far as their record keeping, it was all done by hand printing, as they have no computer or printer.  This group was also able to receive from the government a lot with two old houses on it.  One they have fixed up for an office and the other they are making into Tonga's first Rest Home.  At this time they were able to move 3-4 patients to this rest home.  In our project we were able to give them 3 beds, a computer, printer, about 100 adult diapers, and best of all a van for them.  It is not new, but it is pretty nice!  Hope you enjoy the pictures on this project.

This is the oven that they built to cook their coconut buns in, it was quite unique!

Here is Tonga Soane, President of the Loving Heart of a Good Samaritan, Stake President  Sika, and Elder Murdock ready to start the Handover Ceremony.  Behind them is the office that they remodeled.

Here is President Sika handing to Elder Murdock the key to the van, and Elder Murdock hands it over to Tonga!

Here the group is enjoying the refreshments that we had for the ceremony.

This is their little office.  They have worked so very hard to fix it up.  The desks and filing cabinets we were able to donate to them through one of our school donation projects.  It will work great with the new computer and printer!

And here is the van we had for them.  They were all so very happy as the old van just blew the engine and they were a foot.  They made the comment that they were afraid to even touch the new van as it is so nice!  We love how the sign on it turned out as well.

"No matter what I have been called to do in the Church, it has always seemed to me to be a tremendous privilege.  I have found that service does something to you.  It changes perspective; it stretches the soul; it refreshes and uplifts; it elevates our thinking and our feelings; it draws us closer to the Savior, who spends all of his time in selfless service to Heavenly Father and all of his children."   David S. Baxter