Tragedy in Tonga

  On 4th of December Elder and Sister Huni ask us to go to the hospital with them to visit a little boy who was involved in a hit and run accident.  He and his older sister were crossing the road when a car came, the little boy saw that they were going to be hit so he pushed his older sister out of the way, but he was hit.  The car ran over his little leg that injured it so much it was amputated just below the knee.  Our hearts were breaking for this brave little man as we strive to figure out what or how we could help him and his family.  His parents have just started having the discussions from the missionaries, but we felt that we needed to do something for him!  We contacted Dave Williams, the head of the Prosthetics team in Salt Lake City to make sure they would be able to bring a limb for him when they come next July.  They let us know that they will do this, but in the mean time, he has no wheel chair that will fit him and not even a pair of crutches.  We are currently working to see if we can get a pair for him from some other people that are coming to Tonga.  As of yet we have not been successful in our efforts!   Following are a few picture of this little boy.

This is Penisimani Sakalia, 8 years old, with his parents in the hospital.  The other pictures are of his little leg.  We are praying that we will be able to get him some crutches so that he can still be somewhat mobile.  Such a brave little man!

"Be we reminded that a perfect body is not required to achieve one's divine destiny.  In fact, some of the sweetest spirits are housed in frail or imperfect bodies.  Great spiritual strength is often developed by people with physical challenges, precisely because they are so challenged."
                                                                      Russell M. Nelson