Senior Activities for February 2016

Having all of the Senior couples with us here in Tonga has been a joy!  We have made some very special friends that we will treasure for ever.  We not only have fun together, but we work together for the betterment of Tonga in all areas.  Following are some pictures of our meetings and fun activities.

This was a meeting with Dr. Amenaki, the Head Dentist in Tonga.  We were finding out what their needs are in their Dental clinics in the outer islands of  Tonga.  In the picture top row, left to right, Elder Murdock, Elder Johns, dentist at Liahona, and Dr. Amenaki.  Sitting, left to right, Sister Johns, Sister Murdock and Ana Ika.  It was a very good positive meeting.

There is a new miniature 18 hole golf course here in Tonga.  The Seniors got together and went to play a round.   Great Fun!

Here our group is after the tournament. Standing left to right - Elder and Sister Van Den Akkers, Elder and Sister Clarkson, Elder Holbrook, Elder and Sister Bearce, Raymon, visiting dentist volunteer, Elder Deakin, Elder Vaenuku.  Sitting, left to right - Elder and Sister Johns, Sister Holdbrook, Sister Murdock, Sister Deakin, and Sister Vaenuku.

The golf course was at the Scenic Hotel, so following our game we went to dinner in the Hotel.  Very good meal with very good service! Wonderful outing!

Here it is President's  Dinner time again.  Always a wonderful meal!

We have to say good bye to Elder and Sister Van Den Akker as their mission has finished.  Such wonderful people, they will be greatly missed!

This is Elder and Sister Tupola, they are leaving us as well, so they are saying their goodbyes as well!

President Tupou and Sister Tupou and their children sang for us, which is always a treat!

Here our office had a "Good Bye Lunch" and a "Welcome Lunch".  Goodbye to the Van Den Akkers and hello to Elder and Sister Tafuna and Elder and Sister Funaki.  We had a wonderful lunch at Cafe Escape!

"How do we deal with the inevitable moments of fear or 'feeble knees'?  It is vital that we not face them alone.  Always it is helpful and comforting to be able to confide in a loving and trusted friend or relative who emplathetically listens to our uncertainties."   Marvin J. Ashton

New Projects Approved for February 2016

We were blessed this month to have 5 new projects approved, one farming project, one organic gardening project, two water projects and 1 school project.  The 'Eua farming project was approved that we went to see earlier this month.  At the time we do not have pictures of the gardening project, so they are yet to come.  Following are pictures of the other projects that we will get started and hopefully be able to finish some of them before we leave, as our time is getting short.

This is before picture of Utulau.

We required of them to clean up the area and fix the pump house before we would do a project with them.

This is the after picture of Utulau, we were very proud of all the work that they did and were happy to let them know their project has been approved for a new water pump and engine.

This is Fahefa, they are requesting a new water pump. We have required of them to do some clean up of the area as well.

This was at the bottom of their water tank where the pigs were rooting where the ground was wet from the over flow of the water tank.

Here they have fixed this problem and they are now starting to do a fence to keep the animals away from their water system.  We were happy to let them know their project had been approved.

This is Atele Tonga College, they are requesting to fix some of the classrooms as well as a some office equipment and a lawn mower.

We look forward to see how this project turns out as we will have the students from Atele and Liahona do the painting of the rooms together, hoping this will help to build a bond.

This is their lawn mowers, we were able to get a new one for them.

"Becoming teachable is a process of learning line upon line.  In this process we convert thoughts and feelings into actions."   Robert R. Steuer

Flooding in Kolomotua

On 16 February 2016 we had some heavy rains from the Cyclone Winston that was passing us by.  We are thankful that the rain is all that we were hit with, but the flooding was pretty bad in some areas.  There were 53 homes that were flooded.  Since our Department is Humanitarian/Welfare we needed to survey the area to make a report to send to Garrick Parr, Liahona Service Center Manager, and the Area Office in New Zealand.  Following are some of the pictures that we took that day.

This is a road.

We are sure it is in their house.

Another road.

We worry about the trash in the water, contaminating everything!

More flooding!

Another home flooded.

Another road.

Here are some kids playing in a road of flood water.  Reminded us of our grandchildren playing in the flood water at our home!

Another road.

We are sure the water is inside.

This poor little house is hit every time it floods.

Pig wading in the water crossing the road.

More kids playing in the water on another road.

If it keeps raining it will be in this house as well!

This house could have water in it as well.

This is Ana's Stake house, the water was about to go into the chapel.  The Fire department and police came with fire hoses to pump the water out of this area.  The only problem was they pumped it into the street where there were houses already with flood water and they did not want or need anymore.  No place to get rid of the water!

"We do not always have the option of choosing our situations in life, but we can respond with faith and trust in the Savior.  We can know that He knows and loves us and will be with us."  Elaine S. Dalton

New Toilet Facility for Fatumu

This was a project where we were able to build a new toilet facility as the old one was about to fall in and the floors around the toilets was rusted out and leaking sewage.  We felt it was very necessary for the health of the children and teachers at this school to do this project.  They did a wonderful job and are very proud of the job that they did.

This is the old toilet facility, as you can see the roof is bad and there are cracks in the walls.

This picture shows the crack in the wall how bad it is.

Here you can see the cracks in the floor and the sewage that is leaking through. The children were afraid to go in as they were afraid the floor would break and they would fall in, which was a possibility!

Here are the students of the school.  They are wonderful to be around!  We love their beautiful smiling faces and those dark dancing eyes!

This is our Champion, Talaiasi, in our Project, he is the Principal of the school.

Here Elder Murdock is instructing them to take care of this facility so it will last them a long time.  Ana is translating for him.

Here President Tuungafasi, counselor to the Stake President, is handing over the keys to the new bathroom facility to Talaiasi.

Here the President is opening the new facility with the new keys.

Here standing in the new toilet facility is from left to right, Taneila, Town Officer, Viliami Vea, Assistant Principal, President Tuungafasi, Counselor to Stake President, and Elder Murdock

Here the children are enjoying the cookies that Sister Murdock made for them.

More students enjoying the cookies.

Here we thought they were going to have a feast, but we soon discovered it was all for us and was being loaded into our car along with baskets of fruits and vegetables.

Here they come to load our car!

The car is loaded, we even have some of the seats down in order to fit all the food in that they wanted us to take!

"We believe it is essential that our young people gain sufficient education to care for themselves in this highly specialized age, and also to serve their fellowmen, and we have in the past and shall continue in the future to support education at all levels."  Joseph Fielding Smith

New Project in 'Eua 2016

We had a request from President Ma'u, the Stake President in 'Eua for a farming project, so we flew there and spent one night.  While there we were able to see many other things as well as the farming project.  We discovered the need for water as well and a kindergarten project.  While seeing all of this, we also discovered the beauty of  'Eua and that it is the oldest island in the Kingdom of Tonga.  They figure it to be 40 million years old, while Tongatapu is only 10 million years old.  Hope you enjoy the following pictures of our trip.

This is the tractor that this project is planning on using.  It made us a little worried as they were not requesting that many parts!  It looks to us that it needs a lot of parts!  But it started right up and ran well, better that Elder Murdock's tractor at home in Idaho!

We were told that the silver duct tape is marking the things that belong to another person and he is wanting them back.  So these parts we are definitely going to be purchasing!

There is a total of 360 acres in this project that these farmers will be farming.  This part will be pasture for the cattle that they have.  There is a small fresh water stream flowing through this piece so there will be water for the cattle.  They have requested barb wire for the fencing.

This will be some of the ground that they will plant into crops, such as watermelon and other items.

More of the ground that will be planted into crops.  Remember the tractor!  It will be doing all this ploughing!

Here we are meeting with some of the farmers in this group.

They have started our lunch cooking in the pot and in the umu in the back.

Here they are uncovering the umu.

Taking the food from the umu.

Here is a man making a basket to put the food into out of the umu.

More food from the umu.  We wondered if an army was coming to eat with us!

This was our table that was laid for us.  It was all very good, even the grey looking fish!  The lobster was wonderful!  Just wish we would have had some butter to make it even better!

Here we are enjoying the food that was prepared for us!  There was more than we could eat, so they sacked up some of the lobsters for us to eat tonight for our dinner.

We next was shown a water problem in one of the villages.  This is where the whole village gets there water from this little garden hose coming from a spring.

This is the Community shower as they do not have water at their houses to bathe or shower, so they come here to use this makeshift shower that is right next to the little garden hose coming from the spring.

Here is one man's water supply he will take back to his house for the day.  This will be done every day.

This man has no car so he carries two 5 gallon buckets, 1 5 gallon jug, and a 1 1/2 gal jug on his bike to his home that is about 1 - 11/2 miles away.  He has to do this 4 times a day to get enough water for his family.  He also has to go to the bush to work in the fields for food for his family as well.  We were all amazed at what they have to go through to get water for their families.  We are so blessed in America as well as at Liahona!

This little boy was at the sight of where they are wanting to put in a kindergarten.  This is another request to us for help!

President Ma'u then took us on a sight seeing tour.  Here we are at a spring and these beautiful fern trees were growing!  So beautiful!

This sign is telling us about this area!

This tree was amazing!  It is one tree and is one of the oldest in the South Pacific.  They figure it to be about 800 years old.

President Ma'u said that this was 'Eua's river, it is actually a little creek about the size we have in our yard in Idaho.

This tells a lot about 'Eua and this tree, very interesting.

This is a field of Kava, the first that we have seen.

Another beautiful area that we visited called the Smoking Cave.

This was the pathway down to it.  That is Elder Murdock way down there!

This is the "cave", it is actually a waterfall area that falls very deep into the ground.  They have not found the bottom of it yet.  At the time it was dry.  But the foliage around was very beautiful.

Here is Sister Murdock making her way back up the trail.  Ana was so very worried about us going down the trail.  She said it was too scary so she would not go!

This is the highest point on the island of 'Eua.

The views were amazing!

Elder and Sister Murdock on the viewing platform.

Elder and Sister Murdock and Ana Ika on the viewing platform.

"When you take time to see the hand of the Lord in your life, to "count your blessings one by one," it might just "surprise you what the Lord has done.""    John Bytheway