Furniture for Schools 2016

We received two 20 foot containers from New Zealand full of used school furniture.  We had some young men from Ana's stake come to help us unload and organise.  Following are pictures of the unloading and then the distribution to three different schools.  The one school was Atele Tonga College Boys School, ages about 10-11 to high school age boys.  There is over 800 male students in this school.  There are members of the church as well as non-members, but there is a great rival between Liahona School and this school.   The two Principals are trying to bridge the gap between the two schools to stop the fighting.  So with this school furniture handover it was done with the Principal of Liahona and students handing over the furniture to the Principal and students of Atele.  We are hoping this will help with the relationships between these two schools.  The other schools were Tonga Bridging Academy, a school for drop outs where they can get their GED, as we would say in America; and the Methodist Theological School, again this school has had bad feeling toward the Church.  We are hoping this will make things better.  We also have furniture for Paea-He-'Ofa Kindergarten school that will be given to them once they have finished there renovations.

Here they are bringing the containers in to our compound.

Here they are setting the second container next to the first.

Here is Elder Murdock kneeling to cut lock off the containers.  Whatever he was kneeling on caused a terrible rash and sores to come on the fronts of his legs.  It took about 2 weeks to heal.  It looked almost like poison ivy sores, but there is not poison ivy here in Tonga.

Here are the young men from Ana's Stake helping us unload.  These young men are taking the Missionary prep class and some are waiting at this time for their calls.  Very good young men!

Here we are unloading and placing them in our warehouse.

More unloading with a lot of smiles!

This is a good portion of all the furniture in the two containers, there was a lot to distribute!

Here is Tonga Academy School loading up their share.  They were so very happy!

This is the group from the Methodist Theological College loading their truck and a van.  They seemed to be very pleased.

Here they are leaving with their load.

 

We had the Methodist Theological College meet us a Liahona as we had some used cushions for their pews that we were donating to them as well.  Here they are loading them.

Who needs tie downs when you have some Tongans!

Here is Atele Tonga College starting their loading.  We gave the bulk of the furniture to them.

Here is one truck load!

And here is another.  This truck is Liahona's truck.  They hauled most of the furniture to Atele for the Handover Ceremony.  They did two loads with the two trucks.

Here we are at the Handover Ceremony at Atele.  Seated is Brother and Sister Garrick Parr.  He is the Liahona Service Center Manager.

Here are a few of the students from Atele, big group!

Here is Liahona Handing over the furniture to Atele Tonga College.  From left to right, Ministry of Education, Principal of Liahona, Principal of Atele Tonga College and the Superintendent of LDS Schools in Tonga.

Picture of the furniture given to Atele Tonga College.

Here is Sister Murdock coming back from passing out 500 CTR rings.  The students were instructed that as they wear them and look at them, they will remember to "Choose the Right" and "Choose not to Fight"!

Following the Handover Ceremony Atele Tonga College had a feast for all of us including the students from Liahona.  We were not expecting this!

"Education is not a posture, stance, or recognition.  It is, in fact, a continuing process.  When learning is applied properly, it can become power.  Wisdom and integrity must become an integral part of a truly educated person.   Education is not an arrival achievement.  It is a journey."   Marvin J. Ashton