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