Holthe Visit

We were blessed to have family come visit last week. Dan and Tammy Holthe spent a whole week with us in Tonga. They said their visit was not about a vacation but they wanted to see what we do. We did manage to get in some sightseeing and spent a day on 'Atata Island.

Penga, Loueni, Nunia Huni; Tammy and Dan, E/S Thomson

Dan and Tammy arrived Saturday 1 December at 8 pm on New Zealand Air. They were greeted by us and our Tongan family, Loueni and Nunia Huni and their daughter Penga and granddaughter Mana. Penga and Sister Huni had made 3 kahoa, one for Dan and Tammy and one for Sister Thomson.

Day One: Sunday. We attended our church services  at Liahona. Took a nap. Then we went to see Blow Holes, but it was a calm day and not an active tide.

Day Two: Monday. We needed to get the emergency container at Liahona better organized and get the chainsaws and generators started to be sure they were working. Dan and Elder Thomson had fun with this chore.
Tammy and Sister Thomson took inventory and reorganized the contents. A few weeks ago Huni and Elder Thomson had pulled the shelving forward about 6 feet to make room to store rolls of black plastic for covering roofs in the back of the container. That meant other contents needed to be reogranized. 

Afternoon saw us at Surfer's Beach snorkeling. It was a mid-tide so perfect timing. We saw many fish including the beautiful blue starfish. But the clown fish remained elusive today.

Day Three: Tuesday. Dan and Tammy spent the morning working in the Liahona Dental Clinic. Dan was able to do several restorations for patients as well as extractions on others. Dan learned several techniques from Elder Phil Hudson and Brother Thom Evans that he will use in Canada. 

In the afternoon we went to Folaha for a first inspection of a new chicken project. The first inspection is to ensure our donors have used the wire to build coops. Some of the coops in Folaha had chickens inside. Most families have their coops built. We will go back in January to see chickens inside and learn whether they are eating eggs or meat yet. It is a joy to watch the members grow in their understanding of raising chickens and see how the project improves their diets.

We next went Tokomolo to see a project that has been going for 9 months so they could see the difference. These ladies are all widows and help one another. They have a very good project.

Tammy with Sheli and Taina Huni

The Hunis invited us to their house for dinner . We went when we finished the chicken inspections. Sister Huni had made lu and Hawaii kumala, so the Holthes had their first taste of traditional Tongan food. They liked it! Huni brought out his fishing spear and told us some of his experiences. The grandkids love when we visit. They took to Tammy and Dan as well as evidenced by the picture to the left.

Day Four: Wednesday. One of our favorite projects is distributing desks and chairs, etc, to the schools. Our donors from Furniture for Schools in New Zealand, Callum Blair and John McLean, were in country and wanted to see some of the schools where we had donated furniture. Popua is a very poor community and one where we had recently donated. We took them there. Dan and Tammy were able to come with us to visit the schools. Tammy was able to give the a bag of children's books she had brought from Magrath to a teacher at Popua GPS. The principal and teacher were very appreciative. Good children's books are in big demand in Tonga.

Next we visited Hilliard Memorial Primary School. This school had been severely damaged by Cyclone Gita. When it reopened, we were able to fill their new building with desks and chairs.

In the afternoon, we went to the eastern side of Tongatapu, past the fishing pigs, to Ha'amonga. We took a watermelon to Kristitani and Tevita who live in a bus near Lavengatonga. Tevita led us to the beach behind their bus. Their back yard is the ocean. It was fun to "hike" down to the beach and spend some time on this private beach. We visited Anahulu Caves with its stalactites and stalagmites. Several locals were swimming in the fresh water pool and diving from the rocks. We did not have time to get in ourselves but we did walk around the caves and enjoyed watching the young men diving in. Dinner at Hina Caves for traditional Tongan food and dancing.

Day Five: Thursday. We went to the market to get a key made. We planned to do go to Tsunami Rock but Huni called and asked if we could be at his house at 11:30 to follow them to his niece's wedding. We had been planning on 2, so it was a change in our schedule. Attending the wedding and feast were a true Tongan experience for Tammy and Dan. We all loved the excitement and the traditional attire of the bride and groom, and Mana Huni danced for the bride and groom.

 

Manamoui-he-vai-ko-Niutoua Huni

Wedding couple

Mana Huni danced for the wedding couple, her cousins. She was in traditional Tongan dress, as were the wedding couple.

I did not know Mana could dance like this. I went up and put money on her and danced behind while she finished.

Temple night. We were able to attend the temple together for the English session.


Day Six: Friday. Today we went to 'Atata. We had not been there before but it has been on our bucket list. So happy to be able to have Dan and Tammy with us. This was a total get-away day. We needed it. The weather was so beautiful and the seas were calm.
We were greeted with a mango fruit drink as the island facilities were explained to us. To our surprise, we were the only visitors on the island today! We had the whole place to ourselves. First the boat took us to the reef for snorkeling. We saw huge clams, at least a foot across. Dan and Tammy tried out their go-pro to capture the beauty of the undersea world. There were lots of fish, and different from what we usually see at Ha'atafu Beach on Tongatapu. I pointed out an eel as it moved from one rock to another, Holthes were too far away but it was a great site for Elder and Sister Thomson to see.
When we got back to shore, the staff opened up a fale for us to use for changing, then our lunch awaited us. We found out where the kayaks were and made our way back to the beach. We each had our own kayak and paddled about in the sea. Tammy was the most adventurous and paddled out the furthest, but we all had fun. Dan enjoyed putting on his face mask and seeing the sea creatures/mollusks close to shore.

We had so much fun! I can't say enough for the day. I am ready to go back to 'Atata whenever anyone is going. The senior couples are planning to go in January. It will be different though with so many couples. Today it was just the 4 of us.


Day Seven: In the morning we went back to the market. Tammy wanted a few souvenirs. We had not bought a nativity last year, and it is definitely on my must buy list. We both bought the same nativity set, although the wisemen on mine were brown and hers white. They are made of tapa cloth so definitely Tongan handiwork. Dan wanted Tammy to see Tsunami Rock so we drove there before going home for lunch and final packing to go home. The Hunis came to the airport to see the Holthes off. We were so happy Dan and Tammy were able to meet them and see why we love the Hunis so much.

 
President and Sister Tuione were at the airport saying goodbye to a sister missionary who completed her mission and was going home to Fiji. The Tuione's love their missionaries. Of course, they draw close to them while they serve. They try to see each of their missionaries off when they complete their missions. Sister Korinamoa was on the same flight as Dan and Tammy. They will get to visit on the plane and a bit at the airport in Fiji, as Holthes have a layover there. Sister Korinamoa had a ukalele which she gave to Tammy for her children.


Thank you Dan and Tammy for coming to visit us. Family means so much to us and your visit has rejuvenated us. Six months left. How wonderful it would be if someone else surprised us with a visit.


Dan has finished dental school and Tammy came for Dan's graduation which will be Tuesday in Australia. They get to spend a few days with their friends in Australia and then return home. The family will be together; dental school has been a huge sacrifice and has had its challenges, but the Holthe family has made it through and now their new adventure begins.
                Families can be together forever

WHEELCHAIRS

LDS Charities brought in a container of wheelchairs and has partnered with the Ministry of Health and Motivation Australia. The container held a total of 267 wheelchairs, and walking aids of different kinds including Active wheelchairs, All Terrain wheelchairs, and RoughRiders. The walking aids include canes, crutches, and walkers for adults and children.

Elder Tukuafu and Dr Reynold 'Ofanoa

The equipment was handed over to the Physiotherapy Department of Vaiola Hospital.

Ray Mines, Saia, ____, Solo Pau'uvale, Sione

All donations from the last container provided by LDS Charities had been given away and the island has been without new wheelchairs for a few months. There is a backlog of requests. Physical Therapy Department will be busy distributing the chairs to those on the list.

With the number of people with diabetes on the rise, amputations unfortunately also are a "way of life" for many. It is reported 2 amputations a day are performed at Vaiola Hospital, mostly due to complications from diabetes.

Motivation Australia's Tonga Rehabilitation and Mobility (TRaM) project is a partnership between Motivation Australia and Ministry of Health in Tonga, with wheelchair donation by LDS Charities. The Ministry of Health would like to increase access to rehabilitation and mobility device services for people with disabilities, non-communicable diseases and the frail aged.


Ray Mines (TRaM project manager) explains "secondary complications of noncommunicable diseases such as stroke and amputation are impacting large numbers of Tongans and their families. The technical parts of the TRaM project are about renovating and equipping new facilities, training Tongan personnel and establishing the rehabilitation, wheelchair and prosthetic limb service. However, for me, our work is as much about creating hope that after a stroke or an amputation, people’s lives are not over. If the service can provide people with the support and devices they need to stay healthy and mobile - and the hope that life isn’t over - then together, we can really change people’s lives.


Wheelchair recipient Sione Fetu'u participated in our Beat Diabetes Runs in December 2017. He was pushed by Solomone (Solo) Pau'uvale. Sione has stated "the wheelchair allows me to get out in the community." Without his chair, Sione would only be in his home. We often see him when we are out shopping in Nuku'alofa.

We are  happy to be a part of bringing mobility to those in need here in Tonga. Wheelchairs make a huge impact in their lives.

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 

                                                                       James 2:14-17

Ha'apai Dependent on Shipping

Emergency supplies arrived from New Zealand so we were finally able to get the 20-foot emergency container for Ha'apai packed and ready for shipping. Friendly Island Shipping Agency (FISA) picked up the container at our welfare office in Mau'fanga and said it would be on the boat Monday morning and arrive in Pangai, Ha'apai Monday evening.We bought a plane ticket and flew to Ha'apai.

Vili Toutai from FM picked us up and brought us to our home away from home, the mission quarters behind the FM building and right across the street from the port. We went for a short walk around the small town and bought some mangos and a pineapple ... so sweet. We went into our little quarters to cool down.

We saw a ship arrive and walked across the street to watch it unload. It had come from Vava'u on its way to Tongatapu. The contents were unloaded with a front-end loader.

It seemed the whole island was down at the dock waiting for a shipment to arrive. It was the place to be. We loved interacting with the people. They were so happy.





Our phone rang. "Silongo - letting you know the container did not get on the boat." WHAT? Frustration and disappointment. Now we had flown up to Ha'apai for really nothing.

We would have to buy a ticket home the next day and will return once we figure out why the container was not on this shipment.

We did, however, thoroughly enjoy watching the busy harbor. Shortly after the first boat left, the bigger ship from Tongatapu arrived, the MV 'Otuanga'ofa. It was very interesting watching it unload. So many things came on the boat including a trailer, containers full of personal items, cars, cows, food, motorcycles, and items to be sold at the Chinese stores and hardware shop. Ha'apai is totally dependent on shipping. It is a tiny cluster of islands with no business or industry. The people live on what they can grow and what they have shipped.

Trailer being off-loaded

 





















While the MV 'Otuanga'ofa unloaded, the passenger MV Maui arrived. The boat seemed to be packed. Many got off, but others were continuing on to Vava'u. The MV Maui is the new passenger ferry called "the fast boat." Instead of 10-12 hours, the fast boat takes 7-8. It was also interesting watching the people disembark and wait for their luggage which was lifted out from below via a crane. What a fun time watching people meet their friends and relatives!

Once the ships left, we tried to think of what we could do. We remembered the LDS Middle School received new desks and chairs and donating the old to LDS Charities to give to a needy school on the island. They had been storing them until we could find a donor school.

We called Villi to take us around to see the other middle schools on the island. We visited 4 schools. Two had recently gotten new desks and chairs, one from China and one from Japan. The last 2 schools we visited were in great need. We decided to split the donation 60/40 with the Wesleyan School and the Church of Tonga School, the split because there are many more students at the Wesleyan School but the Church of Tonga School is in much need. Since it was the last day of classes, the desks and chairs will remain at the LDS Middle School and will be delivered in January when school resumes.

    As we Arise each morning let us determine to respond with love and kindness to 

    whatever might come our way.                  Thomas S Monson

Fatai GPS

We received a letter for needed work at Fatai GPS where 150 students, 86 boys and 64 girls, attend school from the surrounding villages of Fatai, Lapeka, Nukunuku, and Matafonua. When we visited, we saw much need for this school. Walls need repair. Flooring, windows, and doors need replacing. The students were in need of desks and chairs. 

In talking with the principal Lopiseni Kilioni, we were told the most URGENT need is to  improve the toilet facilities. There was only one working toilet for the 86 boys. There were 3 working toilets (although leaking) on the girls' side, one totally not working, and the girls had to wade through water to get to the toilet. There were no doors on any of the stalls which faced outward --- NO privacy. There was no sink for washing hands.

From this .............

     

    With Much Work ...

Keni Kau "helping" the plumbers

                 

To This ..............

We knew this school needed help and we went to work. We partnered with the plumbing program at Tonga Institute of Science and Technology. Talanoa Hafoka, principal, discsussed with Siuta, plumbing teacher; they agreed to do the work as practicum for the students. TIST students installed all the toilets and sinks in a few days.

We think this will be a lasting partnership, with TIST supplying labor in completing our projects.




We love the blue doors ... now there is privacy. Stake President Hikila made the doors and installed them for us.


The boys have been cleaning the facilities. This is a group we saw one day. When they saw us, they had to pause for a photo.

Another concern was the leaking roof in one room. LDS Charities purchased roofing tin and the carpentry students at TIST fixed it. 

We looked through our warehouse for furniture and selected desks and chairs, file cabinets, and teacher chairs and brought them to Fatai.

Students had been playing out front. When they saw us pull up, their eyes were as BIG as saucers and they all had HUGE smiles, as was the principals. They literally danced across the field. They had not expected this.





Boys climbed in the truck and were eager to unload. Lopiseni and Elder Thomson directed traffic. I stood out of the way. I am better at taking pictures than staying out of the way of the kids with their arms full.

Once the desks and chairs were in the classrooms, the class 5 students sat down, and Lopiseni led the students in singing songs to show their appreciation.

We thanked them for their songs and for their help in unloading the furniture.

We told them to study hard and learn to love learning.




                   Fill your mind with truth. Fill your heart with love. Fill your life with service.        
                                                               Thomas S. Monson