Training our couple headed to Tonga

This week was spent in preparing and training a couple from Idaho who will serve in Nuku'alofa, Tonga. Wednesday morning, 6:45 AM we picked them up at the airport after their long flight.  Then we took them to the hotel which is about two blocks from the Area Office.  After dropping them off so they could freshen up, we went to work for about a half hour.  Later we went back to pick them up to begin their training.

It was one month to the day that we had arrived in New Zealand, therefore we were very sympathetic to their physical condition.  They received training with LDS Family Services and then we took them to lunch.  After lunch their training continued.  Just before we took them back to their hotel we were able to help them FaceTime with their family.  They were not sure it would work.  It made our day to see Grandma and Grandpa faces light up when they saw their grandson on the screen.  After they talked to their family we walked them back to their hotel about 4:00 PM.  We picked them back up for dinner and went to a place called Lonestar (not the US Lonestar).  The restaurant served steaks and fish and played country music just like back home only New Zealand style.  We did our best to keep them awake until it was bed time.

Gary, Susan, and Sister and Elder Murdock

Thursday morning they looked much more rested.  Everyone has learned that the adjustment secret is to stay awake the first day until normal bed time.  It really does help with the jet lag.  We reviewed the training they received in Provo at the MTC.  As we discussed humanitarian principles we could tell that things were starting to click and they were beginning to catch on.  The Murdocks were able to review all their projects in Tonga.  We were excited to work with them.  They will be a great asset to the people in Tonga.

In the evening we went to the suburb of Devonport and had dinner.  Before we ate we walked around and enjoyed the pleasant weather and the ocean.  They have some HUGE trees.  We think they were Magnolia and Kauri trees, but we may be mistaken.  All we know is they were Big!

The water is enchanting

Gary, Sister and Elder Murdock in front of one "big" tree

We think this is a Kauri tree

Susan and Gary in front of a Magnolia tree?

On the stone it said "placed here in 1905"

Friday morning we took the Murdocks' shopping to get things that they felt they might need.  We also took them to visit other couples in the office who had lived or been in Tonga.  We helped them make one last call to their family as their flight would not arrive in Tonga untill 10:00 PM which would be 5:00 AM in Idaho.  Everyone was also uncertain of the Tongan Internet and phone situation.  About 3:00 PM we started our journey to the airport.  The traffic was slow, but not too bad.  After dropping them off we went home.

Susan, Gary, Elder and Sister Murdock

Saturday was a beautiful day.  They was hardly a cloud in the sky and the weather was warm.  We took a walk to town and visited the beach.  Everyone else had the same idea.

Time for a run along the beach

Enjoying the surf

Notice the sailboats in the horizon

The tall building is near the Area Office

We taught our class today at church.  The lesson was on Obedience.  When we arrived at church we were greeted by the missionaries.  Transfers took place last week and we have a new missionary, Elder Jenson.  As we talked we discovered that he was from Sandy.  We told him that we were from Sandy as well.  We told him that we lived near the mouth of Little Cottonwood Canyon.  Turns out that his family lives in Dimple Dell Park ward.