Tonga Dental Clinic

While we were in Tonga we visited the Church-sponsored dental clinic which is on the Liahona (church school) Campus.  This dental clinic is quite unique.  Due to the poor dental care the people had been receiving -  because they would not visit a local dentist and because they did not have money, a dental clinic was opened on the campus.  The clinic has been operating for more than five years now.  Retired dentists are called on missions, and serve without pay for 18 to 23 months to provide dental care to the people on the island.  There is no charge for people who come to the clinic.  Each morning the clinic has a line going out the door and the dentist with his assistant (his wife) go to work.  They serve members and non-members alike.  At the present the missionary dentist is Elder Bruce Beckstrand and his wife, Sister Debi Beckstrand of Fillmore, Utah. They are doing a wonderful job and the people love them.

Elder and Sister Beckstrand

The clinic has mostly new and modern equipment.  Occasionally they have volunteer dentists and dental workers that come for a few weeks and help them with their case load.

The clinic is appreciated by all who receive service.  Even the Prince has visited the clinic to get his dental work done.  One of the main reasons for the clinic was to get the young prospective missionaries' dental work done before they go on their missions.  Prior to the Church opening this clinic, young missionaries from Tonga would arrive at the MTC in New Zealand and need to have extensive dental work done before they could actually begin their missions.  

Here is a story which Elder and Sister Beckstrand shared with us:

"Over the past ten months that we have been directors of the Liahona Dental Clinic here in Tonga, we have come across many dear people that have touched our lives.  One group of young men, who we call our modern day "Strippling Warriors" have done just that.  Our first priority in the dental clinic is to get all of our pre-missionaries dentally ready to serve.  We got acquainted with this group of young men while fixing their dental needs.  They were so grateful for the help that they received.

Each of these young men have a story to tell that is less than favorable.  All come from broken families, kicked out of their home at ages 12 - 13 and started living on the streets -- using and selling drugs for survival.  They were involved in gangs and fighting, imprisioned, watch friends die and felt that no one cared or loved them.  A former young bishop found these boys and took them into his home, loved them and taught them there was a better way to live through the gospel.  Through the love of this former young bishop and his wife and the love of our Heavenly Father for these young men, they have changed their lives and are worthy and ready to serve a mission.  Their testimonies are rock solid and they want to share the love of the gospel with others.  They are so grateful for repentance.

Some of these have received their mission calls and some are still waiting to receive them.  We just sent one of our "Strippling Warrior" missionaries last week to the Philippines.

A few weeks ago, just before Christmas, the bishop and these young men invited their families to come to a reunion to be reunited with them.  Some of the young men had not seen their families for years.  They prepared a big feast and we were invited to be the guests of honor.  What a blessing it was for us to experience this.  Unfortunately some of their families did not come, but many did.

After the big feast, the bishop had each young man bear their testimonies to their families and then those family members who wanted also shared their testimonies.  Many tears were shed between family members and years of broken hearts began to mend.

These young men are physically, mentally and spiritually strong and will be great missionaries throughout the world.  We are so glad to be a part of their lives.  

We love serving the Tongan people.  We have had many priceless experiences since we have served here.  We work very hard, but what blessings we receive. "

Modern Day Strippling Warriors

 "And they were all young men, and they were exceedingly valiant for courage, and also for strength and activity, but behold, this was not all - they were men who were true at all times in whatsoever thing they were entrusted."   (Alma 53:20)

The Kingdom of Tonga

On January 6, 2015, we flew to Fua'amotu International Airport in Tonga.  Tongatapu is the Kingdom of Tonga's largest and most populous island.  The capital, Nuku'alofa is on the island of Tongatapu.  When you arrive at the airport they do not have jetways, so you use a roll-a-way stairway to exit the plane.  As you get off the plane and look toward the terminal everyone is crowded on the top level of the airport where they can watch the planes arrive and take off.  Everyone is up there watching and waiting for their person to arrive.  Our humanitarian couple, Elder and Sister Murdock did not let us down.  We spotted Elder Murdock's white shirt first thing.  After we got off the plane, collected our baggage and went through customs, the Murdocks greeted us with flower leis which smelled wonderful.  The Murdock's had traded cars with another couple, so they had an 11 passenger van.  We were taken to the Liahona School Campus where we stayed in House 1.  Most all the senior missionaries live on the campus in addition to some employees.  There are 36 homes.  House 1 and House 2 are kept open for visiting guests.  House 1 is huge.  There are at least 5 bedrooms with 5 bathrooms as well.  There was a formal dining room, family room, huge kitchen, and a gigantic front room.  We were told that House 1 is where they put "special" guests when they come.  We enjoyed our accomodations.  Susan especially enjoyed having a nice long hot bath every night.

House 1

Liahona Campus consists of 52 acres with housing, a dental clinic, a high school and middle school, a chapel, the Samoa Service Center, and physical facilities offices.  Most of the senior missionary couples live here.  It is a great place.  Each morning we would go for a walk and enjoy the beauties of the campus.  What a wonderful place to serve a mission.  Liahona School is the flagship of schools for the islands.  There are also schools on the islands of Fiji, Samoa and Kiribati.  The Liahona School was built in the 1940's by construction missionaries.  All the buildings are very well built.

As you enter the campus you see this

Different views around the campus

Homes on the Campus

More Homes 

The maps identify this as a photo oppotunity.  The only split/ double palm tree on the island

Coconuts outside the Wood's apartment 

Palm trees next to the campus

After Church on Sunday.  The Murdocks in typical Tongan attire 

Dental Clinic

Elder and Sister Beckstrand (Dentist)

Elder and Sister Beckstrand in the clinic

Hans, Susan, Gary, Sister and Elder Murdock before we go into Hina Cave for a traditional Tongan Dinner.  Our dish was a piece of banana tree stock.  We had a real Tongan feast.

These are fish traps.  the fish swim into the poles which have nets on them under the water.  Then when the fish get into the corral, they can not get out.  Then the fishermen gather their catch.

This tree is next to the Murdock's house.  It is called a Flame Tree or a Royal Poinciana tree.

Another view of the Temple

Tonga Temple

Hans, Gary, Susan Sister and Elder Murdock after a session.  

Blow Holes

Sign telling about the Blow Holes

More Blow Holes.  They are all along the coastline.  The height of the sprays depends upon whether the tide is in or out.

"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 al all levels."  Joseph Fielding Smith

Ha'apai, Tonga

One of the main reasons we went to Tonga was to visit the island of Ha'apai and see a home rebuilding and vocational training project currently underway.  On January 11, 2014, the most powerful storm ever recorded in Tongan waters made landfall.  Tropical Cyclone Ian was a Category 5 storm.  http://www.unocha.org/top-stories/all-stories/tonga-tropical-cyclone-ian-strikes-tiny-pacific-nation .   Homes of so many people were destroyed.  As a result of this a humanitarian/self-reliance project emerged.  The Church is working in connection with the Government of Tonga in rebuilding and repairing 105 homes.  42 men ranging in ages from 17 to 50 have been identified as apprentices who receive classroom training in addition to hands-on practical training.  When the rebuilding is complete these apprentices will earn certification as skilled carpenters who will be employed in the building trades and be able to better provide for their families.  Under the direction of Elder Joseph DeLong (a building specialist) these apprentices are becoming skilled tradesmen and more confident individuals.

After the Christmas break the men returned to Ha'apai to complete the 105 homes.  Their goal is to have the homes completed by the end of February.  Upon arriving in Ha'apai we visited some of the completed homes, looked at other building sites and then attended a devotional with these fine men.

Originally we were scheduled to fly up on Wednesday and return on Thursday.  Due to mechanical problems with the plane, the flight was cancelled.  We returned again to the airport the next day with plans to fly up and back in the same day.

Elder and Sister DeLong

Already to go - Hans, Susan, Gary, Sister and Elder DeLong and Verna Tukuafu

Elder Harmon, Elder Bunting, and Gary arriving in Ha'apai

Sister DeLong and the children who were delighted to see her

New Homeowner and Susan

Local children

The devotional was very moving and everyone went away ready to start work the next day.  Each of these men has a story and it was very touching to meet them and learn their particular circumstances. 

Apprentices

At the conclusion of the meeting we took a picture of the group.  Elder DeLong asked the men to sing a song and Sister DeLong told them she would put it on YouTube.  Not sure if she has been able to do that yet as the Internet doesn't always work on Ha'apai.  Hopefully she will be able to do that soon.  These Tongan men are beautiful singers, singing harmony without the aid of any accompaniment.

When we flew up on our 17 seat prop plane we were planning on returning the same day.  Because of an erupting volcano, we were not able to return that day and found ourselves spending the night at Sandy Beach Resort.  What an enchanting place.  We were able to return to Tongatapu the next morning and arrived just in time to change clothes and clean up a little for our meeting with the Tonga Ministry of Health.

Arriving in Ha'apai

Hans and Gary

Gary and Susan in their "$1.00 store" purchases

Gary on the porch of our bungalow

View of the ocean from the porch of our bungalow

Headed back to Tongatapu

View of the inside of the plane

We are going to add some other photos which we found interesting.  Look closely at the pictures painted on the outside of a local (not LDS) church.

Riding in the back of Elder DeLong's truck

Banyan tree like the one in the island of 'Eua, Tonga, which was the inspiration for the movie, Avatar

Apprentices

Buildings built to house workers from other islands

SELF-RELIANCE is a product of our work and undergirds all other welfare practices.  It is an essential element in our spiritual as well as our temporal well-being.  Regarding this principle, President Marion G Romney has said; "Let us work for what we need.  Let us be self-reliant and independent.  Salvation can be obtained on no other principle.  Salvation is an individual matter, and we must work out our own salvation in temporal as well as in spiritual things." (In Welfare Services Meeting, 2 Oct. 1976.) Guiding Principles of Personal and Family Welfare, Liahona February, 1987.