Humanaitarian Work in the Islands

Our main missionary responsibility is to support other missionary couples who serve as humanitarian missionaries and county welfare managers on the islands of Tonga, Samoa, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Marshall Islands, Kiribati, and Vanuatu.

We feel we have some of the finest couples to work with.  They truly work hard at their callings and each have done a marvellous job.

Our couple in Tonga are from Inkom, Idaho.  They are doing marvelous work in teaching young children that a key to preventing diabetes is to exercise and choose the right foods.  They a created contest between the schools as a method of teaching diabetes prevention. There were 12 schools invited to participate.  The children competed by performing skits, songs or write essays and poems on the theme of "choose the right".   To emphasise the message, each student received a CTR ring to wear as a daily reminder.

Their efforts are part of the church’s continuing initiative to support Pacific Island Ministries of Health and Education in their fight against diabetes.

In Fiji we have a wonderful couple from Switzerland.  They have taught the people on the island of Tavenuni how to garden.  They went a step further than just giving them seeds and teaching them how to plant and care for their crops.  They also taught them how to gather seeds, preserve them and plant again the next year.  This has been a very successful project and the people are able to feed their families as well as have a little extra to sell at the market.

Our couple in the Marshall Islands are laying the groundwork for a framework of diabetes prevention.  Together with a local wellness center run by Canvasback.org, a Seventh-day Adventist organization, they have weekly clinics where they measure blood sugar, teach cooking and exercise.  They are educating the people about diabetes detection, treatment and prevention.  They are also teaching them how to garden in containers or small spaces. 

We will make another post soon and tell you about the couples on the islands of Kiribati, Samoa, Vanuatu, and Solomon Islands.

"A child who sees his father and mother forgo comforts for themselves as they reach out to those in distress, will likely follow the same pattern when he or she grows to maturity.   Gordon B Hinckley, Stand a Little Taller.

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