HOUSE # 26, LIAHONA CAMPUS, TONGA

 HOUSE # 26 OUR HOME

 LOOKING DOWN THE STREET

 OUR KITCHEN NOTICE THE WATER FILTERS

 BATHROOM VANITY

 DINING AREA

 BEDROOM

 CAN'T HAVE ENOUGH PICTURES OF GRANDKIDS

 THIS IS WHY WE SERVE

 THIS IS ONLY A SAMPLE OF HOW

 MANY TIMES WE WERE HONORED BY LEIS

WE DID HAVE BEAUTY ALL AROUND US

FUN TRIPS WITH SENIOR MISSIONARIES

SENIORS ON THE BOAT TO FAFA

NICE LOOKING MISSIONARIES HEADED TO FAFA

NOT TOO SHABBY OF A VIEW FROM THE RESTAURANT

FAFA IS A SMALL BUT BEAUTIFUL ISLAND

GOOD SNORKELING

GOODBYE FOR NOW

WAITING ON THE DOCKS FOR THE BOAT TO ATATA

THE BOAT RIDE TO ATATA

APPROACHING THE ISLAND

WHAT'S FOR LUNCH?

OCTOPUS OF COURSE! DOWN THE HATCH!

THE SNORKELING WAS AMAZING AND INCLUDED GIANT CLAMS!

 VISITING THE LOCAL VILLAGE OF ABOUT 200 PEOPLE

GOODBYE TO A FUN ISLAND AND A FUN DAY

 WAITING ON THE DOCK TO GO TO PANGAIMOTU

 THE BOAT RIDE TO PANGAIMOTU

 YOU CAN WALK AROUND THE ISLAND IN ABOUT 30 MINUTES

 BOATS THAT SINK AND BOATS THAT FLOAT MADE FOR GOOD SNORKELING, EXCEPT FOR THE JELLYFISH THAT STUNG EVERYONE

 GOOD HAM BURGERS (FOR TONGA) ON THE ISLAND

 A FUN TIME WAS HAD BY ALL

GOODBYE TO ANOTHER FUN TRIP TO A SMALL ISLAND

TOP 3 JUNE 2014

TONGA CHAPTER CLOSING:
We have just spoken in church today and we have shed a few tears - - - okay quite a few!  But we have gained so many new friends and experiences here that we will never forget what 9 months in Tonga has done for us.  And to think we were called to serve them!  They have certainly served us the most!

So here goes the Top 3:

#3 – Our missionary team.  The senior missionary team here is strong and well.  We all have our separate jobs to do here.  Some missionary couples at the office, some at the Tonga temple, some of them are doing auditing for the church, some of them dental work, some of them assisting in the PEF, the mission nurse,   and of course, 6 of us here with the ITEP program.  All the Senior Missionaries find great joy in mingling with these genuine Tongan saints and count ourselves very blessed to serve here.  If any of you desire, you will be called to do a work -  wherever - throughout the world.  They are presently only needing 3,000 more senior missionaries

SENIORS AT THE BEACH FOR FAMILY HOME EVENING

LIAHONA HIGH SCHOOL MARCHING FOR THE KING OF TONGA

ENTRANCE TO LIAHONA HIGH SCHOOL, A BEAUTIFUL CAMPUS

#2 – The Liahona High School team.  What a huge amount of good these 71 teachers and staff are accomplishing as they lead their 1300 students.  We marched with them at the opening of Parliament on June 5^th and felt we were in the greatest army.  So many saints on the sideline of the 3 hour long parade cheered on the missionaries/Liahona leadership team as well as all the students.  We marched across the royal lawn and then lined up and bowed to the king.  In the background marched our 1300 students and on cue they turned and faced the king and then, looked forward as they kept marching.  It felt like we were in a Star Wars movie or something. ( Formal pictures in front of the king weren’t allowed, but someone sneaked a few informal ones.)  We were so proud to join with them in this great work!  The following Monday, we spoke at their last devotional before their break, on June 9^th, and were again amazed at the number of students covering the gym floor, awaiting that day’s instructions.   We will surely miss our association with these students and faculty!

#1 – The Lord loves these island saints.  We have found, once again, that no matter where you are, the Lord is very mindful of the needs of his children and anxious to bless them in countless ways.  Since there are not adequate schools for the members of the church in the islands, this great opportunity is provided for them.  In the South Pacific there are 6,000 students attending 14 church schools.   There is one church school left in Mexico and that is all, throughout the world.  We think that in heaven, the schools will look like Liahona High School.  This is a picture of the area administrators, the principals of the schools and the ITEP missionaries from the South Pacific at our May 2014 conference.  (The Tonga team are the ones in green.)

TOP 3 MAY 2014

MAY 2014 -  ITEP HISTORY – Tongatapu/Liahona High School

This has been a busy month on the Liahona High School Campus:One of the main focuses of the ITEP missionaries has been observations of the student teachers.  We have 7 teachers finishing up their student teaching, so this has been a very busy month for the 3 of us - Elder Aland, Sister Aland and Elder Meyers.

Sister Aland and Sister Meyers are also teaching one last piano course on Monday afternoons to Young Single Adults and adults as well.  There are 12 students in the class and Sister Wood is also assisting and will take over helping this course proceed on campus, as well as in other stakes around the island.  The 30^th of May was another piano recital and two more keyboards were awarded.  This makes 7 stakes we have covered to date and 13 keyboards awarded.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR THE TEACHERS

SOMETIMES THEY SIT ON CHAIRS BUT THEY ARE GOOD EITHER WAY

SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF A TWO MONTH PIANO COURSE

May 21^st  -  Training with Jacobsens – We had some wonderful and eye-opening training with Elder and Sister Jacobsen in Auckland.  First of all, as we came into the office, we were warmly greeted by everyone we met throughout the area office, even though it was a bit chilly outside, especially compared to the warmer climate of Tonga.  Shadowing them in the office as they got all things ready for the upcoming principal’s conference was a great induction to some of the activities we will be part of.  They also reviewed many procedures and  other job minutia that will be part of our new calling.  It was very enlightening. Also, on Saturday we were able to get acquainted with the area around Auckland and we began to recognize what a beautiful and diverse country we will have the opportunity to discover.

May 26-30  - Principals Conference in NZ.  This conference was a enlightening, very informative, but mostly a huge boost to the morale of the leadership in the South Pacific Schools.  We observed great instructors, had a chance for much participation and felt our spirits lifted and rejuvenated.  What gratitude everyone had for all the time and effort that went into planning and presenting this event.

The last day, the last hour, we were privileged to hear Elder & Sister Rasmussen report on their mission to Kiribati.  Such sweet service they gave as they totally immersed themselves into the lives of the good saints and schools of Kiribati.  Both were tremendously blessed.  The Rasmussens wish they had more time there and may someday be back. 

On the side, Elder Aland has finished up teaching an Administrative Internship for Vika Kaufusi and that has been a great accomplishment for her and for him to help with.

DORA SHOWED UP AT OUR LUNCHEON

ITEP MISSIONARIES, ELDER AND SISTER JACOBSEN, BRENT CHOWEN AND JON SHUTE

THIS IS THE TONGAN TEAM

May 31^st.  – We arrived in the airport at 1:30 am and got home at 2 am.  Whew!  What a trip there and back including the 4 hours bonus of being delayed in Auckland airport.  We did give away 2 pass along cards in the process of being delayed.  This evening we all went out to eat with Elder and Sister Webb as they will be flying out on Monday , June 2.   Their accomplishments in the humanitarian aid department are truly remarkable and as the Reynolds from the area office said, they are the best!!  They served in Ukraine at the same time we served in Russia and we have spent many evenings sharing our heart- warming missionary stories.  How we will miss them!  aving

aving