The Perfect Setting

The beach in Niutoa (North East on
Tonga Tapu) was a  perfect setting
for a baptism.  

Another "normal" week in paradise.  Not much new to report this week other than we were able to attend a baptism on the east end of the main island in Niutoa.  What made this one different is that they don't have a baptismal font in their building or anywhere nearby.  Their Stake center is in Navutoka which is only about 6-7 Km away and since it's too far to walk they performed the ordinance in the ocean.  It was a really cool setting and the service was short but filled with the Spirit.  Elder Veni performed the

I wanted to be respectful of the ordinance
but I did want to capture the setting.  This
was just prior to the baptism.

ordinance which was his first baptism in Tonga and he is nearing the end of his mission (he is Tongan from Vava'u).

You can see the steps leading down
to the ocean.  Elder Woods and Elder
Hirinuki were the witnesses.

Pisope Kengike and Elder Talisa
after the Baptism.

After the baptism the bishop made a few remarks.  We didn't understand everything he said but the Spirit was so strong.  He was teary-eyed as he shared his testimony and we concluded the meeting with one of our favorite Tongan Hymns.

I know there are lots of photos of this one event but it was such a great experience and the setting really magnified the Spirit for us.

I won't try to list all of the missionaries by name but this was quite a group
that turned out for the baptism.

It's also been a very hot and humid week with several 90 deg F and 90% humidity days again.  The past two days we have had a little relief as it has rained ... mostly fairly lightly and off and on but there have been a few times the sky has really opened up and the water came down in torrents.  Tonight is Sunday at about 5:30 pm and it is really coming down heavy.  The sound on the metal roofs is almost thunderous.

The kids are all back at Liahona now as school starts on Monday.  It has been a nice break but today in Church when the singing began it was obvious how much we have missed them.  They are so well behaved and even though there are 1500 students here it never seems crowded or overrun.

We had some new senior missionaries arrive this week along with another dentist (couple) who is here for 12 weeks with his wife.  They are the Fishers from Kaysville (near the Hess Farm area).  It's always fun to make new friends and help them as the acclimate to Tonga and the Tongan culture.  I have been able to write a simple database program for tracking the patients at the dental clinic.  They seem to be pretty happy with the ease of data entry and the data reporting features.

Stake President Ben Hur Kivalu with one of his  new counselors
and one of his old counselors (and of course, Superman).

I had the Stake president of the newly formed Capital Stake approach me today for help on the computer side of things as he is frustrated that nothing seems to be happening and all of the existing computers are old and should have been replaced before.  President Kivalu is a giant of a man and that he is trying to be patient and do it the Lord's way but maybe he is getting close to doing it his way.  I'm not sure why there is so much resistance to change out of the New Zealand office, they ask us to come here and find out the current state of affairs but don't seem to be able to take our recommendations for change.  I'm really not trying to talk bad about them it just seems like we run into the same wall with everything here.  I'm sure they have their reasons.

You're never to young to ride in the back of a truck here.

These kids were pushing this plastic tub around and having a great time as
they moved from pile to pile of leaves picking them up.  As soon as the camera
came out they stopped to pose for a photo.  I'm not sure ever remember work
being that much fun.

This trio is always playing as planes arrive giving them a proper welcome to Tonga.

Waiting at the airport for his mom to arrive.

Role playing at district meeting as Lepeka watches and listens intently.

The office crew from L>R, Elder Teutau, Elder Betten and Elder Rosales

Not a colorful sunset but a very tranquil ocean (nearing low tide at the blowholes in Houma).