Let It Rain!

I was soaked to the bone in about 30 seconds!  The rain-water
rinse worked very well.  If you don't get a layer of dirt off with
soap it just get's worse and worse, that's why we wash our car
in the rain.  It's much easier than dragging out a hose.

Somehow, even Tonga knows it's conference weekend.  It started raining late Friday night and it's been raining hard since.  The weather forecast says that it's supposed to rain through Monday with 2+" each day.  I would say let's go heavy on the + side for now.

I also took advantage of the heavy rain this morning (Saturday) to soap up the car and get that soft rain-water rinse.  It's difficult to tell how hard it is raining from a still photo but you may have noted that the photographer is under the back porch awning where it is still dry (in her defense, she was doing the laundry).  This is one of the few times I do any physical labor and she is always there helping too.

My mind has been on conference all week.  In Tonga, we have our normal Sunday meeting  schedule this weekend and they just record the sessions this weekend.  Then we have our general conference next weekend when the recordings are played for all to see and hear.  We're antsy to hear them so we'll be getting up to start listening to the Saturday sessions at 5:00 a.m. on Sunday morning.  Then we'll try to do the same on Monday for the Sunday sessions.  Any that get interrupted or missed we'll download and listen as soon as we can.  Then next Saturday and Sunday we get a repeat.


For the rest of this week's blog I offer you my humble testimony in hopes that it may touch someone and inspire them to keep trying.  This is not easy for me to do but it is offered to any who may read it in a spirit of sincerity and love.


I'm a pretty simple and average guy with no special position of authority in the Church but I love how my testimony can be just as strong as the Prophets based on my ability to live by it's principles of faith and repentance.  I feel so blessed to have received such a sure witness in my life and although it is not through any heavenly manifestation, I do know as surely as I know anything in this mortal life, that Jesus Christ is my Savior.  He rescued me from the fall of Adam Eve and that through His willing and selfless sacrifice I am redeemed and will be resurrected.  Exaltation and Eternal life in God's presence however, comes as a result of our own actions.  I know that I have a loving Father-in-Heaven and that I am created in His image.  I know that I choose to go through the trials of this life so that I could learn how to use the agency I have been given to make good choices and surrender my rebellious will and nature as a man to the will of my loving Father.

I feel so blessed to have been born to such good parents who have taught me right from wrong throughout their lives and have always been good examples in the way they lived their lives.  I have always felt of their love for the Savior and for me.  I wish that I could have been a better example throughout my life but I do hope that my children and grandchildren (step and blood) feel of my testimony now and that they know how much I love the Savior and them.  I have some wonderful siblings and extended family and although several of us have had our own challenges in life, they are wonderful people who have also always supported me and shown me love.

Many of my extended family and close friends are not all members of the Church but I hope that any who read this feel of my conviction that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the truth.  Becky and I are serving a mission not because we thought this would be some exotic vacation but rather because it is the thing that Christ expects of us.  He teaches us and expects us to love serve our fellowmen.  It is very hard to serve so far away and for so long apart from those we love so dearly but we want to show our testimony through our actions as well and we know they too will be blessed.  I have been blessed so much in my life as a result of my parents service as missionaries.

I pray that those of you who may feel like they are on the outside looking in do not feel judged by me but rather encouraged to find out for yourself.  I am where I am in my life in part because of a challenge issued to me but my grandma Kapp as she neared the end of her life.  She begged me to commit to giving the Gospel one more honest chance.  To really put it to the test in my life through faith, study, and prayer.  I am so thankful for her loving challenge!

I do not ask you to take my word for it but I do offer that the same testimony and conviction that I have received is possible through your own faith, study, and prayer.  The Spirit will testify to each of us in ways much deeper than our five senses if we are sincere.  Of that I am a living example even though I know I still have a long way to go.

No one inside the church is perfect or free from sin so it hard for me to understand why some people think that because members of the Church aren't perfect we are somehow then hypocrites.  I encourage you to put your trust in God, not man and realize that we can all be better tomorrow than we were today.  We all fall short in one way or another.

God loves us and will bless us beyond what we deserve if we take Him at his word.  Of this I sincerely testify in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Tongan Culture

Sione and Keiti Po'uha and family (Photo from July 2017)

We met some of our Woods Cross Utah Tongan neighbors here.
At 1st meeting they become your best friends (we love Tongans!)

I've been capturing some of my thoughts on Tongan culture for a few weeks and thought this would be a good week to post them.  They are my thoughts and I hope you can feel how much I love the people of Tonga.  When I point out differences to the way I may be used to something that does not mean I am being negative.  There are certainly things we can learn from each other and I hope I do my part and incorporate the many good things I have learned.

Tonga is definitely a culture of friendliness.  It is hard to describe as it almost seems too friendly, maybe even fake upon first arrival.  However, you soon come to realize that it is indeed a very genuine friendliness.  There is so much to be learned here from that perspective.  Life in the U.S. can certainly make one become skeptical and even cynical so it won't be easy to overcome years of bad habits but I am getting better.

Food and Drink

Kumala is a sweet potato and is quite
good.  The color takes getting used to.

I find the food here to be good but not what I am used to so I am glad that Lepeka is a good cook.  We eat mostly at home.  Lepeka does a little bit better with some of the fish dishes and I like the watermelon.  Rice is very available which Lepeka likes but I'm not a big rice fan.  I find I am liking it more as long as it has the right sauce (preferably a sweet chili sauce for my taste) .   Typical Tongan food does not include potatoes very often but they are pretty available as well as chips (french fries).  They have other potato like roots that they prepare similar to potatoes.  I find them a little bit dry but not bad.

Ota ika and manioke

Fish is of course, one of the mainstays here on the ISLAND.  You can find it for sale everywhere and it is obviously very fresh.  Ota Ika (raw fish) is available everywhere as well as grilled fish and battered deep-fried fish and chips (french fries).  It is always a delicious option in almost every restaurant and you can always count on it to be consistently good.  Raw fish is never found on my plate but Lepeka likes it.

Skewered and roasted

Puaka or pork is also an important source of protein in Tonga.  Most umu meals (ground oven) are centered around puaka.  They also grill it over an open flame roasting the whole pig ... head and all.  Pigs ears are the most sought after delicacy but you need to be at the front of the line if you have any hope of getting some.  I am so courteous and always leave them for others.

Get your dog hot ... not your hot dog!
(photo used with permission from
Elder Grant)

Just a subtle hint here:  if you get offered a hot dog ... make sure it is what you are thinking and not just hot dog.  They are eaten all the time and the missionaries tell us how good the meat is.  I can't bring myself to try it so I'll just have to take their word for it.

Meal at Sabrina's Chicken (delicious!)

Chicken in the restaurants is mostly fried with a few rotisserie over open flame options.  Both are very good but we are selective in which restaurants we eat chicken (we are more open than most of the senior missionaries and always ask the Elders and Sisters which ones in their areas are okay for us.  So far their recommendations have been spot on.

Beef (and I use that term loosely) is available but nothing like a good beef patty at Crown Burger or a Maddox Steak House Steak (shameless plug for both).  I have not found any steak for purchase at the stores that I will purchase again.  There is however, one restaurant that offers a New Zealand Steak that is pretty close to what I am used to in the U.S. (Roby Anne's behind the Kings Palace - order the fish and leave the Steak for me).  It is a small place and they like reservations.  We typically spend about $55. USD for two good dinners so it is expensive by Tongan standards but quite reasonable for a good steak and fresh mahi-mahi.

Diet Coke (or any diet drink) is pretty hard to come by (no soda fountains) and canned soda is sometimes outdated (but still drinkable in a pinch).  We drink a lot of bottled water and I had one of our friends ship a bunch of Crystal Lite lemonade (single serving packs) which works for me.  We also bought a Magic Bullet and Lepeka makes the best pineapple, coconut, mandarin orange, and banana smoothie anywhere.  They have a pineapple/coconut fruit juice that is GREAT!  I'm hoping we can find something like that when we get home.

Shopping

Just prior to the grand opening

This photo was taken before the no
photo signs were posted in Costlow.

Shopping has improved quite a bit with the opening of the new CostLow store but there are still limitations and we have to shop at several stores to get all the items we like.  It is definitely getting better over time as they keep adding to their inventory.  Bread is best from one of the main bakeries and is made fresh daily (no bakery at CostLow).



Vegetables are purchased at the downtown open air market or one of the roadside stands and they are very good when in season.  Bananas, watermelon, and coconuts are available year round but pineapple, lettuce, and avocados are very seasonal (which I don't totally understand why they are seasonal as temperatures only vary about 10-15 deg on the average year round).  Tomatoes, onions, cabbage, carrots, celery, peppers and various other veggies are available most of the year as well.

Most prices seem pretty reasonable with the exception of meat and dairy products (i.e. butter and cheese which are pretty high but not so high we don't buy them).  Fresh milk is not available anywhere, only boxed non-refrigerated milk sold in small cartons.  Beef is available but local beef is grass fed and can be pretty touch.  There area  couple of restaurants that offer a New Zealand steak and that is much closer to what I am used to in the U.S.

Driving

When driving in Tonga you
must be ready for anything.

Wrong side of the road ... steering wheel is also on the wrong side (two wrongs don't make a right in this case but we are coping and so far so good).  It's not as hard to get used to as you might think.  Driving is also SLOW which is probably good since there is so much foot traffic right along the road almost constantly.  Maximum speed limit anywhere on the island is 70 KPH or about 43 MPH (not that you get to drive that fast very often).  There are often tractors and trucks that keep traffic down around 40-50 KPH everywhere (25-30 MPH).  In town it's even slower.  When driving in Tonga, anything goes as there don't seem to be many rules (except the speed limit).

School crossing guards are students

There are no traffic lights anywhere on the main island but they do use roundabouts in some of the more congested areas in town.  They seem to work pretty well with the amount of traffic and due to the fact that drivers are very courteous.  Someone will always flash their lights to let you in ... not worrying about the 1 or 2 car lengths the could be ahead if they crowded up to the car in front of them.  That's something we could definitely learn from the Tongans.  I plan to continue the practice of being a more courteous driver when I get home.  It does take some of the stress out of driving.

The down side of driving is that all of the roads are narrow and usually filled with potholes.

Celebrations and holidays

 

Parades and impromptu parades
complete with floats & costumes

Food, food and more food!

Anytime, anywhere,
any reason ...
parades, parties
and tons of food
at the mere mention
need I say more?

Healthcare

Mission Pharmacy is one of our favorites.

Healthcare is an interesting topic.  Healthcare is free to all Tongans but we probably need to dive deeper into the Tongan definition of healthcare.  It seems to be mostly a wait and see mode where little is done initially ...  kind of a wait-it-out mentality (let's see if it gets worse).

One of the things that Tongan healthcare organizations seem to tout here is that they know the location of every diabetic in Tonga.  That may be true but there is NO dialysis, insulin doses are set quarterly from the results of one glucose test and there are very few fridges in any home to store insulin.  The Tongan Ministry of Health is working closely with other countries to improve education and promote a healthier life style (king of like the U.S.)

Sister Kapp with her supply of meds
for the missionaries.

Dental care is just like pulling teeth.  The clinic on-site at Liahona that is run by volunteer missionary dentists is the best in Tonga.  They could run 24x7 with 7 dentists and not fill the need (pun intended).  They try to educate on the benefits of good dental hygiene and they are making good progress but it could still take quite a while to change old habits.  They seem to be quite happy when they leave the clinic with their new and improved smile.

Religion

Dino, proud to be a Mormon (and a Tongan)

Tonga is a very religious and Christian nation.  The LDS church shows 63,000+ members in Tonga (total population near 110,000).  Wikipedia shows the LDS population at 18% so something doesn't jive but in any case the LDS population seems to be everywhere and every town has it's own LDS meetinghouse.  There are now 14 LDS stakes on the main island and 7 on the other islands combined for a total of 21  LDS stakes (including the 2 new stakes that were just created in the last few months). Unlike some other countries, church meetings here start and end on time.  We have been told that is because Tongans say it is the Lord's time.

The other main religions are Free Weslyan, Catholic, Free Church of Tonga and Seventh Day Adventist.  There is also a very small percentage of Bahá'i, Hindu, Buddhist and Muslim (about 3,000 total).  In any case, Tonga is a very religious nation.  Sunday's are really special here as everything shuts down and God and Family take center stage in all activities.  We really enjoy the peace we feel on Sunday and we are much better at keeping the Sabbath day holy.  This is one lesson we hope to carry with us throughout the rest of our lives.

Technology - TV - Radio

Technology is definitely underutilized in Tonga.  I think mostly due to the expensive internet access.  ADSL and 4G hotspots are the 2 main connection offered by the 2 local ISPs, Tonga Communications Company and DigiCell.

We originally signed up for TCC utilizing an aDSL wired modem as we were told that was the best by far but we have recently switched to DigiCell and their 4G hotspot which is much faster and more reliable.  It is also quite a bit cheaper.  Our original data plan cost us about $150. USD for 75 Gb with free use from midnight unto 6:00 a.m.  The 75 Gb was tight and it became quite expensive if you went over so I tried to do all of our uploads, downloads and system updates in the middle of the night during free time.

We switched to DigiCell a couple of months ago and their 100 Gb plan is about $90. USD.  That gives us about 3.3G per day which is not much compared to what we are used to in the USA.  It seems to be enough if we don't do any video streaming.

We haven't watched T.V. since we got here and actually gave our T.V. to some other Liahona School employees.  We have tried a time or two to listen to the radio to see if that would help us learn Tongan but they speak so rapidly that we got very little out of it so we don't do that.  I think there are 2 radio stations but it may be an A.M and F.M version of the same station.  Most of the Señor missionaries do watch T.V. but we just weren't interested.  We seem to have plenty of other things to keep us busy.

Weather

The weather during the summer months (Dec - Mar) can be really hot.  It is also the rainy season so it is very humid as well.  That coincides with the cyclone season but from what I understand the nearby Tongan Trench (a very deep part of the ocean) keeps us safe.  I think it must have something to do with keeping the ocean water cooler but that is just an assumption on my part.

We have found May - November to be quite pleasant temperature wise most of the time.  It can still get hot and humid but it didn't seem that bad.  What is interesting is that when the temperatures dip into the 60s out come the heavy coats, hats and gloves.  It still seems like t-shirt weather to us but they all start to bundle up.

I hope this wasn't too much boring reading for the week but these past 2 weeks blogs are something I have been working on over time and I did want to get them posted.

Beauty and Power

Just when you thought it was safe to go out .... the heat and humidity stick around for another week.  We drove the entire island on Monday ... and I do mean entire!  We first took a couple of missionaries to the dentist and a doctors appointment then headed to the heel (remember the island is shaped like an elf's shoe) then up to the top of the ankle, then into Nuku'alofa proper (the tongue of the shoe), then up to the tip of the toe, then back to the ball of the foot, and finally back home.  It was an all-day long adventure starting at 700 a.m. and ending around 10:15 p.m..

Our favorite sunset watching place is down at the Houma

Blow Holes.  It's also a great place to see the waves crashing

into the shore.  We wondered what it would have been like

 here during the height of Gita.

One of the interesting phenomenons that happened was the 89 deg F temp on both the East and West sides of the island with the central part being in a downpour dropping to 77 deg F.  We rarely see that much variation in temperature from night to day let alone during the day.  We frequently vary 3-4 degrees total night to morning.

We've been out until around 10:00 p.m. every night this week so far (it's Thursday now).  Wednesdays usually turn into one of our longer days as it's the missionaries P-day so we start early taking them to the dentist (only as needed and we do have a great dental clinic staffed by senior missionaries from the U.S. and Australia)) and then don't get many calls until the end of their open time.  We always try to see them on the day that they call and rarely have to make them wait until the next day.  We think it's best and may give them some comfort so they can sleep.

Old pole left in place ...
note all of the wires.

It's also a great reminder as we travel that there are still many people and areas in Tonga that are working hard to clean up and restore electricity.  One of those areas it the North side of the Eastern part of the island.  When we first drove through there shortly after the storm we noted that every telephone pole was either severely leaning, uprooted or snapped in half.  The old wires are still down all over the place in a jumbled mess.  I'm not sure they are even going to clean them up.  Perhaps they'll become the property of whoever finds a use for them.

Home on the East side of the island
still awaiting cleanup.

They are just now getting to that part of the island replacing poles so the electricity can be restored.  We have several missionaries serving there that have been unable to communicate much with their loved ones at home as well.  Whenever we drive through we try to connect with them but they are frequently out working in the community and we fail to make the connection.  It must be especially difficult to have a missionary serving there but we can say that they are all safe, well fed and working hard with those they serve.  We hope there is some comfort in that message.

Service project to clean up and burn
leaves and branches.

More of the same.

We did have one missionary in the hospital this week to receive antibiotics for an infection in his foot (his parents already know so if you haven't heard ... it's not your missionary).  It seems to be all cleared up now but the sores can take a while to completely disappear.  It was just a puncture wound from some wire but there is so much bacteria on almost everything with all the pigs, dogs, chickens and cats roaming free.  We spend quite a bit of time visiting them when they are in the hospital to make sure they are getting the care they need as well as making sure they get fed.  Sister Kapp makes sure they always get their food when under her care.  She really loves the missionaries and does so much to make sure they know they she cares.

Dinner waiting on the cabinet
for the Elders.  Love how the
machete is stuck in the can!

We are also covering all of the islands now (200 + total missionaries which should keep us busy) as Sister Makai has returned to the U.S. for a month to visit her loved ones.  She normally covers Vava'u since she and her husband, President Makai are housed there with about 48 missionaries.  We can't see them when they are on other islands but Sister Makai did leave some medical supplies with the zone leaders and Lepeka will let them know what to use after she does a telephone assessment.  We are going to Vava'u in a couple of weeks to make the rounds and replenish the supplies.

We are excited for General conference next weekend, it is one of our highlights now.  We love to listen to the messages and learn from modern day prophets and apostles.

Our Sacrament meeting topic today was on President Ucthdorf's October 2017 talk "A Yearning for Home"  (I've added the link so those that are interested can listen or read it - I highly recommend it).  Perhaps we are just more sensitive to the topic as we were so far away from our loved ones.  Not because we don't feel welcomed or loved here but just because home is always where the heart is.  I think I have also become more aware or my heavenly home as well and my desire to be worthy of returning there has increased with my understanding.  It requires continual faith and effort to improve but I so look forward to the day when I will be reunited with loved ones who have passed on ... many who gave so much of themselves to improve my lot in life.  I want to be worthy of all of the sacrifices made in my behalf.

Hope you enjoy a few more photos and a video from around the island.

Spontaneous dancing at the airport departure gate.  I especially

love that he grabs his walking cane at the end of his dance.

One of our favorite restaurants was destroyed in the cyclone.  It just reopened
with new signage and the same great menu.  Fish and chips here are the best!

You can see these can bins in almost every village but we've never seen them
picked up so we're not sure they are recycled but at least they are ready.

These stands are where they put their weekly garbage for pickup.  They put
them up like this to keep the pigs and dogs from scattering them far and wide.

Everybody loves ice-cream!

Even these two little guys!  (P-day for Elder Andersen and Elder Mataele).
They liked their brief respite from the heat in an air-conditioned car too.

Timote Kau headed to Fiji for a few days.

Sister Kau and Sister Kapp

Tonga Travelers

I thought I'd take this week's blog and focus on some of the things we have learned about Tonga over the past 14 months (yes you heard me right - we've been out 14 months now) and pertains almost exclusively to the main island of Tongatapu.  We're hoping it will provide some good information to any who may be traveling to Tonga for a visit (short or extended).  Please feel free to add comments below or send me an email if you have additional input that you think travelers would find beneficial.  I'll add your input into the appropriate location in this blog.

Since money is at the root of all evil, I thought I'd start there.

Money

The first thing to know is that Tonga is a cash society.  Very few businesses
will even take a credit card.  Also, converting other currencies into Pa'anga (TOP) can only be done in a bank or specific currency conversions kiosks at the airport or scattered around the main town of Nuku'alofa (there may be a few other locations that I am unaware of).  There are also a few Western Union locations to send and receive money but there are frequently waiting lines during business hours.

The easiest was (and it really is easy) is to use a debit card (not a credit card) with a pin.  You are limited to $900 - $800  TOP per 24 hour period  ($900 TOP with ANZ bank and $800 TOP with BSP; Bank of South Pacific).  There is also a $12.00  TOP transaction fee with each withdrawal so it is more cost efficient to get the max each time.  You should also notify your Bank or Credit Union that you will be in Tonga so the card doesn't get denied or even worse, kept by the ATM.  If your debit card uses a chip (which most do now) you will need to use one of the ATMs in downtown Nuku'alofa as the few that are scattered around the island do not have chip readers.  They are not hard to find and there are quite a few of them so don't be scared ... be prepared.

Currency conversion rates to Tongan Pa'anga or TOP can be found on the web but they have been  pretty consistent at around $2.23 TOP = $1.00 USD for the past year.  They will say dollars when you make purchases but they are always talking $TOP (nothing is priced or referred to in any other currency).

Personal Safety

Tonga is a very safe country for visitors in general and other than being in unfamiliar surroundings you should feel safe in pretty short order.  Walking around downtown during the day is not a problem even if you get off the beaten path by a few blocks.  The only caveat would be that I hear the downtown district with the bars can be a little bit dicey late at night (I'll take their word for it).  There's really no reason to go there as the stores and market are all closed.  Except for a few restaurants and a couple of small stores everything closes earlier, especially on Saturday night.

Personal Medications

Bring what you need with you or have a reliable way to have them delivered to you (I do not recommend mail).  Medications are very limited here and can be hard to obtain.  There are 3 main pharmacies (and a few other community ones) but their stock is limited.

Postal service

Tonga Post Office

This is more for long term visitors to Tonga.  Shipping to and from outside countries (U.S.A., Australia, New Zealand, etc.) will be expensive. Packages to and from the U.S. can take up to anywhere from 2-6 weeks (plan on 4) before they are available for pickup only at the Post Office.  We have seen things arrive in as little as 10 days but that is the exception.  There may also be additional customs fees assessed that can match or exceed the value of the contents.  These fees can only be paid in person when picking up the package.  It is better to have someone deposit money in your bank account that you can withdraw from the local ATMs than to send an expensive package of something that can be purchased locally.

Transportation

Buses, Taxi's and cars oh my!  Buses run regularly to (or thru) almost every village.  The schedule or "frequency" which may be a better term, varies quite a bit especially as you get to some of the outer villages.  They are inexpensive (1-2 $TOP), safe, and very easy to hail; just put a hand out when you see one coming.  They have their destination listed on the front and if they are headed to town there is one main bus stop they all go to or you can get off almost anywhere along the way by letting them know you want off.

Taxis are reasonable but get a rate before you get in just to make sure.  I have not seen a meter in any taxi but I have not ridden in one either.  A seasonable rate from the airport to Downtown Nuku'alofa is $40 TOP.  I have heard them offer $30 but I don't know if that sealed the deal.  Also, you can rent a car but we have been told to make sure you get a temporary drivers license (about $30 TOP).  They are easy to get and there is rarely a line.  You have to show them a current valid drivers license and pass the test ... it only has one question; do you have $30 TOP?  If you pass the test you get your photo DL on the spot (kind of a cool souvenir as well).  Street signs are mostly non-existent so a good detailed map is nice to have but hard to find.  I recommend printing a few to bring with you especially of downtown Nuku'alofa and an overall map of Tongatapu can be very beneficial if you plan on driving.

Communication (and electrical info)

English is spoken by almost everyone over the age of 12 to one degree or another.  Most (if not all) signs are in English.

There are only 2 cell phone and internet providers in Tonga, Digicel and TCC.  I started with TCC and have switched to Digicel (my recommendation) and found them to be very reliable and less expensive.  You first buy a SIM card for your phone about $10 TOP and then purchase minutes that also converts to data if you have a smart phone.  You can add extra time on the fly by purchasing Top-off cards in $10 and $20 TOP increments and entering them into your phone when needed.  You can also monitor your usage very easily from your phone.  There are international calling options as well but you should ask before using.  I highly recommend Skype and/or MagicJack (which I use).  Face time works but it can be a data hog and data can get expensive.  Data speeds are okay but none of the internet connections are fast so moving big files back and forth may take hours and use lots of your data.

*** Please note ***  You can use your own phone if it is unlocked and takes a SIM card.  You will need to purchase a local SIM card or pay through the nose to use your phone while connected to an outside network.  Verizon iPhones and Androids are not locked ... I'm not sure about any of the other providers so check with your provider to make sure).  It will be easier and cheaper to get it unlocked before you arrive.  If your smart phone and/or laptop are tied into one of the cloud services, get everything you think you will need on your device and then disable the cloud syncing before your get here.  You can blow through a lot of data while automatically syncing photos in the background.  There are no unlimited data plans so you pay for what you use.  I have a 100 G / month data plan for my internet and it costs $200 TOP per month.  I have seen people who are new to Tonga go through that in a few days because of the cloud, face time, video streaming so please make sure you understand the implications of syncing anything with the cloud (iCloud, Google drive, Dropbox, etc.).

Outlet type in Tonga

This section is important and applies to phone chargers, laptops,  and any other electrical equipment you bring with you (your 110V blow dryer and curling irons will not work here - don't bother bringing them).  Electricity is 220V and the standard outlet looks like this (see photo on left).

Plug adapter

Most AC power adapters will work from 110 - 220V but you do need to read the power specifications on each one to make sure.   If it will work with 220V then you will still need an adapter (not a big heavy expensive power converter).  The adapters can be hard to find here and can be ordered for only a couple of dollars each on eBay.  I would bring a few with me.  They look like this (see photo on the right).  There are many different styles to choose from.  Just make sure your device is rated for 220V or you will cause damage to the device.

Shopping (stores, markets, and misc )

Shopping is pretty straight forward here and you can find most western products if you look hard enough.  With the new expanded Costlow, it's kind of like a mini Costco in the states but they are somewhat limited with variety.  There are also a few other stores that carry US and NZ products and many local stores where you can buy food, snacks, and supplies.  They are like a small 7-11 or gas station store as far as selection.

You will also find 2 very nice hardware stores, Jones Industries Ltd (near the new Costlow) and PTH (Pacific Timber and Hardware.  They are both pretty expensive from a U.S. standard but you have to keep in mind that they have to ship everything in.

There are 2 main markets and many road-side markets.  The 2 main ones are located on the Wharf road and across from the Hospital.  They are a cross between a flea market and a farmers market.  There is very little shopping outside of the capital city of Nuku'alofa except for the small local stores for food and supplies and the roadside markets.

Touristy things to do

There are many thing to do and see on the main island and I'll just list a few.

• Houma Blow Holes
• Ha'omanga
• Land Bridge
• Royal Palace
• Royal Tombs
• Camp Makeke
• Abel Talismans Landing
• Captain Cooks Landing
• Tsunami Rock
• Oholelei Resort and show (Tongan feast and show on Wed. and Fri. evenings only)
• Ancient Tonga demonstration (most days by appointment)
• Pangaiamoto
• Kayak rental
• Many beaches around the island

• LDS Temple (for members only) English session Thu. 6:30 p.m.  Translation headphones are available for other sessions.  Clothing rental available.

You may also want to visit the islands of Vava'u, Ha'apai and 'Eua.

Places to stay

Tanoa International Dateline Hotel

Tanoa International Dateline Hotel is probably one of the few hotels that meets most U.S. expectations.  This is not to say that's it's the only place to stay in Tonga but it does have A/C where most others do not.  There are many nice clean resorts scattered around the island.  I just caution you to do the best research you can.  Many resort hotels are quite affordable at around $100 TOP and they have good airflow and can be quite comfortable especially during the cooler parts of the year (April - Oct).

If you are staying over on a Sunday make sure you have food (on Saturday).  Most businesses close early on Saturday afternoon and will not reopen until Monday including local restaurants.  A few of the nicer hotels and resorts have restaurants that are open on Sunday but they are for their guests only. I have heard several stories of people wandering around town on Sundays looking for a place to eat.

Restaurants

There are no fast food options, no franchised restaurants, and no good way to see a reliable rating.  Many places may not look great from the outside so you have to rely on a recommendation from someone you trust.  We have not become sick from eating at any of the restaurants on our list below. There are lots of places to eat so I thought I would just list some of our favorites*:

• Roby Anne's - Limited menu but good food.  Only open in the evening from 6-10 p.m. One of my two favorite restaurants.  (NZ BBQ steak and good Mahi Mahi).
• Sea View Restaurant - Limited menu but good food.  One of my two favorite restaurants.  (NZ BBQ steak and Mahi Mahi).
• Carpe' Diem - A/C good sandwich shop (very clean)
• Tropical Taste - No A/C good stir-fry, fried chicken and hamburger
• Marco's Pizza - Good pizza, pasta is available at times depending on Marco
• Sabrina's Chicken - Roasted chicken w/sweet chili sauce (local fare wonderful chicken)
• Luna Rossa - Very good Italian food and good atmosphere
• Nukunuku Business Center (in Nukunuku) Very good fried chicken and chips
• Cafe Escape - Good local diner sandwiches etc.
• Gnati Ruby's - Good food (the place with Bend Ova Chicken and Porkisms)
• Gnutulei Restaurant and bar - good fish and chips
• Little Italy - Italian food and pizza
• Friends Cafe - Good local diner sandwiches etc.
• Singapore Chicken - Local diner with typical fried chicken and good fried rice
• Dragon Cafe - Local diner with standard menu
• Billfish Restaurant and Bar - Food is pretty good but mostly a bar environment
• Chef Zero - Good food but more expensive
• The Green Store (not it's name, but the walls on the inside are green and that is how the missionaries refer to it) - Good fried chicken, fried rice and sweet and sour

Lastly

I'm sure I have missed many things on this blog and I do apologize if I missed or rated your favorite lower.  It is not my intent to be the expert so I am just expressing my opinion. I am happy to add your comments and even adjust my thinking if needed.

Personal note

I wanted to end this week with a link to some humanitarian work being done in the Marshall Islands.  Our dear friends Elder Craig and Nancy Preston have been serving there for that past almost 18 months.  They finish up their 2nd mission (previously served in Croatia) in about 2 weeks.  They are the ones that bumped us out of our comfort zone when they challenged us to serve.  They have been able to do some wonderful things for the people of the Marshall Islands so I thought I'd link to an article in Newsroom Pacific (click here) that highlights some of their work.  It helps illustrate how the Lord does work in mysterious ways sometime to fulfill his purposes.

Well done Craig and Nancy!

Look Ma ... No Hands!

No tethering rope ... no net!

This week ushered in March and typically things start cooling down over the next several weeks as the hottest months (January and February) are behind us.  We have had several days of overcast and rain.  I don't know if this makes things better or worse ... maybe both.  Better as it is a bit cooler and worse as it gets pretty muddy for those trying to clean up.

Repairs are happening everywhere.

Several of the senior couples have received financial donations from family and friends (many of you) who are looking to help the Tongan people recover from cyclone Gita and to help the most needy.  There are many organizations that are doing really good things here to help, but there are always those truly needy that slip through the cracks.  Because of the generous nature of our collective families and friends we have been able to help many families with food and other necessities as they work hard to recover from the devastation.

Etuate and his young family at home in Nuku'alofa.

One of the employees in the FM group is Etuate.  He has helped us out on many occasions and we found him to be a hard worker and very reliable.  I have helped him get new strings for an old guitar he found and repaired and started teaching him some basic guitar chords.  He has six young children, the newest additions being twins born just before Christmas this last year.  He also has one son that has autism.  When we showed up to visit he and his wife had their hands full just getting the twins fed.  Their home is a one bedroom home located in downtown Nuku'alofa.

One of the benefits we have at our disposal is our secret weapon ... the Va'enuku's.  They are a Tongan couple from Salt Lake City serving their third mission here in Tonga (I also mentioned them in last weeks blog).  They of course, not only speak Tongan fluently but are also very tuned into the community as they were both born and raised in Tonga.  They were in tears at the generosity shown by so many to help in this time of great need.  I have to admit that it has really raised our spirits as well.

The heartfelt thanks we see from others as well as our own to you is hard to express in words, but we hope you know that the people here are so filled with gratitude and love for the generosity that has been shown them.  We know there are still tough times ahead for many but everyone is very optimistic and genuinely happy that they were blessed to live through the storm.

Food staples being given to the needy.

We have tried to provide a few photos of some of the supplies and families here but we are also trying to be sensitive to the proud nature of self sufficiency they carry with them.  We often have to dig deep to find the needs as people are generally very self sufficient and are not asking for a handout or help from the outside.  When they finally realize that offer of help is just based on our desire to do what our Savior taught and our love for them and that there are no strings attached, many break down sobbing while expressing their heartfelt thanks.

Our car lights were the only lights
in town.

I will share one story.   I do this so that you may feel some of what we see and feel on a regular basis right now.  The last three photos were taken the day after our initial visit when we came back to see what else we could do to help.  We hesitated to show such personal tragedy but decided it is good to capture and share some of the personal side of this disaster because of the wonderful nature of the Tongan people that shines through.

This family of six are now
living in the tent you can
see on the left.

We went with one of our released missionaries to his village to deliver some food to a family who had lost almost everything.  Their home was gone along with most of their personal belongings and property.  They have been provided a nice tent that is setup next to where their home used to be.  It was about 7:30 p.m. when we arrived.  The sun had completely set and the sky was overcast so not even the dim light of the stars shone through and since the town still does not have any electricity it was very, very dark.  As we turned into their property the car lights lit up the yard and the tent and the family came out to see who was there.

Cleaning up and salvaging what they can.  If you click on the photo you can
better see the devastation and destruction but this family has not lost hope.

Hotau, Mele and family
Still happy to stop working and pose for a photo.  We didn't
want to make them stop but the father called them all over.

As our guide told them why we were there they were overcome with gratitude and wept openly and gave hugs as we carried our meager offerings to their tent.  This family is basically living with no electricity (no light), very little personal property, exhausted from their days of cleaning up and just trying move forward and survive.  We are coming back on Monday to provide more help and even though a little can go a long way over here there is a very long way to go for this family.  It really tears at your heart-strings to see what they are going through.

I wondered as we drove away if I could ever show the kind of strength this wonderful family has through such tough circumstances.

We feel so blessed to have so much and for the opportunity it provides us to help others.  It is truly humbling to interact with this people and feel of their innate goodness.  The lessons we learn here are difficult to convey.

Here are some of the photos taken by the Va'enuku's as they deliver food.