We are at a point in our work when we are implementing and even completing projects. It’s very exciting! Usually the final part of each project is a handover ceremony that marks the time when the official ownership of the project is given to the receivers and includes a chance for us to make some brief remarks. We have decided that as part of our remarks we will tie in a scripture from the Book of Mormon and then give copies to each of the dignitaries.
Last week we had a handover ceremony for a project to build
two nurseries (greenhouses) for an organization that grows vegetable seedlings
and then gives them to families so that they can grow healthy food.
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We were contacted about sharing this project in the Church’s
Newsroom. The details are in this article:
https://news-pacific.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/helping-grow-self-reliance-in-tonga
Another project that we are particularly happy about is assisting the Tonga National Vision Impairments Association. It’s quite a grand title, but they struggle mightily for funding. 'Ofeina Leka, who is blind, is their president, and his wife, Fe'ofa'aki Leka, who is sighted, serves as the project manager. Their office manager is Teu Mone, lovely people all.
Their office is in a ramshackle old home, and they drive a
beat-up van. Part of their work is to
help vision-impaired children integrate into public schools, so they need to be able to transport children to
and from schools as well as carry out Association business.
We visited them a few months ago and asked them to name some
of their needs. They asked for
computers, office furniture, and a new van.
And recently everything was approved!
They couldn’t be a more deserving recipient. We made a visit to their office where we
discussed the things they were going to receive. It was really fun because they were so
excited.
When we had talked over the details and were getting ready
to leave, Mary asked if she could say a prayer.
This is common practice in almost every meeting in Tonga. They gladly agreed, and she said a heartfelt
and teary prayer for these beautiful-souled people that they would be helped in
their important work. She talked about
how Jesus especially loved the little children and how happy He is that they
will get this assistance.
On our way out, we talked to three children, two of whom are
vision-impaired, and we asked if we could get a picture together. They smiled, and the moment was
captured. Now to order the things they
have requested—especially that beautiful new 16-seater van!
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| Precious children at the Tonga National Vision Impairments Association |
Tonga recently hosted the 53rd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting. The Forum is an organization consisting of the 18 Pacific Island nations, but many other countries with interest in the Pacific region also attend. This is a really big deal for Tonga (they only get to host every 18 years), so there were many efforts to spruce things up around the island. The Tongan government was in need of additional vehicles and drivers to transport all the visiting delegations and asked the mission to help. With the approval of the area presidency, several of the senior elders and a couple of younger elders helped out.
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| Elder Latimer with the Indian Delegation |
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/J6rygRYgG5M2q62N/?mibextid=WC7FNe
Love to you all!
