Ha'apai, Tonga

One of the main reasons we went to Tonga was to visit the island of Ha'apai and see a home rebuilding and vocational training project currently underway.  On January 11, 2014, the most powerful storm ever recorded in Tongan waters made landfall.  Tropical Cyclone Ian was a Category 5 storm.  http://www.unocha.org/top-stories/all-stories/tonga-tropical-cyclone-ian-strikes-tiny-pacific-nation .   Homes of so many people were destroyed.  As a result of this a humanitarian/self-reliance project emerged.  The Church is working in connection with the Government of Tonga in rebuilding and repairing 105 homes.  42 men ranging in ages from 17 to 50 have been identified as apprentices who receive classroom training in addition to hands-on practical training.  When the rebuilding is complete these apprentices will earn certification as skilled carpenters who will be employed in the building trades and be able to better provide for their families.  Under the direction of Elder Joseph DeLong (a building specialist) these apprentices are becoming skilled tradesmen and more confident individuals.

After the Christmas break the men returned to Ha'apai to complete the 105 homes.  Their goal is to have the homes completed by the end of February.  Upon arriving in Ha'apai we visited some of the completed homes, looked at other building sites and then attended a devotional with these fine men.

Originally we were scheduled to fly up on Wednesday and return on Thursday.  Due to mechanical problems with the plane, the flight was cancelled.  We returned again to the airport the next day with plans to fly up and back in the same day.

Elder and Sister DeLong

Already to go - Hans, Susan, Gary, Sister and Elder DeLong and Verna Tukuafu

Elder Harmon, Elder Bunting, and Gary arriving in Ha'apai

Sister DeLong and the children who were delighted to see her

New Homeowner and Susan

Local children

The devotional was very moving and everyone went away ready to start work the next day.  Each of these men has a story and it was very touching to meet them and learn their particular circumstances. 

Apprentices

At the conclusion of the meeting we took a picture of the group.  Elder DeLong asked the men to sing a song and Sister DeLong told them she would put it on YouTube.  Not sure if she has been able to do that yet as the Internet doesn't always work on Ha'apai.  Hopefully she will be able to do that soon.  These Tongan men are beautiful singers, singing harmony without the aid of any accompaniment.

When we flew up on our 17 seat prop plane we were planning on returning the same day.  Because of an erupting volcano, we were not able to return that day and found ourselves spending the night at Sandy Beach Resort.  What an enchanting place.  We were able to return to Tongatapu the next morning and arrived just in time to change clothes and clean up a little for our meeting with the Tonga Ministry of Health.

Arriving in Ha'apai

Hans and Gary

Gary and Susan in their "$1.00 store" purchases

Gary on the porch of our bungalow

View of the ocean from the porch of our bungalow

Headed back to Tongatapu

View of the inside of the plane

We are going to add some other photos which we found interesting.  Look closely at the pictures painted on the outside of a local (not LDS) church.

Riding in the back of Elder DeLong's truck

Banyan tree like the one in the island of 'Eua, Tonga, which was the inspiration for the movie, Avatar

Apprentices

Buildings built to house workers from other islands

SELF-RELIANCE is a product of our work and undergirds all other welfare practices.  It is an essential element in our spiritual as well as our temporal well-being.  Regarding this principle, President Marion G Romney has said; "Let us work for what we need.  Let us be self-reliant and independent.  Salvation can be obtained on no other principle.  Salvation is an individual matter, and we must work out our own salvation in temporal as well as in spiritual things." (In Welfare Services Meeting, 2 Oct. 1976.) Guiding Principles of Personal and Family Welfare, Liahona February, 1987.