We Arrived!

     When Doris and I retired we started planning to go on a mission. But we needed to finish the new house, and get ourselves physically ready. Three surgeries later, it was time. There was an opportunity it seemed in New Zealand, which led to the International Teacher Education Program (ITEP). After our papers were in, we waited 7 weeks and received a call to serve in Tonga. svj

There is Tonga.

16" of snow!

The Day We Left Utah

The ITEP program is designed to elevate education on the Islands of the South Pacific by further educating the teachers so they can receive their teaching certificates. We started our mission on 29 October at the Missionary Training Center in Provo, UT and flew to Auckland, New Zealand on 10 November and arrived on 12 November, we missed Sunday by crossing the International Date Line. A few days of training in Auckland and lots of good food and we were off to Tonga on the 15^th. svj

A little Maori flavor

Arrived in New Zealand

An Auckland Sunset from our hotel window.

Hamilton New Zealand Temple

Beautiful leis on our arrival in Tonga

The Food

More Food

Let's Pray and Eat

Thanksgiving Missionaries and Friends

As of this writing, we have been here three weeks and have taught an intensive Foundations of Education course, two credit hours in two weeks. So we had to hit the ground running. We love it here, the life is much simpler, and more complex at the same time. Just buying subsistence items is a half day affair. From one market to another, this one has this, that one that. No Safeway, Luckys or even Maceys here. But interestingly enough, the flea market (FAIR) has lots of American goods, that relatives send from the states to be resold here. The Tongans are very friendly and sing very loudly. We love it! We have been introduced to a number of Tongan foods, most of which are quite good. (Kamalla is a sweet potato that is purple on the inside.) When we go to the FAIR, inevitably someone will give us something that we wanted to buy. They feel they will be blessed if they give to the Senior missionaries. We’ve started giving them some money to put toward their children’s or their own missions. So far they have accepted that.  svj

Education 212 w Elder Johnson

Education 212 w Sister Johnson

Pua, Ina, Siosi, Ruby, Elder and Sister Johnson, Sailini, Sarina, Mele, Temalisi, Telu, Hingano, and Susana

These 11 beautiful ladies survived the first class we taught here in Tonga—yes we jumped in only one week after our arrival—reading, planning, and then teaching Foundations of Education 212—4 hours a day for 2 weeks. It really is summer—they are dressed to survive the air conditioned room!

Initially I felt apprehensive about teaching the Tongans—worrying if I could understand their English, remember and pronounce their names, avoid saying something that could be taken as disrespectful…all kinds of unfounded worries.  We learned all their names, developed sweet relationships, had lots of laughs as they learned strategies that will help them become better teachers and get closer to acquiring their ITEP teaching certificates which will also bring a pay increase.

Shortly after I began the prep for this class my computer screen turned black and would not go back on, a big cold sore appeared on my lip (in my limited time we found our way to the pharmacy for a prescription), and I lost my power point which had to be re-written and designed late Saturday night.  Elder Johnson came to my rescue and agreed to teach at least an hour on most days—we survived—all for our good, and for our students’ good! The most wonderful thing about teaching here is that we pray, share scriptures and relate academics to gospel principles! daj