Another Day in Paradise

Thursday, October 29, 2015

The Stake President, Waterski (first name, I kid you not) who is the man from the Tonga Water Board, the Murdock’s, Ana Ika, and the Edwards’, loaded onto the boat that had two large engines, whipping us quickly to the islands we were to visit today.  We had such a fun time, especially when we hit rougher seas and the two people in the back on the side (Ana and Elder Edwards) occasionally got soaked; the ride was so swift though that they dried out as quickly as they got wet.  We really had to hang onto our stuff!

This is the Tonga Tango, the boat that swiftly took us between islands—it had two big motors on the back and was a light boat.  The President and Waterski who is on the Water Board, rode in front.  The rest of us sat in back facing each other.  The two on the sides in the back got wet occasionally.  Below Elder Edwards was soaked.  We were all hanging tightly onto our belongings!

 First we went to Hunga Island.  This was the poorest community of the islands that we visited; what makes their community so great is that they all work together—they rely upon each other.  They are organized (working committee for 10 years) and they have saved quite a bit of money.  India gave them raw materials and they built this long sidewalk, and an incredibly steep ramp from the shore all the way up to the level top—it is a long way.  The requests are all the same, so I won’t go into those, but they usually consist of a borehole, pump, diesel engine with a belt that turns the pump, and sometimes a stand and tank to pump the water into, and from there it is distributed to various areas in the village, meaning piping—they all vary a little off of this model.

This incredibly long ramp built by the community, extends to two, long roads or walkways through their village, and they built it themselves (India donated the materials).

Everywhere we went we saw solar panels given to the people by Japan, either to light their homes or to pump water.  The problem with them is that they do not store energy, so when the sun doesn’t shine they don’t work.  The ones that they give to the individual homeowners only have enough power for the people to turn their lights on.  They trained someone to fix the solar panels if they break.  There does not seem to be enough power or sunlight even in the dry season (since it is still cloudy) to be consistent in running their water pumping operations.   They all have enough water in the rainy season, but use it up and then it becomes a problem.

Next we went to Nuapapu, got back in the boat and went to the same island only on the other side (Matamaka).  We went to yet another island (Otea) to check out another request.  You can see why we need to come back and check our notes and write something down so that we can remember it all.  Two of these islands wanted to give us food—pineapple, coconut, fish, papaya, etc.  They brought them in colorfully weaved baskets from special leaves that they grow here. 

A shack of a house, with their little solar stand on the left, which gives them light, nothing else.  But who doesn’t appreciate light?

The best treat of all, including the beautiful scenery, was when they stopped on our way back to go into what they call ‘Swallow Cave’.  It is on one of the shorelines and the guys were able to maneuver the boat into the opening where we saw the beautiful formations.  Unfortunately people couldn’t help but ruin the natural beauty by painting their names on the walls of the cave.  We were told that the snorkeling and diving here are legendary.  I just wish I had gotten a good picture of what we saw.  I can’t describe the natural beauty of the walls formed by the seas.

Coming out of the Swallow Cave.  I’ll send pictures of the inside if I can borrow some from those taking pictures with me—I don’t think mine captured the beauty of this cave. 

We returned, ate a late lunch next door to the hotel prepared from things that the couples brought, and relaxed (well, Jim did, taking a quick dip in the sea losing his goggles), tried to catch up on our reports, and go shopping (Jim bought a shirt).  The couples came back for dinner at 6:00 after which we hoped to get a good night’s sleep for a change. 

Tomorrow we will fly back to the main island in the morning and check out yet more sites.  When I get a chance, I need to send a parcel of pictures.  This area is so incredibly picturesque, one of our Lord’s prettiest creations.  As I said before, the seas are this most incredible color of blue, turning turquoise near the shores.

Bye for now.