TONGAN UPDATE FEB 07, 2008 Cruise Ship and a Prophet Going Home

Tongan Update, 07 Feb 2008, Cruise Ship and a Prophet Going Home

This was a week of people heading home.

I was walking to the post office the other day and noticed a huge cruise ship docked in our harbor.

We don’t see many of those here. I raced up to talk to a couple who had just disembarked from the ship and asked them about their journey. They were on a “round the world” cruise starting from England, and this was the fifth week of their travels, having already gone through the Panama Canal and stopping at various Pacific Islands. They inquired what there was to see on Tongatapu. “Well, most tourists like to see the blow holes,” I replied. They countered that they had seen blow holes before.

“O.K., the flying foxes are kind of interesting,” I mentioned. “Oh, we saw those in New Zealand”, they said.

“My favorite part of the island is the east side where there are the little villages, the bush,

and the pigs rooting in the receding ocean,

the ancient stone arch,

the natural arch

.” The couple thought it was too far to rent a taxi and drive over there. “So what is your favorite part of the cruise?” I asked. You can guess the answer. I did. “GOING HOME!” They still had three weeks left on their cruise, and they were already anxious to go home.

Later, while I was typing away on the computer, a young Tongan wearing a University of Utah jacket walked into the office. He was a return missionary who served, no less, in the Millcreek area. Wow, it was fun talking to him as he told us about his experiences in our own neighborhood. One of his choice experiences was meeting the prophet, Gordon B. Hinckley.

Now released “Elder” Mohetau was invited to dinner at Richard Hinckley’s home. While the two missionaries were eating with the family, President Hinckley paid a surprise visit. Imagine this young missionary’s delight in actually shaking the hand of the prophet of the Church and visiting with him. Now here’s a kid that didn’t want to come home! He loved his mission and the USA. He is still “on fire” with the spirit to do missionary work and would like to head back to Salt Lake on the next plane and continue his mission!

Thirdly, going home was our prophet. Yep, party in heaven! Happy Day!! What a great man!