Tongan Update, 04 March 2008, S.O.S
Last week we received a phone call from the doctor on Niuafo’ou which is a tiny island that is closer to Samoa than Tongatapu. It is the farthest north island in the Kingdom of Tonga—the island Elder Groberg was on as filmed in the movie “The Other Side of Heaven”. There are no air flights to Nuiafo’ou, and a boat travels there only every three months or so. This doctor said that one of our missionaries was in great pain with stomach spasms and cramps. I don’t know all the details, but Elder Sake needed more medical treatment than they could give on that little island.
Sister Garrett , the mission’s nurse, called our medical advisor at the headquarters in New Zealand. He said, “Get the missionary down to Tongatpu as soon as possible. WE DON’T CARE WHAT IT COSTS!” (They were concerned that Elder Sake might have some life-threatening problems, and they didn’t want to take any chances.)
Trying to charter a plane was quite an ordeal! It was finally arranged to use the king’s plane, and it was to be ready to leave the next day at 5:00am.
Well, this is Tonga. The plane didn’t leave the next day! There was this problem, then that problem, etc…couldn’t find a pilot, had to get him from another island, finally bad weather. (Meanwhile our Elder is in excruciating pain.) So the plane was scheduled to depart at 5:00am the following day. It left about 10:00; but at least, it left.
There were others needing medical attention on Niuafo’ou. The plane ended up carrying several passengers besides Elder Sake. The hospital ambulance arrived late to the Nuku’alofa airport, but the missionary APs were there with their van to transport our missionary to the hospital.
They passed the ambulance in route, and Elder Sake was transferred to the hospital vehicle.
To make a long story short…the doctors are still trying to figure out exactly what is wrong with our Elder. He is having an ultrasound tomorrow. Whatever he has, it appears not to be life-threatening at this time. The cost of the “little” plane ride was over $10,000. Wow! But I keep thinking, if it was me in all that pain up on that little island, I’d pay the money to get me back to civilization and some help. We’ve got a great boss who cares. I’m not sure that many employers would care enough to say, “Do whatever needs to be done, no matter the cost!” We love working for the Lord.
Talking about working for the Lord…this experience was kind of cute.
I was walking to the post office the other day. The neighborhood kids were playing outside and asked me where I was going. I said, “To the post office. Do you want to come too?” An eight year old girl said, “Aren’t you afraid of the dogs?” “No,” I answered, “I haven’t had any trouble with the dogs.” The older nine year old sister responded, “That’s because she works for God.”
What a nice thing to say—the little bug is one of the kids that “borrowed” our marbles! ‘Ofa ‘Atu, Diane and John
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