SATURDAY—P-DAY
Saturday is usually “market” day. The big “flea” market in Tofoa is opened for business only on Saturdays,
and we needed American toilet paper and laundry detergent. So off hunting we went looking for our prize items. After a successful morning of shopping, Elder Thompson, the two office elders (Elder Makai and Elder Karratti), and I drove the President, his family, and their bikes to the far end of the island. The ambitious McMurray’s were determined to ride their bikes the 26 miles back to their home in Liahona and persuaded us to be their support team. Once we got their bikes unloaded and the McMurray clan pedaled down the road, the A-team (that’s us) was left to search out our own entertainment. We visited the Ha’amonga (Stone Hedge),
then had a picnic (Teddy Grahams and M&Ms sent from the USA by our terrific children), and explored the Anahulu Cave (Spider Cave.)
The last time we had been there was Christmas day.
It was a wonderful day like nibbling on moist, chocolate cake. But the smooth, creamy icing for that cake was yet to be spread on.
Along with other missionary assignments, Elder Thompson and I have been helping the Elder Makai and Elder Karratti teach some investigators. This truly is the icing on the cake. What a joy and blessing to actually give those “Preach My Gospel” lessons! (“Preach My Gospel” is the book of instructions for missionaries to use to guide their teachings.)
We have been working with a 22 year old woman named Dina Loto’aniu. John interviewed her for baptism last week, and she accepted the invitation. THIS SATURDAY NIGHT DINA WAS BAPTIZED!
Her two recently returned missionary cousins helped to make Dina’s baptism very special. They had a covering on the table with flowers and a picture of Christ. They arranged for a trio to sing some musical numbers. (We love to hear the Tongans sing!) It was a beautiful ceremony with testimonies given by one of the APs, an office elder, and the bishop. The bishop spoke in English, and as he bore his testimony one lone tear ran down his face. The evening touched our hearts.
About an hour before this baptismal service, we met with another investigator (actually a family now.) Different sets of elders have been teaching Pong for several months, and he comes to church almost every Sunday.
He is a college professor in Tonga on a teaching assignment for the Chinese Communist Government. We are happy for Pong because his wife and son have come to visit him for two months while Shangshang, the son, is on school vacation, and they have been receiving the missionary lessons. (We have a recently returned Chinese missionary who is helping us with the language differences. Now the family can hear the lessons in their native tongue.) Pong has been challenged several times to be baptized, but has always refused citing various reasons. Well, tonight he and his wife have committed to baptism!
At the end of the evening the Office Elders visited us in our apartment. Elder Makai grabbed Elder Thompson in a big bear hug saying, “This is the best day ever!” No hugs for “the Sister”—I got two handshakes. Ahh…cake with icing is wonderful!
‘Ofa ‘atu, John and Diane
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