TONGAN UPDATE DECEMBER 03, 2008 WELCOME TO RADIO TONGA

Tongan Update 03 Dec 2008 Welcome to Radio Tonga

Were you listening to Radio Tonga, 540 on your dial, Monday night, 6:30pm? Live and on the air were Elder and Sister Thompson.

The Church sponsors a Family Home Evening program for half an hour every Monday night here. Elder Thompson and I were asked to participate on the program. One question the radio host, Iteni, asked John was, “What positions have you held in the Church?” Of course, the topic of scouting was mentioned. The whole radio thing was kind of a fun experience, and it led us to another teaching opportunity.

The Young Woman’s camp director of the Harbour Stake, Mele Nau, listened to our newscast, and she decided we were just the people she needed to help with their stake girls’ camp. (At least, I think that is how she found out about us.) John was asked to teach the 60 girls knot-tying and fire building; I was asked to talk about clouds and sanitation. (Yeah, like right…who got the better subjects? I mean… clouds and sanitation? Oh brother!)

John went to the local market and bought a box of wood and a roll of rope. He was set. So what do you do with clouds and sanitation? I thought back to our fifth grade science curriculum and decided, “Yes, the water cycle!” So with my white board in hand, we talked about the “states of matter using water as the example,” and tied that into the water cycle and types of clouds. For sanitation, I worked up a BINGO game. Any which way, WE DID IT! (The camp director gave us a watermelon for our efforts!)

Camp can be such a wonderful learning experience. Mele Nau’s, the camp director, heart was touched by the comments of a couple of the young women during their days at camp. One of the girls who comes from a very active family was watching the sunrise. She mentioned how she would like to be like the rising sun—warm and glowing—shining bright in the world by following the principles of the gospel. Another gal watched the nighttime sky. It was cloudy, and only one star could be seen. This young woman is the only member of the Church in her family. She compared herself to the one shining star. It was all alone, but it was still shining. She wanted to be strong like that star, holding true to the Church even without the support of her family.