Tongan Update April 1, 2008 April Fools Day

Tongan Update, 01 April 2008, April Fools Day

Happy April Fools’ Day! This can be a day of practical jokes and clever tricks. Our APs (Elder Finau and Elder Mohenoa) decided to have fun with one of our palangi (American) elders, Elder Bibber.

Now Elder Bibber is a quiet, reserved, small-framed, American missionary from Grey, Maine, USA. He is so kind that he doesn’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings, and he turns bright red when he’s embarrassed. Just to show you how nice and timid he is, let me tell you his experience on the island of Nomuka. The ward members were holding a dance on the church tennis court. (There is a tennis court by every chapel in every village in the kingdom of Tonga.) Elder Bibber was nonchalantly watching the dancers when an enormous Tongan gal asked our Elder to dance with her. He explained he was a missionary and therefore he couldn’t oblige her. She simply swept up Elder Bibber in a bear hug and dragged him out onto the dance floor. Keeping him in a tight grasp, she proceeded to swing him about. An older ward member came to Elder Bibber’s rescue and got him released from the bear-hug hold our large sister had on him. Can you tell that Elder Bibber is on the reserved, shy side? However, he is a great, hard-working missionary. In fact, he and his companion had a baptism last week. This leads us back to April Fools’.

Our 6 foot 5, 285 pound, Tongan AP with arms as big as my thighs, Elder Mohenoa, called Elder Bibber on his mobile (cell phone). The line had a lot of static on it which aided Elder Mohenoa’s little joke. In his best falsetto voice, Elder Mohenoa pretended to be the mother of the boy Elder Bibber and Elder_____________ had baptized. Using a woman’s voice, Elder Mohenoa said, “You had no right to baptize my son without my permission. How can you do such a thing without talking to me first? You are in big trouble! I have already called the police!”

At first Elder Bibber was concerned and worried. He certainly didn’t want the Mission President have to come and bail him out of jail. Well, the APs had a good laugh. Later Elder Bibber was in the office also snickering as he told us about the prank that was played on him.

Our new missionaries scheduled to arrive from the Provo MTC in March have had not so much as “tricks” played on them, but some huge challenges.

Elder Number 1 (Elder Shaver): Got bitten by a dog, had stitches, and has a fungus growing on his hand.

Elder Number 2 (Elder Ramos): Has Dangue Fever, temperature 105 degrees, severe body pains so he can’t even walk, headaches, and a rash. (One tiny mosquitoe can cause all of this!)

Elder Number 3: Fungus on his back, very itchy

Elder Number 4: His arrival had to be postponed for two weeks because he was passing kidney stones. We now hear he will probably serve his mission in a Tongan-speaking area in the states

This is a pretty rough start for these missionaries. Doesn’t it say somewhere that after the trials come the blessings? I hope so. These young men got knocked down before they even started, but they are still optimistic, anxious to serve the Lord, and are back fighting the good fight! You’ve got to love these guys! (The Tonga Nuku’alofa Mission is not an easy mission for palangis.).

Elder Thompson fooled the APs and Office Elders this morning. He went over to their apartment early in the morning and told them, in a sober and stern way, "the the President is in his office and want to talk to you." They weren't dressed so he told them that they needed to hurry. "Knock on the door before you enter because he may be praying", he said. Well, the elders hurried and got dressed, grabbed their scriptures and went to the office. John's office is next to the President's office. He heard them knock on the door, but he didn't open it. The elders waited and waited. I imagine that a lot of thoughts went through their minds. John just remained in his office-giggling. While they were waiting I joined John. He was just having a great time. Finally, we opened the door. "The president will see you now", John said. He kept the door partially closed. As the approached the door they tried to look in on the hinge side of the door, but John close the door a bit so they couldn't see in. They stood at the door huddled together, then John opened the door. They walked in, looked around and looked puzzled-no President. Finally, we blurted out "Happy fools Day" They just collapsed in laughter. The senior missionaries really go them. We all giggles for a long time. It really was funny. The rest of the day we worried about how they would get us back, but amazingly they didn't do anything. What will happen in the next few days?

Tongan Update March 30, 2008 Easter in Tonga

Tongan Update, 30 March 2008, Easter in Tonga

In the states, to be politically correct, we now call it “Spring Vacation.” However, in Tonga it is still “Easter Break” to commemorate the death and resurrection of the Savior. On Good Friday everything is closed down on the islands. And I do mean everything! It is even illegal, by law, to go to the beach.

On Easter Sunday one of John’s boating buddies brought over a good-sized lobster for dinner. It is still in the freezer because Elder Sanchez (a Piute-Mexican American) had already invited us to dine with him and his companion, Elder ‘One’one. Elder Sanchez had received a package from home with dried beans and hot sauce in it so he wanted to make Navaho Tacos for us. There was a small problem with this idea, however, because the missionaries do not have any cooking facilities in their houses. The party had to be at our apartment. Along with the Indian bread, Elder ‘One’one cooked up batches of kumala and breadfruit. With this diverse crusine, we were hoping to lure our Tongan APs (Elder Finau and Elder Mohenoa) to join us, but it was to no avail. Those two aloof Elders wanted to do their own thing. Foiled again! We’re trying to get Elder Finau and Elder Mohenoa to be a little more socialable, but no!

We might have not gotten the APs to come to our party, but we had many uninvited guests who did arrive—like about 500 of them. The Embleys, a senior missionary couple, gave us a coconut shell Easter basket filled with jelly beans and a couple of chocolate eggs. These uninvited guests didn’t come for the tacos; they wanted the sweet candy. Hundreds of one-fourth inch ANTS marched two by two along the edges of the ceiling. They marched along the east wall, the south wall, and down the west wall—their goal was the basket of goodies. I was totally grossed out; and armed with my “kill’um” bug spray, I sent them all to the Telestial World! These tiny ants drive us nuts! If you leave any food out on the counters or table, these minuscule insects are there for a snack. We have to keep everything in air-tight containers or in the refrigerator. I laugh when I think of our granddaughter, Meg. When she was three years old, she said that an ant “scared her to death”. What would she think of all of our uninvited guests?

What is Easter without a good rain storm? Yes, it rained, and rained, and rained, but we were ready this time. We sand bagged critical areas before the water could drain into our complex. We also had buckets of sand on hand to stop the rushing water if necessary. Our side of the complex remained flood free, but not so for the young Elders’ rooms. The water backed up from the sewer pipe. Yuck! They had a lot of clean up to do! The joys of living in the tropics!

All in all it was a nice Easter day. John gave a High Priest lesson, and I taught my Primary class and lead Sharing Time. We had fun with the young Elders, destroyed the ants, and waged war on the elements. Not bad for Tonga.

Tongan Update, March 19, 2008 Boating 123

Boating 123 March 19, 2008

This week we received the three new mission boats from New Zealand. When the boats arrived, we brought all the boat drivers to Tongatapu for training. After the training was completed, we had to deliver the boats to three different island groups. Two were delivered by driving them to their locations, and one was shipped by carrier to it’s location. I was involved in all deliveries. It was another adventure.

There has been excitement in the air for the past week as people anticipated the arrival of the new boats. They are a funny looking boat, but they are really practical for this environment.

They are aluminum and have a cabin section so travelers can get out of the rain and/or sun. Each boat has a depth finder with a GPS, so the electronics are sophisticated, but no one knows how to operate them. No training was given on the use of these devises so we are on our own. Each boat has a 100 gallon fuel tank. It cost over $1,000 (Tongan dollars) to fill each tank.

After providing classroom and outdoor presentations about the boat, we launched them. It was so funny. They forgot to line up a tow vehicle so we used a small Toyota 4x4 truck.

It reminded me of towing our Calypso with our old Toyota Four Runner.

To gas up, we had to drive through town on Saturday morning, the busiest day of the week. Needless to say, we drew a lot of attention as we traveled back and forth with each boat with the little truck and the large boat.

At the ramp we wanted to practice loading the boat with each driver and practice pulling the boat out of the water, but the small Toyota truck didn’t have enough power to do it several times, so we did it only once. The transmission was smoking after the first pull.

After driving the boats on the water for a while, we tied two boats together, had lunch, and then had President McMurray offered a “dedication prayer”.

The boats were dedicated to the Lord for missionary work. There was a different feeling that radiated through the boats as the prayer was offered. We all knew that these boats now had purpose. They would become the vehicles to transport missionaries and other church officials to many islands throughout Tonga. The movement of these people would be for the building of the Lord’s kingdom--no fishing, no pleasure riding, just service, therefore, our feelings and emotions became more subdued for we knew, we really knew, how important they would become in the Lord’s work in Tonga.

Monday morning a few of us boarded two of the boats-Amoni (Tongan for Alma) and Molonai (Tongan for Moroni) and set off to sea to the Ha’apai island group. These boats, that looked so big to everyone when they were on the trailers, now seemed like little toys.

As we were out on the ocean, there were periods of time when no land could be seen. That’s when I realized how insignificant the boat was compared to the seas.

We traveled to Nomuka in record time (3 1/2 hours). This is the first major island in route to Ha’apai. From Nomuka we drove to Ha’afeva. This took another hour. We left one boat in Ha’afeva. After docking the boat I walked to the chapel to inspect a storage place for the boat. Some of the kids that greeted us at the boat dock followed me like kids surrounding the candy man. I stopped and took their picture. Kids love to have their picture taken.

Some of the people on this island provided lunch for us (a small pig, root plants, and, well, this was hard for me- lobster).

After lunch we traveled another hour to Pangai, Ha’apai. So, this little boat ride adventure was 5 ½ hours long.

When we arrived in Ha’apai, we quickly unloaded our suitcases and several boxes for the missionaries in Vava’u. It was our expectation that we were going to board a plane and fly to Vava’u (the next major island group north of Ha’apai). It was my job to receive the third boat that was being shipped, in a cargo ship, to Vava’u.

Well, we got to the airport and learned that the plane was flying back to the main island (Tongatapu) instead of Vava’u. Tongatapu is the island that we started our trip from. We started to check in at the airport and learned that they had oversold the plane. Some of our group had to spend the night in Ha’apai. Since I needed to receive the boat in Vava’u, I got to return to Tongatapu.

What happened to the boxes for the missionaries in Vava’u? Well, I had to leave them with those that didn’t get on the plane with instructions to put them on the next cargo boat- the Olovaha (this was the cargo boat that our mission boat was on).

While flying back home, another person made arrangements for me to fly to Vava’u the next day. When I was able to use my mobile phone, I called the service Center to get my flight schedule. I was told that I was booked on the 4:00 flight. “Great,” I said, “that will give me time to do things in the office before I go.” “No, Elder Thompson,” the person said, “the plane leaves at 4:00 a.m., not p.m.”

Well, the night was short. They picked me up at 3:00 a.m. We arrived in Vava’u about 5:30 a.m. In Vava’u we drove to the Service Center to find a place to sleep. The Service Center has a two bedroom apartment attached to it. When we got there we learned that one bedroom was already occupied. (We woke him up). I had with me a man (Brother Dallas) from New Zealand, who was helping with the training. He took the other bedroom, and I took a love seat that was in the entry area.

The love seat was wide enough so I could lay down with my legs over the arm of the love seat. When my back started to hurt, I laid on my side and let my legs hang out from the cushions. Needless to say, I didn’t sleep well. We got up about 8:00 a.m. After brushing the ants off my shirt, I was ready for anything.

The cargo ship (Olovaha) was scheduled to arrive in Vava’u at 4:00 p.m. We spent the morning looking at launching ramps, tow vehicles, and storage facilities. During the day we learned that the Olovaha was not going to arrive until 7”00 p.m. Brother Dallas had a plane to catch at 7:00 p.m. to Tongatapu. He had to get back to Tongatapu so he could leave the next day to New Zealand. So he left me. I spent the rest of the day with our missionary Zone Leaders. We inspected houses and solved other problems. Later I checked into a motel on the wharf. I then learned that the Olovaha would not arrive until 10:00 pm.

Around 10:00 p.m. I could see, from my room balcony, the Olovaha.

I notified others, and we decided to wait an hour then go get our boat. About an hour later we drove over to the Olovaha.

It was pandemonium--trucks and cars in every direction jockeying for position to get their goods. It was hilarious.

There were two forklifts taking large shipping crates out of the Olovaha. After watching them for about an hour, I noticed that one forklift had broken down right in front of the Olovaha so the remaining forklift had to work around it. It is total chaos at this time--cars and trucks still fighting for space and position.

Finally, about 1:00 a.m., we see our boat. Eventually, they cleared off the goods in front of the boat. There were three storage bins next to our boat. The forklift operator retrieved the top bin and hauled it out of the Olovaha. On the way back the operator stopped at the top of the ramp. The forklift started to smoke to high heavens. It blew a water hose, so now it was out of commission. The ramp was now blocked with two broken down forklifts. It is now almost 2:00 a.m. We were really getting tired. What were we going to do?

We managed to get our small Toyota (4 cyclinders) truck past the forklifts. Then we were able to pull the boat out to the front of the Olovaha, but there, at the top of the ramp, were two broken down smoking forklifts. What a sight. Even at 2:00 a.m. I managed to laugh. It was so funny. I walked to the top of the ramp, looked at several Tongans who were surmising the situation, then, we all started to laugh. After a few minutes of laughter, several Tongans pushed one of the forklifts out of the way. Finally we were able to take the boat to a storage area.

The night was short again. We met at 7:00 a.m. to unpack the boat and get it ready for the water. We had arranged with a farmer to use his truck to tow and launch the boat. We couldn’t find him. He was somewhere out in the bush. So, now what is our tow vehicle?--a small Toyota pickup. Putting the boat in the water was a struggle for the small truck, but we got the boat launched. One boat engine wouldn’t start because one of the batteries was dead. So we sent one of the guys to the store to buy jumper cables. Eventually, we got the engine started. We rode the boat to the various islands where missionary houses are located and spent some time inspecting these homes. The islands and water inlets were beautiful. It was a wonderful day with the missionaries.

Now, getting the boat out of the water was another comedy. We knew that the Toyota truck could not pull the boat out of the water, and we couldn’t find the farmer. Resourceful minds were at work. After about a half hour, I looked out of the boat window. I couldn’t believe what I saw. A mini dump truck was towing our boat trailer. The driver backed up to the ramp and jumped out. He was Chinese, not Tongan. What a community project!

Well, it took a few times to get the boat on the trailer, but, finally, we got the boat out of the water and back to a storage pad at the church school. Does the comedy end? No.

After unhooking the garbage truck from the boat, they decided to wash the boat using a new power washer. One of the guys rolled out a 100’ hose to attach to the house water faucet. He looked at the end of the hose and realized that it didn’t have any connecting fittings on it. In fact, neither end had fittings. We had a hose with no fittings. Well, we looked in the boat and found some fittings, but only enough for one end. We put the fittings on the hose and went to the faucet. It didn’t fit. The faucet threads are smaller in diameter that the hose fittings. So another person went back to the store for some more fitting. We finally got the water hose connected to the power washer, but the small gas engine was locked up. We couldn’t pull the rope out to get it started. Did they ever get the power washer started? I don’t know. I had to leave to catch the plane back to Tongatapu.

Tongan Update March 21, 2998 Meeting John

Tongan Update, 21 March 2008, Meeting John

Elder Thompson and I were invited to the Liahona 1^st Ward’s Relief Society Birthday Party. The Bishopric member who was in charge of the social had all the men sing Happy Birthday to the Relief Society. Then each man had to tell something about their wife. Many talked about how they had meet their spouses. I started to reminisce about how I meet John, and then I decided to write it down.

In 1968 I was at the University of Utah majoring in Elementary Education. As I was running from Orson Spencer Hall (upper campus) to the music building which is in the horseshoe (lower campus) to get to my next class, I couldn’t help seeing many banners and posters set up on the lawn in the middle of campus. It was election time for new University student body officers, and the hopefuls were trying to get our votes. One campaign gimmick stood out above all the others. The posters said, “Everyone needs a John! Vote for John Thompson!” It was the authentic toilet by each of the signs that caught my attention and everyone else. I voted for him! And he was elected as a student body officer.

It wasn’t until several weeks later that I actually met this John Thompson. I had been invited to a Delta Phi cabin party by Jim Hampshire. Because I had to work Saturday morning, Jim and I arrived later to the cabin than the main group. We had followed a map which lead us up Smith and Morehouse Canyon, across the Weber River and into Hidden Lake Cabin Resort. There we finally found the cabin, but no one was there. We decided to go for a walk and check things out. We climbed a hill in back of the cabin where we looked down upon a small lake. We traipsed down the mountain to this lake and saw a couple in a canoe out on the water. The fellow yelled, “Do you want a ride?” I answered, “yes!” as my date answered, “no!” “What?” I thought. I questioned Jim about his decision, and what could the poor guy do but agree to go into the boat.

The people in the canoe were John Thompson and his date. I can’t remember her name, but she was hanging tightly onto the sides of the canoe. She had a distressed look on her face. When Jim got into the canoe, he looked about the same. Upon seeing their panic, some little imp took over, and with a mischievous smile I started to rock the boat. Our two dates were so concerned about their own safety that they didn’t say very much. Soon it was John Thompson and I on either ends of the canoe talking to each other.

Several days later John called me up for a date. I already had other plans. He asked again, and I was busy again. Then he asked me out for lunch. It was a date! But when the big day arrived, I had a huge, huge cold sore. I tried calling everywhere he might be to cancel our date, but I couldn’t reach him. So I couldn’t do anything about it, and he met me on campus after class. I was so embarrassed to have this stuff growing down from my lips that I tried to keep my face turned away from him. When we got to the restaurant, I hid behind the menu. I couldn’t use that protection for long so I put my hand in front of my mouth. It was awful. I thought he’d never ask me out again because I acted so dorky.

But John said it was “love at first sight” for him. It took me a little longer to work a few things out. He gave me a diamond for Christmas that year, and we were married in the Salt Lake Temple in June of 1969, a few days after we both graduated from the University of Utah.

Ahh…such a lovely story. We are now heading towards our thirty-ninth wedding anniversary.

Tongan Update, March 18, 2998 Subway Dog

Tonga Update, 18 March 2008, Dogs

We’ve had a couple of episodes with the neighboring dogs this week. Elder Shaver arrived from the Provo MTC four days ago. I haven’t even sent his parents his “arrival letter” yet. The Elders were walking around the side of an investigator’s house when the dog decided he didn’t like these visitors.

The snarly thing took a pretty good chunk out of Elder Shaver’s leg, enough so that he had to have stitches. Ahh…our Tongan canine friends!

Yesterday President McMurray asked me to get, kind of like, Subway sandwiches for the Zone Leaders who were having meetings in the missionary office. I paid over $70 for fifteen chicken sandwiches which were placed into three plastic bags. After purchasing the food, I returned to the office to find everyone was still in classes. I put the bags of sandwiches on the bench by the classroom door so that the missionaries could grab them and a drink when they had finished their training. When the Elders broke for lunch, they complained that there were not enough sandwiches for everyone. “Oh right,” I thought. “There was more than enough!” So I went to investigate, and there were only TWO bags of sandwiches on the bench. I accused everyone for swiping the food. It turns out that the neighbor’s dog was hungry and decided to share our lunch. He came into the office complex and grabbed one bag. We found the evidence in the street outside.

I apologized to the missionaries for blaming them for the thief. One Elder said, “It’s alright, Sister Thompson. We will just eat the dog next week!”

My reply is always the same to this and similar comments. “Don’t eat the dogs! No kuli! (Tongan for dog) The missionaries always laugh, but I wouldn’t be surprised if that dog is found missing in the next few days. I have to keep saying to myself, “Dogs are just a food source.” Sorry Chica, Sierra, Nina, Pepper, Snickers, Belle, Oreo, Champ, Chief, and Ozzie.

Tongan Update March 4, 2008 Nieu'fo & Elder Sake

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

Tongan Update, March 9, 2008 Transfer Week and good-byes

.Tongan Update, 09 March 2008, Transfers

It’s transfer week again—comes around every six weeks. This transfer hits Elder Thompson and I hard because they are moving the missionaries that have been in the office complex for five to six months to different smaller islands. These Elders have been so much fun. There is Elder Olsen from St George. (He's not related to us!) He is the ultimate AP (Assistant to the President).

Elder Olsen is on the left and Elder Jones is on the right.

He’s tough, fair, great on computers, and can mastermind transfers with ease…and he role-plays everything he tells you. So whenever you talk to him, you get to watch a performance…and he is hilarious.

Then there is Elder Jones from California.

He is Mr. All American football player—confident, cute, and cocky. (There are Tongan fathers that are trying to convince him to marry their daughters.) He actually had a scholarship with the University of Utah to play football. But when he pulled out his shoulder, he lost his scholarships, and then he decided to go a mission. He has a habit of saying, “Follow the rules or I’ll kick you in the face!” It’s not the most loving approach, but the missionaries seem to respect him. He loves to talk.

Elder Hikila is leaving too.

He is from Nuku’alofa. He ended up here in the office because of problems he had with his companion on Nomuka. The Elders were helping the ward members get things ready for a ward dinner. At least Hikila was helping, but his companion decided to visit one of the cute girls in the neighborhood. The companion got suspended for a while. (I don’t think they do that in other missions—send missionaries home for a period of time, then bring them back to the same mission.) Hikila is quiet, a hard worker, and all smiles.

Elder Karratti has only been in the office for a little over a week. He is the first elder on the left.

Four of the Tongan Elders on Ha’apai decided to go partying. They didn’t think Elder Karratti, an American, would realize that they were making their own home-made brew of kava which is a traditional drink of Tonga. Kava is a depressant. Some men will drink kava all night with their buddies, then sleep all day. (You cannot drink kava and go to the temple.) These four missionaries had made many other choices that were contrary to Mission Rules, and they were sent home. Karratti is just here until transfers.

Needless to say, we have been surrounded by action. We think the office is going to be way quiet when the four office elders are gone. But they are all excellent missionaries, and they need to be leaders out in the field. Three of them have been assigned to be Zone Leaders, and Elder Karratti will be a senior companion and a District Leader.

Sister Leha’uli is retiring her missionary pin so we’ll be missing her too.

She has been one of our “presiding angel” missionaries. We have taken her and a companion on many exchanges. To make some those exchanges easier for Elder Thompson and myself, we have taken her to the temple several times and even to our seniors’ Family Home Evening a time or two. This allowed us not to back-track around the island so much as we did the missionary exchanges.

We compared Sister Leha’uli with the mechanical woman at the old Fun House at Lagoon. Anybody remember the Laughing Lady? She would start giggling, then chuckling, then laughing, then laughing hysterically. She would make everyone laugh just watching her. That’s the same as our cute Sister. She is always so happy and full of smiles. Whenever we would go to pick the Sisters up, Sister Leha’uli would say, “Sister Thompson, did you miss me?” And then she would proceed to tell us she had been sick. “Sick for one minute!” She had a lot of those one minute sicknesses.

Well, it’s going to be interesting to meet the next set of missionaries. One thing we can always count on is CHANGE. We don’t want things to get boring here! We love the work! ‘Ofa ‘atu, John and Diane