Friday, June 14th
 We went to down town to meet some of the military people in charge of the humanitarian supplies that are to be distributed this next week. It was amazing to see!! I’ll just post the pictures and let them tell the story. We also went out to the villages to set up translation with the missionaries. They are going to help the doctors in the village clinics. As it turned out the Ministry of Health had sent nurses to most of the sites to help. At one place a member of the Ministry was down right rude to Alan and the missionaries. She said, “What are you doing here? We don’t need you!” and she gave him a look that would kill. Alan was kind and just walked away but he wished later that he had told her where all of the supplies that they were using had come from. The doctors wanted to use the missionaries but she wouldn’t allow it. We don’t want to cause problems and if the native people can handle it then we will just support them.

The other sites were much more appreciative and welcomed the missionaries. It was fun to see what they were doing and how grateful they were for the donations of the church.

After driving all over the island, Ana took us out to lunch at Café Escape. I think that is her favorite place to eat and Alan really likes it too.

We tried to call Amberly and sing to her but after 5 attempts we gave up for today. They must have been having a great time celebrating her.

We had movie night tonight. Elder Johnson brought the movie and we watched “Please Don’t Eat the Daisies”. The movies he brought are just a little too old for me. I am ready for something a little more up to date.

It was amazing to watch as they unloaded so many pallets of donations onto the dock. We're so grateful to be members of this church!!!

Some of the school kits, loaded on a truck to take out to the schools.

The transport ship landed at the dock and unloaded all of the supplies for the work the Pacific Partnership will be doing in Tonga.

This is the King's Palace. He and the Queen are on the front porch but this is as close as you get to them. The picture is a little blury, I had to take it while I was walking.

Thursday, June 13th

Happy Birthday Amberly!! WOW, our beautiful little Amberly is turning into a beautiful young woman. How did that happen? The years are flying by!!

We spent most of the day in Nuku’alofa today. It was the opening of Parliament and it is a huge celebration associated with it. All of the school children march in a parade through town and the King rides down the street as well, on his way to Parliament. The children and the bands march by, then they stop and line the street while the King passes. Then everyone stands and waits until he open Parliament and gives his speech. When he comes back out and gets in his car to drive to the Palace all the children form up again and follow him. Then they march across the Palace lawn so he can view each school. It is quite the production. We were there watching all of this happen from 8:30 in the morning until 1:30 in the afternoon.

Liahona was the last school to march. (either they saved the best for last or they don’t like the Mormons so they put them at the end.) When they passed us they invited us to march with them. It is the only way you can ever get onto the Palace grounds so we jumped at the chance. I took pictures.

We ended our day at the Temple. It felt good to sit down, relax and feel the Spirit.

When ever there is music, there is a dancing Tongan lady! She was fun to watch. The others are of us with Lina, the lady whose family we are trying to convert to the gospel. We love her!! The last one is of her husband and some of her 7 children. They are a great family!