A few observations from today…..
The students are being well-utilized, and the campus is humming with sounds of vehicles – mostly trucks, picking up all the downed branches and green waste. I just saw my neighbor foraging through a pile, and he hauled home a treasure trove of bananas – about 100 of them.
Next, I think, will be the corrugated metal and verandas that need to be broken apart , in order to be loaded up.
I walked back to the Facilities Management building, and was shocked at the destruction there. They got really hit hard, and the offices have had to be relocated in the Service Center. The music department was also in that building. All the instruments have been damaged beyond repair. I saw about 20 keyboards that had been tossed to and fro. The computer lab suffered major damage, too. The way this storm worked reminds me of how we get hit at the lake, with big areas that are devastated at random. I went and talked to the man who lives (actually lived) in the home on campus that was destroyed. Initially, it was hit by a tree that resulted in a corner of the roof being damaged, which gave the wind an access point. It didn’t take long before the roof was peeled open like a sardine can. I was sad to see a pretty YoungChang piano outside. It had not fared well, at all.
Walking through the Service Center you can hear the hum of the big fans that have been set up to dry things out. The furniture has been removed, as necessary, and the staff is very much on task.
When we were coming home from Costlo, we had a chance to look at several of the meetinghouses. None of them sustained any damage that we could see, but I know there was a bit here and there. The roofs were all exactly where they were before the storm, which gave me confidence that they were built exceedingly well.
Becky talked to a couple of missionaries today who were feeling a bit sorry for themselves. She was like the wonderful drill sergeant which she is, and told them to get off their behinds and just get serving. It doesn’t matter so much what you do as long as you just do it. Put on a happy face and get the job done!
I think the most interesting part of the day was when I went to the new Costlo to provision up a bit. As I came in the front door, I heard a recording of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, and commented on what a funny thing that was. Upon going inside, I looked up, and there was a huge TV screen on which they were playing the most recent Conference. Is that strange, or what? Anyway, I knew the songs they were singing, and it was a fun experience doing my shopping to the accompaniment of the beautiful choir.
We also went around dropping things off at the missionaries’ MQ’s and then came back home to work. It gave us a real time view of what the island looks like. Many homes are just fine and just have stuff scattered around outside. But next door, you might see one that has been totally destroyed. The interesting thing is that the people are very very positive and accepting of this challenge, and do not seem dismayed or discouraged. They are out and cleaning up, and everyone is helping each other.
Long term, I have seen various people here on campus with clipboards and such, so I know a plan is being put together. I am not worried for us, but just hope supplies come in quickly, so the rebuilding can begin. I know that the damaged buildings here at Liahona were about 60 years old, and will be rebuilt according to present standards, as is the way of the Church. It will take time though, and that is the million-dollar question. When Becky and I were talking and walking around tonight we said that the powers that be will most certainly send over a FEMA type person to coordinate everything. The magnitude is that great. So I feel no reason to be worried – just aware and prepared. I will stock up on canned goods next, that do not require any preparing and that we can eat, as is. I have lots of oatmeal and granola, pastas and various sauces. Also tuna, canned beef, and of course a freezer full of chicken, fish, and ground turkey ,etc. I also bought a box of 12 cartons of ultrapasturized milk, and we have lots of water. When I use up one bottle, I just refill it from our filtered water faucet.
Right about now, I will go to sleep. Each day is a new and interesting adventure. We will see what tomorrow brings with it!
If we get cut off from the internet or from cell-phone service from time to time, no worries. It’s to be expected as things are put back together.
Love to all of you!
xoxoxoMom
Mom’s photos that she sent to the family via email (with Dad’s editorial comments):
Everyone in the family urged us to seek shelter, and not to go outside for any reason during the storm. Good advice, which we heeded. The basic construction material on the island is corrugated metal, which is now littering the landscape.
This is the service center where we sought shelter. We were in the other wing. We kept hearing the sound of metal shearing off the roof, and hitting the building, during the storm, but didn’t know for sure what had happened until morning. By 7 a.m. the storm had passed, and it was very calm.
Many of the trees were reduced to rubble.It was amazing to see what wind can do.
The students on campus cleaned all of this up the day after the storm, and now it is being hauled away in trucks.
This is just across the street from L.H.S.
When we entered this hallway the evening of Monday, February 12, we went in the door on the left. We were fine. The door on the right is where the roof got ripped off. It gives a whole new meaning to: “Choose the door on the left, or the door on the right.” Who knows ahead of time, what is behind the door?
This is the breezeway between buildings at the service center. That is our house peeking through the breezeway. You would not have wanted to walk (or run) from the house to the service center during the storm.
This is our avocado tree in our back yard. It was really pruned back, in October, and it was really getting to look pretty again. Believe it or not, I think it will survive. I’ll take another photo in a couple of months, for comparison.
This is pretty much what all of Tongatapu looks like right now. The amazing thing is, that we have talked to students from Ha’apai, and Vava’u, who say the cyclone passed by them, with nothing more than strong winds and rain. It was headed straight for us, instead! What did WE do to deserve this!!!
This is what the bush looks like, on the drive from L.H.S. to Nuku’alofa (about 10 k). This is the famous “three headed coconut tree” that is a MAJOR tourist attraction. If it had blown down, it would have been devastating to the tourist trade (which is booming in Tonga!!)
This chicken survived, but it’s looking a little the worse for wear. The bad news (seriously) is that “Peg” our little one legged chicken friend, is no-where to be found. She used to come around every day for bread crumbs. She had 4 chicks. The day after the storm, they were all accounted for. 24 hours later…………..only one remains. I guess its’ just survival of the fittest.
Plenty of breadfruit. Too bad it is tasteless. They say that Captain Bligh of the Bounty was bringing breadfruit back to England on his ill-fated voyage in the South Pacific. (The mutiny occurred just off the island of Lafoka, in the Ha’apai Group.) Fletcher Christian wisely threw all of the breadfruit overboard, before sailing to Pitcairn Island.
It used to be so pretty driving through the country-side. It will be again, in a few months.
I don’t think this one is going to make it, though.
p.s. Thanks to everyone for keeping the people of Tonga in your hearts and in your prayers. I know what happens after a natural disaster…………in a few days or weeks, nearly everyone living in their comfortable circumstances elsewhere in the world forgets that places like Tonga, that don’t have a lot of depth when it comes to infrastructure, and doesn’t have deep pockets, will continue to rebuild as best they can. There are 16 stakes on Tongatapu, and 160 congregations. Over a hundred full time elders and sisters, and nearly 20 senior missionaries.
As Paul wrote: we are here for “the perfecting of the Saints, for the work of the ministry, (and) for the edifying of the body of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:12).
Phil and Jan's Adventure in Tonga 