Eric Shumway spent a week in Tonga, just after Gita. He was here to launch a documentary series that he was involved in, on Diabetes Prevention. He was a missionary in Tonga in the 1960s. In 1988, he published a book (“Intensive Course in Tongan”) that is 760 pages in length. I haven’t yet gotten through it.
Her Royal Highness the Princess Salote Pilolevu wrote, in the preface, “Eric Shumway is the only palangi I know that speaks Tongan so perfectly that even Tongans are baffled!”
He was President of B.Y.U. Hawaii from 1994 – 2007, and then President of the Nuku’alofa Temple for three years. When we told him about our work in the Liahona Clinic, he was very interested. He wants us to stay in touch with him, and consider a documentary on oral health in Tonga, focusing on prevention.
Phil and Jan's Adventure in Tonga 