Thousands of members and friends of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints took to the streets on Saturday 6 August to mow, weed, sweep and generally clean up ahead of this week's 100th anniversary of the creation of the Church's Tonga Nuku'alofa Mission.
Deputy Prime Minister, Hon Siaosi Sovaleni, lent his support on the day, joining in the gardening and cleaning.
“It's wonderful seeing the LDS take notice and value some of the important things that the country is in need of...such as promoting environmental cleaning throughout the country," Deputy Prime Minister Sovaleni said.
- Deputy Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni, President Judah Benhur Kivalu and Missionaries 6 August 2016
- Clean up Tonga 6 August 2016
- Volunteers. Tonga. 6 August 2016.
- Volunteers. Tonga. 6 August 2016.
- Mormon Helping Hands volunteer. Tonga, 6 August 2016.
- Volunteers. Tonga, 6 August 2016.
- Volunteers. Tonga, 6 August 2016.
- Tongan volunteers. 6 August 2016.
- "Mormon Helping Hands" volunteers. Tonga community cleanup, 6 August 2016.
- Volunteers, Tonga, 6 August 2016 Sweeping
- Volunteers. Tonga. 6 August 2016.
- Volunteers. Tonga. 6 August 2016.
- Volunteers young and old lend a hand. Tonga, 6 August 2016.
- Volunteers load a trailer with garden waste. Tonga, 6 August 2016.
- Wheelbarrow Volunteer Tonga 6 August 2016
- Volunteers cut back brush Tonga 6 August 2016
- Volunteers Tonga 6 August 2016 Fence
- Volunteers Tonga 6 August Roadside
- President Sateki Manakofua with members of the Halaliku Stake
- Full-time missionaries Tonga, 6 August 2016
| Temple Square is always beautiful in the springtime. Gardeners work to prepare the ground for General Conference. © 2012 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. | 1 / 2 |
"Today we appreciate the leadership of the Church in providing the opportunity for various religions to come together and join forces in strengthening family and local community relationships through service. We anticipate consistency in this great work as it strengthens the ties between different beliefs, families and the country as a whole."
Mr Sovaleni added, "All the best and well wishes to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Centennial Celebration Commemorating 100 years of the Nuku’alofa, Tonga Mission.”
According to one participant, "Before dawn, it was like an army seeing the Latter-day Saints scattered throughout the whole of Tonga in their 'Mormon Helping Hands' vests, with lawn mowers, weed eaters, rakes, shovels, trash bags, blowers, and even painting equipment, working together in unity."
In addition to the road-side gardening work done by many, members of the Church's Central Stake in Nuku’alofa and some of the full-time missionaries painted and cleaned the Vaiola Hospital.
Local Latter-day Saint leader, Judah Benhur Kivalu, worked alongside Deputy Prime Minister Sovaleni, along with a group of missionaries in cleaning the local primary schools of Ngele’ia and Nuku’alofa, including waterfront areas.
Many of the volunteers were not members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but people who wanted to pay tribute to some of their own family members who have been a part of the Tonga Mission over the years.
The volunteers were grateful for the refreshements provided by the Deputy Prime Minister.
Church public affairs representative, Sione Langi, said the day "was a great start for the celebration.”
“The feelings of unity will multiply the good effects of the service given—and those feelings of unity in families, in the Church, and in communities will grow and become a lasting legacy long after the project ends."