Recently I spent a few days in Tonga (Graham writes)
I needed to take some high quality photos for a new brochure we're printing, and show Charlie Ratu (our leadership intern from Gud Nius Redio, Solomon Islands) what the ministry is like in Tonga. And, after hearing so many stories about the dramatic ways God is touching lives in the Island kingdom, I just couldn't wait to get there and see it for myself!
I needed to take some high quality photos for a new brochure we're printing, and show Charlie Ratu (our leadership intern from Gud Nius Redio, Solomon Islands) what the ministry is like in Tonga. And, after hearing so many stories about the dramatic ways God is touching lives in the Island kingdom, I just couldn't wait to get there and see it for myself!
Here's an email I sent back to our staff during my visit . . .
On Tuesday night, when I arrived with Charlie, we were whisked off from the airport to a feast with 3 families who have been impacted by the Gospel through Letio Faka-Kalisitiane 93FM. Lots of local food, laughter, tearful speeches and prayer as people expressed their gratitude to the Lord for changing their lives through the radio broadcasts. Setita was there [ meet Setita on video ] and it was wonderful to see the transformation in her life since her release from prison. Setita goes to 4 homes everyday to tell the people about Jesus and how He changed her life. Her story is well known and she gets many opportunities to pray for the people she visits.The next day at the main High School, Charlie spoke from the Scriptures about the dangers of peer pressure. After his talk he had students doing the beat box with their mouths as he rapped out the main points of his message and did a hip-hop dance. The teachers must have thought they had a riot in their school - I'm sure you could hear the yelling from NZ! After that, I spoke at a lunch-time Bible study for staff at a government department, and in the afternoon met with some Christian leaders and local supporters. One reason for coming to Tonga is to visit some local donors and supporters, most of whom are new believers through the station. I have brought 'Easy English' Bibles to give them. Surely a Bible that's easy to read and understand is the best gift we can give somebody. One man wrote to me afterwards,"thanks for the great Bible you gave. I have been telling everyone how I have become addicted to this Bible as it is so easy for me to read and understand compared to the KJV and the Tongan Bibles I have. It truly has been a blessing to me."So I am meeting a lot of people and hearing many great stories about how the Lord is using the radio station. And everywhere you go, you can hear our radio station! Even in government offices. I've also been invited to pray for workers in shops and businesses. One owner closed the store so I could pray for all the staff. And I can't believe how much food we've been given by local shopkeepers. I've just done a stock-take for breakfast and Charlie and I have 18 eggs; 3 litres of UHT milk; 6 litres fruit juice; 3 boxes cereal; heaps of fresh fruit; 4 loaves of bread; and a birthday cake - yes it's true, a big chocolate birthday cake! All given to bless us! Last night on our way back into town, we stopped at a little shop to buy 2 bottles of water - they gave us 8 bottles and wouldn't take payment.The word has got around that I'm in Tonga and listeners have been phoning the station with invitations for me to visit and eat with them. Unfortunately I don't have time to accept these, but I did accept one invitation. I went to a widow lady's 68th birthday party last night (that's where I got the cake that's in my fridge this morning). Atiola is in a wheel chair after a stroke. She's a great supporter of the radio and well respected by our listeners. She calls in almost everyday to pray on-air for people and situations she hears about over the radio. It was another wonderful evening with new friends, and as per Tongan custom, I had to be the first person to eat, and make a speech, and pray for Atiola. These dear people are treating me like a king and it does make me uncomfortable. If you know anything about Tonga you will know about the great friendliness and generosity of the Tongan people. (That's why Captain Cook named Tonga the Friendly Isles). Food and gifts are the Tongan way of expressing their deep gratitude to the Lord for the ministry that has helped them discover His grace and liberty through Jesus Christ.Today is Friday. I still have more people to visit (and no doubt, more speeches to make and more prayers to pray) and there are still two more feasts to attend before I fly out tomorrow night . . . I took my video camera to Tonga and another interview with Setita. I also interviewed Kapu'ana, an 8 year old girl who dreamed of meeting Jesus in heaven where He gave her a strong message for the Tongan people, which she later shared over the radio. I'll tell you when these are available to view on our web site. Amazing days, eh? Now that I'm home again and looking back at my notes, there are 3 little testimonies that deeply moved me. They clearly illustrate the powerful way God is using Letio Faka-Kalisitiane 93FM to bring grace and salvation to the very religious nation of Tonga. I sat with one lady (a new believer whose husband had also just received Jesus Christ as his personal saviour) she told me "All the years ago everybody in Tonga always talked about the church, but now because of the radio, all of Tonga talks about Sisu Kalaisi (Jesus Christ)." I struggled to hold back my tears. As we ate lunch with a man under a shady tree he said, "We always get lots of religious people coming here to talk about their church and tell us what we should be doing, but these people from the letio are somehow totally different." Wet eyes again. I knelt with a new Christian on the floor of her house. Before we prayed she said, "When I hear people like myself talking on the radio about what Sisu has done, some things just happen inside of me and I wanted to have that from Sisu too." Praise You Jesus - I'm so glad I travel with tissues in my pocket! We've worked hard and prayed a lot for this to happen, haven't we? Over many hard years. But I never imagined how wonderful this would be! The challenge now is to see the new Tongan believers well established in their new daily walk with Sisu Kalaisi! Thank you Lord, and my thanks go to you too  Would you like to help change even more lives in the Islands? |
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Graham A Carter
President
UCB Pacific Partners
Questions or comments? email Graham
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