"When I get home at night my battery is flat!" 
Last year was very busy for Loni ‘Akolo 
leader of Letio Faka-Kalisitiane 93FM in Tonga 
Managing the radio station and volunteer staff; running weekly new believers classes in village homes (up to nine classes a week); preparing teaching programs for the radio. Loni was badly overloaded.

Perhaps the most rewarding (and at the same time the most difficult) thing, was having listeners come to his house at the radio station at all hours of the night. With questions about the Bible programs, or with food as a "thank you" for his teaching. (A lot of people don't have full-time jobs in the Islands so it's common for the whole family to visit, even at midnight!

So we made Willy Florian the Station Manager under Loni, and rented a house for Loni away from the station. Now he can focus on following up the many listeners who contact the station, and training the people who host Radio Listener Groups.

[ read more about Loni ]

[ read more about Willy ]

That was only six months ago. 
Loni is talking about flat batteries again! And no wonder. 
Loni teaches Radio Bible School three nights a week over the radio in Tongan language. Listeners gather in village homes to follow the Bible study , with Loni, over the radio. These are called Listener Groups. Loni spends a lot of time visiting the hosts of these groups - showing them how to lead the group in prayer and application, as they study together with the radio.

I've looked back over some of Loni's recent emails. 
And no wonder he feels like his "battery is flat!" 
God is doing some amazing things in Tonga . . .

"I have a bible Study with a guy outside the college (he is not a student). The teacher went by and see us and he like it so he talk to me and ask if I have time to have bible study with him. He said that he is already a christian. When we go through the Gospel he find out that he is not really a christian as he think. The good news is he make the right move and accept Christ in his heart. 
At the same college the principal saw us and she want to do the same thing (sharing the gospel) with his own children. On last Sunday we spend time with the children and 3 of them accept the Lord with enthusiasm. They are listener of the 93FM. I realise assuming that they are believer is not reliable. You have to go back to the foundation and find out what is the real self. "

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"The feeling quilty of what he has done with his life and he was thinking of suicide he keep listening to the radio and the Radio Bible School. He end up wanting to enjoy the joy that we have. He end up ringing last nite, we talk on the phone. I . . . visit him, we were talking open and showing him the way's to become a joyful christian he was so glad cause he think that God is a duff master that he punish us if we fail during our christian walk. 

"Here are also names of prisoners who converted on our prison visiting: Paea, Feleti, Saia, Lisiate, Alekisanita, Nua, Viliami, Samson, Soane. Please pray for them . . ."

"Another home Listner group has been start up in one of the villlage they start 2 weeks ago I just find out from the leader last week that they have started a new group on their neighboring village. I will visit that new group this Sunday evening. Please pray that the leader on that group will be encourage and keen to see the people come to the Lord."

"I encourage him from the word and also he want to start a Listner group in his house and I will be start visiting him next Tuesday afternoon . . . I'm going to give him a bible "

"I was on air yesterday mention the need to buy bibles for the prisoner. While I still talking on the mic my phone ring a business man telling me that he will pay the whole lot for the bibles. . . we getting ready to distribute it to the inmates next Tuesday. . . I'm planning to write a short note in the front of the bible saying that the bible was donated by the radio station and it's listerner on the occassion of their participate in the Discipleship class."

"I get a call from that same guy that was coming to the Lord lately he said . . . he just read his bible . . . and he know that the Lord told him to get out and help his mom. So he help his mom hanging out the washing. The neighbor see him and ask him to come try taking out the DVD stuck inside their player . . . He find that he can't do anything to help the problem but he find a opportunity to talk with them about the Lord. 
The neighbor ask if he could find 93FM on their own radio cause they can hear his radio (which is always on 93) and they like it. So he tune up the radio (neighbor) to 93FM. 
He call me and ask me if he is doing the right thing I say man you are doing what the Lord wants you to do to your village. Now this man has people coming to his house for radio listener group. Please pray cause that guy need a extra help. Very new to the things of God and sometime I have to explain slowly . . . "

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