How can people here in Tonga who have so little are the poorest people I have ever seen be so kind, they give with there whole hearts holding nothing back for themselves. When we got here and could not find a house we had strangers offering us to let us live with them...several people. We had a widow who lives in a one room cinder block house bring us not one but 5... 5 casserole dishes full of dessert to welcome us here. The neighbor generously feed our children if they even mention hunger. Strangers give my kids food and love. Woman come up and pick up my baby and entertain her wherever we are.
We don't think we will be able to stay here as long as we hoped, it breaks my heart. Our palangi bodies and not equiped to handle the air and illnesses here in Tonga and I have always know if my children's health became at risk here we would have to leave. We now have 4 people with staph skin infection. Prims has been slowed by the antibiotics but not improved it. Royce finger is looking a little better but the mesquitos keep infecting us with dengue fever which has made life miserable and to be honest frightening. The health care although sincere and kind is very primitive so we feel we have to put the safety and welfare of our children first.
We have 2 homes in the US rented out so we decided to ask the 2 returned missionaries ( they are sharing it with our son Luke who had to postpone his mission for shoulder surgery) renting out the basement in idaho if they could find another place to live. We even reached out to a neighbor across the street with a basement apartment to see if they could move there. They are from the area and they could also go back to there parents house as well. There response does not shock me because they are young adults and to be honest they owe us nothing but it came back that they do need to move out early for work but that they would not consider doing so until April because it would be inconvient for them despite us telling them our situation. Not even to a basement apartment across the street. I'm ok with this. I'm Not surprised or upset but just the stark difference in responses from them and the kind neighbor (whose a friend) who also declined to let anyone stay in there basement apartment despite our situation compared to the generousity from strangers here. The contrast left my heart reeling. How could I leave a place so good even though they have so little....
Then
James gently reminded me we are to be in the world but not of the world no matter where we live, and that we get to choose. I hope I choose kindness even if it disturbs my comfort. I hope I choose to help others even if it's not my idea. I hope I choose charity and love. I pray I choose these and overcome the natural man and more than that I hope this for my children and the world we live in.... I hope I leave Tonga but I hope the memories and the culture of Tonga is forever taken with me in my heart!
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