On Tuesday night, we arrived at the international airport in the capital of Tonga.  When we got off the plane, we walked about 100 yards across the airstrip, basically an asphalt slab,  to a building which was our entry point.  Security seemed really relaxed.  As we entered the corridor, we were greeted by a big sign welcoming us to the Kingdom of Tonga.  Everything looked run down, as if it had been there forever.  As we checked through customs and exited the security area we were struck by a barrage of people offering us rides to town or offering different kinds of services.  It wasn't exactly what I thought of when I thought of an international airport. 

We were met by Loni, the General Manager for the ministry in Tonga.  He pulled up in an old van and we piled in with all our bags.  The air was very thick and humid.  The van smelt somewhat moldy from all the dampness.  We drove for about fifteen minutes down a road that went straight from the airport into town.  On the way, we passed small buildings with bars and chicken wire over the windows scattered along the road -- local stores.  As we got into town, I was surprised not to see any real large buildings or anything that reminded me of large cities from home.  As we drove to Loni's house, where we would be staying, we talked and laughed.  It was good fellowship.   

As we talked, Loni mentioned that he had received a call from some people on the North Island who were inquiring about the possibility of expanding the broadcast ministry to there.  They also wanted Loni to record his discipling messages from the Radio Bible School and send the teachings to them. 

Through the course of conversation between Graham, Loni and I, I was informed that the Mormon's claim 1/3 of the Tongan population.   The Mormons are sometimes referred to as "Joe's boys".  For about every thousand people in Tonga, there is a LDS church. 

Apparently a couple of days before we arrived, they had had severe rain. 

That night at Loni's we ate and talked some more.  Graham passed on the remaining (that he hadn't eaten) Atomic Fireballs Susie and I had brought over from the states.  As I went to sleep that night I could hear some strange bird sounds, lots of dogs barking and a rugby party that the Methodist church (behind Loni's house) was hosting.