Light the World? - Pick me, pick me!

Tonga is made up of 176 islands but only 36 are occupied.  There are about 121 small villages on these small outer islands. 
Many villages have less than 100 inhabitants and do not have electricity, sometimes a store or a church might have a generator that runs a few hours a day. 
Imagine that you live on an island, and you have no electricity.  When the sun sets there are no lights, the only source of lights are the stars, an open fire, a kerosene lantern, or candles. 
When the days are short, kids on these islands either sit in the dark or if they are one of the lucky ones, the read by the flickering light of a kerosene lantern. 
Maybe, not so lucky, because there are many health concerns when young kids breath in too much toxic smoke from kerosene fires.  Think secondhand smoke from cigarettes! 
Here in the South Pacific, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is literally trying to light the world or at least a major portion of the south pacific islands. 
We are giving away 11,000 solar powered reading lights to kids that live on energy impoverished islands. 
The church is partnering with Solar Buddy.  These lights are square and about the size of an iPhone with solar cells on the back and led lights on the front.  If they are fully charged, they can last about 4-6 hours. 
For many of the outer villages, daily life is like stepping into a land that time forgot. 
People live by gathering rainwater from their roof, daily fishing, planting a garden, and raising a pig and a few chickens. 
Their bathroom is an outhouse, there is no running water. 
If you want hot water, you heat some over a fire.  Missionaries and locals usually wash their clothes and shower using a bucket.  Unscheduled boats occasionally come by. 
Some of you are thinking this sounds like a pretty nice way to get away from the hustle and bustle.  That passes quickly when you realize you can’t surf your phone, there is no TV, no stores to buy food, and not a chunk of crushed ice for a Pepsi anywhere within a thousand miles. 
It usually takes the “uncontrolled youthful exuberance of a religious missionary with a firm belief in God and enough faith to hop across hot coals” to think they can make a difference in a place like this. 
Problem is that I am not “youthful” and my “exuberance” was last seen when I weighed 150 pounds, which was in 1978 when I left for college. 
Okay, I can check the box for “missionary with a firm belief in God” but honestly, I have tender feet and can’t walk across carpet without shoes on, and the best I can do is shuffle and the only hopping in my life is IHOP. 
But what I don’t have in youth and exuberance I make up in stubbornness.  My too kind and loving wife, known these days as My Companion or Sister Torres, calls it “relentless”, like that is a bad thing. 
So, the Church called and said it needed help getting 11,000 solar lights out to the remotest “energy impoverished” islands to give to kids. 
Who do you think was jumping up and down yelling, “Pick me!  Pick me!”? 
Yep, older than dirt senior missionaries that couldn’t read the fine print without their bifocals and often get stuck in the roundabout because they aren’t sure how to exit.  What could go wrong?   
The invitation to help read something like, “Oh, by the way…you will have to manufacture said solar lights with directions written in every language but English, and parts made in China so small that your tired old eyes won’t be able to see them.
“And you must write a personal letter to each child that will receive the Solar Buddy, and there are no boats traveling to these remote islands any time soon, - for further guidance on building a boat please see 1 Nephi 17.  This tape will self-destruct in 30 seconds.” 
The brilliance of these solar lights is that there is no purchase cost to the kids, no operating costs for fuel, there are no toxic fumes filling their lungs, no soot on the ceiling or walls, and no moving parts to break. 
They can charge them using the sun in a couple of hours.  These solar lights are literally providing Light to The World.  What you and I would consider a toy or amusing gadget is a life changer for kids that have no light after dark. 
I am down here trying to be useful and help the people of Tonga (and stay out of the snow), but once again, it is me that is learning so much and being blessed. 
Being on a mission keeps me off the golf course, which significantly reduces my desire to swear like a longshoreman and saves money. 
I no longer drive to the Maverik and the post office twice a day.  I am gainfully employed learning new skills that might lead to part time work to supplement my retirement income, and most importantly, I might just do an act of service for kids that could really use a break. 
So, wherever you are, help Light the World; with your smile, a word of encouragement, a hug, read to a child, listen to an old person, or give your neighbor a plate of cookies.   
You can learn more about Light the World - Solar Buddy at: youtube.com/watch?v=t5Dvi405vDM