LDS Short Story: A Christmas on the Other Side of Heaven: John H. Groberg (2004)

This short story is very well said.  John Groberg tells about Christmas when he was a missionary in Tonga.  It was the hot time of the year.  Gift giving was not possible as the residents were poor and did not have much to give.  Instead they would give acts of service.  He recounts how he and his companion were providing an act of service for a grandmother, who had grown tired and weary caring for a sick granddaughter.  The missionaries decided to give her some needed relief.   However as they cared for the child through the night, his companion in term gave Groberg a gift by letting him sleep through his turn of watching the child.
This story is a fine example of the true spirit of Christmas.

Mormon Movie Review: ****^ The Other Side of Heaven (TO MMBOE)

The Other Side of heaven is one of the better LDS films.  It tells the story of John Groberg (Christopher Gorman) and is based on his book of the same name.  He was called on a mission to Tonga from Idaho.  His mission was more dangerous, and longer than most.  This movie has very good cinematography as we see the power of the waves and the ocean, and of the storms.  Many things happened to Elder Groberg.  His first struggle was to learn the language, and until he did he made many mistakes saying silly things.  His feet were eaten by rates, from which we learn you must always keep your feet covered, he help to heal a boy who had fallen out of a tree, but could not heal another young man who had lock jaw.   Success was slow at first, but he grew on the people, and they began to have tremendous success.  He first had a companion (Joe Folau), and the interacted well, as the companion was Tongan.  The pass through a hurricane as an island, and almost everyone perishes of hunger as all the food is destroyed, including the fisheries.  A boat arrives with supplies just in time.  A priest, gave El Groberg a bottle of jam, saving Elder Groberg’s live, but sacrificing his own as the priest is one who does not make it.  After they started to have success, Elder Groberg’s companion is called back to construction.  One of the most touching scenes is “Hoorah for Israel” as he is heading off the island in a small boat.  In this the reenacted the apostles of old who stood in the wagon and shouted hoorah as they were sick, but heeding the call to serve missions. 

Elder Groberg is left with local leadership as companions.  He travels between islands.  In one there is no wind to sail the boat, and they are becalmed.  One of the companions jumps into the ocean, to pull the boat.  “Today I am the Lord’s wind.”  In another scene, they are capsized by a large wave.  However he is saved.

Another moving scene is the visit by the mission president, who has been worrying nothing has been going on.  When Elder Groberg reports the success, including a new branch with a chapel, the mission president asks to see the records.  Elder Groberg stays up all night to create the records, and the mission president apologizes about his harshness. 

Though out the movie are interspersed scenes of his girlfriend, (Anne Hathaway) through interaction, and letters.  The movie concludes with their marriage.  This is a very fun and inspiring movie.  Great cinematography of the ocean and islands.