Colleagues expressed sadness over his leaving, but wished him well in his new undertaking. The family will start a new life, learning a new culture and adapting to a tropical environment. The Kingdom of Tonga is one of the last monarchies in the world. The Peace Corps, established by President John F. Kennedy in 1961, has had missions in 132 nations. Currently, the corps has about 6,500 volunteers working in the field in 84 countries.
Assistance is provided to underdeveloped countries that face economic and social problems.
Despite economic growth, Tonga is beset by difficulties facing many small island nations. A large youth population and a shortage of teachers predict limited opportunities for future generations of islanders. My wife and I have been talking about this for a couple of years. We decided that if we were going to do international work, it would be now. I feel that I am young enough and that I have a lot of energy to devote to an overseas program like this.