Adventures on Waya Island

Our adventure began at 6 am when we left the PTC Base and headed to the Post Office where we would meet up with the Awsome Adventures Tour Bus. The bus would take us to Denarau Marina where we would be catching a cruise boat to the outer islands.(Yasawa Islands) We made sure all our luggage got from the bus to the boat and some of the girls went and got the last of real food as they know it for 12 days! The cruise boat ride was about 2 hours and very nice from the sundeck. I took many pictures of the individual resort islands we made stops at for the tourists. WOW pristine waters and beautiful white sand beaches great vacation stops for sure. When we made it to Waya Island we all loaded onto a small fishing boat with all our luggage in the bow! The water was right at the edge of the boat and we had a 15 minute ride into the village. (exciting to say the least) There were 2 young Fijian boys (dads boat) riding with us and I think all the white faces scared the youngest because he began to cry (Sciri gave him her Coke and all was well) We arrived at the shore and unloaded into the water it was fantastic! Louisa and Lissi where there to greet us with fresh coconuts to drink and enjoy the fresh meat, so very good. The men of the village unloaded all our baggage and set us up in the Pastors house. (from the Methodist Church, they moved out into a Bure (traditional Fijian house) and let us take over ther home. Pastors wife had a 2 week old baby, incredible hospitality!) We all rested and got settled in for the rest of the day. We slept community style in the living area putting our beds away each day. (Dazza & Jan, Mark & Stephanie+Joshua, Keisha,Grace & Christie all had rooms the rest of us were together, great experience) Sunday morning we all went to church at the Methodist Church. It was "Bula Vou" the begining of a new month when each of the cell groups (similar to our home groups) gets up and sings in front of the congregation and then an offering is taken after each one. (there where 6 different groups) There are many traditions kept in this church, standing to sing(acapela mind you, no instruments)many announcements, the main sermon, communion (come forward to be given)and more that just did not translate for me. The service is from 10 am till 1 pm and in Fijian. I loved the singing but was lost during the rest and just read my bible. Some of us had trouble staying awake the whole time but all was well.When we returned from church for lunch we were told that we would be in charge of the Womens Ministry meeting from 3pm -4pm that afternoon. Semper Gumbie has been a great motto on this trip!(always flexible is translation for those of you that didn't get it)We had an excellent time with the women. Our theme was Proverbs 31:25 "she is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs with no fear of the future." I shared times in my life when God clothed me with dignity as a single mom and my journey with Tyson when I trusted in God and did not fear the outcome. Our diet has been a bit over starched! (casava, taro, potatoes, white dough fried,boiled,baked and any other way you can think of) and our guts are screaming! Curry and Dahl(which I actually like) are also staples. Monday we began house visits 2x2. We met many new people and began some great relationships.Tuesday we would be hiking to Natawa, a village on the other side of the mountain from Yalombi where we are staying. (15 minutes Fijian time 1 1/2 hours American time!) We would also be teaching here and so we spent Monday afternoon preparing for that. We were up early and left at about 6:30 am and made it to Natawa at 8 am. What a hike straight up the mountain then along the ridge and back down the other side! When we arrived we had tea and biscuits(cookies to my american friends)on our hosts veranda. At 9am the conch shell was blown calling the village together. The men would be helping with the buiding of a new house for the Pastor and the women would be teaching on a closer relationship with God (Sal did Father Heart and Jan taught on our own quiet times and what they could look like).We had lunch as a community (roti and curry begining to be a staple) and then visited with some of the women. More teaching in the afternoon (I taught the 8R's of freedom and walking them out in our daily lives and Keisha followed with her testimony that completely follows all I just taught, God is so amazing at putting it all together!) We all met back on the veranda for tea before we left for a little rest. Suddenly Landoa is up and telling us "time to go it is going to rain." Now if you had hiked the cliff we hiked there you would understand that rain and the path do not mix. You go from hiking to sliding! So off we went and some went ahead at a little bit faster of a pace (not my option of course, I am slow and steady wins the race! LOL)Well, the rain started and it was beautiful to see when we reached the ridge and looked back at the sky but at the same time dangerous for us hiking in. Jan and I are somewhat in the rear middle (if that makes any sense) and we are praying for John behind us who has some back and knee problems not even thinking of the young ones ahead. As we were desending we all came to a stop when Sal got her foot stuck in a root and then her body slid down the path! (the sound effects were definately not good ones.) Things went both fast and slow from there (I know it sounds odd but thats just how it went!) Dazza splinted Sals leg, Keisha fainted, the rain got heavier, Kim and Grace went ahead for help from the village, the Rugby players came to carry Sal off the mountain, we all followed going ever so carefully and John had a couple Tarzan moments off the side of the trail but we got him back on track and everyone off the mountain as the rain subsided. (doesn't it always work that way?) All the same it was an incredibly adventureous day! When we all got back to the house Sal had the nurse checking her, dinner was being prepared so Ladua, Bill, Dazza, Jan and I all went for an evening swim in the ocean! So relaxing after that day. Jan and I got out and headed to the shower room to help each other wash our hair and have our bucket shower. Joe was an angel that night and gave Jan and I both foot massages. I slept so well that night. Unfortunately Sal was being sent back to Lautoka for x-rays and to see what could be done. Wednesday Sal, Dennison and Sciri left for the mainland. We heard that evening that Sal had a vertical break in the tibia and would be flying back to Australia for surgery, pins and casting.


After they left that morning we continued with visitations and Kids Club in the afternoons. There is so much that happen in our visitations I can't wait to share with you but to much to put down here. Suffice it to say we serve an AWSOME GOD! The plan is to catch a boat this evening for Namara Island and go to the village of Yamata for a crusade. We will be preaching, teaching and praying.Jan is not doing so well and is in bed with fever and diareah.(we are keeping our eye on her and much prayer for her healing) We were all on the beach ready to go and waiting for our boat (and waiting and waiting) a few phone calls later and Ledua informed us that it was cancelled! There are many strange things happening here on the island. Jan is going to have to go back to Lautoka in the morning. She is very dehydrated and still has diaoreah. The enemy has not wanted us to minister in the places we have been going, many other forms of attack have hit our team and the pastors compound is very opressing. There is more here than meets the eye! Later that night we received a call and the schools teachers were all going to Lautoka on Friday for testing and the one teacher that was staying back was not feeling well and was asking if we would be interested in teaching about God to the 1st through 7th grade classes? What an opportunity! Of course we said yes and off we went with skits, the 10 commandments and the wordless book as our tools. What a great day, we spent the morning teaching and singing praises, went home for lunch and returned for an hour in the afternoon. That night fishermen from Nalwaki( a village we will be visiting next week)brought us some octopus and other fresh fish for our dinner. I was surprised how much I enjoyed the octopus(i only ate the inside meat, I could not get the tenticle part to go down hehe!)Saturday we got to have a day off and did some return visits to villagers homes.

Week 2 in the Islands

Sunday another long Methodist service at the church in Yalombi. Ledua did translate the passage the Pastor was speaking on Zechariah 8:16, so I followed along somewhat and read the scriptures.(I tried to apply this to what I knew was going on in the village)Monday we did more visitation through the village and we have been so warmly welcomed everywhere. The people are so kind and generous.We have also continued with kids club. Dan and Jarryl (our new names for them for some reason we have all picked up on this and find it very funny) will be coming back to Yalombi today. While in Lautoka she got intravenous fluids and antibiotics and is doing much better . We are looking forward to their return and have missed them. You really do become a close family over time and circumstances. Tuesday a group of us headed out early in the morning by boat to Naluwaki for a youth camp. We are going to do the Sin Chair skit and give our testimonies.When we arrived it was my turn to be sick...The team prayed for me and I felt better so Keisha and I went out in the village for some visitation until noon. I almost made it but my intestines where not happy with the situation so we headed back to the pastors house where we would be staying the night. Soon others were returning and they decided to walk over the hill (7 minute Fijian time and 30 minute our time LOL) to the Octopus Resort after we had lunch.


What a spread they put out for us! There was raw clams in lemon juice, fried fish, baked fish,fish head soup and cassava.Some very good lemon juice also. I split my small piece of fish with Christie and tried some of the clams and juice. Not long after ingesting my food it was all ready to come back out. Christie and I stayed back from the hike to Octopus, not feeling well. We both slept hard until the others returned. Then we were off to the church for a special service. The service went from 7pm till 10:30 pm, we went back to Pastors house to rest and Christie and I were out for the night. Ledua came and got everyone else for the dinner prepared by the villagers and they had some skits and lots of laughter. Bill had said we would sleep in and be ready to go around 8am. In the morning around 7 Ledua is calling us all saying the boat is ready lets go! We went out quickly and had some tea with the Pastor and thanked him for his hospitality then back in the boat. The boat trip went all the way around the island so we got to see Natawa from the sea and then arrived in Yalombi in time for lunch. Christie and I were feeling a little better now. This was going to be the last Kids Club and they would be making the bracelets that share the gospel through their color. Gold for the kingdom, dark/black for sin, red for the blood of Christ, clean/white for believing and having faith and then green for our growing in the knowledge of the Lord. I prepared everything and then rested more. We were all getting packed up as well so we could take off the next afternoon. Thursday afternoon and the Chief and villagers all came out to say good bye to us and gave us shell necklaces. We were all invited back and had some very nice relationships started. All the luggage was put in the bow of the boat again and we began loading. Out we went to meet the big ship at 3:00 we got to the meeting point and waited. At 4:15 the ship finally showed up, we had been kidding around singing the theme song from Gilligan's Island (especially a 3 hour tour!) and seeing which character each of us was. Lots of fun waiting on the open sea in a small fishing boat!!! LOL Getting on the ship was so nice. We all felt some sort of relief. We would be going back to Lautoka for the next 10 days to continue visitations and Kids Club.

Back to Lautoka

We are all staying at the Cathey Hotel near to town and PTC. We had the first 2 days off and just rested from the island adventure. Sunday we went to Pastor Ravioli's Church (that's how I remember but it is not right) where we have been doing visitations. That evening we were to do the service at Ladua and Vika's church at Prayer Mountain. What a sweet time with the Lord and so refreshing and renewing.We planned to have worship and prayer every morning from 8 to 9 before stating our days.Monday and Tuesday we all went on visitation(those that were not sick that is)Wednesday I stayed back with Christie so we could prepare for the craft for Kids Club and get some rest as well.After Kids Club Jan, Darryl, Christie and I walked up to Ledua and Vika's for fellowship and dinner. I was impressed with the great food Vika had prepared for us since they too are missionaries and dependent on support for there needs. It is amazing to see Gods faithfulness all around us. We were quite full after eating and had some great conversation and entertainment by Jeremiah(their 1 year old little boy what a joy!) We had an ice cream social next at Marou House( PTC's pre-school and one of the locations for our kids club) The staff had a wonderful good bye send off for us with many yummy treats! Thursday our last day and I was in a battle to finish strong. I thought I would only do one activity until I went to worship and the Lord spoke so clearly to me to finish strong! So we all went to visitation for a final good bye and then our last Kids Club. Exhausted, but I knew I had done all that God had asked of me and it felt good. Friday morning we all were packed and in the lobby at 9:30 to go to the TokaToka Resort across the street from the airport for our final 2 days and rest and recuperate.(signs are we might have Typhoid running through the group) More to come once we hit Kona. I praise God for His continued FAITHFULNESS in my life and our entire team.

MORE SUGAR FEST WEEK

After the fun of the carnival my body said it had had enough. With the change of diet and especially lack of my Juice Plus (my next shipment did not make it to me before we left for Fiji ouch!) I had the flu! I have not been sick in over 10 years so this was a difficult thing for me. I slept most of Wednesday and then off and on on Thursday. Friday I couldn't stand being in bed any longer and got up and had a frigid shower which woke me right up, had some toast and was able to go to the college and be in the Cross skit and give my testimony to about 15 mixed Fiji/Christians and Indian/Hindus. What a joy it was! I was able to pray with 3 Hindu girls and plant seeds of Jesus love for them. Back to the base for some rest and dinner. That night we were given 3 days off! wow. Most went out on their own that night, Jan, Kim and I made cookies and popcorn and set up the big screen and projector with Marks help and had our own movie night. Saturday night Christie was invited to an Indian Hindu Wedding and asked Kim,Tres and I along. She met them on house visits down by Nadi. So after we finally found the place in the dark I really enjoyed it. We went in and met the groom and gave a small gift, met the sisters and mom and aunt quite a family thing. This was the 3rd day of the wedding and I am not to sure of the customs but grabbed a quick video for you all to experience.

SUGAR FESTIVAL WEEK

SUGAR FESTIVAL WEEK

This week started off with a day off at the beach. We joined with PTC staff and their DTS and went to a great beach for some relaxing, volleyball, cards and nice walks on the beach.We all slept well that night. I think the highlight or one of them anyway was our bus ride and the guys from the DTS singing I am putting a video clip in to share with you.


Tuesday was time to once again get back to ministry. Jan and Dazza have been doing a great job of leading our team and keeping it all together. While we were in Ba last week another part of the team had been involved in a Crusade and doing home visits down near Nadi. We would continue doing that as well as Kids Club and the teaching at the College. The new addition was a class today by Mark on "friend raising" the class was good and let us know that it is biblical to ask for support as a missionary! We are not beggars but obedient followers of Christ. In the afternoon I went once again with Vicca to pray with a woman she had just met. Vicca has been wanting to start a prayer group of women to pray for their children and families. (reminded me of Moms in touch) WOW! is all I can say we were praying in the Spirit full on for over 2 hours. What a blessing for me. Again I am wondering if missions is for them or us? ( I am going to say for all of us, we just think we are coming to serve and end up doing and receiving..isn't God amazing?)
So home again for dinner and then on to the Sugar Festival Carnival. I went out with Dazza and Uncle John. When we arrived it was a surprise to see our Ba friends running a booth. We mentioned how we missed the tea and Pastor Benny said he would bring some the next day. We said "sota tale" see you later for good-bye won't do, and made our way through the carnival. I forgot my camera that night so went back to take these and a shot video. (you thought it was dangerous in the states?)

BA TOWN, FIJI

So this week 4 of our team John (who we now refer to Uncle John) Mark (who left us early for prep on another teaching) Keisha and I (Sal joined us cause she missed Keisha and I so much hehe) were sent to a town north of Lautoka at a little higher elevation. (they said it never got cold in Fiji, I beg to differ)We would be helping to put up a structure for church services in a squatter neighborhood. When we arrived the house we were going to stay in had been previously occupied by squatters and was in need of some TLC. We were blessed to have along with us some of the staff from PTC and they helped set up house for our short stay.The staff left behind Maryann to help us prepare meals. It felt so much like a camping trip in the high country only with an outdoor toilet and shower! Joining us from Christian Fellowship Revival was Pastor Benny, Bill, Tyto and Pa (a sweet 16 year old girl to help with meals)
Our first night we had some prayer time together and then made a prayer walk through the house, around the house, up on the hill where the building site was and above that the top of the mountain that overlooked the village. We claimed every footstep for the Kingdom of God! That night is when I found out that it does get cold in Fiji! I bet it dropped into the 50's and the next day Keisha and I headed into town and hit the thrift store for a sweatshirt and then found some socks (what sweet sleep it was after that, most of the time anyway)
John and Mark were on construction and Keisha and I were on prayer and hospitality. We climbed the mountain behind the site and had our own little prayer meeting the first 2 days, then we ventured out into the neighborhood and invited people to fellowship with us on Friday nite and also our first service on Sunday morning . The people are so very friendly on this island. Above are pictures of our mealtimes, the worksite and the first communion in their new structure (we had cookies and soda from the little store across the street)
Our mealtimes stand out the most for me. The fellowship was so sweet and I will forever remember the phrase from Pastor Benny, "have one more cup of tea". This was the best lemon leaf tea ever.(picked straight from the tree out back!) So many children came to visit us. (our white skin sort of stands out) You new they where home from school when you heard Auntie, Auntie! They have no boundaries and would run right into our sleeping room so we kept the doors closed after 3pm! The guys moved right along with building even through some cultural and language differences. The biggest challenge was for the right tool or equipment. They had to build an " A" ladder to put the metal roof on. They went to 4 different supply stores for bolts and such and ended up purchasing a new drill for the Lautoka Base. (the one we brought had seen it's better days) In the end, our fellowship night and Sunday service both went very well. The body of Christ in this little village will grow and flourish as well as drawing many from the town of Ba into the presence of God that exists in that quiet and unshakable little mountain top.