Bula! Fiji!

In early June, a group of 13 of us headed to Fiji for 2 weeks.  For me, Fiji was a time of learning, building relationships, experiencing new things, and loving.   During the two weeks, we slept and ate at an all-boys bible school while we primarily worked nearby building a piggery in the middle of a sugar cane field to house pigs that serve as a source of income for locals.  We also did children’s ministry and worked on Ray and Laura’s (the missionaries we worked with) newly purchased farm that will serve as a demonstration farm for locals to learn from.  In our spare time we spent time with our cooks and the bible school students building relationships.  Some highlights of the trip to Fiji include:

                -Learning many hands on skills, like using a machete to cut down sugar cane for the piggery, or hand mixing and pouring concrete.

                -Spending time having fun with Fijian kids.  I love to love, and loving kids lights me up J

                -The Fijians teaching us by example the value of relationships.  For them, a successful day does not include a lot of productive and efficient work done; it includes the building of relationships. 

                -A cultural Fijian village experience; including handmade flower leis, dancing, pottery and cava (a ‘relaxing drink’ made of crushed root).

                -The island day-tanning on a catamaran, snorkelling, swimming to a sand bar, and jet skiing in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.  Simply stunning. (Yes, they did let us relax every once in a while ;) )

                -And of course, learning and bonding with fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, making lifetime memories.  

I am so thankful for everything God taught me in Fiji through the place, the people and His word.  Thank you heaps to all of you who supported me with encouragement, financially and in prayer.  You were a part of this trip too, and blessed me and the people of Fiji. :)