Driving in Fiji....

One of the challenges we encountered when we first arrived in Fiji was adjusting to driving on the left. Everything was opposite of the US in terms of traffic movement, as well as the car itself. The steering wheel, of course, is on the right...and the controls for signals, wipers, etc., were on the opposite side of the steering wheel. We had a lot of laughs as the windshield wipers came on almost every time dad signalled to turn!

Within 6 months of arriving in the country, one is required to apply for a Fijian driver's license. This means a visit to the LTA (land transport authority), or what we would call the DMV.

This is it.


No waiting!

After a very brief driving test, which dad passed with flying colors, he was given his new driver's license.

We are happy to report that the windshield wipers only come on when it rains now!

Good job, Dennis!

Happy Birthday, Choopie!!!!!!!

Happy Birthday, Choopie!

We know this isn't a birthday song, but thought you would like this one better!

We love you very much! We hope you have a fun birthday!

Wish we could be there!!

Field Trip (part 2)....

As we mentioned in the previous post, we were accompanied on our outing by Koroi, a Fijian who was very familiar with the location of the various villages we were to visit. He said they were all on the main road. (translation=they were all within an hour's drive from the main road - on extremely primitive roads.

For Emily - you asked for pictures of wildlife in Fiji...well other than the bats and the mongoose, this is about it!

On one road along the Rewa River, we saw this skinny raft made of poles. There were a couple of people who we thought were swimming next to the raft. We found out that these women spend their day diving for mussels, which they then sell along the roadside.

Local village children getting water from the water tank.

More kids watching us from their house. Some were enthralled by the 'pelogi' (pronounced pelong-ee which means 'white person'), others were terrified! They had never seen a white person before.

This woman is preparing the coconut palms for weaving. Drying the green ones, then boiling them...the brown ones have been boiled. She is tying them together to dry.

In the villages the people name their houses. We are sure they don't have as much trouble pronouncing them as we do!

The residents of the above house.

Very humble homes.

Another one. As one walks through the village, the people in the homes are typically sitting on a mat on the floor. There is no furniture, electricity, or running water. Cooking is done outside on a fire. Some of the villages are now piping water from the tanks to the individual homes, so they can have water accessible without having to carry it. Life there is basically survival. Every time we passed a home, the people would look out and shout 'Bula!' The villages are very closed communities...usually about 200 people. Each has a chief (the spiritual leader) and the head man (the 'mayor' - and that is what they really call them). No one really 'moves in' to a village, as they are ancestral homes. When you ask a Fijian where their home is, even if they live in Suva, they will tell you the village their family came from, even if they have never lived there.

On our way home. The wooden plank bridges kind of made me nervous. Maybe it was the creaking....:)

Coconut man.....

This week we went on a field trip! The Church has donated many clean water systems on the islands of Fiji. There are hundreds of villages which depend only on rain water for all of their water needs - drinking, sanitation, etc. These systems which are donated are able to provide the villages with a reliable supply of clean water. We were asked to check on the status of the systems in 80 villages near Suva (translation=any place one can get to and from in a day). We set out early with the welfare manager, Jackson Yee, and Koroi, who works in the service center and is familiar with the villages in the area.

We came to Naisaumua Village and were met by this man. He showed us where the water tank was and we talked about how it was working, if they have any problems, etc. He was carrying a basket made of palms, and we talked about coconut trees and their many uses. He offered to pick a coconut for us. Up he hopped onto the trunk....

When he got to the top, he tapped on each one to find the right one...

Then he started hacking away at it with his cane knife. It is amazing that they manage to keep all of their fingers.....(see the basket)

A refreshing drink!! Thanks Coconut Man!!

Sports....

In Fiji, one can choose from surfing.....

Or running.....

They run in bare feet.....

Or flip-flops....

But the big game here is:

Just think of football without the padding....

It is brutal!

Every day we pass by a couple of fields where the Fijians play rugby. At least 50% of the guys have no shoes on, another 30% wear flip flops. Don't know how they can kick the ball!! The rest have athletic shoes. The field is usually full of puddles because of the everyday occurence of downpours. When someone is tackled it looks like a tidal wave coming up from the ground. They play in the rain, after the rain...anytime.

They love this sport and they are good at it!

Pacific Games (the 'Olympics of the Pacific Islands') will be played in New Caledonia this year in August....we will be cheering for Fiji!!

Day to day....

This is the place where we have spent countless hours with various missionaries. It is a small 36 bed private hospital about 2 blocks from our flat. The hospital is clean and they have done a pretty good job of taking care of our missionaries.

This is the front entrance.

Each day is an adventure. We never know what to expect when I receive a phone call from a missionary. Their calls range from complaints of everyday aches and pains, to serious accidents or illnesses. We have had missionaries with broken kneecaps, dehydration, car accidents, as well as numerous rashes, infections, and even what one termed 'a melting eyeball'! We spent one evening recently in the ER with a missionary who suddenly passed out on a bus. The bus was packed with people, so his companion and a few others on the bus lifted him out of a side window. Actually there are no 'windows' on buses here, but large openings. This Elder weighs about 260 lbs. No ambulances, so, in their words, they 'stuffed him into a taxi', and he was brought to the hospital. We met them there, he was given a blessing, and we waited as the doctor tried to determine what happened. He had been playing rugby before the incident, but his companion was sure he wasn't injured. The hospital did not have a CT scanner, but the other hospital in town did. Unfortunately, the radiology dept was closed for the day. He had to wait until the next day for the test. He started to come around a few hours later, and was monitored through the night. The next day he was fine. He shared with us very personal and sacred experiences that occurred during the night that gave him reassurance that all would be well. The Lord watches over his missionaries. This has been evident every day....


One of the hospital rooms. Dad looks as if he was just told he was going in for surgery.


A few weeks ago we met with the Burtons. They are serving a mission in New Zealand - he is the Area doctor (who we call when we need to report a hospitalization of a missionary, or just need advice....he is definitely on speed dial). We went to various towns and islands to evaluate the health care facilities. One of our meetings was with this man - Dr. Koroivueta - who is the Minister of Health in Fiji.


We have expanded our work here to include humanitarian projects. There are several in the works. One of them we have begun after meeting with him. There are thousands of villages in Fiji. Many are very remote, and so access to health care is limited or nonexistent. He has a plan for the villages to each have a 'community health worker', who would be trained to perform simple screenings, such as blood pressure, blood sugar, etc., as well as receive training in first aid. Each village would have a medical 'office', that is equipped with those things that would be needed to care for the people who live there. This would bring the health care to the people. We took this idea to the welfare director here in Fiji, and proposed that the Church donate the equipment and supplies needed. He is very excited about it, and we will be starting that project soon. Also in the works is a Neonatal Resuscitation Training Project, and one which will provide prosthetic limbs to those who have lost their legs.



A health care center in a more remote area of the island.

Children at another hospital who were happy to oblige with a photo.

As we were getting ready to board the plane for Suva, we met this couple who had just gotten married.

Today's catch. We couldn't fit this one in our carry-on...

We are so grateful for the opportunity to serve a mission, and particularly here in Fiji at this time. Every day we find ourselves saying 'we LOVE Fiji!' We look forward to each day, each opportunity to serve our Savior. We are thankful for each of you and the blessing you are in our lives.

Happy Birthday to YOU.....

Austin!! It is your BIRTHDAY!! Have a HAPPY, HAPPY Day!!

We love you and miss you SOOOO much! (Especially those great 'running Bubby hugs'!)

What we saw....

On Saturday mornings, we frequently go down to the ocean to take our walk. It is just a few minutes away, and there is a sidewalk that goes for miles along the shore. Along the way, there is a huge tree that is home to hundreds of fruit bats. They are huge!

Many of them are still sleeping...

We also pass some government buildings. The palace where the president lives is guarded by guys like this one.

We love Fiji! This is a sight we see on a daily basis. We hope they don't hit a pothole!

But this one is our favorite:

Note the rag around his head...it was raining. A refreshing ride!

Mere and John....

Our ward building in Lami. It is about 4 miles from our home in Suva. There are two wards that meet here...the Lami 1st and Lami 2nd Wards. We attend the the Lami 1st, where the meetings are completely in Fijian. Most wards are English speaking. Slowly, but surely, we are picking up some of the language....

A couple of weeks ago, John and Mere were baptized. Mere is 18 years old and the niece of the man on left, who is the bishop of the ward. John is married with 3 children. Both gave stirring testimonies of the Gospel after their baptisms. Also here is Elder Ford (in his white baptismal sulu) and Elder Poleka.

Elder Poleka (the same one who had to be carried out of the bus window) playing the ukelele before the baptism. His companion, Elder Ford, played it during the baptismal service and sang a beautiful solo in Fijian and English. It was amazing!

Always cute kids around!

Two essentials.....

On hiking trips, we know it is important to always have the "ten essentials"....in Fiji, I definitely need the "two essentials". First - the fan. Made by the natives from coconut trees, it is absolutely necessary to keep cool - especially during church meetings. Most buildings do not have air conditioning, but just open the windows. Since there are no screens, the fan is helpful in keeping bugs away as well.

Of course, the water. Because most of the water is undrinkable here, it is a must to carry your own. The heat at this latitude takes its toll quickly, especially combined with the stifling humidity.

We love Fiji!! The water and the country!!

Fowlness...

We have the 'opportunity' to live next door to several animals. Dogs, cats and lots of chickens. Since our bedroom window is close to the fence that divides the property from our furry and feathered friends. Nighttime cat fights, dogs barking, etc. are common, but it is the rooster that rules the early (and we mean EARLY) morning hours. Every day, beginning at about 3:30 am, it begins. Every 15 seconds or so, he makes this sound, and it continues until about 6:30am.

The reason there is no picture is because it is still dark!

A few days ago, one of the chickens somehow got over the fence. It paced back and forth for several hours before finally figuring out how to get back. All the while, wailing like a baby.

New Caledonia....

A couple of weeks ago, we had the opportunity to go to New Caledonia. Didn't really know much about this island except for what we learned of it in high school history class, as a significant place for US and Allied troops in WW2. It is distinctly French, with most signs, etc., in that language. The capital city of Noumea is somewhat European in appearance - many sidewalk cafes, small bakeries with wonderful pastries and breads. It is quite modern, but in the outlying areas and in the north of the island, there are many of Kanake - the aboriginal tribes. Very primitive villages. Our hotel apartment was on this beach.

Every evening we enjoyed the gorgeous sunsets.

And some of the interesting sea life. This is a stonefish. True to its name.

Lovely blue starfish.

And Dude Crush!

Cool fish.

We spent a lot of time in meetings. We met with medical personnel in the area to determine the level of health care our missionaries receive there. Also Zone Conference. On Sunday, we went here for church meetings. The Magenta Ward. The buildings are similar in design to those in Fiji, with open windows, no AC...but ceiling fans. The people are very friendly, and we felt very welcome. We also attended a baptism here the day before of a young man. He wanted his baptismal service in English, which was nice for us. His stirring testimony at the end of the meeting was awesome. So wonderful to see how the gospel can truly change lives!

On Monday, we were scheduled to fly from Noumea back to Fiji. However, unbeknownst to us, that flight had been canceled. We were put on another one, overshooting Fiji and on to Wallis. A tiny island with just a few thousand people. And a landing strip. We spent about an hour there (enough time to get our passport stamped here and go through security)...and then back to Fiji.

It felt like coming home. The wonderful Fijian singers at the Nadi airport...just makes one smile!