February

Our most unusual experience in February was a trip to a Narocivo Village on the Rewa River to be guests for a Fijian Cultural experience. "What does that have to do with Self Reliance?" you may be wondering. 

The stake  president, President Qoroya, has been working with several of the villages along the river to promote the Self Reliance classes. When he counseled with the leaders of Narocivo, he learned that they had a group of skilled dancers that had toured New Zealand and Australia, presenting at tourist locations. Unfortunately, the way they managed the income from performances, and the travel expenses involved, the group came home with no financial gain. President Qoroya pointed out to the village council that they had a valuable asset, got them started on the Self Reliance books "Financial Management" and "Starting and Growing My Business" and encouraged them to explore business opportunities. The village has organized to become a tourist destination, and our group (Senior Missionary couples and Nausori stake leaders), was the first (test) audience

There was a lookout on the river
to give early warning to the village
that our boat was approaching

After arriving by boat, we were carefully escorted
to dry ground, our feet never touched the 
water!

.

Elder Himle, Elder Hinkson
Elder & Sister Walker

I came prepared with my own
Sulu (women don't wear pants 
in the village) but the other 
sisters with us were presented
with a piece of Tapa cloth at the boat landing.

The villagers had prepared the trail from the river carefully, and there was never a pool or muddy spot that didn't have a safe passage around it. 

Sentry Duty

Sentry announcing our 
safe arrival

Since this presentation was a trial run (one of our jobs was to give constructive feedback about the experience) we had the unique opportunity of being able to relax about pictures. Almost every villager had their camera trained on our group through the day, and one of our escorts assured us that they would be happy to share pictures.

The welcoming song

                  

The straw was cut from 
a river reed. 

                          

We were made very comfortable

Lovo for lunch
The traditional Fijian pit barbeque

While lunch was being prepared, our guide took 
us to the bridge  (about 1 km) that allows passage from the 
village to the main river landing, where the 
school is located. A bridge, and someone
to take the picture is always a good opportunity 
for a kiss!

After lunch, the music and dancing began. No, I
am not leading the conga line. The guy behind me is
"directing" this affair!

There was lots of ceremonial recognition and mutual
appreciation expressed

Back to the boat for the homeward trip. This time high tide
made entering the boats much easier.

Ni Sa Bula

January 2023

January

December

     December in Fiji Means Christmas on the Beach!

Three raised beds with bamboo

sides, two in the front

and one to the side in the back                             

All farmers need Gum Boots

                                   

    

             

Steve constructed tomato
cages with bamboo poles

 

December started with the completion of our garden bed, and getting it planted. We spent so much time with the seed project for the Korovou District, that both Steve and I were longing to create our own garden. I spent a few hours viewing YouTube videos made by jungle gardeners and farmers, because when I ask questions, I get a lot of blank looks. I have come to realize that means “everything grows; the climate is year-round; we never ‘make’ a garden—we live in a garden”. That’s a bit of an exaggeration, but I soon connected with the fellow “city” gardeners who work in the office, and I realized that I had been asking a lot of “stupid” questions! Fortunately, that’s never bothered me! I was able to successfully start 12 sweet basil plants, and about 40 tomato plants from seed (I planted 6 in the garden bed and gave away the rest tied with a red ribbon). Germinating parsley was an epic fail, but I found some starter plants in a great nursery, called the Flame Tree Nursery, in Nadi. Most nurseries focus on landscape plants, and finding vegetable and herb starts is rare. The herbs are all doing very well, and I love being able to harvest from my pots and use them for cooking.

We have a self-reliance program here in Fiji that was designed and produced by the Pacific area office called Eat Healthy, Be Active. It is a 12-week course, with lots of good information and activities, but it is very complicated and somewhat intimidating for an average facilitator with no medical background. The area office staff participated in the full course in 2019, and as far as I’ve been able to determine, nothing has been done with it since. We have stacks of boxes full of manuals sitting in a storage area, taking up space. After talking to a few of our fellow office inhabitants, I offered to facilitate an employee group, on my terms. So, on December 1st we had our first office group. About 25 attended and were able to record their numbers. I had a scale, a blood pressure cuff, a blood glucose monitor, and a tape measure. We identified our December goal as:  “NO weight gain over the holidays” 

In the January class
I used a presentation 
board to get some practice
 without electronics

These are the rules we established for the month:

1-Do not drink sugar. Water only. (If you NEED a sugar drink, 

have it with a meal.)  

2-Three meals a day. Nothing but water in between meals. Get 12-14 hours of no food between dinner and breakfast. 

3-Move more. Try to get at least 10 minutes of exercise after most meals.

 Strategy: Plan 3 feast days with no rules.

I put weekly content on an email group and a Facebook group. Each week, I invited someone to share their story, good or bad, about how they were making changes, and I repeatedly reminded friends in the break room that I am NOT the “food police”. One of my "terms" is that we meet monthly instead of weekly (that’s all I can handle in our schedule!) I’m going to report here that at our January 5^th meeting there was good news and bad news.

 

Good news: 8 people of the original 25 showed up. 4 lost weight, and no one gained. Also, 2 new people came.

Bad news: Only 8 people came back for more. I also picked up on some very bad blood glucose readings. 

 

 

I have 2 ulterior motives. One is to get a few people confident enough, and enthusiastic enough to take the program out to their individual wards, and the other is to expand the timeline out long enough so that some success can be demonstrated over time.

We will persist. I’ve committed to one meeting a month until the end of our mission, or until no one is interested any more. My challenge now is to find content that will appeal, educate, and support the goals. 

 

Staging the supplies

On the weekend of December 18^th Steve was able to have a great adventure. We found out about 4 pm on Saturday that President Qoroya (pronounced Gor- oi-ya) of the Nausori Stake was taking a leadership group to a village on the Rewa River for Sacrament meeting and self-reliance training, and he wanted Self-Reliance missionaries along for the ride. We already had commitments for Sunday, so we decided to divide and conquer, and Steve went on the river trip. He said it was like the Disneyland Jungle Cruise minus  crocodiles and natives with spears. The village has several members of the church, and they are getting ready to be a unit, so they can have Sacrament meeting without traveling every Sunday. The village is also getting ready to be  tourist stop, so self-reliance classes are very popular.  The villagers provided a nice lunch, and the Stake leadership provided ice cream. A good time was had by all!

    

              

Steve, President & Sister Qoroya, and other
Stake leaders

     

Landing at the village

Deliver supplies

Ice cream village style

When I heard they took
ice cream, I was so 
surprised!

Senior missionary dinner, farewell 
to Roper's
And welcome Lesuma's, our new 
Temple President and Matron

Part of my commitment for staying in town was to say goodbye to our dear friends, fellow missionaries, and next-door neighbors, the Roper’s. They were headed to Nadi for their flight to the States, but they wanted to attend an English-speaking ward one time before they left, and chose the ward that meets in the original LDS building in Suva. Since that was the ward we attended pre-Covid, we agreed to go with them, see old friends, and host them for lunch before they started the trip. It’s always a bittersweet moment to send someone home. We sure miss them. 

 

Elder&Sister Roper(left)
Elder&Sister Hatch(right)

The week before Christmas brought some challenging health issues for 2 of our sister missionaries.  I was spending a lot of time helping, and at one point, while I was meeting with President Marcus, I looked at him and said, 

“You really need a nurse!” 

He totally agreed, and since I was very willing, he sent the request to the area office in New Zealand.  I figured nothing was going to happen “officially” until after the holidays. The next morning, I had an email from Mission Medical in Salt Lake welcoming me as the new “Mission Health Coordinator” for the Fiji, Suva mission, and granting me access to all the computer medical sites that I need to do the job. We think that I can fill that role and still be very active in the self-reliance projects, and Steve has been wonderfully supportive, and drops everything if a missionary needs medical help. He is a joy to work with. Glad I married him!

 

We advanced the request for funding, that Steve has nurtured so diligently, to the point of sending it to the area office in NZ the first week of December. We got word on the 13 Dec that the request has been granted, we have been named project managers, and all the funds that we have used so far can be redirected from fast offerings to our project funds. We were thrilled!

 

Elders Lipua&Martinez, Elder&Sister Walker
Elder&Sister Whippy, Uraia&Margi Levaci
The Billinghurst's from NZ 
Steve and Mickey Hinkson
Lenord Whippy, Jarom and Israel
Sister Vakalata&Sister Kumar

We had a quiet Christmas. Went to the best local    Chinese restaurant for Christmas Eve dinner with several other senior missionaries. We went to Verata branch for Sacrament meeting on Sunday Morning. After the meeting, the Patton’s (who are the other senior couple assigned to Verata branch) and we handed out a couple of bags of small gifts and toys to the children in attendance—there were about 35 children. We were so touched with their response, smiles, laughter, and general delight. Then, after a couple of rounds of loot, they started identifying the children of the families who were not in attendance. They wanted to make sure that gifts were set aside to give to them as well. We were humbled. 

We took a chill day the rest of the afternoon. Our colleague and “boss” at the Fiji Country Office, Uraia Levaci, invited us and the Walker’s (our humanitarian couple) to his home for dinner, which turned out to be a sumptuous “lovo”, Fiji’s traditional pit barbeque. One set of elders and one set of sisters and a few extended family members were with us, and it was a very pleasant afternoon and evening.

 

Small circle is Suva, large circle is 
Taveuni

I’ll cover our New Year’s trip to Taveuni here, because it began on 28 December, and it was so fun. Mostly, I’ll let the pictures tell the story. It was our Holiday splurge, and we booked at a resort called Coconut Grove in November. We also booked a snorkeling trip on a boat that goes to Rainbow Reef, a world-class dive site. It was wonderful to be able to look forward to the trip for over a month. In the meantime, when Uraia found out what our plans were, he said we could book an extra night and spend some time meeting with the district and branch leaders to talk about Self-Reliance.

!Didn’t have to   twist our arms

!The perfect South Pacific View

 I didn’t really understand the effects of the stress we’ve been working under until I walked out on the veranda of the resort and took in that perfect South Pacific view. I could feel my whole body loosening up and relaxing. The ladies that ran the resort were like a group of nurturing mothers! Anything we wanted from the resort, from a kayak to a massage in the bure on the beach. We ate wonderful food, beautifully prepared, and had time to just sit and enjoy the environment. What a great way to end one year and start the next

 

 

 

Love traveling in small planes

 

The Maitei Elders

Always good to have a 
snorkling buddy

The first fall of the 
Tavoro Waterfall
hike

The viewpoint rest stop. I didn't make it much 
further, but Steve got up  to the top (third) fall

The international dateline runs through
Taveuni
We behaved appropriately

With the Maitei Elders, back in 
Missionary clothes

New Year's Day 
Sacrament meeting, Maitei Branch
The man between Steve
I was there for the first time
with his grandson

As soon as I saw it
I knew I needed to spend
some time in it 

90minutes of complete alone time

New Year's Day afternoon

Welcome 2023

November

November 2022

 

The first of November started off with a need for the nurse. The Suva temple has been having various groups coming from the different islands in our district, particularly groups of young missionaries to receive their temple blessings before they start their mission. The first few days of November we had a group here from Kiribati. There were 18 young missionaries, and they were traveling with two couples who were their chaperones and supervisors. The first time the group was in the temple, Steve was one of the ordinance workers. He spotted an elder that was limping quite badly. Since he was wearing a sulu (traditional male skirt) Steve got a good look at his leg, and immediately called me to put me on alert that an elder was going to need some attention. I met them after the session and the young man did indeed have a very infected leg. After they'd had lunch, Steve and I escorted Elder Tetoki to the Pacific Health Care Clinic to get checked out.  It was a day of miracles. I chose to use that clinic because I was hoping he could be treated there in a more timely manner than taking him to the hospital urgent care. We certainly did get very timely attention, and the doctor who was on duty was one that I’ve worked with before, and a member of the church. It saves so much time explaining things! The doctor completely agreed with my diagnosis (which was serious lower extremity cellulitis) and outlined a treatment plan that I was very happy with. Unfortunately, it included IV antibiotics once a day for 5 days. The Kiribati group was scheduled to leave the next afternoon. Fortunately, one of the couples here as chaperones were the Kiribati WSR manager (who we met the first week we were here) and his wife, who is a trained nurse. She hadn’t practiced for several years but felt confident enough of her skills to be willing supervise medical care back in Kiribati. So, we sent a young man home with crutches (which he hated), an IV cannula in his arm, and a bag full of medications and supplies.  I checked back with them 2 weeks later, and it was reported that he was doing fine, and serving on an outer island!

 

From Steve’s Journal:

"Farmer" Man

5 November we met in Korovou.  Three of the five branches were present.  There were several members from the branches along with their leaders.  "Farmer" Hinkson made an entry and after a presentation of what was supposed to happen, the Seeds for these three branches were given out.  Members signed up to participate in the project and they received seeds.  From the meeting it was determined that no weed killer would be provided. Instead of Urea fertilizer, we would use NPK and we would obtain Chicken Manure for soil supplement.

 

The other view of the trail head with Elder Roper

The trail head for Saioko Branch

13 November We drove to Saioko to meet with the Branch there.  The Ropers traveled with us.  It was over a two-hour drive with the last 40 K on gravel road.  We then had to hike up the hill to get

Top of the trail at Saioko 

to the Chapel bungalow. 

After Sacrament meeting, I did a presentation about the Family farming project to the Branch.  All the material and seeds were left with the Branch President.

 

Sister Bivou was able to make arr-

Saioko Chapel with
Elder and Sister Roper

angements to get chicken manure from one of the Crest chicken plants for $2.00 a bag.  On 15 November we went to the plant to pick up our order.  We requested 150 bags.  The village transport from Sister Bivou’s village was hired to haul the manure.  The first load was about 100

Just the beginning of our adventures with 
chicken manure!

bags.  While waiting for the transport to return, we loaded 50 bags on our truck.  They kept adding more bags.  We ended up with about 250 bags total.  We only paid for the original order of 150. We think they wanted to clear out the manure worse than they wanted the money.

 

On 17 November we loaded our pickup with 100 bags of manure and delivered

Sister Baivou and Sister Hinkson
 waiting for manure to be loaded.
We couldn't have accomplished
this project without her
invaluable help.

it and their NPK to Nausatoka.  On the 18^th I took 40 bags of manure and their NPK to Saioko.  I did three separate drop offs around Saioko.

 

On 29 November Sister Hinkson and I took 25 bags of manure, seeds, NPK (think Miracle Grow) and paperwork to Levuka.  We met the Branch president there and explained the program to him for his branch members who wanted to participate.  Levuka is on another island, Ovalau.  It is a ferry ride of about 1 ½ hours after a drive of 1 1/2 hrs.  This completed the distribution of seeds, manure, and NPK to the 5 branch units in the Korovou district.  The cost so far for this project is just over $5,100 FJD.

 

A proposal for the whole scope of the project ($25,000 FJD) was sent to the Pacific Area Presidency on 15 November.  At their request, I had to remove some of the items in the proposal and ended up with seeking $16,000 FJD.  We are waiting for a decision on approval of this funding.

 

 

From Mickey:

Light Refreshment with
President Ashton

Another fun November event (16^th) was the devotional we had with President Ashton, president of BYU Pathways.  We got to ask lots of questions, listen to future plans, and yes, have a “light refreshment!” It’s always good from our perspective for the leadership of these various programs to come to the SP islands and see what reality is for our students and members.  We have so many of our Pathway students trying to manage with connecting via cell phone, and turning in all their work with spotty internet connections. 

A special experience from Steve (I stayed in Nadi while he took this trip):

 

In October we met with the Lautoka Stake Self-Reliance specialist and her husband who is the High Counselor over self-reliance, Elder and Sister Rakatia.  It was a great meeting about what the Lautoka Stake has done with Self-reliance.  During this meeting we talked about a large dependent group of members in Nasivikoso, a village in the highlands of Fiji.  There are about 100 active members there.  The village leadership has expressed a desire to do a self-reliance course on “Starting and Growing Your own Business”.  We planned a visit to go there on Sunday 20 November.  It is about a 2 ½ hour drive on narrow gravel roadways.  I have wanted to go into the interior highlands.

 

On November 20^th, Brother Rakatia and I drove to Nasivikoso.  Once we hit the gravel roadway, I put the truck in 4-wheel drive.  The hills are steep and roadways very narrow in places.  It was a rock and roll drive to the village.

 

The road to Nasivikoso

While driving to the village, Brother Rakatia shared the oral history of those who first came to Fiji.  They came from Ethiopia.  They were among with the Israelites who were sent to Ethiopia with the Queen of Sheba.  Because of being Israelites, they were hunted and killed.  To protect them, the Lord stated he would lead them to a garden of Eden type land.  They sailed across the ocean in their canoes.  They had with them the Arc of the Covenant.  Before landing in Fiji, to protect them from being followed and hunted by those who wished to destroy them, they sank the canoe with the Arc of the Covenant.  Upon landing in Fiji, they traveled to the mountains looking for their new home.  They found peace in the Highlands.  They established their settlements there.  They thrived on the land.  They had their holy sites.  In their village was a sacred Bure which only the High priest was able to enter.  He was dressed in special robes.  They had a sacred stone which glowed.  Over time, the stone stopped glowing.  It was kept wrapped and in the Holy Bure.

The Holy Bure

 

After time had passed, there was an aged holy man.  He cared for the Sacred Bure.  After the Fiji temple was dedicated, and before the temple president left, he wanted to visit the village in the highlands.  When he arrived in the village, he met with the aged Holy man.  The Holy man advised the visiting temple president that the ancient stone had again glowed and that he had seen the coming of the temple president and had been waiting his arrival.   The aged holy man died shortly after the visit from the Temple President.

 

Brother Rakitia advised that the original Fijians were of African descent and shared the features of that people.  I found this to be a fascinating history.

 

Nasivikoso is a beautiful village.  Some of the houses are cinder block but most are corrugated metal sheets over wood framing.  The chapel held about 60 chairs.  The leader is a returned missionary, not yet married.  The village has running water (piped from the river) and electricity (power lines).  We were invited to the leader’s home for a breakfast of boiled dumplings with peanut butter and jam.

 

The bread for the Sacrament meeting was left-over dumplings.  Sacrament meeting was in Fijian.  Brother Rakatia and I spoke.  He and I also blessed the Sacrament.  Some of the adult male members had gone to Singatoka to meet with the Stake President for Temple recommends.

 

Before sacrament meeting there were several primary age children and youth who were singing various hymns.  It was great.  After Sacrament meeting the children separated to attend primary.  I taught the adults about Self Reliance and the various available classes.  The group discussed their desire for a class on “Starting your Own Business”.  We met for over 1 1/2hours.  They are going to prepare for a group.  Brother Rakatia will bring up the materials for the self-reliance group.

 

After the meeting we were invited to have lunch.  We had wild boar, casava, and other traditional Fijian food.  We sat on the floor on the woven mats.  I loved visiting this village and the members.  I hope to make another visit when they complete the self-reliance course.

Lunch with the Members of Nasivikoso

 

Mickey again:

 November 29 we took a trip to Levuka on the island of Ovalau. This town is the original capitol of Fiji, and is very cute. We made our delivery by ferry, and made the entire trip in one day. Next time, we'll make it an over-night adventure!

The ferry to Levuka

Help with unloading from
the branch president
at the chapel

The very cute town of Levuka, Fiji

I’m going to end, because that experience was the crowning event of November. We also had a visit from Elder Anderson, one of our Apostles, but I forwarded the LDS Newsroom article on that, so I won’t include it here, except to say that I never get to shake Apostle’s hands unless I am serving a mission!

The Fiji Suva Mission with Elder&Sister
Anderson