Fiji Adventures

This design is made of coloured rice. I spotted it at
our local market. It is laid out directly on the floor.

The main day of the Diwali celebration this year was on November 13th (a Monday). The week before, our neighbour and landlord, Shammie, saw me out in the yard and told me not to cook on Diwali. She said she and her husband would bring dinner for us, and also our neighbours, Elder and Sister Thevenin. From past experience we knew that there would be PLENTY of food, so we combined the meal at our flat and invited the Boehm's to join us. We had potato lentil curry, pumpkin curry, chilli sauce, and a wonderful array of savoury and sweet baked treats. I know that each one has a name, but I sure haven't learned them all! The fireworks started at 6:30 pm and lasted far into the night. Fortunately, our flat is at the back of the property, so there wasn't anything that kept us awake.

Avinish and Shammie Prasad.
Our next door neighbours,
our landlord, and provider of
wonderful Diwali treats.

Elder & Sister Klomps (left)
Elder & Sister Thevenin(right)

Elder Gerken (front right) and many of our
office buddies at the "First Friday" potluck
lunch. Elder Gerken is the financial secretary for
the FSM, and he was invited to talk about organising
family finances. He did an excellent job, and clearly
illustrated why children should be trained in the home
to manage money. It was pertinent, funny, and very
entertaining.

The Klomps are the newest senior couple. They are on a "Human Rights" mission, and will be working closely with the schools and the government ministries. We don't see much of them around the office. The Patton's finished their mission in November (they were ITEP and worked closely with the LDS schools here in Suva). They were also our "MLS"* buddies when we were working with the Verata Branch. We sure miss them!

Elder & Sister Patton with Brother & Sister
Baivou in the back.

On the 4th of November, an eagerly awaited event took place. A new chapel built right next to the LDS College (high school) campus was ready for the "hand over". Sunday November 5th was the first day that services were held in the building. As I understand it, dedication will follow sometime after the first of the year. Steve and I decided to go to one of the wards that meet there for Sunday services. It is a very beautiful building, and will be a great addition to the facilities in this area.

Tamavua Chapel

Tamavua Chapel
Each ward in the building (3) contributed flowers

This multipurpose area is useful as a gym, but will
also accommodate about 500 chairs for big meetings.

During November we seemed to have an unusual number of young missionaries needing dental care. Of course, the dentist I have worked with in the past (before Elder Hatch!) was out of the country on holiday. I started using a clinic that had been recommended to me, Grace Dentistry. Fortunately they have a very spacious waiting room, because when transportation is involved, missionaries travel in groups.

The Grace Dentistry waiting room. 2 missionaries
were being treated that day. I believe more than
one nap happened while we waited!

A successful dental visit for Sister
Lagilagi. She had a filling fall out
that was right between her two top
front teeth. It's sure good to see them
smile!

The week of November 13th was the first cyclone of the season (Nov-April). We had travel plans starting on the 15th to go to the west and do some self-reliance (SR) training with several ward councils and new SR specialists. We were watching conditions closely, and by Tuesday evening it was pretty clear that the storm was being downgraded enough that we could safely be on the road.

We started the trip late morning on Wednesday, heading for Nadi. It was actually a wonderful drive, because there was very little rain, very little traffic, and the main road was clear of flooding and downed trees.

After we checked into our hotel in Nadi, we started making phone calls to confirm the meeting we had scheduled for Wednesday evening and discovered that most of our group were very involved in storm clean-up. They were willing to postpone SR to Friday, so we quickly arranged with the hotel to stay an additional night.

Thursday was sunny and clear! We were able to do a very successful training with the new Lautoka Stake SR rep, Sister Qaqa (pronounced gonga).

We had a meeting scheduled Thursday evening in Lautoka, which is about an hour's drive from Nadi, but we arrived to find the building empty and locked. We quickly drove to the other building in Lautoka, and met up with our area SR team who were training on wheelchair distribution. It's always good to see how the rest of the team handles presentations! (Steve found out later that the bishop was called out of town and cancelled our meeting. We were the last to know!)

We were able to meet with a couple of missionaries in Lautoka who had receipts for medical bills. They were sure glad to get their cash back when I reimbursed them. No trip is ever wasted!

This was the clean-up crew that greeted us
at the Nawaka building
Wednesday afternoon

Follow Me, Boys!

I thought this palm frond had
sprouted legs!

Elder Hinkson had candy
bars to share

Getting his proper Homage!

Since we had unplanned time on Friday, we booked a day trip to a little island right off the coast that is totally set up for tourist fun. The trip was scheduled from 9 am to 3 pm, which was perfect for us to get back to the hotel in time to shower and change for our 6 pm meeting.

I always throw my "beach bag" into the car on any trip we take. Steve decided to travel light and had not included any swim gear because our original schedule was pretty tight. So you know what that means--SHOPPING! He now owns new trunks, tee shirt, and Bula shirt (and I might have picked up a couple of extra items).

The weather was absolutely glorious, one of the nicest days we've experienced in the islands. I'll let the pictures tell the story.

Photo-op on the beach after
a wonderful swim. I was able
to walk the beach and go
around the entire island
in about 30 minutes.

This is a high-speed catamaran
that services all of the resorts
off Denerau Island. It was very
crowded on the way out. Fortunately,
our excursion island was the first
stop.

This little boat ferries passengers from the main ship to the
beach. I'm always so happy to have a couple
of strong Fijian men to help steady
me on and off the boats.

Lunch was a buffet barbecue, and we were entertained
by traditional Fijian dance and music.

We were really amazed at the
photo session when the young
man in the back managed to leap
into the picture. Elder Hinkson
forked over a good tip for that one!

Back in port after a wonderful
day

After such a beautiful day, I was a little worried that our presentation might not be well attended, but Steve and I were both very pleased to get good representation from 2 ward councils.

Nawaka ward and Nadi ward counsel members.

We try to keep our meetings informal, so people are
willing to participate in discussion.

Steve is getting very good at this presentation!

One day in mid November, we were heading home in the early afternoon and we saw this strange procession coming down the road. A flat-bed truck, a water tanker, and a transport truck with banners and signs, and a whole procession of people following along behind them. We were very curious, and snapped a couple of pictures before our light changed. After we negotiated turning the corner, I looked back and all the people had disappeared! It turned out that the trucks had all moved forward with the traffic, and the people had turned into a gate we couldn't see and walked up the hill to the mosque. It was a 100 year celebration of that mosque (we presume), because never saw any unusual activity at any of the other mosques that we had passed that day.

Our view of the procession from across the
intersection

The mosque is in the red circle

Thanksgiving dinner with the senior couples and
President and Sister La'ulu

Steve with his dessert
selections

All the trimmings

A restaurant at a resort about 1 hour's drive out of Suva promoted a Thanksgiving dinner buffet on the appropriate Thursday in November (it's just a regular work/school day in Fiji). The senior couples decided to take advantage, and yes, there was a real turkey with gravy! We had lovely music provided by a soloist who accompanied himself on the guitar and sang a selection of "oldies". He received several tips from our group. I found out later that he is a member of the church who lives in the Nausori Stake.

Our family gave us a great gift during the Thanksgiving weekend. They posted many family videos of their holiday preparations and gatherings on MarcoPolo for us to enjoy vicariously. It was such a treasure for us to have that little piece of a traditional holiday. It also helped me to explain to a few Fijian friends some of the great things about the Thanksgiving Holiday. Thank you so much to all who contributed!

That wraps up November. I'm leaving you with a picture of the blue, blue Pacific!

Love Mickey and Steve

* MLS= Mission Leader Support

The view from our the front of the building where
our flat is located.

The day we were leaving to come back to Fiji we received the information that our daughter Anna's fiancé, Chris Garfield, had been in a tragic motorcycle accident, and was killed. His young daughter, Shelby, was riding with him, and was seriously injured. Fortunately, Shelby's injuries will heal, and she should have no long-term disability. We were so sad, and had so much emotional conflict about leaving the country just at this heart-wrenching moment. Anna assured us that she wanted us to go continue our mission. Our other children were incredibly supportive to Anna and the children, including one daughter, Jeanette, who went to stay with her for several weeks. I'm including a remembrance video that our grandson, Michael Schade, created for the funeral. Chris will be deeply missed by our family and many others.

When we first got to Utah, I would look for things around the house and garden, saying "I know where this item is in Fiji." Since we've been back, I find myself looking for stuff, thinking "I know where I kept this in Utah!" Change always brings adjustment, and it's not only jet lag.

We spent a fair amount of time getting the flat back in shape and restocked with food. Everyone at the office was happy to see us, and we felt warmly welcomed.

Sister La'ulu (MPW) and Sister Gerkin had been sharing the medical needs responsibilities, and the most delightful phrase I heard was "We had NO idea" as to what the mission nurse does. There has been quite an influx of new missionaries in our absence, We are up to 110. The office was low on medical supplies, so I did a bit of shopping and got an order into my supply guy right away. We were able to make up 10 mission flat medical kits within a few days. Paperwork. doctor office visits, and shopping . . . that's what I do!

Sister Thevenin in the new Saioko flat
In the village, it is not proper for women
to wear pants, thus her interesting outfit!

The Thevenins were very happy
with the fact that
the bathroom is joined to the
main building. The elders
who come here will have to
pretend they are camping!

Steve had the opportunity to make a trip up to Saioko to help the Thevenin's (our housing coordinators) set up a new missionary flat. It's a rugged 4 hour drive to get up to the village. The chapel is a hike up from the road, and we've been there a few times. I chose not to subject my back to the riggers of the trip. They were gone all day, so I made dinner and asked Thevenin's to join us as my contribution. They were very glad to have a good meal with no effort when they got back

One of the office "wellness" projects is to play pickle ball every Wednesday afternoon at 4 pm. We play at the Berry Street building in Suva, which is the first building the church built here, and was dedicated by President David O. McKay. I'm including pictures because these folks have all become dear friends.

Romulus is the financial
director, and also acts as the
executive secretary to
our Area Seventy, Paul
Whippy

Of course, this is my favourite player!

Naomi is in charge of translation
services. She is the Primary
music leader in her ward. She is also
a great massage therapist!

Peniette is the Area WSR
director, and our "boss".
She is also expecting a
baby in April!
She is Stake Self-Reliance
specialist in Suva North Stake
and a Sunday School teacher.

Ana works in translation services
and is the Seminary director for
Nausori Stake.

Meli is in charge of the travel
desk, and one of his main
jobs is to get missionaries to
their missions with all the
correct paperwork, visas, travel
documents, etc. He is a bishop's
counselor in Samabula 2nd ward.

Elder Gerkin is the financial
secretary for the FSM mission.
He and his wife are from Queen
Creek, Arizona.

Mili works in finances, and is the YW
president in her ward.

Walter is director of Family Services for this region
which includes several islands. He is the YM president
in his ward.

David is Facilities Manager
and is also a new Stake
President in Nausori

George keeps track of
all the vehicles in Fiji
owned by the church.
His favourite phrase is "What's
the milage?"
He is also a Bishop in
his ward.

Elder Boehm and his wife
are here serving a humanitarian
mission working on several project
for LDS Charities

Steve and I feel so blessed to be working with this amazing group (and others that don't play pickle ball!).

The week of October 23rd, Elder Wakola, a counsellor in the Area Seventy presidency, came on a mission tour. He requested to meet with all the senior couples (we only have couples right now) for an early morning breakfast on Friday. We met at the mission home at 6:30 am. I think it was the only time he could fit us into his schedule. We had a wonderful breakfast, courtesy of a local caterer, and then got to ask and answer questions about missionary work in this area. Elder Wakola filled us in on details about how the Area Presidency (based in Auckland, NZ) views the growth of the church throughout the South Pacific. He expressed deep appreciation for the service that senior missionaries provide. He also provided some insights to what future projects the Church plans in this area.

Top: Steve and I, Elder and Sister Patton, Elder and Sister Moyes,
Elder and Sister Thevenin, Elder and Sister Gerkin, Sister La'ulu,
Sister Wakola, Elder Wakola.
Front: Elder Walk, Sister Walk, Sister Boehm, Elder Boehm

Shortly after the breakfast was finished, the Boehm's and Steve left to go to Naikawaga Koro (village) to evaluate a humanitarian project. When they arrived at the village, there was also a group from an Australian Non-Profit, Preventing Violence Against Women. The village hall was decked out for the occasion, and the biggest Kava bowl was in use, and everyone had their best clothes on for the ceremonial festivities.