Fiji Regional Conference - Day 7: "Souvenirs!"

After our meetings, Dan and went to the American store Cost-You-Less to buy some food-type souvenirs to bring home to New Zealand...

Also purchased today for those of us who live at Reki Street were electric fans and mosquito repellant.  (We aren't at the resort any more!)  Still, it's nice not to have to do our own cooking.  Dinner tonight was:  tempura fish & eggplant, coleslaw, and tapioca.  

Fiji Regional Conference - Day 6: "Reki Street"

Remember last time we were in Suva,Fiji we stayed in a group house with a STEEP driveway?  Yup!  That's where we are again.  Same room.  Our home-away-from-home!

The bus ride here from the Naviti Resort was fun...windows down, wind blowing to off-set the heat.  There was a cruise ship in the harbour, and I saw Noni's picture on a billboard.

We're settling in.  We have 2 more days of staff meetings, then on Monday, our classes start.  Here's a picture from just out our window.

Fiji Regional Conference - Day 5: "Miss Fiji"

Tonight was awards night and new staff dedication.  It was a wonderful time of celebration and worship and thanksgiving.  But...one of the eyebrow-lifting, smile producing facts is that "Miss Fiji" is one of our new staff.

I came across a group of giggling, texting hotels workers.  When I commented to them that they were having too much fun, they told me they'd just seen Miss Fiji was a part of our group.

Elton & Noni

Greg & Noni

After the dedication, Noni put on her crown and good-naturedly posed with our staff.  (I think Elton got his picture taken with Noni on a couple of different occasions!)  The heart-warming thing is that right after the picture with Miss Fiji, the PNG staff wanted a picture with us.   I told Elton I didn't have a crown, but he said I had a different kind of crown.  (I wonder if he was referring to my gray hair!)

Fiji Regional Conference - Day 4: "The Videos That Weren't"

I was going to upload a video of our PNG "item" for fun night.  Each team had to come up with something representing their assigned island.  Our group was assigned PNG. I'm was a little embarrassed because I narrated the story of how the Fijians took the gospel to PNG...and I sounded like I was addressing children instead of adults.  I tried uploading the thing anyway, burying my pride, but even after trying all night, the thing wouldn't upload.  (Yahoo.  My dignity will remain intact!)

What I'd really like to show you but don't have a video of is Dan playing musical chairs with the island staff.  We were all divided into teams for game night.  Two reps from each team were chosen for musical chairs.  My goodness...the loud laughter and cheering and pushing and antics and fun...It was wild!  Dan didn't win, but he lasted until the final few.  (Mills kids:  imagine Koli's shout of laughter, plus La's...then times 50!)

Since I have no video, I'll include these two photos of me playing games and one of Dan golfing:

Dan, golfing with a group of 25...a game called "best ball"

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Fiji Regional Conference - Day 3: Getting Ready!

It's PNG's turn to share about our year tomorrow, so we've spent a bit a time planning.  We're also leading a discussion about discipleship, so Dan's been organizing different people throughout the region to share their stories.  And I've been assigned a group to put together an "item" (fun song or dance or something) to represent PNG tomorrow night.  (Nobody else from our PNG staff is in this group!)  Should be an interesting day tomorrow.

I was also given a textbook for my systematic theology class that begins next week, so I can get a headstart on my reading.  My, it's a thick book!

 

Fiji Regional Conference - Day 2: Resort!

After our morning bus ride, we arrived at the resort just in time for me to add my additions to the welcome table Kathryn set up, and right away began greeting old and new friends, passing out name tags, notebooks, candy, etc.  (It's a fun job!  Everyone likes free stuff!)  It's sure fun to be with these precious people again.


The Fijians greeted us all to their island with a song of welcome before our first session.  After the song each of them put a sulu (or lava lava) around the shoulders of a non-Fijian.  What a lovely welcome and gift.  We felt loved!

 

Fiji Regional Staff Conference- Day 1: Here We Go!

As with most flights to the islands, Dan and I are up at the crack of dawn.  After checking in our bags, it's off to McDonalds for breakfast and a very needed cup of coffee.

Yesterday, we were at this same spot saying good-bye to Dan's sister and family as they headed back to the States after 13 days in New Zealand.  We had a wonderful time with them, but now we need to change gears and think about the conference ahead and our island friends.  I hope we packed everything. (I know we have the individual packets of candy I put together for the welcome/registration desk.  So, I have the important stuff, right?!)

We're meeting the PNG staff in Nadi, Fiji today, then we will all take a bus together in the morning and head for the conference.  I wonder what the next 3 weeks will hold?