Fiji Day 4: Hanging out after a day in class!

I'm happy to report that I'm really enjoying my new class on biblical interpretation.  It is taught in a way that I can get a hold of...I'm just not sure about the assignments.  That's the hard part.  But we're all in this together (as the song says), and it's a joy!  

Thought you'd enjoy these pictures taken at the house where we're staying.  We're hanging out, the bats are hanging out, and so are some bananas (much to Dan's delight!) 

Fiji Day 3: Exploring Suva!

Since 3 of the 6 Papua New Guinea staff have never been to Fiji (and two had never been outside the country or used a passport before,) we decided to have a look around town this afternoon.

Lillian & Ronald

We took taxis to MacDonald's (PNG doesn't have one) and had our lunch.  Most of the stores were closed since it's Sunday, but the group did find one small kiosk that sold top-ups for their mobile phones!  (It seems you can do without a lot of things in life, but a cell phone borders on a necessity around the world!)

Elton, Lillian, Jasmine, & Greg

Eva and me

One of the big cultural differences were the buses.  In PNG, buses are vans.  In Fiji, they're the big diesel-engine vehicles we're used to in the States and New Zealand.  What makes the Fiji buses unique is that there is no glass in the windows.  When it rains, there's a clear plastic covering that can be rolled down.  So, we took a big, windowless bus back home at the end or our "explore!"   AND, best of all, we didn't get lost! 

hiking up the drive to the house!

Fiji Day 2: Island Rain!

Today I remembered island rain.  As we got off the bus upon arriving in Suva, great big soft globs of rain landed on us, our suitcases, and our "carry-ons."  We got soaked through while gathering our belongings and getting taxis to take us to the house where we'll be staying.  Soaking wet, but not cold.  Dripping, clothes clinging, but feeling no difference in body temperature!  Amazing!

Things got a little complicated as we got out of the taxis and attempted to pull suitcases up a STEEP (Dan says about a 30-35% angle) and long driveway up to the house.  We took a step, slid back, lightened our load and tried again.  But we're here...safe and sound.  Stage 2 completed!

(A confession:  I admit I did give a little yelp yesterday when a little baby gecko flew out of a toilet paper roll.  I don't know who was more startled, him or me!)

Trying to finish required textbook reading on bus

Breakfast before bus to Suva

Fiji Day 1: Good-byes & Hellos!

Here we are in Fiji after the whirlwind of packing, tying up loose ends in NZ, and saying good-bye to our girls who took us to the airport.  Even before we got to the airport, we realized we had forgotten to pack a number of items...including Dan's bible and  our hats.  The funny thing is that we had both made packing lists, but we both forgot to keep looking them!

But...we're here!   We met out PNG staff (who came in on a later flight) at the airport, and we're all checked in for the night at a hotel in Nadi.  Tomorrow afternoon we hit the road, taking a 3-hour bus trip to Suva.

We can see evidence of the cyclone that came through a couple of weeks ago.  (Trees down and a few roofless buildings...and no bananas were available at the restaurant!)  Luckily, there was mostly wind damage and no flooding.

After seeing a gecko, I knew I was back in the islands!  (TeeHee)

Day 10: Home Again!

Finishing up in Papua New Guinea, was a real challenge!  We met with the staff in our guest house.  Dan checked us out, paying our bill, while others of us were still meeting.  We did tie up most of our loose ends (yahoo!) and caught our flight. In spite of a little trauma in a delayed flight causing us to miss our connection in Australia, we made it back to New Zealand.  The lights of our adopted country shone like jewels as we flew over it!

Thank you so much to all you who partner with us in this phenomenal adventure of ministry!

Day 9: Celebration!

At last...the Omega Party Celebration!  This is the time to celebrate what God has done during this hard year (in which we experienced the loss of our dear George Puipui, the director of the ministry here.)

Dan got to speak, renewing our focus and providing vision for next year.  There was a worship time, several other speaches and testimonies.  I was even ask to speak (which was never in the plan that I knew of!)  Then it was time for feasting and games:  3-legged races, sack races, eating contests, volleyball, etc.)  Here are some pictures we thought you'd enjoy!

Jasmine (center) with disciples

Day 8: Tag Teaming!

Peter and Candy arrive in Port Moresby from our office in New Zealand.  They will be here for the next few days, encouraging our new staff as they find ministry partners to invest in their ministry on campus!

On the drive back from the airport, the crowds were still out celebrating independence!

(Sorry for the delay in posting this, as we had trouble with our internet connection.)