Texas:

2009-06-13
Today we had language in the morning and then prepared for the queen’s
birthday in the afternoon. Language is o.k., but everyone is sick or
becoming sick so the energy level is low. We played Simon says in
Fijian with body parts and the kids helped out. That was fun.
After language Turani and I went to the farm to prepare for Monday’s
big soli (fundraising festival) at the tribe’s community hall. There
are three tribes in this village. Our tribe is the Nabai tribe and
consists of 186 people. Each tribe celebrates the Queen’s birthday at
their own respective community halls. I think it is unique that they
still celebrate the queen even though they have been an independent
nation for almost 40 years. The Fijians are big on traditions even if
they aren’t there’s. Anyway, back to the preparations at the farm.
We arrived and harvested some Dalo with a big iron rod with a flat
end. You basically shovel the suckers out of the ground with this big
pry bar of a rod. After a few trusts into the ground around the base
of a mature dalo plant you can pull the root up by the leaves. It is
pretty easy. After than you strip all the leaves off except one and
bind them up. That is the hard part as they are very heavy and wheel
barrows are not an option. Instead you stick the large and heavy bar
through the binding and hoist it over your shoulder. I have to say I
almost wussed out on this one and could barely make it out of the
fields. My shoulder is still sore.
After that we harvested cassava. It is a similar process except you
don’t trim the leaves. It has a wooden branch for a stem. ADD
moment: I just looked out the window and there is a man washing his
car in the rain. O.K. back to the farm. We finished with the cassava
and then worked on the yellow dalo harvesting. It is very similar to
purple dalo except much smaller and easier to pull.
We then went to the woods and cut down a Mahogany tree for firewood
with about 15 other Fijians. Yes, I said firewood and Mahogany in the
same sentence. As we where waiting for the dude with the chain saw to
show up the guys drilled me with Fijian questions and actually gave me
time to think and answer. Most are so excited to speak English they
quickly answer or state the question to you in English. I found it
very helpful and was surprised at the amount I could recall. I just
need more practice.
The chain saw man showed up and we started the tree cutting process.
It involved one man with a huge chain saw and 10 Fijians yelling and
screaming. It was sort of intense as no one was really sure which way
the tree was going to fall. We all chose our respective exit paths
from the bush in case the tree chose us for its victim. When the
moment came, it instead attacked a nearby coconut tree much to the
celebration of the observing Fijians. We started cutting up both
trees but the blade soon broke so work was over! Yeah!! I don’t
think anyone was really disappointed. If that would have happened in
Matador, my grandpa would have broken out three spare chains and an ax
and stayed until every bit of wood was hacked up and hauled out. I’m
starting to enjoy the Fijian laid back attitude!
We piled the bit of harvested wood into the back of a small Nissan two
wheel drive truck with a canvas top. I have no idea how that little
rice burner made out of the muddy bush with 10 Fijians and 20 logs,
but it did.
We unloaded the wood at the community hall and had a bit of an
afternoon snack complete with, of course, Dalo and pork curry. After
the break the wood chopping began. They let me have a go and after
hacking away they decided it best I retire so we would actually have
firewood instead of fat spears. I did split one small log with a
single swipe so I didn’t feel too white.
The day was very productive and we spent the night catching up on
language studies. Tomorrow is Sunday so I am expecting much headway
in the studying department.
-Matt

2009-06-08

Thank you Monica for hosting us on our visit to Serua! We had a
relaxing weekend learning about the small village and volunteer life
after training. Our group included Gloria, Kara, Kelly and I.

Serua is small village on an island about 2.5 hours west of Suva. A
large reef protects the vast shallow bay surrounding the island. The
trade winds made it very pleasant and the only rain we received was at
night. Monica’s house was really big so we had plenty of room to
spread out and enjoy the few days. The villagers speak a completely
different dialect than the one we are learning. The difference is so
great it is technically a different language. However, they still
knew the standard bula vinaka’s and moce’s so we conversed a little.

Grog was banned this month by the Methodist so we weren’t really sure
how to present the isevusevu, gift to the chief, as this is a big root
of grog that we hauled from Nausori. Everything went well, though,
and he allowed us to pound the root and consume it until 12:00 A.M..
The ladies aren’t big fans of the stuff and I am slowly developing a
taste so we just made it through a few bilos (bowls) and then
retired. We did however enjoy the last few scenes of Hidalgo and the
opening moments of a rugby match before leaving the drinking venue.

The sounds of Serua are somewhat different from Naila so my ears
weren’t prepared for the convention of roosters outside our door
holding session from about 5 A.M. to 7 A.M.. Good grief, can’t they
tell when the sun is out! The next night I firmly planted the ear
plugs and slept great.

Monica graciously showed us how to prepare several comfort foods we
had all started craving. These included brownies, chocolate chip
cookies, biscuits (my favorite dish of the trip), and last but not
least burritos! All this was done on a single burner gas stove top in
a huge aluminum pot. I was definitely impressed with the ingenuity of
the contraption and the speed in which the oven produced our American
concoctions. She also had real coffee which was a welcome treat to my
tea weary tasted buds.

Monday we ventured out closer to the reef to check out the small coral
farm and giant clam breeding ground. We saw a stingray, a variety of
reef fish, and a bunch of coral. The coral farm was really simple and
sustainable, but it takes about 5 years to produce large enough
specimens to sell. The clams where huge and seemed to be doing well.
I think I counted three or four groupings.

Tuesday we headed back to Suva to grab pizza at the Pizza Place, which
by the way has nothing on the “Pizza Place” in Weatherford, and toured
the PC offices. After the tour we caught a cab to “Cost-U-Less”, the
Fijian version of Cost Co or Sams. The prices weren’t as high as we
had heard and their selection was very extensive. For some reason zip
lock bags where $21 Fijian per 200. That seemed weird. All the other
items where what you would expect them to be if you shipped them half
way around the world from America. The bigger and bulkier an item
was, the more it cost. I got a large bag of ground coffee for $10 and
we headed back to Naursori and finally on to Naila.

It was good returning ‘home’ and seeing the friendly faces of the
village again.

Thanks again to Monica for showing us the ropes and giving great
advice for life after training.

-Matt

Bula Vinaka!

When we entered the village we were given another welcome ceremony
with yagona (AKA kava or grog) and then we got settled in. We have been
living with our host family for a week now. Alipate (host dad) works in the
provencial office and Lice (host mom, pronounced Lee-they) stays home. Jone
(nickname Turani), the village mayor, also lives with us – which has been very
beneficial for our PC homework! They have a very nice and colorful home with electricity
and running water. They even have a TV and a microwave (which I have yet to see
them use). Lice is teaching us how to wash our clothes and cook. She is a very,
very good cook and the food is wonderful – lots of fish, curry, taro, and fruit
that we just pick off the trees! The village keeps saying I have good curves
but not enough meat and they want me to be a big strong woman by the time I
leave. Matt and I run every morning so hopefully that won't happen!! ;o) 

The village has 3 clans (families) with 1 chief and 1 mayor. There
are 560 people that live in 120 homes. They have 3 churches and a very nice
community hall (where we do our lessons). There are 5 students and 1 teacher
from Peace Corps in our village and from what we have seen – it is the nicest
koro! There is always children playing outside and there has been a revival
going on so we have fallen asleep to students singing each night. Our host
family is pentecostal (most Fijians are Methodist) so we went to church with
them and it was much more lively – they have a synthesizer and a praise team!

The village mayor offered to cut Matt's hair and gave him a 'do
just like his. ;o) Of course then Matt returned the favor. He said it is much
cooler and our teacher said it is easier for her to spot him now. Ha. The best
was when the kids asked if he was Jesus' light of the world! Haha. Yes, we are
pretty white!

We have learned so much already – how to make coconut bilo (cups),
how to weave mats, and even how to make a lovo (earth oven that you cook food
over). The lovo is basically the Fijian barbeque! You heat rocks with fire and
then bury the rocks with fish/chicken/veggies wrapped with gigantic leaves.
Then you cover it with more leaves and dirt. It basically smokes the food for
1-2 hours and then you eat! It adds amazing flavor and is worth the
effort. 

My favorite food is by far the fruit/veggies. There is a great
market in town, but just in our backyard we have banana, papaya, avacado,
mango, taro, cassava, greens, peppers, potato, tomato and coconut. Matt has
learned how to cut open the coconut so we can drink the milk – which is very,
very good and filling. However, each one has about 1000 calories!

My host mom is determined to make me the best dressed, so she
continues to have sulu jamba's made for me. The first one was a bit tight up
top and they all got a good laugh about it. They are very colorful and
surprisingly cool. We have to sit on the floor everywhere we go, so the wrap
around skirt is long and ensures we don't flash anyone! 

I love the children in our village and they have taken it on as
their project to teach me Fijian. They speak slowly, help me with words and
numbers, teach me the motions to their songs, and bring me bubble gum. ;o) They
love the camera and laugh at all my mispronunciations.

We love you very much! Sota tale!

Maciu and Keleni

Kelly Roy

gigglepic.com

vaportrail.typepad.com

Gloria is one of our trainees, she is from New Hampshire. 

 Matt on the way to our host village – Naila.

 Turani is teaching Matt how to shave a coconut.

 Na teaching me how to cook!

 Matt is doing our laundry!

 We are about to eat dinner – taro, cucumber, peppers, and
tuna & greens in coconut milk.

 Matt had to draw a community map of our village.

 We got a tour by Turani.

 They have lots of pigs!

 Naila's main crops are cassava and taro.

 Dee is our language and culture instructor.

 Here you can see an out house and a laundry area.

 Our koro (village).

 As usual, Matt is captivated by the construction… good
thing, Peace Corps mentioned he might be building bure's (homes).

 This is our host home for the next 8 weeks.

 The Methodist church.

 Weleti (papaya) tree. 

 Our class room in the community hall.

 Turani starting to cut Matt's hair – I actually had to get
out the scissors to get to where he could use the razor. 

 Now we are talking!

 Returning the favor…

 All of Matt's locks!

 Dee taught me how to weave mats (ibe).

 Me at the market.

 We bought Turani a bicycle tire for his 43rd birthday!

 My tight jamba.

 Me and Na (Fijian for mom).

 They are making coconut cups (bilo).

 Gloria and her host brothers.

 Another grog session.

 I sat next to the chief's wife – she ate everything off my
plate once I got full. ;o)

 Our host family's farm.

 Na and Ta.

 Turani teaching Matt how to prepare coconut for drinking.

 Ahhh vinaka.

 Matt couldn't climb like Turani….

 This is the beach where we had our water safety instruction
and test. They dropped us out in the ocean and we had to make it back to shore!

 Starting the fire to heat the rocks for the lovo.

 I smashed garlic and ginger for 45 minutes straight…. I
think I will be sore tomorrow!

 Matt and Ta are squeezing the juice from the coconut flesh.

 Turani is wrapping the fish in leaves for the lovo.

 Putting the food on the lovo…

 Covering the lovo with leaves to keep the smoke and heat in.

 Taro – we have this at every meal.

 Matt in his sulu – ready for church!

 1.5 hours later – the food is ready!

Removing the food from the lovo. 

 Lunch today…

 All of it!

 My buddies! They taught me how to count today!

Bula Vinaka!

When we entered the village we were given another welcome ceremony
with yagona (AKA kava or grog) and then we got settled in. We have been
living with our host family for a week now. Alipate (host dad) works in the
provencial office and Lice (host mom, pronounced Lee-they) stays home. Jone
(nickname Turani), the village mayor, also lives with us – which has been very
beneficial for our PC homework! They have a very nice and colorful home with electricity
and running water. They even have a TV and a microwave (which I have yet to see
them use). Lice is teaching us how to wash our clothes and cook. She is a very,
very good cook and the food is wonderful – lots of fish, curry, taro, and fruit
that we just pick off the trees! The village keeps saying I have good curves
but not enough meat and they want me to be a big strong woman by the time I
leave. Matt and I run every morning so hopefully that won't happen!! ;o) 

The village has 3 clans (families) with 1 chief and 1 mayor. There
are 560 people that live in 120 homes. They have 3 churches and a very nice
community hall (where we do our lessons). There are 5 students and 1 teacher
from Peace Corps in our village and from what we have seen – it is the nicest
koro! There is always children playing outside and there has been a revival
going on so we have fallen asleep to students singing each night. Our host
family is pentecostal (most Fijians are Methodist) so we went to church with
them and it was much more lively – they have a synthesizer and a praise team!

The village mayor offered to cut Matt's hair and gave him a 'do
just like his. ;o) Of course then Matt returned the favor. He said it is much
cooler and our teacher said it is easier for her to spot him now. Ha. The best
was when the kids asked if he was Jesus' light of the world! Haha. Yes, we are
pretty white!

We have learned so much already – how to make coconut bilo (cups),
how to weave mats, and even how to make a lovo (earth oven that you cook food
over). The lovo is basically the Fijian barbeque! You heat rocks with fire and
then bury the rocks with fish/chicken/veggies wrapped with gigantic leaves.
Then you cover it with more leaves and dirt. It basically smokes the food for
1-2 hours and then you eat! It adds amazing flavor and is worth the
effort. 

My favorite food is by far the fruit/veggies. There is a great
market in town, but just in our backyard we have banana, papaya, avacado,
mango, taro, cassava, greens, peppers, potato, tomato and coconut. Matt has
learned how to cut open the coconut so we can drink the milk – which is very,
very good and filling. However, each one has about 1000 calories!

My host mom is determined to make me the best dressed, so she
continues to have sulu jamba's made for me. The first one was a bit tight up
top and they all got a good laugh about it. They are very colorful and
surprisingly cool. We have to sit on the floor everywhere we go, so the wrap
around skirt is long and ensures we don't flash anyone! 

I love the children in our village and they have taken it on as
their project to teach me Fijian. They speak slowly, help me with words and
numbers, teach me the motions to their songs, and bring me bubble gum. ;o) They
love the camera and laugh at all my mispronunciations.

We love you very much! Sota tale!

Maciu and Keleni

Kelly Roy

gigglepic.com

vaportrail.typepad.com

Gloria is one of our trainees, she is from New Hampshire. 

 Matt on the way to our host village – Naila.

 Turani is teaching Matt how to shave a coconut.

 Na teaching me how to cook!

 Matt is doing our laundry!

 We are about to eat dinner – taro, cucumber, peppers, and
tuna & greens in coconut milk.

 Matt had to draw a community map of our village.

 We got a tour by Turani.

 They have lots of pigs!

 Naila's main crops are cassava and taro.

 Dee is our language and culture instructor.

 Here you can see an out house and a laundry area.

 Our koro (village).

 As usual, Matt is captivated by the construction… good
thing, Peace Corps mentioned he might be building bure's (homes).

 This is our host home for the next 8 weeks.

 The Methodist church.

 Weleti (papaya) tree. 

 Our class room in the community hall.

 Turani starting to cut Matt's hair – I actually had to get
out the scissors to get to where he could use the razor. 

 Now we are talking!

 Returning the favor…

 All of Matt's locks!

 Dee taught me how to weave mats (ibe).

 Me at the market.

 We bought Turani a bicycle tire for his 43rd birthday!

 My tight jamba.

 Me and Na (Fijian for mom).

 They are making coconut cups (bilo).

 Gloria and her host brothers.

 Another grog session.

 I sat next to the chief's wife – she ate everything off my
plate once I got full. ;o)

 Our host family's farm.

 Na and Ta.

 Turani teaching Matt how to prepare coconut for drinking.

 Ahhh vinaka.

 Matt couldn't climb like Turani….

 This is the beach where we had our water safety instruction
and test. They dropped us out in the ocean and we had to make it back to shore!

 Starting the fire to heat the rocks for the lovo.

 I smashed garlic and ginger for 45 minutes straight…. I
think I will be sore tomorrow!

 Matt and Ta are squeezing the juice from the coconut flesh.

 Turani is wrapping the fish in leaves for the lovo.

 Putting the food on the lovo…

 Covering the lovo with leaves to keep the smoke and heat in.

 Taro – we have this at every meal.

 Matt in his sulu – ready for church!

 1.5 hours later – the food is ready!

Removing the food from the lovo. 

 Lunch today…

 All of it!

 My buddies! They taught me how to count today!

We are here! It took us 20 hours by plane (via LA and NZ) and 5
hours by bus. Probably the highlight of the journey was when my dress got
caught in the escalator at the Nadi airport and I had to be cut out –
literally. I knew wearing dresses would be an issue, but I didn't think it
would affect my safety!!  

When we finally arrived to our training site, Peace Corps did a
nice little welcome ceremony which included many speeches and drinking grog
from the yoqona root. It tastes like dirt spiced with pepper and makes your
tongue numb. All I could think about was drinking after 30 people from the same
coconut shell, but so far no sickness!

We are currently in a small training village called CATD (Center
for Appropriate Training and Development)… thankfully we are not learning
anything inappropriate! We have been in classes all day, every day learning about
language, culture, and Peace Corps policies. The language is fairly simple
compared to French and very fun to speak – I just hope I don't giggle the whole
time! Vinaka vakalevu!

The heat hasn't been too terrible, but apparently it is
"cold" now. However, the humidity is insane!! Our washed clothes
still have yet to dry and my hair is out of control, but I keep telling myself
my greasy face will help prevent wrinkles. The mosquito nets are fun once you
figure out how to hang them. They look like wedding veils and I have dreams of
sleeping in a cloud. Thank goodness I'm not claustrophobic! We do have to boil
and filter our water, which can be quite inconvenient when you are thirsty and
want a COLD drink. So we are so thankful for Marc's water sanitizer pen
thing… everyone is jealous!

Today is Sunday so we went to church this morning and we both
got to buy a shiny black sulus to wear to it (must adhere to dress
code)! 80% of Fijians go to the Methodist church and Sundays are very
sacred. We can't work or exercise and most of the shops are closed (unless they
are run by Indo-Fijians). The elders opened with a welcome to us reading Psalm
133:1 – Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity. 

The service lasted about 2 hours – filled with hymns, readings,
prayers and then a sermon. I LOVED the hymns (called sere) and recognized
several (Count Your Many Blessings). The Fijians sang very loudly and
enthusiastically! The sermon was about knowing who you are and he read the
story of Jesus naming Peter from John 1. We cannot look at ourselves through
our eyes and see only good, others eyes remember only the bad, but Jesus sees
our potential and our future in Him. 

Probably my favorite part so far is how happy everyone is to see
us. People come running out of their bure's grinning ear to ear to wave hello
to us! Probably my least favorite is the skirts…. I even have to wear one
when we go running/exercising and it certainly doesn't help my time! Matt looks
really good in his – he has nice legs. ;o)

I can't believe it is 17 hours time difference between Fiji and
home. For example right now it is Sunday 4pm here and Saturday 11pm there.
(However, I have no idea when I will have internet to email this… so you
might be getting this in August!!) We lost almost an entire day in our journey
over here. Monte's (fellow trainee) birthday was the 20th and he only got
to celebrate it for 7 hours!

We love you very much. Ni sa moce!

Kelly Roy

gigglepic.com

vaportrail.typepad.com

 The Peace Corps gave us matching sulu's…. apparently we
will be given lots of "matching" outfits! That should be fun.

 The view from our training room… kinda hard to pay
attention!

 Another grog session….

 Our bure during the first week of training. We move in with
a family tomorrow!

 View from our window.

 Matt in a sulu! You can see the laundry line and our bure
behind him.

 The Methodist Church in our village.

 Matt is standing in front of the drums they play every
morning at 6am…. I would have taken the drumsticks if I could have found
them!!!

 We have tea every morning and every afternoon (thanks to the
British)! Matt is of course talking to Dave – he is 77 years old and our oldest
trainee. 

 Another view of our bure.

 Matt's underwear and socks are blocking my view!

We are here! It took us 20 hours by plane (via LA and NZ) and 5
hours by bus. Probably the highlight of the journey was when my dress got
caught in the escalator at the Nadi airport and I had to be cut out –
literally. I knew wearing dresses would be an issue, but I didn't think it
would affect my safety!!  

When we finally arrived to our training site, Peace Corps did a
nice little welcome ceremony which included many speeches and drinking grog
from the yoqona root. It tastes like dirt spiced with pepper and makes your
tongue numb. All I could think about was drinking after 30 people from the same
coconut shell, but so far no sickness!

We are currently in a small training village called CATD (Center
for Appropriate Training and Development)… thankfully we are not learning
anything inappropriate! We have been in classes all day, every day learning about
language, culture, and Peace Corps policies. The language is fairly simple
compared to French and very fun to speak – I just hope I don't giggle the whole
time! Vinaka vakalevu!

The heat hasn't been too terrible, but apparently it is
"cold" now. However, the humidity is insane!! Our washed clothes
still have yet to dry and my hair is out of control, but I keep telling myself
my greasy face will help prevent wrinkles. The mosquito nets are fun once you
figure out how to hang them. They look like wedding veils and I have dreams of
sleeping in a cloud. Thank goodness I'm not claustrophobic! We do have to boil
and filter our water, which can be quite inconvenient when you are thirsty and
want a COLD drink. So we are so thankful for Marc's water sanitizer pen
thing… everyone is jealous!

Today is Sunday so we went to church this morning and we both
got to buy a shiny black sulus to wear to it (must adhere to dress
code)! 80% of Fijians go to the Methodist church and Sundays are very
sacred. We can't work or exercise and most of the shops are closed (unless they
are run by Indo-Fijians). The elders opened with a welcome to us reading Psalm
133:1 – Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity. 

The service lasted about 2 hours – filled with hymns, readings,
prayers and then a sermon. I LOVED the hymns (called sere) and recognized
several (Count Your Many Blessings). The Fijians sang very loudly and
enthusiastically! The sermon was about knowing who you are and he read the
story of Jesus naming Peter from John 1. We cannot look at ourselves through
our eyes and see only good, others eyes remember only the bad, but Jesus sees
our potential and our future in Him. 

Probably my favorite part so far is how happy everyone is to see
us. People come running out of their bure's grinning ear to ear to wave hello
to us! Probably my least favorite is the skirts…. I even have to wear one
when we go running/exercising and it certainly doesn't help my time! Matt looks
really good in his – he has nice legs. ;o)

I can't believe it is 17 hours time difference between Fiji and
home. For example right now it is Sunday 4pm here and Saturday 11pm there.
(However, I have no idea when I will have internet to email this… so you
might be getting this in August!!) We lost almost an entire day in our journey
over here. Monte's (fellow trainee) birthday was the 20th and he only got
to celebrate it for 7 hours!

We love you very much. Ni sa moce!

Kelly Roy

gigglepic.com

vaportrail.typepad.com

 The Peace Corps gave us matching sulu's…. apparently we
will be given lots of "matching" outfits! That should be fun.

 The view from our training room… kinda hard to pay
attention!

 Another grog session….

 Our bure during the first week of training. We move in with
a family tomorrow!

 View from our window.

 Matt in a sulu! You can see the laundry line and our bure
behind him.

 The Methodist Church in our village.

 Matt is standing in front of the drums they play every
morning at 6am…. I would have taken the drumsticks if I could have found
them!!!

 We have tea every morning and every afternoon (thanks to the
British)! Matt is of course talking to Dave – he is 77 years old and our oldest
trainee. 

 Another view of our bure.

 Matt's underwear and socks are blocking my view!

Today was very relaxing and much needed. The rumors are true about
Sunday’s in Fiji, at least in the village.

We had a breakfast of scrambled eggs, bread, peanut butter, butter,
and very weak coffee. They are very big on breads. There is a long
sub sandwich type roll at the coffee and utensil table and then two
loaves of bread on each eating table.

Church service followed from 10 – 12 pm. Here are my notes from the
service.

On the chalk board was written four Sere (Hymns). The hymn book was
called “Vola Ni Sere”. The service opened with a hymn while the
pastor and elder’s walked in. The formal dress for the older men was
a dark sulu (men’s skirt) with coat and tie. The students at the
technical school where wearing sulus with a button down shirt and
tie. After the song was complete, the elder read a passage from the
bible and then prayed about a 5 minute prayer. We then sang a song.
One of the students kindly gave Kelly and I a hymnal to sing from and
it was very helpful for pronunciation practice. However, I didn’t
know what we where saying except Jisu (Jesus).

A student read a passage after the song. Next, another elder read
John 1:35 in English. Following this was reading from a book, non-
bible, by a different elder. The offering plate was passed after the
second song but they did not pass it among the volunteers, except the
first row. After another reading one of the students greeted us in
English by reading Psalm 133 and thanking us for being there. He was
very polite and the oldest of the students. Bob, the oldest volunteer
at the service, then gave a short speech thanking the Fijians for
having us. He did a great job.

After this the youngest man, at least in appearances, in a coat and
tie delivered the sermon. It turns out he was the minister. He gave
us a brief outline of his message from John 1:35-42 in English. His
message was titled, “Who am I”, and presented three pictures of Peter,
and us.

The first was how Peter saw himself: only the good parts. The second
was how others saw Peter: only the bad parts. Others typically
remember our bad deeds rather than good, while we remember the
opposite. And thirdly, is Jesus’ view of Peter. He saw not the good
or bad but what could be. He saw this and changed his name to the
“Rock”. Peter went on to become the foundation of the church.

He then proceeded with the same message but longer and in Fijian. He
was very dynamic using pauses, humor, and fluid speech. I was
impressed at the student’s attention as well.

The pastor described the service liturgy as that established by
William Cross and David Cargill, the first missionaries to Fiji who
established a written language. He was also very grateful to the
lineage of our forefathers for saving Fiji from the darkness of
cannibalism.

The day ended with light thundershowers and constant rain, a much
welcome break to the stifling mugginess. My expectations where for
more wind but that has not materialized. Hopefully our training
village will have a nice breeze.

We are off to packing and preparing for our departure tomorrow.