Making Your Own Mission

Monday morning we got up very early, drove to the airport and caught a flight to Suva, Fiji.   Upon our arrival we were met by Frank and Suzanne Stanford.  Frank and Suzanne are from Calgary, Canada.  Back in 2002 they wanted to go on a mission, but only for a year.  When they met with their stake president he counseled them to "make their own mission".  And so they did - they went to Fiji and volunteered to serve in the Fiji Temple as temple workers.  After a year they returned to Canada, but one thing lead to another and they ended up back in Fiji to do some more church-service.  When they finished their time there they again returned to Canada.  Then about 5 years ago they were trying to decide what they should do next.   They got the distinct impression to sell everything and go back to Fiji.  The rest is history.  Frank is now the Country Welfare Manager (a volunteer church-service position) in Fiji and Suzanne takes care of the wheelchair distributions and is his assistant.  They work with the young single adults and youth in their ward, provide humanitarian service and are applying for citizenship in Fiji.  They are fantastic assets to everyone they associate with and an excellent example to those they work with.  Each year they return to Canada for a short visit with family and then return to their adventures in Fiji.  They live in Suva, but their service takes them to many other islands.

Frank has been invaluable in helping to make some of the humanitarian projects we have in the Pacific Area happen.  When the hospital ship, USNS Mercy, came in July, Frank coordinated the efforts to get people needing surgery to the ship and the supplies on the ship to medical clinics on land.  When a shipment of school furniture got stuck in customs, Frank worked tirelessly to solve the problem.  Suzanne has become the scrapbooker and kept an excellent record of newspaper clippings and articles in addition to pictures of the various humanitarian projects they have helped with over the years.

Frank traveled with us when we visited the islands of Vanua Levu and Taveuni this past week (more posts to follow).  He and Suzanne know how to make things happen.  We are thankful for them and the difference they have made in Fiji.  In our conversations this last week, they told us that because of health issues they probably would not have been able to pass the physicals to receive a mission call, but all the same, they are making their own very successful mission.

Gary, Susan, Suzanne and Frank

"Amidst the storms of life, danger lurks; and men, like boats, find themselves stranded and facing destruction.  Who will man the lifeboats, leaving behind the comforts of home and family, and go to the rescue?"  Thomas S. Monson, Teachings of Thomas S. Monson

International Dateline, More Garden Visits and A Pleasant Evening in Taveuni

After the ceremony at Somosomo School we jumped into our 4WD vehicle and drove to the other end of the island (Vuna) to visit more gardens and the people who have been working with Elder and Sister Roth.  We thought we had seen some nice gardens - then we visited the gardens in Vuna.  We are not sure whether it was the soil, the warmer climate or something else but we very impressed.  As you can probably tell, the gardens are flourishing.  The members were happy and were able to provide for their families as well as sell a little produce on the side.

Everyone in the family was involved in the garden.  After Gary showed one sister how to thin her carrots, her little ones immediately got down on the ground hard at work weeding the garden and thinning the carrots.

After our delightful visits to the gardens we loaded ourselves back into the car (really a 4WD truck) to go to our dinner appointment.  As we drove along, the topic of the International Dateline came up and since it was nearby, we decided to make a quick stop.  It was nearly sunset and quite windy, but we were able to capture some pictures before we drove up the road to rendezvous with some other senior missionaries at the Tramonto Restaurant.  The view was breathtaking.  Here you see Gary in "today" and Susan in "yesterday".  

After dinner we went back to our hotel which was rustic and quite nice.  We had a marvelous view of the water and even had some fruit bats out in the trees.

In the morning we got up and ate breakfast before going to the dock to catch the ferry back to Natuvu, Buca Bay.  Susan had made sure to take her seasick pills the night before and she did much better on the return trip.  We had decided to ride a different ferry on the return, but there were no available seats so we got on the Taveuni Princess again.   The captain wears white unless it is a stormy day.  Then she wears brown.  When the ferry arrived she was wearing brown.  We boarded the boat and waited for our departure.  As we were sitting there, Gary's cell phone rang.  It was a phone call from Church headquarters SLC regarding a missionary dentist that was scheduled to come and serve in the Samoa humanitarian dental clinic for the next 18 months.  We were glad for that call and quite surprised that we could receive telephone service so far from any center of population. When we returned to Natuvu, Buca Bay we drove to Savusavu where we had lunch with Elder and Sister Roth.  On the way to the airport to catch the first leg of our return home we stopped at the Seaqaqa Primary School where more school furniture had been donated.  It was just a quick visit.  It was Friday afternoon and school was out, but we were impressed that all the children and teachers were cleaning the buildings and grounds.  At the airport we checked in and departed at about 4:00pm.  The flight to Suva, Fiji was a short one.  We arrived and settled in for a 5 hour layover in the Suva airport, which has one small snack counter and not much to choose from - a good place to maintain your diet.  At 10:30pm we boarded our flight for Auckland and got back to New Zealand at 1:45am.  By the time we got home it was close to 3:00am.  It was wonderful to have been in Fiji, but it was also good to be home.

"Whatever our calling, regardless of our fears or anxieties, let us pray and then go and do."  Thomas S. Monson "They Pray and They Do"  General Conference April 2003 

Taveuni Princess Ferry

Thursday morning, August 13th, we went with Frank and the E/S Roth to the island of Taveuni.  You can fly there, however we took the ferry which is a great ride especially if you have "sea legs" and don't get seasick.   We parked our truck and walked down the lane to where the ferry comes in.

Everyone was standing around in anticipation of the ferry arrival, the closer the time got, the more people showed up ready and waiting.

The ferry arrived and everyone was unloaded including the luggage onto the boat.  Susan had taken her seasick pills, but it didn't help all that much.  After she spent a little time leaning over the side of the boat she managed to be okay the rest of the 1 hour and minute ride while Gary enjoyed riding on front of the boat with the locals.  

When we arrived at Taveuni island, there was another cargo boat by where the ferry usually unloads the people.  They pulled up by a freight dock and proceeded to help everyone off the boat.  The ferry didn't match the height of the dock because it was low tide and the exit to the boat was about 4 feet below the dock.  There were two men who reached down, grabbed our arms and helped pull us out while we scrambled up the wall with our feet    After we got off of the boat we were met by a gentlemen who helped us rent a 4WD vehicle and off we drove.  This was not your typical US rental car agency.  Just a man who handed us the keys and we were on our way.  We jumped in the car and drove off to attend a hand-over ceremony at a nearby school where the Church had donated some good quality used school furniture to a local school in need.

"By learning of Him, by believing in Him, by following Him, there is the capacity to become like Him.  Thomas S. Monson

Somosomo District School, Fiji

Upon arrival in Tavueni, we went to the Somosomo School for a hand-over ceremony for school furniture which the Church along with a charitable organization in New Zealand had donated.  The organization we partnered with is Furniture for Schools (FFS).  FFS collects the furniture from various schools in New Zealand when they replace theirs.  Church members clean and load the donated furniture into shipping containers and the Church humanitarian program then ships it to various island destinations including Samoa, Tonga, Kiribati and now Fiji.  This good quality used school furniture is greatly appreciated by the island schools, the students and their parents.  Prior to receiving these desks and chairs, many students sat on the floor.  They are very grateful to have a new seat and a different perspective in the classroom.

When we arrived everyone was assembled in the community hall across the street from the school.  As we entered, the ceremony began and Elder Winters was asked to speak along with a one of the community leaders.  After the ceremony ended we were entertained by the older students who danced for us.  The girls danced while the boys provided the rhythm.   All the children sang and it was a great cultural experience.  Some children came up to us afterwards and gave us "Thank You" notes for the help the Church and FFS had provided.

After the ceremony and dancing everyone ate a wonderful Fijian meal.  We visited with many of the children and then drove up the road a short distance to see another potential project that our humanitarian couple, Elder and Sister Roth, are working on.  Some additional rooms are being tiled to provide additonal classroom space.

When we were finished at the Somsomo school we drove off to see additional gardens as part of the overall garden project the Roth's have been coordinating with the members on the island of Tavueni.

"For we realize that on education more than on any other factor depends the welfare of mankind."  Franklin Harris, Brigham Young Univeristy Inaugural Address, 1921

Come See My Garden

Early on Wednesday, August 12th, Frank Stanford picked us up from our hotel and we headed to the Suva airport where we flew to the island of Vanua Levu.  We were met there by Elder and Sister Roth.  The Roths are from Switzerland.  They had 10 children so you know that they know how to organize and make things happen.  Upon arrival Sister Roth handed us our schedule for the next 3 days and we were off and running.  On the islands, the missionary couples have 4WD trucks as opposed to a car, which was very useful on this particular trip.

Last year the Roths began a gardening project with multiple familes in several locations.  The project helped with seeds and training for people to develop gardens in order to provide food and income for their families.  Our first visit required us to put the truck into 4WD low and do some serious maneuvering to get there.  On the way to visit the first garden the Roth's told us that they usually walked the last kilometer to the members house as they got their truck stuck once before in a large ravine and it took 7 men and a horse to get it out.

Elder and Sister Roth have encouraged people to plant their gardens close to their homes so that they will be able to watch and care for them more easily.  They have taught families how to harvest seeds from their crops so that they won't need to buy seeds for the next planting season.  This is the second year of their gardening project.  As you can see from the pictures, these gardens are very successful.

Sometimes we had to walk through the bush and wade the streams to get to the gardens.  Everyone wanted to share something with us.  It was a great day and we loved seeing the many gardens.

*** Note - Susan looked at the last two pictures and said to herself - "Who is that little old lady with Gary?'  In our mind we still see ourselves as in our 30's - but guess that is not the case.

"God often meets others' needs through our small acts of service.  We need to help those we seek to serve to know for themselves that God not only loves them, but he is ever mindful of them and of their needs."  Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Spencer W. Kimball

Namataku, Fiji

On Tuesday morning Aug 11th the Stanfords picked us from our hotel and we drove 3 hours to the village of Namataku, Fiji to visit a nearly completed humanitarian project.  Upon arrival all the school children were patiently waiting outside and a "Handover Ceremony" officially began.  They acknowledged their special guests "all the way from America" and we were invited to tour the project site.  This project was an addition to an existing toilet block plus a hygiene area for washing and brushing teeth and a new source of clean water.  They now also have a 10,000 liter water tank which will provide sufficient clean water to meet the school's needs.

After touring the site a prayer was said and the special visitors each received a garland.

There were speakers from the school and the church (Elder Winters and Brother Stanford).  They talked to the children about the importance of getting a good education.

After the talks which were kept mercifully short, we were invited to go down to the new toilet block again where they took pictures of the official handover of the facilities to the school.  After the pictures there were some speakers and some refreshments.

During the refreshments we were entertained by the approximately 450 students.  After our entertainment, lollipops were given out to the children and they bid us a fond farewell and we drove the 3 hours back to Suva.

"We believe it is essential that our young people gain sufficient education to care for themelves in this highly specialized age, and also to serve their fellowmen and we have in the past and shall continue in the future to support education at all levels."  Joseph Fielding Smith, Conference Report April 1970