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

Area Office Service Activity

On Friday we had a service activity at the Area Office.  The week started with collecting books from our homes and donating them to the "Reading with Conviction" book drive.  The books will be donated to the inmates at the Auckland and Mt. Eden Prison.   

On Friday we had a series of activities.  We had a blood drive sponsored by NZ Blood Donations.  We also had the opportunity to be able to purchase a box lunch from an organization called "Eat My Lunch'.  Eat my Lunch delivers wholesome and nutritious lunches to Kiwi kids in need.  The last activity was assembling Hygiene Kits.  The Area Office assembled approximately 450 - 500 kits consisting of shampoo, soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, razor (for men only - another group assembled the women's hygiene kits), face cloth, comb and band aids.  Each department was assigned a time to assemble the kits and the job was done in no time flat.

In our time slot we were assigned to be the "bundlers".  This entailed tying a string around 10 bags and putting a label on it stating if it was a "Mens" or "Womens" kit.  

We found it interesting as the New Zealand Red Cross is celebrating their 100 year anniversary in 2015.  When we were serving in Bosnia in 2012, the Red Cross of Bosnia and Herzegovina was celebrating their 100 year anniversary at that time.  We have enjoyed working with the Red Cross organization.  They do much good in the world.

"I was told once that people would never thank me for my work, but this was not true.  I am now left with so many wonderful memories o amazing places seen that you could never imagine, beautiful smiles, humble thanks and many blessings.  And how could I ever feel unhappy about that?" Jane Askew, "Recipient of the International Committee of the Red Cross Florence Nightingale Medal". 
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