We have made it safely to New Zealand and are settled on the Kapiti Coast!
This week we have enjoyed being a part of everything going on at St Luke’s (our home church) with the pre-Christmas celebrations. We love the way we can so easily slip back into a different world, helping out with food parcels for those in need, making christingles, participating in the service and other carol services for the community. It is welcoming to be back amongst our friends, family and church community.
Before the year ends we wanted to share some of the exciting things that we finished our year in Fiji with.
Namamanuca Primary School Dorm
In November Roy spent three weeks on Yanuya Island with some of our local workers - Atu and Fiji Josh. Our son Josh also joined them for two of the weeks as well as Jason and Danielle, two incredible volunteers who came over from New Zealand for the project.
The project was to rebuild a dorm at Namamanuca Primary School, for the children of nearby Tavua Island who board there each week as there is no school on their island. The old dorm was in a very bad condition and the work we have done now gives a much safer and drier facility for their use, giving the children a sound place to live.
Our main transport was aboard 'Humble' - an 8m fibreglass boat
They worked with many locals from Tavua Island and were able to do a phenomenal amount in their three weeks there. The locals demolished most of it before our arrival and then the team built it from the ground up, a 15m x 5m dorm, split into separate rooms for boys and girls. The design came from free building plans provided by the Fijian government for use in rural and maritime areas, so with a few tweaks for termite proofing (and bringing it up to NZS3604 standards) we were away.
The team enjoyed the simple island life with the unexpected bonus of solar power which made charging the batteries for drills etc much easier. Showers and toilets were not plumbed in, but instead relied on bore water (with a noticeable salt content) that was turned on most afternoons to fill up large drums. You then used buckets of water to flush the toilet or clean yourself, but showering was usually preceded by a swim in the ocean. Drinking water was reliant on rain collected from the roof into water tanks which we then put through our bucket filter system.
Some of the team, including Jason, Danza (Danielle), our Josh and Fiji Josh
They were treated well by the extremely grateful locals who, with tears, were so happy that their children now had a safe and comfortable place to stay. Can you imagine the situation of sending your children to another island for the week and knowing the building they stayed in was unsafe, waiting for years to get help? The locals were also appreciative to avoid sending the children to the mainland for schooling where there is a strong presence of other religions and influences.
The project was made possible by the fundraising of the village on Tavua Island, but topped up significantly by ‘Survivor Entertainment’, as the TV show ‘Survivor’ films two of their main camp locations on Tavua Island and provides work to the locals for 6 months of the year. The students from Tavua commented that they were now going to be staying in a hotel, excited by how nice their new accommodation was. We find it a privilege to be able to serve such hospitable, loving people with a real need. A big thank those of you who support us to do this work.
Currently if the children of Tavua and Yanuya Island go to secondary school they need to leave the islands for the mainland. However there has been talk of funding for a High School in the future… It could be a while off yet, but it could be a great project to consider in the future!
A group of the Tavua students with us on Danza's last day
Finishing up projects - Vakanalawa and Sabeto
After getting back from Yanuaya Island it was a busy few weeks preparing to be away from Fiji for three months. Roy spent time at both of these projects continuing the work, plus enabling and equipping others to continue while we are away. We really enjoy journeying with our regular Fijian workers we have through MMM Fiji, providing them with employment even when we aren’t there. We currently have Frank (who we have known for nearly 20 years) and Atu (who we met through church) continuing to do work for MMM Fiji while we are in New Zealand which is exciting.
New MMM Fiji work truck
One of the last things we did before departing was to buy, on behalf of MMM Fiji, a new (used) work vehicle. It has been a long journey to get to this point and the vehicle is much needed. We managed to find an excuse for driving through a bit of mud and puddles (which is basically unavoidable going anywhere in Fiji this time of year) on our way to Oasis Farm where it will be babysat while we are away.
This Landcruiser will make getting from A to B a lot easier
Arriving in New Zealand
We arrived in New Zealand last Monday and enjoyed a few days in Christchurch. We spent two days at the NZCMS office and were then able to catch up with friends and make new connections.
Roy, Rachael and Gabrielle made a quick trip to Pirongia for the MMM NZ end of year bbq where we were commended for five years with MMM, which we accomplished in June this year. We are now happy to be house sitting on the Kapiti Coast until Wellington Anniversary weekend. A great chance to have some well needed downtime.
It is a pretty crazy time of year to step between two different worlds. It is nice to wear different clothes and not feel sweaty and sticky and eat good food that we have missed.
We have loved public playgrounds, walking tracks and long daylight hours. Roads that are so smooth and easy to drive on with great lightning at night and even the chance to enjoy a hot bath on a cold night. It is great to see family and friends and celebrate Christmas with our home church. But a saying that I have shared in the past is, “A ship in harbour is safe, but that is not what it is designed for” and right now it feels right to be back in our harbour for a season of rest.
We will be in New Zealand until early March and will be visiting churches that support us between Morrinsville and Rangiora as well as attending New Wine and Festival One, so will spend a bit of time on the road! We are incredibly grateful to be lent a van for the summer to cart our kids, things and camping gear around the North Island with.
We hope you all have a blessed Christmas and take a moment to reflect on its true meaning - Jesus humbling himself to come as a baby, bringing light and hope to the world.
Please get in touch if you would like to catch up.
Roy, Rachael, Josh, Gabrielle and Kelepi
Josh came to the island project for two weeks, proving that he can indeed handle the jandal like his t-shirt says
Josh gave everything a go!
Kelepi on Monuriki Island
This project was actually like what most people first imagine when we say we live and work in Fiji
Roy, Danza and Josh after 100%-ing the roof
Hanging out at a church picnic
Gabrielle with her Fiji besties (and Caleb) who stayed the night
Caleb with his Fiji besties at his end of year class party at Big Bula Waterpark
Josh and Caleb helping out at Salochna's
Gabrielle farewelling her much loved teacher of the last two years. Next year she will be changing to Te Kura, New Zealand's online correspondence school which Josh has been doing.
Road hazards like this are a daily occurrence... we actually had a goat run into our truck recently, but that's another story.
