‘Fiji time’ occurred as we waiting for a planned taxi to ferry our Golden Oldies from the top of a steep gradient down into the depths of a valley where we planned to meet the local church in this squatter village. But the taxi didn’t come, so these courageous people cautiously made their way down this uneven ‘track’ themselves to the welcoming group on the valley floor.
‘Emmanuel’ –God is amongst us, God leaving his ‘home’ to come and live amongst us. This was a reflection that came to our people as they had left their home and made their way down into another culture and remote village people, to share together the love we have for God.
The village comprises of about 200 ‘houses’, half being of indigenous Fijian descent and Methodists; and the rest are of Melanesian descent worshipping at the Anglican church. Both having their churches in this valley and together they share a pre-school.
The village people like other villages has a roster to go fishing daily, leaving in their long-boat canoes with outboard motors, navigating through the mangroves to the ocean to fish. Then returning on the incoming tide 8-hours later, they return and others will take the fish to the Suva market, an hour away to sell. Their main source of income for the village.
The team met children and families as they walked through the village and then were hosted to a delicious lunch of fruits and coconut milk –which was poured into glasses to make it easy for them to drink.
The children sang and danced and the team reciprocated. Time to leave and met the scheduled taxi to ferry our Oldies back up the torturous mountain track.
But ‘Fiji time’ occurred again.
No taxi met us, too steep they decided for the taxi to come down the hill!
‘What do we do now?’ I thought, and then suddenly to my absolute astonishment the team ,all with their walking sticks and dodgy hips, with support from the village children started climbing the hill! The God of miracles gave them an inner belief and strength that they could do this. They did.
Another miracle!!

[Today has dawned brilliantly sunny, 26C, and the Golden Oldies are heading to a coastal resort for some well-earned rest. Saturday night they are being hosted by a village for a meal, and Sunday morning they leave early, returning to Suva to join in the first-ever ‘bula’ service at the Anglican Cathedral. And of course the Sunday afternoon is the trip out to the remote Wailoku Valley Village for the grand opening of the dunnies!! and subsequent village celebrations].

The AAW (Association of Anglican Woman) has an outreach counselling centre called the House of Sarah which the team visited. They learned about the sad increase of family and woman abuse that is occurring in the Fijian community, and the education, training and counselling programmes being developed.
It has also been evident throughout the mission of the role and importance of the AAW groups in all the villages we have visited. They are like the ‘backbone’ of the community and the support received from NZ AAW groups is highly valued and appreciated.
Meanwhile the boys, our project team, arrived home late last night, exhausted, but as heroes for the enormity of the work they have done this week with the village toilet project. A guard of honour was formed by the Golden Oldies and they were clapped and applauded by the team as their tired bodies made it to the dining room to collapse. They have done an outstanding job in installing all the pipe work and toilets/basins for what is becoming a massive planned official opening this coming Sunday afternoon. Next week I will post the story and pictures.

Last year the Golden Oldies visited a church that had a dream to start a theological library. All they had was a derelict storage room and no books. In response, Archer’s Chaplain on that trip, John Ward, and other team members came back to NZ and started collecting theological books. Now this year, 60 books were carried across in our teams suitcases for this church.
Today, Peter, as the Golden Oldies representative came with us and we handed over these books to the Minister.
It was wonderful to see the transformation of this store room into a library, and see books that had already been gifted. The church ministers predominately to the Fiji Indian community and they were absolutely delighted to receive the Golden Oldies gift of these bible study books.

Our oldest Golden Oldie, 84-year old Pauline, visited St Christopher’s orphanage 40-years ago with her daughter. With pictures she had taken then and had placed on posters she brought them today to present to the Sisters.

Along with Pauline, our AAW team members who have been long supporters were delighted to be visiting this ministry.
“What a thrill to visit the children here after supporting them for so many years. I never thought I would actually come and visit it personally”
was the common cry of all these ladies.

Not to be out done, our ‘Junior Golden Oldie’ Andrea, met a 19-year old girl here who is trialling out to see if she can become a fulltime nun. While walking around with her, Andrea asked her what her name was. “My Fijian name is Aerita” she said, and in English it is Andrea. Well what a coincidence!
Aerita was a lovely host and we’re sure she will do well with her chosen desire.

Returning to Suva after being hosted by the people at St Lawrence Church, the oldest Anglican Church in Fiji, we suddenly came to an abrupt stop outside a police outpost. Stepping off the bus we walk around to the front of the bus and see the fan belt broken and in pieces on the ground.
Stranded, and still a long way from home, ‘tired oldies’ on board, and repairs hours away, didn’t look good.
What now?
Sit and wait? A fleet of taxis? Wait for public transport to Suva central then walk up the hill to the College?
Ummm
God had a better idea, and shows again, he had gone before us… as around the corner comes a mini bus, and as we discover later, it is driven by our drivers neighbour. He stops and hears the situation. All board he says! And within 5-minutes of breaking down, we are being driven back to the Bible College –at no cost to us!!
Our miracle-working God does it again!

The remote valley school and church where Allan, Grant and Tim have been travelling to each day is the culmination of a partnership starting a year ago. The toilet project involved the village people raising money and starting the toilet building. Then the Golden Oldies and NZCMS Families groups contributed funds. Now ‘the boys’ as part of this year’s ‘Golden Oldies’ team are using their plumbing and joinery skills to teach and work alongside the local men to install the toilets.

And true partnership it has been.
Our boys teaching skills as they install the doors, pipes, toilets basins; and the Fijians show them how to ‘rest’ with Fiji time, especially after lunch with a compulsory rest!
Its a race to finish the installation before the entire village turn up on Sunday for the grand opening, and subsequent Fijian festivities to follow, with the Golden Oldies as VIP guests!
“its the rain that is hindering us at present” Allan says, but God-willing we will get to the finish line before Sunday!
Bring on Sunday.
[postscript: the day has dawned fine and warm and the boys are off with a vengeance to complete their mission!]

The kava was ‘enjoyed’ by all, or should that be ‘endured’!
Hosted by a squatter village high up in the hills, overlooking the Suva harbour visible in the distance was another joyous occasion. The children and village people welcomed us as we walked the trails to their community building for a cultural experience extraordinaire. This Melanesian village is scheduled for a new housing development sometime in the next 5-years, according to the rumours, because of its picturesque views of the sea. Yet it has been the life-long home for these charming people we mingled with. The kava ceremony was actually an honour, the meal of freshly cooked fish and ‘lovu’ (Fijian-hangi) of chickens and meats, along with the fresh fruits, was amazing considering their poverty. Followed by a Fijian dance and dancing involving the whole village concluded another inspiring day.

Earlier in the day we had visited the Anglican Schools especially focusing on educating many of the students from the surrounding squatter villages. Being welcomed by the student’s choir of heavenly voices harmonising was heart-warming.
“Principal,
‘Mata’ is sitting at home but he wants to come back to school”, and with that comment the newly appointed Principal Mika, went to find out ‘why’ he wasn’t coming back to school. Visiting him, he discovered his Uncle could not afford the annual high school fees of Fj$230/ NZ$180. Mika recognising the unique role this Anglican school has in supporting students from low socio-economic backgrounds, encouraged the student back to his studies. Living with his uncle who has 10 children of his own meant there wasn’t enough money for furthering his education. He only recently met his Mum for the first time and has never seen his Dad, yet he wants to do well at school. His dream is to become a doctor.
Basten College has struggled to offer a full range of studies, and has a goal to establish a vocational training centre. This is to train in employment-related skills for apprenticeships, tourism, retailing and business. Planning is well underway.

We then visited the e-learning centre at the University where specially designed laptops for primary school aged children in developing countries are being trialled. Our team, and especially the teachers of our team, were impressed with how clever these computers were and the impact they will have in lifting the education of students here. Now to get these laptops to these children in these villages.

This school and university were further examples of the Fijian faith they have to believe in greater things beyond their human capabilities. Just like the Tin Cathedral faith vision the day before, it is challenging our Golden Oldies in how we should respond to these inspiration education visions.

‘Denise’ lives with her 5-boys in a dying squatter village. In 2-months time the Chinese contractors will start excavating her land for new houses.
“Where are you going to move to?” Wendy asks, and Denise replies,
“we don’t know, maybe the Housing Authority will help us, but our real hope is in God above”
and after encouraging her we then get to talk about the Crusaders! Its interesting but in both villages we visited yesterday, the Crusaders were key discussion points, they love them.
Can’t work out why, what’s wrong with the Hurricanes!

The next squatter settlement, Nadawa, we reach by walking through the plantations, and they welcome us with coconuts freshly dropped out of a palm tree by a boy ‘running’ up the tree to kick them down to us. As we talked with their young Village Chief, Rev Wami, we ask how they survive here.
“We go out in our long boats through the mangroves when the tide comes in, fish for 8-hours and then come back in on the in-coming tide.” If they’re lucky they will catch enough to pay for 2-days food. “And schooling?” “After faith, education is the goal for our children. We don’t want them to live like we do.” The children walk through the plantations daily to go to the Anglican School, an hour away. Last year a girl from this remote impoverished slum village was Head Girl of Basden College, the Anglican High School. They are proud of that, and this year she has a Scholarship to attend Forestry School.

‘The children look happy and healthy, and they have nothing compared to us’ was the continual reflection being heard in the bus as we rattled along to the Tin Cathedral for lunch.

The Melanesian Fijians are the poorest of the poor in Fiji, with no claim to land and few chances for prosperity, prosperity as we know it. Yet here at the Tin Cathedral, built in a week, because the congregation had over-crowded the Minister’s lounge, is an inspiration. This Melanesian village have a dream. To build a church/community centre on the adjacent site for their people. Architectural plans were presented to us, and with little employment, it is compensated with great faith, “we look forward to hosting you in our new Cathedral soon” Astonishingly, they have just received a gift of Fj$160,000 towards Stage One of this project.
Another example of our miracle acting God being revealed in our presence.

Our Projects team, Allan, Grant and Tim, had a great first day in the village, training the village people in plumbing skills as they prepare to complete this toilet project for their official opening this coming Sunday. They had 10 men and students working alongside them, connecting pipes, hanging doors, drilling holes through masonry, extending block walls, and gathering a list of other materials they need to buy this am. Today they’re off early, and excited about their role, even if they do have a few mosquito bite wounds from the overnight attack in the hostel bedroom!

Meanwhile the team today are being hosted by the Anglican Schools that help educate the children from these squatter settlements. After that they’re off to the University of the South Pacific where they are viewing these specially design laptops for children in developing countries throughout the world. ‘E-learning’ using laptops and inquiry-styled learning is being developed to give children in remote areas the best chance for their future employment. While tonight a squatter village is hosting the team with a Fijian cultural experience and a kava ceremony.
But I want enlighten the team about the kava until afterwards!

Travelling to Christchurch airport with the grey drizzle outside for our 1pm departure my phone suddenly rings. “Mitch, the plane is delayed 2-hours, we’re now leaving at 3pm” Quickly I calculated that that still gave us a margin of an hour in transit in Nadi before we need to catch our connecting flight to Suva. ‘Should be Ok’, I ponder as we meet up with everyone else at check-in, “we’ll have to tough it out and hope the plane arrives on time, came my soothing words of fading leader confidence!”
But I spoke too soon.
3pm departure loomed closer, only to be dashed with the revelation that departure was now delayed till 4.30pm; and fog was descending around the airport. Would our plane actually land?
Shocked and disappointed, the mission had been grounded before it had taken off!
Now, if the in-bound plane arrives, its too late to connect with a flight to Suva. Looks like 17 Golden Oldies stranded in Nadi at 9pm on a Sunday night was the new scenario.
Not sure where God is in all this!
Furthermore, we have our oldest member meeting us in Nadi, having travelled from Auckland, and she will be stranded there on her own! Its all going a bit pear-shaped. How can we turn this around? Plan B is becoming replaced with about Plan D for Disaster!!
Slowly the fog lifts, we secure beds in a hotel overnight in Nadi, reschedule our Nadi-Suva flight for 6.00am today!, our wonderful Fijian family arrange to get our ‘stranded Nadi Golden Oldie’ arrange to get her on the plane, and then our Fiji Airlines planes lands to joyous rapture. We depart ‘on-time’ at 4.30pm and arrive to a warm 26C in Nadi at 8.30pm, with another shock imminent.
An announcement over the public speaker system sends us into confusion.
The Nadi-Suva domestic flight has been delayed to await the arrival of the Golden Oldies from Christchurch! Suddenly the team are herded through customs to the domestic terminal with the plane is waiting on the tarmac for the team. We discover later this flight was delayed 1.5 hours, and Suva airport was directed to remain open beyond closing time by Air Traffic control for this flight to be able to proceed. Even experienced Fijian Air ground staff are surprised.
10.00pm.
The 17 Golden Oldies touchdown miraculously in Suva, including our other ‘stranded’ Nadi member. Unbelievable! How did that happen? Maybe there is a God out there that still does miracles and is in control of everything. Amazed and in awe of what has suddenly occurred we board our bus, still dumbfounded! And in response, impromptu songs of praise of thanksgiving begin as the bus shakes and rattles its way to the Bible College.
hat a joy to be back in this beautiful country amongst the warmth of the Fijian people.
Today the Golden Oldies are off to walk through squatter and slum settlement, viewing housing projects, and are guests for lunch at the ‘Tin Cathedral’.

This morning, Jill, a Golden Oldie graduate from last year drove an hour from Ashburton to Christchurch to deliver more books to take to Fiji.
“I’m so envious of the group going this year, they will have such a wonderful experience” Jill says as another box of books is delivered for dispatch for the Fiji children.

While this afternoon at the final Christchurch-based Golden Oldies training, Geoffrey, who resides at Archer Care, came to support the team, and pray for God’s blessings on the mission.
Then, not to be out done, Jordan came along as a special guest. Jordan has just returned from the NZCMS Families Mission to Fiji, and came to offer his insights and advice to this team, heading to Fiji for the first time.
“its really humid when you get off the plane, and take time to talk to everyone you meet. They are such lovely, warm and friendly people. And don’t forget to say ‘bula’ when you meet them.”
How great it is to see newly returned ‘short-term missionaries’ are already keen to inspire the next group to go and experience the enriching time they had. Thanks Geoffrey and Jordan.