This Mission Overview:
Bula! Welcome to Fiji.
We are planning to run a similar programme to last year, but details are still being discussed at present.
Here is a sample of our Tour itinerary for your information.
| DRAFT ONLY -TOUR SCHEDULE | |
| Sunday | The team travel from either Auckland or Christchurch to Nadi, Fiji. In the evening the combined team fly from Nadi to Suva, then travel into Suva city to our accommodation. |
| Monday | After breakfast each morning before the team head out on their daily tour a Team Meeting time is held. Today a Fiji Cultural session will take place followed by a talk from the team of the House of Sarah Ministry.This ministry specialise in woman’s abuse issues and how the church is dealing with these challenges throughout Fiji and the wider Pacific.
The afternoon is a trip to Suva city to purchase our ‘Fijian Number ones’! (Fijian styled clothing) to wear during our visits to projects and events |
| Tuesday | The team visit the Government-run Old People’s Home, located in the WW2 Army Barracks. This is an inspiration visit with elderly people with physical disabilities like amputees, blind or deaf, co-habiting with those with mental health issues and dementia. The staff here are incredibly gracious, and again the Golden Oldies donate medical equipment to support them in their work here.In the afternoon the team travel to visit the oldest church on the Island and hear about how this small congregation support ministries in a local town.
Then a short walk through the town to the local Medical Centre and Hospital. The Golden Oldies have supported this over-stretched and sparsely-resourced hospital with donated medical equipment from donations received. |
| Wednesday | Today we will visit squatter settlements in the region. The team will learn about the land tenure issues, squalor housing, subsistence farming, fishing and woman’s entrepreneurial micro-businesses.The village we visit is very isolated and the team will trek along tracks through the coconut plantations to meet the people of this village
This afternoon the team are visiting a local prison, based on permission approved on the actual day, and encouraging the men there. |
| Thursday | Today we travel to a School that has specialised in offering second-chance education for some young adults who want to return to school. Young men and single-Mum’s attend, and the school has grown from 80 to 350 students over the past 5-years.The team will spend the school day here with the children in either the pre-school, primary or secondary divisions on the school.Tonight, we are hosted by a suburban squatter village. They provide a cultural extravaganza with their food, music, and Fijian dancing. |
| Friday | The Golden Oldies team are venturing to a remote fishing village at the mouth of the largest river system in Suva. It involves travelling in narrow elongated Fijian long boats down the river, through the mangroves to the ocean. Here we will spend the day with the village community and their Primary School and Kindergarten. The team will be allocated classrooms to spend time with the children, and the children will perform some traditional dances and songs as well.We will then visit a small hospital with 16 beds, catering for a population of 80,000 people. An incredibly humbling experience. |
| Saturday | Today is the team’s final full day in Suva. It will be a chance for the team to explore and experience the wonderful and famous Saturday Suva markets. Village people travel to the city with all their crops, poultry, fish, and crafts to sell on the Saturday.Suva is a bustling city centre and it’s a last chance to do some final shopping.
Tonight a Golden Oldies Graduation Banquet is held to celebrate the weeks engagement with all the projects and events that have taken place over the week. |
| Sunday | Today its pack up, saying our farewells, and travelling to Nadi. The team travel the Coastal Coral Pacific Highway that passes through many coastal and inland villages along the way.The team stops at a village church for a Sunday Service and village-hosted luncheon.
Leaving here, we travel to Sigatoka. In partnership, a Kindergarten Project has been developed using the church as its base during the week. From 5-years ago, with a Parish of 3, the Church is now recognised as having the most successful pre-school programme in the region, with a waiting list for children to attend. It has also increased the numbers attending the church on Sundays. The team then complete the trip to Nadi. Here in Nadi the team will stay for their final 2-nights at a resort. |
| Monday | A day to relax and reflect on the mission. Some of the team will relax quietly at the resort or explore the local region, while others will venture out on a day trip to a tropical island to experience something of the beauty of the tourist region; or alternatively visit the famous ‘Sleeping Giant’ Botanical gardens.A final night together as a team, before an early start the next morning. |
| Tuesday | Up and away to catch our flights back to NZ! |
Golden Oldies Mission 