Potpourri of Information

How about a little “Potpourri” today.

TEMPLE:
First; for those of you that go to the temple, pay close attention next time. The “garden of Eden” in the new film, had to be filmed in the South Pacific! You will see the several varieties of palm trees that we see every day. Many of the variety of plants are here in abundance, like the red plant that grows 4 or 5 feet tall. When Adam and Eve are leaving the garden, they walk under a tree (Flame tree) with the red flowers. Go back to letter number 1 or 2, in the blog and you will see the pictures Joyce took of these trees! Chad, does the film remind you of the Cook Islands?

PEOPLE:
I haven’t said much about the people yet – I haven’t been able to find out enough until this week. The people have so many varying features. Some have hair like Africans, but don’t look like Africans. Others have straight hair. And there are a few that have blondish red hair! Their facial features vary considerably.
So I’ve been reading. It is said that Fiji is the melting pot of the South Pacific. A true Fijian is actually a composite of at least three groups. Primarily they are Polynesians and Melanesians, with Micronesians thrown into the pot. The map shows where these three groups come from. From the Melanesians, we get the curly hair, they are also the only dark skinned people outside of Australia, to occasionally have blond hair! At the student devotional last Tuesday, we set up on the stage, I counted no less than six with the reddish hair.

The other group is the India, Indians. They are referred to as “Indo-Fijians”. They came as indentured servants, in about 1890. They make up about 37%, and the Fijians about 57% of the population. Around the middle of the 1900’s, the Indians outnumbered the Fijians. Therefore the Fijians drafted a constitution that disfavored the Indians. In 1970, it was written that the Visitor (Indians) must leave the country, and many did! As a result of the political actions, there have been 4 or 5 coups, the latest in 2006. I understand an election is scheduled this next year – it might get interesting.
When the temple was scheduled to be dedicated in 2000, President Hinckley flew in during a coup. The dedication was a very private ceremony, with only a few allowed to attend. A member of the church was a high ranking officer in the military. He assured the church that President Hinckley would not be interfered with. As he was transported from the airport to the temple, about 20 mile, the guards at each of the posts would stand at attention and salute him as he pasted. The Lord places the right people in the right places at the right time!
The Fijians come in various shades of brown, up to very dark. Those that are primarily Melanesians tend to be a little darker than the others. The Indians range from light tan to black! The Fijians are basically a large people. I was talking to a brother Thursday night at the church. He has a son that he said was pretty big – 6’-4” and 270#. The boy wants to go to BYU to play Rugby – the national sport in this region of the world! The Indians tend to be small boned and of slight build. Many of the Indian men will be about 5‘– 8” and weigh about 140#, if they’ve been standing in the rain! The women, with their small and refined features, and fine jet black hair, are frequently very beautiful.
The Fijians are a very modest people. The women dress very modestly, even on the beach. The Fijian men wear a skirt, called “sulu”. The Fijians wear either sandals or flip flops, men and women. The Indians have adopted the western styles, much less modest, and the men don’t wear the skirts, and they wear shoes. Many of our Elders, even some of the Senior Elders, wear the sulu. They say, they are very comfortable and cool. Someday soon, with summer coming on, I too will wear the sulu!

WEATHER: We are approaching the wetter season. If it gets much wetter we’ll drown! It has rained now, every day for the past two weeks. At one time it rained for about 36 hours straight! Sunday morning, the sun was shining, with only a few little clouds in the distance. In the afternoon when we left to go to the Seminary graduation, it came on in a down pour. It changes fast!

SEMINARY GRADUATION: We took some pictures at the Graduation. Took a picture of these three; the blond attends the Church College; nicest guy! Bishop Manueli and his family are here with their son (and Sister Whitehead) Another picture of a group of families and their graduates—notice the lei on this one young sister! Graduates received all sorts of leis.

Some more pictures at Seminary Graduation; Sister Fratangelo (our choir director) and Kaylela (young lady in our ward and goes to the Church School). Next is the picture of the baptismal font at the Stake Center where the graduation was held.

Walking the Sea Wall

We have taken a few mornings and joined Elder and Sister Whitehead as they walk the Sea Wall early in the morning.









Great exercise and each time we see something
different.  Sometimes the tide is in and sometimes it is way out.

Tiny crabs come up when the tide is out!











Flower from out of a tree; need to find the name of this -- so delicate that as Ed picked it up, the white petals fell off immediately!










                                                                           
There are buildings under construction; and of course Elder Collins needed to take these pictures AND explore.

"Fine Mahogany form lumber"  ....:)











Another find when the tide was out; these copper pots are now part of our decor on the kitchen table.

Whiteheads' Corolla, that we shared for the first month of our mission, under one of the trees by the Sea Wall--waiting for us while we walked!

One morning, just lately, the water was like the ocean with waves and splashing up onto the walkway. Really quite fun!  (Reminds us of Sister Jennica Williams as she greeted the Mississippi River!)

 

Benches and playground equipment are quite colorful along this walkway!

She couldn't resist!!!

Ed calls this the "NO - NO" Park.








Love this type of tree; and they are all over!

How Orchids are grown....  attached to a Palm Tree Core.

And now, after a month of walking, we have our own Hyundai Tucson that waits for us along the path.

A Week of Work and Friendships

16 October, 2013

Bula Vinaka

Another week of interesting challenges! After meeting with the people involved in vocational education at the Ministry of Education – TVET, and those from FNU. We have received some of what they were preparing. However, the more we get, the more confused the situation becomes. We have received modules (units of a curriculum) that are identified as, for example, Module II, but the title will not show up as a unit on the outline. We have a lot of work to do to be ready for next year!

Last week was conference weekend for you. But because we would receive the Saturday sessions at 4:00AM, 8:00AM and 12:00 noon on Sunday and the Sunday sessions on Monday, this past weekend was our “conference weekend”. We watched Saturday’s session at home – hooking up the computer to the TV. l went to the priesthood session at the Stake Center. Sunday we attended the sessions at the ward house.

The weather here is crazy! Some nights you almost need to turn on the AC. This weekend I had to close the windows – we were cold! From all I read and hear, there are only two seasons – summer and winter. From June through October we get the southeast trade winds. They say this is the best time to visit! February and March the winds come out of the east and brings the rain, with the southeast coast (where we are) getting 118”, and 197” inland – in the rain forest! This old desert rat might drown in that much rain! Summer is December – February. School is out during the summer! I don’t know what season you classify the other months to be part of.

No trips or excursions to report. Saturday we were going to hike into a water falls with some of the other couples, but it fell through.

The temple has been open a week and a half, and we’ve gone four times. Going to the temple is getting interesting. We have two temple missionary couples, a Perpetual Education Fund couple, CES couple that teach at the institute, an audit couple, an office couple, an ITEP couple, and us, that live here in Suva area. We explore, share meals, go out to eat, and socialize together. So when you go to the temple, most of the people working in the temple, and some of those going through, are people you’ve been with, and have become friends with. I didn’t mention the Mission President and the Temple President, whom we have also gotten to know well.

This past week 14 of us went to a Chinese restaurant for lunch – it was really good! Sunday evening eight couples had dinner at the CES couple’s house.  Pulled BBQ Beef sandwiches on great bread!  One thing about being down here is that they have super bakeries!  We all contributed a side dish: salad, fruit, and the like.














Monday night we had dinner with the Whiteheads, sort of a “farewell” meal for them, with two member Families from our ward.  Elder and Sister Whitehead leave for home on November 4th.  We will miss them!

Thursday 17 Oct., we received our own car!!! A brand new Hyundai Tucson (4-wheel drive). Needless to say, this will be nice; we will be much more effective in meeting the needs of our missionary duties here in Fiji.  Sweeeeet ride :)


As of this week, we have been in Fiji for one month!

LDS Temple of Fiji

Some pictures of our temple in this land.  It was dedicated back in 2000; President Gordon B. Hinckley flew in for about two hours as there was a government uprising happening.
















Leishmans flew in from their island last night; they fly to the United States today.  We were able to join them for a session at the temple and for a departing dinner at the Mission President's home.





Here's a sunset for all of you!  The temple overlooks the ocean on three sides and the sun was going down as we left for dinner.

LDS Church College of Fiji

06 Oct 2013

Bula Vinaka! (a hearty hello)

After the intense 10 days with Brother Millar, the rest of the week has seemed quiet. So I want to take the time to talk a little about the school and the people.

As I’ve said before, the campus is beautiful. The buildings are modern, except no AC. Most, if not all, of the teachers and the students would not have AC at home and would be uncomfortable if an AC unit were running. The administration building, where our office is, is air conditioned, and we do enjoy that! The grounds are immaculate. The ground is covered with grass and surrounded with beautiful shrubbery and flowers. All walkways are covered, so even when raining you can move around comfortably.

In our areas of vocational courses, the facilities and equipment are not as updated nor of the quality that we would desire. Several years ago the school name was LDS Technical College. It was recognized as the best vocational school in the country. Then, as wise men usually do, it was decided that our emphasis should be to prepare our students to continue their education at institutions of higher learning – BYU-Hawaii primarily. The vocational courses were de-emphasized.

As a result, as it is mostly in the states, about 20% of our students continue their education and 80% return to their homes and villages basically unprepared for employment and continue in the traditions of their fathers!

After we received our call, we were told that we would be involved in exciting changes. From what we see as the norm this year, which is to end in November, only a few students are enrolled in a TVET curriculum. Next year, every student will have to take at least one TVET curriculum – not just a course, but the entire program throughout their 4 or 5 years. Upon completion, they can receive not only a diploma for academic achievement, but will be granted also a Vocational Certificate level II. Then if a university education is not in their plans, they can be somewhat employable, or continue their vocational training at one of the local colleges, universities or a vocational schools for one or two years and come out with a Certificate III or IV. Which is like being an apprentice or a tradesman. This is what the church is doing in all their schools throughout the South Pacific.

The most enjoyable part of the school is the people! Never have I walked around any campus, where all you hear is laughter! Everyone speaks to you and will stop and converse with you. Even in the crowded lunch line, you hear nothing but laughter and pleasant interactions. This is somewhat true throughout the community, except of course, the taxi drivers!

On Friday, the students presented an assembly for “Teacher Appreciation Day”.  They had filmstrips; presentations of each faculty, administration person and us; special musical numbers by both students and faculty members.  The highlight of the program was the women teachers dancing to a love song performed by three of the men.  The students gave each of us a gift…..  The whole program was fun and laughter! Then after the program we, the faculty, were treated with tables full of pastries, cakes, fruits, and drinks – a fun day! These people make it hard to lose weight!!!!!

Another excitement this week was – the temple re-opened on Wednesday. We attended a session Thursday afternoon. Friday, after we left the school, we went to the mission office, which is on the same site as the temple. While attending to matters there, a call came in from the temple asking for a couple to be the witness couple, we “volunteered”. We quickly walked across the parking lot to the temple and were provided with clothing (some that didn’t exactly fit), dressed and rushed into the endowment room, with about 5 men and 8 women – no married couples – waiting for us! So we did our second session of the week, being the witness couple both times! That will probably be the norm.

When we arrived home Friday evening, the apartment was dark – no electricity! The landlady possibly neglected to pay the final electric bill after moving out! When contacted, she was going to have her brother right over to correct the problem. Finally, it would be resolved at 7:00AM Saturday. We finally did get power Saturday evening about 8:00. All is well that ends well!

Visit from Leishmans

This past week we had a visit from Elder and Sister Leishman, from St. George, who also served in the West Indies with us, and entered the mission field this time on the same day as we did. They are serving on the other main island of Fiji, Vanua Levu. She had to come here to have an MRI on her back. She was experiencing a lot of pain. We enjoyed Tuesday evening and most of Wednesday until we took them to the airport to return to their island.

We took them to lunch at McDonalds and drove down to Pacific Harbor, where we went the first weekend. We met our neighbors, Elder and Sister Whitehead for a moment down there.


                                                                          We called Leishmans on Saturday to find out how she was doing – bad news. They have to go home so she can have an operation.

We currently have on our counter, (and its Fast

Sunday), three pineapples, three papaya, three mangos, and a soursop (Cortney knows what that is). We are going to have dinner with two other couples, but when we get home, I’m making my first tropical smoothie down here – the mangos are just coming on!

Chad says to squish up the fruit of the soursop and add water....loves the drink!  Ed added some of the other fruit to it and made his smoothie!

We will be working hard on helping to produce the modules the TVET program will need for this coming school year—for them to become electronically available.  We are excited for where we are and what we are doing to help this church school become more productive in the technical-vocational areas; and especially help students become more employable in their community.