On Wednesday Dec. 17th, the day after Tabs family left, we returned to Suva. The next morning
we met with (mission) President Layton and were ask if we would be willing to go to Kadavu
(for about three weeks) – one of the other islands of the Fiji group. Of course! We embarked on
an interesting challenge. We loaded our car with all we could stuff into it, and Monday evening
loaded on to the ferry. We spent the night in a somewhat crowded large poorly ventilated room
on a rough sea. The guy behind us must have eaten bad beans and he expelled the gasses all
night - rotten! We arrived in Kadavu at about 10:00AM Tuesday, Dec. 23rd, very tired. We spent
the day organizing our room and taking a little drive to see the immediate area and went to bed
about 8:00.
We lived with a pair of elders, in a somewhat typical Fijian house. It was a one room house of
about 20’ X 36’ that was built in two weeks from lumber cut out with a chainsaw. I came to
Kadavu about three weeks prior to this trip, and designed an interior modification, dividing it
into 2 bedrooms, one bath and a general living area. The owner, a member, had the work done
(at the mission’s expense), except for the bath room, it remained in the little shed out back,
containing an on-demand water heating shower, that almost warms the water, and a flush
toilet – all the comforts of home! There is no audio privacy – the dividing walls only go to 8’ and
there are no ceilings – we hear all they say and do, and vice versa. Our room is about 9 1/2’ X
18’ with a bed, two small tables and two chairs, and a rack to hang some of our clothes. The
common kitchen consists of a sink, a table top 2 burner stove and a refrigerator – slightly larger
than an under counter unit (can you imagine Mom/Grandma trying to live with only that big of
a unit? Even in our flat in Suva we have two frige’s!) She brought a crock pot, an electric frying
pan and a rice cooker – we were able to eat some well prepared meals. (when the electricity
didn’t go out). I think grease would stick to the elder’s fry pan, and their pots are equally as bad
– one even has a handle!
This was somewhat like camping - in paradise! Of course we brought or snorkel gear!
This is a mountainous rain forest island – beautiful! Beautiful pine forest, mixed in with the
tropical forest. Of course we have the tropical fruit trees and plants: Papaya trees, mango trees
(just ended the season), banana trees, guava trees (just about to produce), pineapples are
grown in abundance as well as your normal garden vegetables.
The branch here is Fijian speaking and some, like the branch president, speak little to no
English. We were sent here because there are problems. Some of the brethren, like the
counselors and others, don’t attend church because of problems with the president. We will
have to rely on the Lord’s help to resolve some of the problems. We will enjoy having
something to do! We return to our home in Suva the week school starts, on the 16th of Jan. –
nice day for a cruise on a luxurious ferry!
Shortly after arriving I reported the condition of some of the elder’s equipment. Subsequently
on the following Tuesday, Dec. 30th we received a refrigerator, washing machine, new cooking
utensils, an additional fan, and missionary supplies. These elders were glad we came!
For Christmas day we treated the elders with stockings filled with goodies (neither of their
packages from home had arrived yet, and did not arrive while we were there!) and to a
sourdough pancake breakfast. The elders and we were invited to have dinner with the Lal
family, they own the house the missionaries, and us, live in, and one of the several little stores
in town. He had bought a pig to roast in a lovo (like a Hawaiian luau), in the ground wrapped in
banana leaves. We enjoyed another special Christmas.
Christmas Eve we visited two member families. The two days after Christmas we were able to
visit three more families. Sunday we were rewarded by having each of those families in
attendance. We had 44 people in our meetings – normal attendance is about 24. The meetings
are conducted in Fijian – we didn’t understand much but enjoyed their sweet spirits. I taught
the young adults Sunday school class of 6. Joyce helped with the primary. We had a baptismal
after the meeting for an eight year old. Following that we had a branch pot luck lunch.
Monday, Elder’s and our “P” day
Tuesday morning we received the requested supplies items. And on Wednesday, Elder and
Sister Decker arrived on the weekly plane to spend a week with us. We had arranged for them
to stay in a new Bed and Breakfast in a store just around the corner from us. Because the place
isn’t officially open, the Decker’s have the place to themselves. With the Deckers, we continued
visiting and also did some exploring. Where we live is a narrow neck of land between two large
portions of the main island. We drove to the end of the road to the east, visiting a couple of
villages. We also drove to the west, on the road along the south shore. This is such a beautiful
island, no matter where you go it is beautiful. We spent most evenings in their place playing
games – a change of pace from our normal evenings out here.
The lady that owns the bed and breakfast where Deckers stayed, really treated us all very
special. She provided all four of us a complimentary lunch the day they arrived. She took the
four of us on her boat out to a beautiful beach about a 20 min boat ride away. She also feed us
a “complementary” dinner the night before they left.
The Lal family also took us to a beach in their boat. The snorkeling was very nice there, lots of
fish and beautiful corral.
The Deckers were with us for eight days. We enjoyed the time we had with them.
We have enjoyed seeing some of the beautiful birds here. On the main island there are few
exotic birds – a credit to the mongoose. There are many types of sea birds, and a couple types
of hawks, a pigeon and the pacific black ducks. However the ones that really get us excited are
the beautiful Crimson Shining Parrot. We see them quite often, even right around our house.
They are larger than a pigeon, with a crimson breast, green back and wings, with blue around
the back of their head and tail. As are most parrots, they are noisy! Our last Saturday here, I
was looking up info on the parrot and saw a picture of a Many Colored Fruit Dove – beautiful! I
told Joyce that I really wanted to see one. As we pulled out of our “driveway” Sunday morning,
on the way to church, I saw two white birds land in a tree just off the road – there they were!
With my binoculars I got a good view of one of them, but no picture! Everywhere you are, you
hear the owls hooting, but we were never able to see one.
As we entered the third week we had visited most of the members that we knew of, at least
twice. Not wanting to be a nuisance, we found it difficult to stay busy. Earlier I had encouraged
some changes in the chapel, moving the branch president’s desk (table) form the front to the
back of the room, leaving the chapel a little more attractive. To do this I had to do a little
electrical work, putting an outlet back to his new location and installing a switch for the light
over his desk. Our last Sunday, Jan. 11th, attendance was 40.
Friday, January 9th, the branch had a youth activity. We had a meal and fireside Friday evening. I
was ask to give a talk on the temple. The boys sleep at the church – the girls in President
Korologo little “quarters” he built so he could stay overnight when he walks in from home (a 4
hour walk). Saturday morning they had breakfast, played volleyball and cleaned up the chapel.
They then went to the beach and gathered shells for us to share with the Deckers, and swam
and played in the water. But the party didn’t end Saturday evening as planned. All of them (5
girls and 3 boys) plus most of the Nanovo family stayed the night. Each of the kids were ask to
bare their testimony in Sacrament meeting. Several commented about the things I taught about
the temple. After church we had another lunch, which included most of the members. The
party still had not ended. The kids stayed at the church all day and again that night. Sometime
around midnight, they walked to our place and sang to us and the elders. Monday morning we
went to the church so Joyce could teach another keyboard lesson to Edwin Lal. The kids and the
Nanovo’s were still there, playing volleyball and eating. They finally ended the event on
Tuesday morning, when President Korologo sent them home so he and his wife could go home.
A four day activity – they are a fun loving people.
Our last week we visited most he families to say good bye. It is amazing how you learn to love
these people so quick. We will soon return to a nice apartment, fewer mosquitoes,
convenient bathrooms, hot water in the kitchen, a kitchen with an oven, paved roads,
car washes, Wahley's meat, and places to go out to dinner. And it makes us sad! This
has been a wonderful experience, the highlight to our mission! We don't know if we
have affected the people's lives, but they have affected ours.
