Today's adventure

What an exciting life we are living! Each day we get to go and do and see new, amazing things and places. Today we got to go over to the LDS College School. This is the equivalence of our high schools. This school was established in 1976 and is one of the best and most beautiful schools in this whole country! It sits on the most beautiful spot of any schools we have seen. Once again, it is up high on a hillside overlooking the ocean. I would not be able to concentrate on school if I were there because I would be so distracted by the view!

There are about 350 students in attendance and they are from 13 to 18 which is about 8th grade to 12th grade. They teach everything from academic courses to technical/computer courses to trades like woodwork and automotive and agricultural -- pretty much something for everyone.

The grounds were so manicured and spotless. The buildings were white and very clean. In the center of the property is this big bure (which is the traditional Fijian village home). The outside looks very authentic, Fijian culture traditional structure but inside is a lovely class room. It is made with bamboo walls and coconut palms for the rooftop and inside it is decorated with Fijian mats and weaving. It was so unique to see the old and the modern culture come together in one spot. Outside there is a smaller structure that doesn't have any closed in walls and just these 2 hollowed out logs sitting on the ground. Apparently, they beat on the logs to denote the end of a class just like a school at home would ring a bell. School was dismissed for the day by the time we got there so we didn't get to hear the log bell.

There were mobs of kids criss crossing around the campus, all in their blue and white uniforms. I really like the uniform concept. It makes everyone look so neat and connected. I think it helps focus the students on why they are at school.

We asked what it cost to attend this school and we were told it costs $36 a quarter if you are a member of the Church but non-members can come for $150 a quarter. By the way, those are Fijian dollars which are equal to about half that amount in American dollars. This is still kind of a stretch for families over here. There are 3 quarters a year. School goes from February to November with 2 week breaks between the quarters. The "winter" break is starting on Friday and the kids are really excited to have some time off (the teachers TOO!)

Our other adventures today included going to a new restaurant for lunch called The Mango Cafe. It is so interesting over here because all the shops and restaurants look so junky on the outside but then they are so nice and pleasant once you go inside. It is not what you expect when you pull up to the curb! The food here is fabulous! We have eaten out at least once a day since we arrived and if we aren't careful we are going to be packing on the pounds. Food is more expensive than I expected. I guess meaning, that I expected food to be cheap. I guess if we were to eat at the stands along the streets it would be cheap but I don't think we are going to get that "authentic". They do have LOTS of Fiji water and it is lots less expensive than you pay for it in the States. Oh the pros and cons!

Tonight we took the 100-step trip to the Temple across the parking lot from our flat! We enjoyed a session with about another 25 or so members. It felt just like being at home. I know the other members had to sacrifice more in terms of time and transportation to get to the session. That was a very humbling experience to see their faith and dedication. It was a privilege to be in their company. There are 4 Temple Senior Missionaries plus the Temple President couple. All the other ordinance workers are locals and that was a treat to be in their midst.

We are on our own for a couple of days while the Staggs have gone across the Island to say farewell to friends over there. Paul and I are trying to get some driving experience on our own. It takes a prayer and a lot of faith to load up and take off. So far, so good. Thankfully we are on an island so somehow we will just have to keep circling around if we get lost.

So there you have it, we have been here a week today! Wow, how time flies! as we take it one day at a time!

Navau Ward

Sunday was our first introduction into an authentic Fijian Ward. We got up early and left our flat about 8:15 am for a 45 minute drive to the Navau Ward. Not quite the same as leaving 5 minutes before Sacrament meeting and driving about 9 houses down the hill to our Chapel back home which is what we are so used to (and spoiled by). This Chapel sits high up on a hill top and on a beautiful, large plot of land with lush grass and lovely tropical flowers and trees. The hybiscas (sp?) in the photo was about the size of a salad plate! The setting couldn't have been any more pleasant.

We were graciously accepted and introduced and enjoyed meeting and greeting all the members. There were probably about 40 - 45 people in attendance. Even with a comparatively small group, they sang the hymns with enthusiasm and volume like we had experienced at the Choir competition. Thankfully the whole meeting was offered in English. The Relief Society Presidency were the speakers in Sacrament meeting and they gave wonderful talks. They were as good as any talks I have heard at home. The Gospel Doctrine Sunday School teacher was a sweet Indian woman and she did an excellent job with her lesson. (about half the ward was Fijian and the other half was Indian.) She asked me to present a 5 or so minute portion of the lesson and I really enjoyed that opportunity. There were 13 women in Relief Society and the President had to give that lesson also (in addition to speaking in Sacrament meeting). She did another awesome presentation. All in all it was a sweet and spiritual experience.

After the block of meetings, Elder Stagg and Paul had to do a financial audit which was an on-the-job training opportunity for Paul. It went smoothly and we felt a great sense of accomplishment when it was completed.

While the audit was going on, I enjoyed walking around the Church grounds and took the above photos of the surrounding village bures (homes). The village environments are very rural and agricultural. The people live in very humble homes typically built from wood and tin and some cinder blocks. There are usually no windows or doors that can close... the homes are just shelters but there is not much privacy. All the windows usually have curtains but they are tied together with a knot in the middle so the breezes can flow through. Most Fijians don't own cars so there are a lot of dirt roads and people walking to get around. A lot of the people in this area were barefooted even. But they are happy, happy, happy people. They always have smiles and are laughing and they greet everyone with eye contact and a genuine Bula (hello).

After we got back home to our flat by mid afternoon, we were finally able to rest up from our intense 4 or 5 days worth of "welcome to your new life in Fiji". We really were ready for a Sunday afternoon nap! We are slowly getting a lay of the land. In fact, we were given our own car today and we went for a ride, just the 2 of us, to the grocery store and we only got lost ONCE! I think we are in for lots more adventures! Stay tuned!

Two more photos

Here are 2 more photos that should have shown up on the post below but somehow didn't quite make it. (I'm trying, Katie) These are the adult choirs.

"American", oops, I mean "Fijian Idol"!

Friday night was a really exciting event! Our first introduction into the musical talents of these sweet Islanders. We, along with 2 other Senior Missionary couples, were invited to be judges at the Nausori Stake Chorus Contest. This is an annual competition and the wards and branches take it very seriously. There were a total of 10 units (wards and branches) that participated. There were 2 choruses from each unit and they each sang 2 songs so it was quite a long evening but we enjoyed each and every song.

Each unit had a children's Primary choir and an adult choir. All the units sang the same songs so that they could be compared and judged. We did not judge the children's choirs because they were ALL so sweet, we could never have chosen one above the other. The children's choirs consisted of between 8 or 9 participants up to about 14 or 15. Some choirs had children as young as 3 years old who just stole our hearts. Each choir choose to dress in some similar, matching, coordinating way and it was fun to see their uniqueness. By the way, I'm sure there are no Orthodontists here in Fiji because EVERYONE has the most beautiful, white smiles. Their teeth are perfect and they just glow! Amazing! They are such beautiful, attractive people! Anyway, back to the competition. Each children's choir also had a child conductor -- so sweet, again! The choirs would march into the chapel and line up on the podium and then their cute little conductor would walk in, bow to the audience and to the judges and then climb up on this 3 step conductors platform, raise their arms and begin their song. I wasn't sure if all the conductors were actually leading the songs or just shaking from their nervousness but they almost stole the show from their choirs.


href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9vBoiMz5-957CaFx6ryK8S-9sszqH4pasEIhjpP8JLEg5CzY53-GvW-sUtLlhrwLZ3PxjgU_TegIIW2nhQA1rP1gtTtPzfaMOT8rzYhk4nNY-Vwow_XjjD6LQfinBrMLM4azEij4OtVs/s1600-h/IMG_7408.JPG">



The adult choirs were so awesome! They take this event seriously and they want to win! We were instructed to choose 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners plus a Best Conductor award. The Fijians typically sing a'cappelle because very few Fijians play the piano. There was one choir out of the 10 that had an accompanist and though the pianist was fabulous, it didn't make much of a difference without one.

The Fijians have a very interesting way of beginning any singing whether it is in Sacrament meeting, Relief Society or these wonderful choirs. They have one person, usually the person leading the singing, sings the first sentence then says rua, tulo which is 2, 3 and then everyone begins singing. I think it is very creative and I like it alot. We judges had a very difficult time choosing the winners. Hopefully those that didn't win won't hold it against us. But everyone seemed very happy and gracious when the winners were announced. It was kind of like the end of basketball season when the losing team says "just wait until next year!"

All in all it was a hugely successful event for this Stake. They had probably some where around 350 - 400 people there that night. I was pretty amazed. The funny twist to the evening made us laugh when we found out that the person that we awarded the Best Conductor award to was a Minister of a different faith who had been recruited by a ward to be their conductor! Maybe he will be interested in continuing to come to Church so he can continue conducting!

Katie: Count how many photos are on this post! What do you think?