Bula everyone! To all who are praying for us back home in Sydney and the rest of Australia, vinaka vaka levu (thank you very much) for all of your love and support. It is being felt.
It’s day five of our short term mission to Fiji, and though we have largely been receiving orientation training and relaxing in the beautiful Fijian scenery, the difference of culture is already having an impact on us. Last night, before we needed to awake at 5 to travel from Sabeto Christian Camp to Nasikawa Vision College outside of Sigatoka, sickness made its first impact on us. Many of our bodies are feeling, painfully, just how different the food over here is. More than a few people think that so early in they have already had more Cassava than they ever wanted. But with urgent, hushed prayers we made it through the night and completed the scenic three hour drive to Nasikawa.
Our training has so far been enjoyable for some, but less so for others. On day 2 we visited a nearby village called Korobebe, where we were received formally with a Kava ceremony conducted in Fijian, before enjoying (or not) a traditionally prepared Lovo meal.
On Saturday, we spent some time in the tourist Port of Denarau Island, observing the vast differences between what we had witnessed the previous day. Where Korobebe was covered in wildly growing grass and stony paths, ramshackle corrugated iron houses and a friendly greeting from all the locals, with spectacular mountains as a backdrop, Denarau was all concrete pavement and manicured lawns. Later that day we spent some time in the Nadi town markets, before the Blue Stream lads visited a Boys Home at Ba where we learnt the song “Jesus is a Winner Man” and enjoyed a competitive game of soccer to train for our big match at Nasikawa. Meanwhile other groups visited either the Treasure House orphanage or the Loloma House women’s refuge.
Sunday was a relaxed day where we visited three different churches around the area. I visited Lautoka Bible Church, which was quite familiar to a Sydney Anglican church, and it was encouraging to finally spend some time with our brothers and sisters in the Fijian church.
And finally, this morning we have travelled amidst the sickness and tiredness to Nasikawa Vision College, where we will be spending the next two nights with local families from the school. Today the Red Stream Local Church Mission (LCM) groups are teaching various scripture classes in the school while Blue Stream gets a day of relaxation before we start teaching tomorrow.
Please be praying for the numerous Year 13-ers who have fallen victim to a vicious stomach bug over the last day. We not only don’t want to see our brothers and sisters in pain, but we also want to be effective in our ministries serving the Fijians at Nasikawa. Also pray for the kids at Nasikawa, that they can be encouraged and challenged by our teaching here and the relationships we build while we’re here, and ultimately that through our service new Fijian disciples may be made.
I myself am loving the beautiful weather, the beautiful scenery and the beautiful people, and am eager to head to my LCM at Dreketi where we can really immerse ourselves in the Fijian culture and devote ourselves to making disciples.
So once again, vinaka vaka levu for all of your prayers and financial support to get us here, and for your continued prayers as we minister to the Fijians. See you in three and a half weeks time!
Lachlan Young (Year 13, Narellan Anglican Church)
