December 6

Today was get ready and get to Young-Adult-Camp day.  Suzanne had to pack to leave as we are going straight from camp to Nadi so that she can make her 11 p.m. flight out of here.  All of us were nervous about her flight being delayed or canceled.  She has to be back to work on Monday.  I never cease to be amazed at the peace prayer brings.  We can't change what will happen with her flight, but praying about it brought all of us a sense of calmness.  What a blessing.

We are driving our van, and following the bus to Nataliera.  Do not ask me how to pronounce Nataliera.  It is an eco resort on the northern shore of Viti Levu (our island).  When we got to the Samabula Chapel they had ordered only one bus which was about half as many seat as there were YSAs. The boys ended sitting on the floor in the isles, and on the steps for the hour drive out to Korovou and the 45 minutes on the dirt road from Korovou to Nataliera.  Ouch!

Entrance to the YSA Camp
Really the name is Natalie-ra
Suzanne in her sulu chaba that she bought
at the Flea Market.

Road (driveway) into Natalie-ra

Our Bure
Even though you can not see it, the roof is
covered in leaves, probably banana leaves.

Our Mosquito Net

Ceiling of Bure
Covered in woven mats.

Wood Walls With Tapa Cloth Decoration

Our Bathroom
Notice light coming through wood slats.

Cold Water Shower.

We unpacked and then explored the camp.

It seems that on Tuesday when a final count was taken of attendees

there were 200 YSAs who had signed up and paid.  When we got to

the camp there were 261 young adults who got off the buses.  OOPS.

We had a short meeting explaining camp rules and then divided the YSAs into ten groups.  Of course like YSAs all over the world no one went to

the groups they were supposed to be in but to the groups where their friends were.  We were called to everything with a whistle.  Dinner was interesting.  We had been told to bring whatever we needed to eat.  I packed some plastic plates and cups that could be washed and a knife and fork for each of us.  Most of the Fijian YSAs brought a huge bowl, a spoon and a huge mug. Some brought ice cream containers which in Fiji are square and plastic.  We had two spigots with which to wash our utensils; one on the beach and one by the road between two bures.  

When the whistle went off, we qued up with the YSAs.  We were served chicken, dalo, sliced of watermelon and pineapple.  There is a drink they make here that is very much like koolaid but less sweet and less flavorful; it was served with dinner.  After dinner Scott and I were to facilitate a discussion group on social media.  We waited and waited and then realized that it was not happening because kids had not answered the dinner whistle and were still eating.  In fact, the kitchen ran out of food and some of the kids did not eat until after 11.  We ate all the food that had been brought for dinner tonight and tomorrow night.  Some of leaders never did get any dinner.

The Kitchen

The Stove in the Kitchen

One of Two Burners

More Kitchen

Where We Ate All Our Meals
Although they did have an indoor
dining room.

Our View For Every Meal.

We were told that we were to facilitate a discussion on social media.  I had found some questions and some quotes that I thought would be appropriate, so I started the first group.  I was dying on the vine when Scott butted in, thank heave, and got better participation.  I decided that Scott had to do the second group which he started by telling stories that made the group laugh and laugh, but because he was in his entertainer mode, he forgot where the discussion was supposed to go, so I butted in and moved the discussion in the right direction.  Better.  The third group Scott started again, got the YSAs laughing and then I led the serious discussion.  Wonderful.  It was absolutely pitch black by the time we started the fourth group so we had to stand in the light of a---cell phone.  Yup, that's right.  A cell phone.  We were rushed for time, so the discussion was not as good as the second or third groups, but still better than the first one.  After the groups we held a final meeting and everyone was sent to bed.  We were grateful for the fan in our bure which kept the air moving.  Aaaaah.

Official Meeting Place
This is basically a deck.
Because we were so many, most had to sit on a tarp
(to the left) or stand around the edges.