April 30

Ok, I am officially in love with this resort.  Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day and these guys do it right.  As soon as we sat down, the waitress brought a big dish of all kinds of fruit; papaya, pineapple, banana, grapefruit, saursa(sour sahp), etc.  We have a two page menu of breakfast items we can order which does not include the granola, or the corn flakes on the table.  I ordered a loaded omelet, and a thin slice of ham.  Scott ordered oatmeal, and then an omelet.  Wonderful.

Breakfast!
What is left of the fruit plate.
 

Ric and Do have a son, Matt, who helps them with the resort.  He asked Scott if he wanted to go snorkeling today.  I encouraged him to go.  While he was gone, I began reading one of the three books I brought.  Scott said the reef was amazing; he thinks it is called Rainbow Reef and if it is it is one of the world's best dive and snorkeling reefs.  The guide who went with Scott and another couple spent most of his time with Scott pointing out things to see.  Scott came home pretty excited.

Scott with the Snorkeling Guide

Lunch was fabulous.  I wish they would let me take a menu home, but each days menu is different as the chef for the day--they have five--chooses what he wants to cook using the produce they grow. Lunch was three courses again and as big as dinner; no wonder no one wants to eat until 8:00 at night.

Ric, Me, Nan & Jean Michel Cousteau

Lunch with the Cousteaus

We have decided to go to Boume National Heritage Park tomorrow to see the waterfalls.  They say these waterfalls are on the east side of the island but that does not feel right to me which brings up the fact that I am directionally challenged in Fiji. East is West and West is East and Moroni is blowing his horn the wrong direction.  After writing this, I decided I needed to know exactly where everything is on this island, so I found this great map which shows not only Taveuni, but where it is in relationship to Viti Levu, Suva's island.

As you can see the Matei Airport in on the northern tip of Taveuni, no wonder I was confused. Our resort in about a 10 minute walk from the airport going toward Somosomo (so mo so mo). Indeed, Buoma park is on the east side of the island.

We spent the rest of the day just lazing around, however, Scott does not laze well.  He decided to go canoeing.

Scott Lazing Around

Once again we got to dinner before the social hour was over, but it seemed easier for me this time.  Had nice conversations with the Cousteau's who actually live in Southern California, and have their own resort (he doesn't own it, but is a consultant and it carries his name) on Vanua Levu.  Met a wonderful couple from Australia who come to dive and stay at the Tavueni Island Resort regularly.

Nice day.

April 29

We left this morning for Taveuni.  There is a week's vacation between semesters and we decided we need a break.  The last school break we worked everyday just as if school were in session. We taught classes, visited YSA Sunday School classes, and held activities.

Taveuni is the garden island of Fiji.  Everyone who has been there says it is the place to see.  We decided to spend five days seeing Fiji, and relaxing just a little.  Scott made us reservations at the Taveuni Island Resort which is an all inclusive resort.  Hurrah!  No cooking or trying to find safe places to eat.

Elder and Sister Wells took us to the Suva Airport for our flight to Nadi.  There are only two flights a week from Suva to Taveuni and neither flight was good for us. So we are making the 20 minute flight to Nadi, waiting for 3 hours, and then taking the 90 minute flight to Taveuni.

While we were waiting in the Nadi airport I met the most wonderful Aussie lady whose son just got married in Fiji.  She lives outside of Brisbane on ten acres which she assured me was the place of her dreams in all the world.  They have wallabies and other animals on their land.  She just glowed as she spoke of her home.  I love my missionary badge!  I have so many wonderful conversations because of it.  We ate lunch which was surprisingly good at the airport .

Our plane to Taveuni

As we were taxiing, a woman in uniform came up the aisle, gave us our safety instructions (put on your seat belts, leave them on, and your life jacket is under your seat=30 seconds) and then she backed into the cockpit and sat in the co pilot's seat.  The noise from the engine was so loud I took a napkin I had saved from lunch, tore off two small pieces, and made ear plugs.  I noticed an Indian woman with her fingers in her ears, so I shared some of the napkin with her and her husband.

Co pilot giving us safety instructions.

Leaving Nadi 

Islands off the Viti Levu Coast

On the way to Taveuni

More from the Taveuni Flight

Just off the southwest side of Taveuni

What you are seeing in the last three pictures are sandbars (shoals?)  We have seen them in what we considered the middle of the ocean, but found that the water was very shallow allowing the sandbar to form.  According to what I read these sandbars are formed by waves that make trenches by picking up the sand, or coarse sediment and depositing it on the land side of the trench.  On the bottom photo you can see waves which indicates that the sand it above water level.  I wonder if these are the beginnings of new islands.  Four years at university is not enough to learn all I want to know.

This is the only terminal in Taveuni.  It is in the village of Matei (mah tie)

Matei Terminal

Obviously there is no security here.  We walked maybe 30 feet
to the terminal and then waited while the plane was unloaded. Besides our luggage, there were parcels, and big boxes in the hold.

Rick, the owner of the resort, was waiting to take us to the resort which was less than a ten minute ride.  We stayed at the Taveuni Island Resort.  It is owned by Rick and Do (we think short for Dorothy) who are native New Zealanders.  They came to Taveuni 40 years ago and stayed.  They originally earned a living here by running a diving resort, but about 15 years ago started catering to honeymooners although everyone we met at the resort were there to dive including the one couple that had just gotten married.  Rick is in the International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame for the work he has done here in Taveuni.

Our Suite
To the left around the corner are two
couches and a door into our own yard

This is what one sees when sitting
on the throne.
The bushes are our privacy fence

The shower.
There are no doors.

Our bed before the maids came in the morning.
We did use the mosquito nets every night.

                                                               

Our cottage sits on a cliff over looking the ocean and Vanua Levu in the distance.  The veranda runs along the ocean face of the bungalow. It's huge and has two deck chairs and a table and two chairs.  The entire side of our bungalow that faces the ocean is French doors.  Awesome.

Our Bungalow

Path to our Bungalow

Eating Lunch

View From the Restaurant

View from our Bungalow

We just had time before dinner to explore the grounds and take a walk.  We actually walked all the way back to the airport as Scott is fascinated by airplanes and flight.  As we walked we both commented that Taveuni looks like what we had imaged all of Fiji would look like.  Viti Levu, the island on which Suva sits, does not look anything like Taveuni--well at least the parts we have seen do not look this lush and green.

In the picture to the left I am actually looking at two islands, Kioa (or Rabi depending on to whom we spoke) and behind and to the left of Kioa, Vanua Levu.

Dinner was served between 6:00 and 8:00.  We went over at 6:00 to find everyone enjoying happy hour--always a little awkward for me, but Do introduced us to everyone and we had great conversations.  Interesting that the first people we met were Jean Michele Cousteau and his wife Nan. Yes, he is the son of Jacques Cousteau.  He is delightful.  When Scott said, "You must be the son of Jacques."  He replied, "I can't help it." He was most interesting to speak with and is genuinely interested in others.  Nan, his wife, is really funny.  It seems that the Cousteaus have been friends with the owners of the resort for many years.  The Cousteaus are here just to get a respite before they fly to Vanua Levu for Jean Michele's birthday.  He is 70+.

We did not pack correctly.  We wore our missionary clothes to fly over and then just packed casual clothes.  All the women dressed for dinner--little black dresses, or flowing pant outfits. Oops!

The food was amazing.  It is the best food we have had since leaving Utah.  Three courses and we sat at tables angles so both of us were looking our to sea as we ate.  I am going to like this place.

April 28

Whew this was a big day--a long day.

We started the day by visiting YSA Sunday School classes.  We started with Suva 1st at 8:45 then we raced out to Nasinu 1st and caught the very end of their class.  We stayed with them for Sacrament Meeting. To make the YSA Sunday School class in the Nasinu 2nd Ward we had to leave Sacrament Meeting before the closing prayer.  We had planned to go straight to the Suva 4th Ward, but decided we had to have some lunch before we did all the choir practices, so we sped home ate quickly (15 minutes to fix and eat) as we had to be to Tamavua before noon. Scott dropped me off at LDS College where both Tamavua Wards meet and then drove down to Wailoku to pick up their YSAs.  Wailoku is down a very steep and very long hill from Tamavua so we had promised the YSAs in that ward that we would pick them up for the choir practice. Did I mention that we are preparing to sing in stake conference?  No?  Well that is why we are having these choir practices.

We have been asked to sing at the adult session of conference.  Because the visiting authority has not given President Seru a theme yet, he has just told me to choir three songs about the Savior or the Savior's atonement.  I have chosen I Know that My Redeemer Lives (easy and familiar), Our Savior's Love(not familiar, but relatively easy, and an adult version of If the Savior Stood Beside Me (fun).  We had between 15 and 20 attend the practice. We finished the practice at Tamavua at 1:10 which gave us five minutes to make a 15 minute drive to Lami.

Late for the Lami practice, but 12 YSAs had waited. We practiced there until 2:30 and then dropped YSAs off on our way back to Suva. 

We arrived home at 3:10.  Fixed a quick dinner of sloppy joe meat (frozen) over baked potatoes, carrots and grapes.  At 4:00 we walked down to the Samabula Chapel for the pre fireside practice.  The fireside started at 5:00 and lasted until 7:30. 

The choir did a nice job of singing. We had about 35 YSAs in the choir.  We also had about five YSAs who had practiced with us sitting in the audience.  Why they choose not to sing is something neither Scott nor I understand, but every time we sing someone who has learned the song chooses not to perform.  I love this version of Nearer My God to Thee.  I will be humming it all week.

I was exhausted when we got home, but because I can't stand packing too early, we had to pack for our trip to Taveuni tomorrow.  We finished at 9:30, climbed into bed, and as usually Scott fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.  Me?  I needed to relax so I am writing this and then will read until 10:30.

We need a break.

April 27

Today was Liva's baptism.  Liva is an old school mate of Kami (kah me) Musaka who has been off his mission in New Zealand for just about a year.  He saw Liva down town one evening and stopped to talk with her.  She was in distress.  It seems that her live in boyfriend had just left her and she had no idea how she was going to provide for their two children--girls ages 3 and 5.

Being the good missionary he is Kami invited her to a church fireside.  She felt the Spirit and asked for more.  He started bringing her to institute to the Eternal Marriage class he attends.  She was like a sponge.  She also began the discussions.

About two weeks ago we got a little worried for her and for him.  It seems Liva had transferred her love (probably dependance) from the old boyfriend to Kami.  Kami was not interested.  It took an extreme amount of courage for him, a Fijian, to tell her that he was not interested.  He did it and we were sure she would quit studying with the missionaries, because she quit coming to class.  We are so grateful that she did not.  Today she was baptized.  She had asked us last week if we would come and then yesterday the missionary sisters called and asked if Scott would speak at her baptism.

Scott did a marvelous job!  He taught truths in a simple yet spiritually rich way.  It was a wonderful baptism, and Liva looked so alive, so fresh, so new.  Anyone who has seen a baptism knows that when baptisms are done in the Lord's way-immersion-and with the Lord's authority-the priesthood-that it changes people right on the spot.  Liva could not stop grinning.  She was so happy.  As are we.

                                                                         

Sister Raloka, Liva, Sister Tsakia

Me, Liva, Scott

We are so privileged to participate is these eternally significant occasions.  We appreciate the sisters and especially Liva asking us to be there.

Sister Raloka is a Fijian sister who had been a member of the church just one year when she began her mission.  She is quiet and unassuming, but bares a powerful testimony.  Sister Tsakia (sah key uh) is Samoan and also quiet, but is a hard worker who puts her whole soul into the work.  We count ourselves blessed to know them.

April 24

Sister Klinger has once again asked us to sing at a missionary fireside.  She had a version of Nearer My God to Thee that she wants us to sing.  I love the way she works.  She asked Elder Inu whose name is about 20 letters longer but no one can pronounce it, so he goes by Inu to be in charge of the fireside. Before you make any assumptions, he is from Utah.  He called me two weeks ago and asked us to sing this song.  He then told me to get the music from Sister Klinger which I did.  An aside is that Elder Inu is going home soon.  What a great way to allow him to get more leadership training.

Instead of asking all the institute YSAs to sing we just asked the other Wednesday Institute Class taught by Sister Tufonga to come over after class and practice with the Eternal Marriage Class. We practiced last week and again this week.  We sound pretty good.  It has been fun having these practices.

April 23

Elder Rasband of the Presidency of the Quorum of the Seventy was in Suva today.   I do not know how these men keep the schedules they do.  He held meetings with the Mission President and then the Temple President in the morning.  Sister Klinger fed Elder Rasband, his wife, Elder Hamula, etc. lunch. At three o'clock Elder Rasband and his wife spoke to the Service Center employees.  At four o'clock they again spoke to the missionaries.  At 5:30 they attended a cultural event put on by the members in Suva.  At 7:30 He and his wife spoke at a fireside for all the members.  Whew!!!!!

Here are pictures of the cultural event.

Sister Wakolo, Elder Wakolo (Area 70) Elder Rasband,
Sister Rasband, Elder Hamula (Area President)
The Salusalu (lei) worn by Sister Rasband
is typical of the salusalus given to honored guest in Fiji.

Sister Raloka and Sister Tiakia (sih key uh)

Brother Miawiriwiri (center facing back) and his dancers
doing a Fijian War Dance

Ulai (oo lah ee) mans the drum.

Most Fijian dances are done with little foot work and

more hand actions.  Woman and men generally do 

not dance together.  

Fijian war dances 

are very fierce with lots of
running,  chest slapping and loud grunting.
When Fijian men do a 

war dance the crowds go crazy.  

When the men in this dance finished 

the applause was deafening.  

Fijian Woman's Dance

There is a little country not far from Fiji called Rotuma.  There are many Rotumans in Suva. They come to Fiji to get an education and to find work.  They are a wonderful people.  Our boss and the president of the Suva Stake is a Rotuman.  Rotumens are lighter skinned than Fijians, and they have straighter hair. They are a happy people and were so excited to demonstrate their native dances.  Our YSAs are: Willie (light skinned), Ani rudh (last man before the woman), and Cherie, (front row last on right).

This professional dancer also

did Fijian dances 

in the cultural night/ 

I have included this picture because,

when one goes into the 

Fijian bush

this is the way the male dancers dress; 

grass skirt, leaf bracelets, 

or leaf decorations on biceps, and

 leaf anklets. 

The men dance with spears and

with fans.

Of course, the male members of the

Church dress more modestly hence the white shirts

of the Rotumens and the bula shirts 

of the Fijians.

April 22

Today we finished the move into our office in the institute.  Scott went over to the Service Center to gather the last of our stuff while I put things away, organized, and beautified.  I was nesting.  Funny how women have to do that.

There are definite advantages of being housed in the institute building;  we see all the YSAs that Jackson's see for PEF, we get more done because we are not visiting or being visited by Service Center employees, young adults can come all day to just visit with each other, work on the computers, or play, and we feel the spirit of our work here.

Elder and Sister Howard did an impromptu FHE tonight on temples.  It was so fun and after they served ice cream with blackberries.  Yum!  I took a two pound bag of black and red licorice that we had been saving.  One can not get licorice here.  I watched one of the seniors put the licorice in his mouth and just hum with pleasure when he took his first bite of black licorice.  I was so please when I noticed that each senior grabbed a piece or two from the bag for the trip home.  It is such a delight to share when something so simple brings such pleasure.

April 19

Scott spent the morning up at the temple helping with two big groups who were coming to do baptisms and endowments.  Pres. Davis asked him if we could get YSAs to help in the baptistry. Two RMs came to help.  He spent his morning being the baptism witness and doing confirmations.  The poor RM's baptized for one hour in freezing water--the temple's water heater was broken.  Scott loves serving in the temple and we are grateful that President Davis would ask for our help.

I went to the institute to continue moving in which included putting the library books back onto the newly renovated shelves.  It was so delightful to organize the books into groups: fiction, young adult, reference, general, and biography.  I love books.  I love the excitement that comes from opening a book and looking forward to learning its truths.  Then I took lots of pictures of our new office and of the library.  I finally got down to studying at around 11:30 a.m.

OUR OFFICE IN THE INSTITUTE

When one walks in the door of our office
my desk is what one's sees.
It is at the back of the room in the left corner.

To the right of my desk past the window
is this rolling bookcase which we have
filled with materials, books we need
for lessons.

                                   

Right again past another window
is Scott's desk.  You can see part of
the door on the right.

Right again behind the door is our filing cabinet.
You can also see the keyboards between the
door and the wall.
We have to keep the music stand in our
office.  They are pricey and most wards
do not have one.

THE INSTITUTE KITCHEN
is where we put the books sent to us from Kristin's ward,
and for our own home ward.                                                    

The closet where we keep the library

We have almost four hundred volumes
in this little library.  The young adults are so
excited to have them.  Maria, and Mereoni have
checked a new book out each week since we
opened the library.  Maria loved the first book she
read so much that she did not want to check it
back in.  I assured her that when she wanted to read it again, she could check it out again.

The people who donated these books have no idea

Closet wall in the kitchen.
Inside the middle closet is the
library.

what a great service they have rendered.

Cooking area opposite the closets

The stove will not hold even a very small cookie sheet.  The
refrigerator looks big, but is is just 20 inches wide and
just under 5 feet high.




THE INSTITUTE LOUNGE
is between our office and the kitchen. I worried at first that everyone would think we were a bar, but in Fiji no bar is called a lounge.  Whew!

Vica is sitting in one lounge chair reading
one of the books from our library.
She is an avid reader.

This is our missionary map of
all the YSAs who have gone on missions
since we arrived.

Scott taking advantage of the couch in the lounge.
The door you see is our office door.

Long distance lounge looking into our office

Long distance lounge, the door
goes into the classroom.

The bulletin board is covered with
a sulu I found at the flea market.
It holds wedding announcements (only one so far)
and pictures the missionaries send us.

Entertainment center in lounge.
The left door goes to the kitchen
The right door goes to the Jackson's Office
and to the back door of the Institute.

Although dark, you can see from the lounge into the
pool room and the back door of the classroom.
We keep the front door locked because it is the middle of
the classroom                                                                            

The pool table is definitely the drawing
card for the institute at first.  Every Fijian
loves to play pool and plays well.  We
let the YSAs play before class and after
class if they want to and they do.



Scott went swimming at around 5:30, because he back was hurting him.  While he was gone, I fixed dinner which included baking a loaf of bread.  When it came out of the oven it looked so gorgeous.  There is nothing better than warm bread.  I cut Scott a slice then cut myself one.  My slice had a tiny dot of raw dough on it, so I looked at the loaf and there was a big hole which contained a whole bunch of raw dough.  What?  I have never had that happen before.  I just rebaked it for a while.  It wasn't so good after the second baking.  Never had that happen before.