Elder and Sister Howard are assigned to Savusavu as humanitarian missionaries. They work specifically with water projects. Many/most Fijians that live outside of metropolitan areas get their water by collecting rain water. It is not clean. They teach villages and individuals how to clean and keep clean the water they collect. They also work with wheelchairs, computers for schools, solar energy, etc.
The Howards picked us up for church this morning and had previously invited us to lunch. Church was interesting. It is a little building built on the same exact plan as the church we attended in Bau. One walks into the chapel which is just a 30 X 20 room with stackable chairs. On both ends of the room are two doors. Three are to very small classrooms (8 chairs) and one is the bishop's office. We attended all three meetings.
Relief Society was interesting and the sisters were so cute. We got started with only four of us in the room. After the opening hymn, the opening prayer and the announcements, we had to wait for the teacher to show up. The R.S. president had passed out manuals to everyone except me and I could not figure out why some of the sisters had two manuals. It was not until the teacher said that we would be reading portions of the lesson and then discussing that portion that I realized that the R. S. president had gotten English manuals for the sisters who could read English. As we read, some read in Fijian, some read in English. Some comments were made in English and some in Fijian. So sweet of them to try so hard to include me in the lesson.
We found out after church that there was to be a baptism. It was to be done in the ocean. We were so excited to see an ocean baptism. Another Fiji first for Scott and me.
After the baptism there was to be a lunch for those who stayed. Because they did not have enough food, Sister Howard ran home, cooked rice to put under her taco soup and took all of it back to the church.
Both Scott and I have been really careful to honor the Fijians and they way they do things. We made the decision that we would "become" Fijians while we were here. I blew it so badly today. I am embarrassed with my behavior. When we got back to the church after going to the Howards to help cook the rice, the R.S. president gave each of us a plate of food that she had saved just for us. It looked awful! Mostly curry and I really, really do not like the curry here. I thanked her, and asked her to give it to someone who had not eaten yet. Her reply was that everyone had already had a little. I should have just taken it and moved the food around on the plate. I am sure it was tasty to Fijians, but for some reason today, I just could not. I refused the plate again telling her to give it to someone who needed it. I did not fool her. She knew I did not want to eat it. Later as I was talking to one of the brethren I looked up and there was the R.S. president slumped over her own plate of food. I know I hurt her feelings. It was the best she had to offer, and had worked hard to provide it for us. Dang! Dang! Dang! I could not undo what I had done. I felt to guilty. I should have felt guilty.
Good old Scott, took his plate and ate it. He said it was pretty good. What a horrible way to end a really wonderful Sabbath.
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