Today is Boxing Day. What is boxing day you ask. It is an English holiday. Because the servants in the mansions of the rich had to work on Christmas Day, the day after Christmas the rich gave boxes of gifts to the servant and gave them the day, or part of the day off. Hence Boxing Day. The Service Center was closed, and we had to close the institute. Most Fijians spend the day at the beach.
We spent the day preparing for up coming lessons. I love studying the gospel with a purpose. We ended our day with a drive and a walk along the sea wall.
Sunday, January 13, 2013
December 25
It is interesting that on the one Christmas we can sleep in Scott was up at 4 a.m. Even he is not sure why. While he was up, he decided to make it look as if Santa had come. What a wonderful man I married. He got all the gifts our children and grandchildren sent, an umbrella we had not used, a kids toy we had purchased to donate but did not get it to the right place on time, and put them on the coffee table we have in our living room. I guess it did not look like enough, so he got the box Brother Stout sent and any Christmas cards we had received and added them to the gifts. He then added two pineapples we had purchased yesterday. He took the only pair of socks we have here in Fiji--his well used, but clean athletic socks--and stuffed them with apples, bananas, carrots (he was desperate), and a few hard tack candies laying around the house standing them up against the legs of the coffee table when he was finished.
By 6 he was tired and came back to bed waking me up in the process. So at 6 I am up with nothing to do. I grabbed my scriptures and went into the living room to read. I laughed and laughed when I saw the coffee table. Scott is so much fun! I read my scriptures, and then when I could not think of anything to do got Scott up. We took forever going through our "Christmas Stockings" and opening our presents. We savored each gift as we opened it. Tried things on. We read Brother Stouts letter which was three pages long plus another page written by his daughter Kristen when she was serving her mission and made a big deal of each Christmas card. It was so delightful.
It is amazing to me that my Christmases have always been centered on family. We do not have Christmas traditions that center on parties, social outings, or gatherings. Christmas to me means family. I have not been worried about this Christmas being hard or sad, but I have wondered how it would be without our children, grandchildren, brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews, because I could not "see" Christmas without family. Well it was amazing.
Because we had talked with our children and grandchildren on Monday we did not feel a need to speak with them again today. It is a good thing as the recharging cord to our computer did not work this morning. One of the prongs was gone and so it would not recharge the computer. I had planned to call mother today and skype Marsha, Dave, Abby and Sean.
We ended up going to the beach this morning with some of the senior couples. Scott was so excited to say that he had spent Christmas day on a beach and in the ocean. Do not ask me why, but he was. We had a lovely time on the way out, on the beach and on the way home with the six couples we drove. When we got home, I put the ham for dinner in the oven. Monica, our landlady, brought us up a lunch of fish, lolo, ota, and dalo. Yummy.
We tried to figure out a way to call mother, but we could not unlock our cell phone for international calls today, because no one was working who could do it.
At four we met on the "deck" for dinner with the Seniors. Everyone brought a dish to share. I did the ham and the rolls. After we did a white elephant exchange which was great fun, and then I had put together a "So You Think You Know Christmas" quiz. Scott and I had purchased an extra white elephant gift to give to the couple who got the most correct answers. As I was standing there asking the questions, giving them time as a couple to get an answer, and then asking for the correct answer there were long minutes of silence. And in that silence, I thought about my Dad who passed away in 1975. He loved everything about a good party. In finding the questions and putting together the quiz, I had done something my father would have done--find a way to make a party more fun. Merry Christmas, Dad.
The seniors had planned the dinner weeks ago. On Christmas Eve day President Seru had asked if we had some place to eat. I told him that we were eating with the seniors. I did not realize that we could do both. I thought the invitation was an incase-you-are-alone invitation which I found out later it was not. I love President Seru; he is such a strong leader and we would have loved to eat with him and Sister Seru. We also had an invitation to eat with Jimmy Narayan and his mother. They were eating at the same time as the seniors. If I had known we would have been invited out, I would never have agreed to cook the ham for the seniors. I would much rather be with the Fijian.
All in all a wonderful Christmas. It would have been perfect if we could have talked to Mom.
December 24
All of Suva is at work today. Downtown Suva is crowded with shoppers and the streets are a traffic jam. I am not sure if it was last minute shopping for Christmas (doubtful), or last minute shopping for groceries and staples as the market is closed tomorrow.
We along with the Welles, and the Hogges went to see the Hobbit today. Nice movie. Not a good movie for the day before Christmas. One of the nice surprises is that the theatre is clean.
Spent Christmas Eve reading the nativity, and being thankful for the birth of the Son of God. Grateful for the Savior's life, his atonement, his example, his willingness to die so that I might live again. Grateful to Him for his care and concern for me individually. I am so blessed to be here in Fiji serving a mission. I love that I am part of the process of the gospel filling the whole earth. As inadequate as I am, with His help I can be the missionary He wants me to be.
We along with the Welles, and the Hogges went to see the Hobbit today. Nice movie. Not a good movie for the day before Christmas. One of the nice surprises is that the theatre is clean.
Spent Christmas Eve reading the nativity, and being thankful for the birth of the Son of God. Grateful for the Savior's life, his atonement, his example, his willingness to die so that I might live again. Grateful to Him for his care and concern for me individually. I am so blessed to be here in Fiji serving a mission. I love that I am part of the process of the gospel filling the whole earth. As inadequate as I am, with His help I can be the missionary He wants me to be.
December 23
Because no one showed up for the practice this week, I texted everyone to come an hour early (9 a.m.)
to practice in the chapel. So at 9:10 there were only five YSAs at the church. Heart attach time. How does one live with this kind of stress? The pianist did not show up until 9:15. We started to practice simply because we needed it. I love Fijians; I love living here, but I do not understand this part of the culture. Say you will and then don't. Know something starts at a specific time and then show up whenever.
By 9:45 there were 27 YSAs sitting in the choir seats. I was so grateful that I will not mention that three of the YSAs sitting in those choir seats had never practiced with us or that six of them did not sing last week, nor that nine of the YSAs that sang last week were not sitting in the choir seats.
We did OK. Scott says it was just as good as last week, but I do not feel that way. I did not feel the Spirit the way I had last week, nor do I think the YSAs sang with the same spirit. Maybe I lost the spirit in all the worry and stress of the morning, or maybe the Spirit could not attend us, because the YSAs had not prepared as they should, or maybe it was both.
I was grateful for kind ward members who appreciated the program and were very complimentary.
I told Scott I am done with the choir. I love these young adults, but I can not function like this.
December 20
As we drive around Suva to do our errands we are amazed at the clean up that has already happened. Broken tree limbs, blown-off house parts, loose garbage, etc are already sitting out on the curbs waiting for the garbage trucks to come. Have I talked about garbage trucks here? Well if I have, skip this part.
Our garbage can (plastic) is about 24" tall. It is just bigger than the garbage can I have underneath my sink at home, only it is round. The garbage truck comes three times a week; Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
We set, or Monica sets the garbage can out in front of our locked gate and the garbage truck come with a driver and two men who are hanging onto the back of the truck. When the truck stops the closest man gets off, grabs our garbage can, takes off the lid, dumps it, puts the lid back on, sets it back down and the truck moves on. No automated garbage trucks here. I love being out when they come past as the men always wave and greet us with "Bula, Bula" Every Fijian is friendly.
All of our YSAs fared well in the storm. No one lost roofs. No one got flooded. Most have their power back. Those who live out Nausori way are still out of power as a huge transformer out there went down. Could be weeks before they get their power back.
Some of the YSAs came early to Scott's lesson to help clean up the yard around the institute. Because Facilities Management forgets that we are here, they do not always get to us in a timely fashion. So we asked the YSAs to come help clean up. It took us about an hour to sweep the leaves up, pick up the palm tree fronds, etc. It was a fun thing. We took the kids who helped to McDonalds for a chocolate sundae--not a hot fudge sundae. They do not have hot fudge here, just hot chocolate which they put on the ice cream. uh huh.
Had asked the YSAs that sang on Sunday to come tonight to repractice for the program on Sunday. Had only 15 show up and 5 of them did not sing with us last Sunday. I just can not work this way. Now my gut will be in a knot until Sunday. Relax, La Nae. Relax
Our garbage can (plastic) is about 24" tall. It is just bigger than the garbage can I have underneath my sink at home, only it is round. The garbage truck comes three times a week; Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
We set, or Monica sets the garbage can out in front of our locked gate and the garbage truck come with a driver and two men who are hanging onto the back of the truck. When the truck stops the closest man gets off, grabs our garbage can, takes off the lid, dumps it, puts the lid back on, sets it back down and the truck moves on. No automated garbage trucks here. I love being out when they come past as the men always wave and greet us with "Bula, Bula" Every Fijian is friendly.
All of our YSAs fared well in the storm. No one lost roofs. No one got flooded. Most have their power back. Those who live out Nausori way are still out of power as a huge transformer out there went down. Could be weeks before they get their power back.
Some of the YSAs came early to Scott's lesson to help clean up the yard around the institute. Because Facilities Management forgets that we are here, they do not always get to us in a timely fashion. So we asked the YSAs to come help clean up. It took us about an hour to sweep the leaves up, pick up the palm tree fronds, etc. It was a fun thing. We took the kids who helped to McDonalds for a chocolate sundae--not a hot fudge sundae. They do not have hot fudge here, just hot chocolate which they put on the ice cream. uh huh.
Had asked the YSAs that sang on Sunday to come tonight to repractice for the program on Sunday. Had only 15 show up and 5 of them did not sing with us last Sunday. I just can not work this way. Now my gut will be in a knot until Sunday. Relax, La Nae. Relax
December 19
The power came on last night at about 8 o'clock--just less than 24 hours after it went off. The meat in our freezer is still frozen. It is a tender mercy that we had just bought our monthly supply of meat before the cyclone so our freezer was full. All missionaries are accounted for except two and their district leader is sure they are OK-another tender mercy.
We have skyped all our kids so that they will not continue to worry. They too have been watching the progression of Cyclone Evan on the internet. Modern technology is such a blessing.
We found out today, that Elder Wakolo and his kids were down at the sea wall day before yesterday as the cyclone was coming toward Fiji. They watched as the huge cargo ships hunkered down in preparation for the big storm, and watched as one huge cargo ship coming into the harbour was blown into the reef that surrounds Suva. I have decided that Scott and I were overly cautious. I wish we had taken the time to drive or walk around as the storm was coming. We will know what to do next time.
We are so grateful that all of Fiji seems to be safe and feel it is a direct blessing from heaven.
Today we were driving away from the Service Center when we saw the Taitos walking along the street. We stopped and asked where they were going. Home. We offered them a ride. Their home is a good two hour walk from the Service Center. This was not the first time they had chosen to walk instead of pay the bus fare which would be $2f per person. There were three of them, brother, sister and daughter Taito so that equals $6. Two miles to save $6. Says something about the economy here both nationally and personally. That is $3.60US. Americans are so blessed. But Fijians are happier!!!
We have skyped all our kids so that they will not continue to worry. They too have been watching the progression of Cyclone Evan on the internet. Modern technology is such a blessing.
We found out today, that Elder Wakolo and his kids were down at the sea wall day before yesterday as the cyclone was coming toward Fiji. They watched as the huge cargo ships hunkered down in preparation for the big storm, and watched as one huge cargo ship coming into the harbour was blown into the reef that surrounds Suva. I have decided that Scott and I were overly cautious. I wish we had taken the time to drive or walk around as the storm was coming. We will know what to do next time.
We are so grateful that all of Fiji seems to be safe and feel it is a direct blessing from heaven.
Today we were driving away from the Service Center when we saw the Taitos walking along the street. We stopped and asked where they were going. Home. We offered them a ride. Their home is a good two hour walk from the Service Center. This was not the first time they had chosen to walk instead of pay the bus fare which would be $2f per person. There were three of them, brother, sister and daughter Taito so that equals $6. Two miles to save $6. Says something about the economy here both nationally and personally. That is $3.60US. Americans are so blessed. But Fijians are happier!!!
December 18
Evan is gone. The west coast of the island has had problems with flooding both from the rain and from storm surges. Trees and power lines are down there. So far, no one has died in this storm which is such a blessing.
We still do not have power. We are eating out of the pantry so that we do not have to open the refrigerator. No one is going in to the service center again today. Somewhere I read that a category 3 cyclone can cause power outages that last up to three months. Oh I hope not! We would lose all the food in the fridge as there is no way to keep stuff cold here. No dry ice.
We ended up going into the Service Center because they have a generator. We found that only three employees there, but all the senior missionaries and the mission office staff were into work today. Because most of the employees live quite a ways out of the city (cheaper housing there) there is no good way to get into the city with no power and no busses.
We still do not have power. We are eating out of the pantry so that we do not have to open the refrigerator. No one is going in to the service center again today. Somewhere I read that a category 3 cyclone can cause power outages that last up to three months. Oh I hope not! We would lose all the food in the fridge as there is no way to keep stuff cold here. No dry ice.
We ended up going into the Service Center because they have a generator. We found that only three employees there, but all the senior missionaries and the mission office staff were into work today. Because most of the employees live quite a ways out of the city (cheaper housing there) there is no good way to get into the city with no power and no busses.
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