I went to Fiji
!
You might think it was this
Or this.
But it was a short-term mission trip
Not like this (although construction work would've suited me too)
Or this.
But actually a lot of
Discussions
Discipling
and Fellowship.
The Student Life Fiji 2012 Project team consisted of 3 staff and 8 students from Hamiltron, Dunedin, Wellington, Auckland and the lovely city of Christchurch
We got along really well, everyone we had so much fun. Thank you guys for being so friendly, open and co-operative. It really made a difference in the project.
Tonga and I would agree that we got abs from laughing for 12 days straight.
We departed at 8 am. Which meant getting up at 5 (some of us looked at the clock wrong and were ready by 2. 30am)
We were all so so so
so
excited.
Three hours later we landed, and my first impression of Fiji was that it reminded me of some parts of Indonesia
the construction and plan of the buildings are similar and the climate is warm; mid 20 degrees celcius with intense rain sometimes, (but a lot less congested).
We stayed at the Ravoka's, whose attitude towards guests is "what's mine is yours."
All of us were really encouraged by their hospitality, they gave the men in our team their bedroom while they slept in a back room, practically outside, with their young sons.
Jenny, who is interning from America, also moved outside so 2 girls could take her bed.
Thank you.
Your hospitality is why our team became so close to each other, you have inspired me.
The Ravoka boys are really something.
Soni is an intelligent 11 year old boy, mature beyond his age, and
KJ, aka Hulk, is the most imaginative and creative kid you will ever come across. The house is decorated with his drawings...
Our usual day started with quiet time, reading Galatians
Paul wrote to the churches in Galatia as they drifted away from God, turning to their works and forgetting about His grace.
Then we took turns leading a group devotional each.
I did mine on "faith, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." James 2:17 How we need to act on what we believe and putting action to our prayers.
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| our sharing resources |
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| our follow up materials |
And after devotional, would be training time with the American STINTers on how to use our resources in a different cultural context.
We stayed in Caubati (the c pronounced as th) and
Fiji National University is in Valelevu, a short 20 minute walk 'up the hill', this is where we did most of our evangelism.
Someone told me that if there was a new student, everyone would know. So imagine 11 foreigners walking in...
Our evangelising method was kind of like the sharing that we were used to at campus, but no surveys. We'd go in pairs, get to know the students we talk to, share chocolate, and ask them if they'd like to see the booklet that we brought with us;
'Would you like to know God personally?'
They always say yes.
That's what I love about sharing there; everyone is enthusiastic and grateful, willing to give 10 minutes of their time, which can actually turn out to be an hour.
A total of
24 students prayed and received Jesus Christ during the time we were there.
We did follow-ups with them; setting the foundation of their faith and then connected them with the Student Life of Fiji, so it wasn't like "good decision to follow Christ. Now good luck
!" But instead, making sure that they are truly grounded.
One girl I did follow-ups with was
Ako.
For her, church has always been a must every Sunday. It was so excitingto see her eyes being opened to the Gospel and as she realised a lot of new truths about Christianity.
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith- this not from yourself, but it is a gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:8-9
It is an undeserved gift that we can live for eternity in a perfect place with God. This is not because of something we've done, it is a gift. There is nothing we can, or need, to do to earn this gift. Accept and believe.
That was a highlight of the trip
!
Another would be this
But more on that in another post...
Besides mission work on campus, we got to go to Suva city, where there are markets, shopping, and the sea
!
These are Fijian coins
$1 NZD = $1.40 FJD
On Sunday, we got to go to the Ravoka's home church, a Methodist.
All week we had been emphasising the meaning
grace to the people we talked to; the difference between Christianity and religion- salvation is not earned by works,
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith- this not from yourself, but it is a gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:8-9
And guess what the sermon was on that Sunday? Exactly that verse.
God's plan
.
The other highlight would be making friends with the Student Life people in Fiji.
They are so loving and so accommodating. Best memory would be nights of fellowship, passing around the guitar, singing songs in English, Fijian, Maori, Spanish... playing Catch Phrase- Fijian styles and kava all round...
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| The Fiji project team of 2012 |
To all our supporters,
thank you for getting us there and back
! You'll be pleased to know that part of the money we raised went towards other projects
.
One student,
Dilo, was fundraising for her project to Vanuatu and made customisable sulus.
A sulu is like a sarong or lavalava, a wrap- around material that can be worn in many different ways.
We got a couple each (for ourselves and matching ones for our significant other, isn't that right
Bari and
Simon?? ;) ;) ;) but I'm in no position to tease...
It was so great to be able to support other students going on projects while we were on one ourselves.
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| Wearing sulus on the plane back to Auckland |
Highlights: meeting up with
Ako to talk about Christianity. The Student Life of Fiji, the project team, cold showers, THE BREAD
Lowlight: getting a call from the reception on the night we stayed at a motel about our noise level :P okay so it was past 10pm and we were going a bit crazy on our last night... But we were also doing worship
! And it sounded good
!
Strongest memories: laughing so much I nearly got abs and ran out of tears... the beach on the last day, the pig when it was still alive...
Funniest moments: being asked if I was Tongan or Samoan... that time when Simon gave the taxi driver a 'Knowing God Personally booklet' and said, 'see you in heaven!', playing Catch Phrase,
this photo...
If you are going on a project this summer, you will have so much fun.
If you think Fiji Project 2013 is for you, I highly recommend you go. The support raising is a journey itself, but if God wants you there, He'll get you there
- ask anyone who have had to raise supports!
If you would like a newsletter written by one of the girls, let me know.
To my team, thank you for an awesome time.
Henna may fade, but memories last longer.
And to conclude, I just got elected as co-president of Student life for 2013 with
Glenn.
Here's to a great year of fulfilling the great commission :)
Signed,
Elisa.
