Hello Again!

January 25, 2010


Bula vinaka once again!
I find myself at a loss for words this evening, as there are so many
things to share with you all, that I can’t figure out where to start!
I looked over my notes and realized that so much has happened since I
wrote last.  I will try my best to bring you up to speed on the
happenings at the Mission at Natuvu Creek.
We are in the middle of summer here in Fiji, which means that school
is out, and all of the secondary (high school) students are home for
the ‘holidays’.  My intention was to continue home schooling full
time, because of the fact that we started school late, due to our move
to Fiji.  However, with school out, we have had myriads of school
children eager to join our home school.  Our children are happy to
comply with ‘guests’ and welcome them in to whatever we are doing.
We had our first ‘medical mission team’ come down to serve at the
clinic while our full time doctor is gone.  After arriving without any
of their luggage in tow, we set them up in scrubs and donated crocs
for their first day of service.  Gladly, their 12 pieces of luggage,
including many medical supplies and eye glasses for the clinic arrived
the next morning. This team proved to be a tremendous blessing to our
family, as well as the people of Fiji.  Jessi, Bailee, and Ben, as
well as the Thompson children were able to take part in the medical
clinic that was open for 4 days.  From working at the front desk to
making eye glasses, giving eye exams, and taking photographs, everyone
was kept busy from morning til night.  The 2 husband and wife teams
that came down from the states cheerfully served a couple hundred
patients, as well as lavishing many treats and gifts on our families
before they left.  We are excited for them to come back again!
After their departure, we had some guests from Savusavu come down to
help us host our Generation Y program, on New Years Eve.  We had an
amazing night of worship, special dramas, music and teaching God’s
word.  Young people and families have been gathering for Gen Y, from
many different villages. In a culture where church denominations tend
to define and separate people, the Mission at Natuvu has provided a
neutral ground for all people to gather together.  It has been a
highlight to each week for many of us, and has been awesome to see how
God is binding hearts together.
After we cleaned up all the musical equipment on this particular
night, and sent most people home, we got to celebrate our first New
Year’s Eve, Fiji style.  In one simple word, that means, WET! Our
friends warned us that starting on New Year’s Eve, it is Fijian
tradition to ‘wet’ people.  This comes in all different forms, from
buckets of water being thrown on you, throwing you in the sea or pool,
to ‘walking you to the tap’.  We were warned that once you get wet,
you should not change, because soon you will be wet again.
As we splashed around on New Years, and have continued to be soaked
ever since then, I realize how far we have come from Colorado, where
they were having an ‘arctic’ freeze, I have heard.  The New Year’s
‘wetting’ tradition does not end until the secondary students go back
to school, which will happen over the next couple weeks.  It is common
for people to throw water on the busses as they pass by, and soak the
people inside.  Even as we walked home from our first Fijian wedding
today, we were ambushed by four young men waiting to soak us with
large buckets of water.  I gladly gave permission to the boys to soak
all the girls, as long as they left me alone☺
January 24, 2010
I have resigned myself to finishing this update today, even though I
can not begin to share with you all the struggles and triumphs that
have taken place in the past month.  Time here seems to fly by, but at
the same time, it feels like we’ve been here for a very long time.
Long enough to open our hearts to so many dear people.  We sat at
lunch today, alone as a family, and discussed this thought.  Is it
better to have loved and lost, or to never have loved at all?
With the pain of all of our goodbyes in America, not so far in the
past, we have another round of goodbyes to make.  We have grown
attached to many young people, who have been home on school break.
This week is the week that most of them are going back to distant
islands.  How difficult it is to just begin to develop relationships
and then have to see them go.  I am certain of one thing.  I do not
like goodbyes.  I have to turn this over to the Lord, and ask him to
use it all for good.  Cherish every day that you have with your
friends and family.  Don’t take them for granted.
We have decided to add 2 more students to our homeschool this year,
so I am excited about that.  Many parents have shared how difficult it
is for them to send their kids off to distant schools at 14 years old.
We have had to say no to several requests for us to homeschool.  We
are working to equip parents to teach their kids at home, but in the
meantime, please join with us in prayer, as we pursue the goal of a
secondary school at Natuvu.  We have the land, and space to build, but
need the resources to build and staff the school.  I can’t wait to
give you a report of how it all comes together☺
A special treat this month was a visit from 2 of Jessi’s friends from
the states!  They got to join us for some outreach visits to local
villages, as well as help us out with GenY.  Our girl’s voices were
shot from illness, and Elizabeth was able to fill in and sing on the
band.  Zachary was a big support with whatever needed to be done, and
both were good sports when it came to getting soaked with water thru
their whole visit.  Having American friends here was a sweet taste
from home, and the only challenging part of their visit was the
‘goodbye’☺  We got to enjoy a classic bus ride on their way out of
town.  110 people on a bus designed for 60.  That was quite the
experience!  Sacks of potatoes, gallons of gasoline, and buckets of
biscuits make interesting seats down the aisles:)
       Our house is framed  now, but we have been delayed waiting on
materials to be delivered.  They love to bring the wrong size boards,
and tease us!  Mike has learned to adapt to Fiji ways, and just be
patient.  He loves the guys that are working with him, and feels very
blessed in that regard
      .I guess in summary, I would say that laughter has been
plentiful, prayer has been powerful, lives have been changed, and we
are thankful.  The flu has been persistent, Mike’s health continues to
suffer, and we never seem to all be well at the same time.  Still, we
praise HIM.
While I have struggled to find time to write this update, so much has
happened in the world.  The earthquake that struck Haiti hit close to
home for us, as our family members have lived and ministered in the
areas the hardest hit.  I have received front line updates about the
pain and devastation in Haiti, as well as the miracles.  As I write,
Mike’s Mom is preparing to head to Haiti with a relief team.  Close
friends are also journeying down to this very dangerous and desperate
nation.
The scriptures tell us that these things will happen to the earth
before Jesus returns.  Just as our bodies get old and wear out, so
even the earth cries out. Tidal waves and earthquakes will increase.
God has not forgotten his people.  He hears our prayers, and is
showing himself strong on our behalf.  He is in the business of
rescuing people.  He does not protect us from harm, but he never
leaves us in the suffering.  He loves to use each one of us to be his
hands and feet in bringing comfort and good news to the hurting.  May
each of you find joy in this journey.

Many blessings from Fiji!
Sara
PS. As an endnote, famous quote from Fijian grocery store.  A German
woman to Monique, “Don’t buy that pasta!  It has bugs!!”  As she
proceeds to flip the bag over and show Monique the bugs, she tells her
to buy the other brand.  Monique responds that the other brand costs
twice as much.  The woman insists that she will have to skim bugs off
the top.  “Oh well,” thinks Monique, “that’s nothing new!”
Such is the state of pasta in Fiji.  Just don’t tell the kids☺


PSS. Summer has arrived.  We feel like we are in a steamy oven.  Only
thought it was hot before. Now we know for sure:)