Kata Kata!

November 18, 2009


Kata Kata!

It is very hot!  Summer is fast approaching, and our bodies are needing to adjust to the heat.  This morning as I taught my class on 'Creation to the Greeks', the children looked like they might melt.  Nathan worked on his mathematics about 1 foot away from the fan, which was cranked on high, pointing straight at him.  As I checked my email this afternoon in the shade at the dorm, sweat steadily poured down my back.  This is new for me. In Colorado, I didn't sweat, even when I trained and competed in a mini-triathlon.  We never know what the temperature is here, but as the Fijians say, we know one thing for sure.  It is 'Kata Kata'.  VERY HOT.

I was in such a rush to send out my last update, that I forgot to share some high points with you, and a few humorous additions.

Mike got to preach his first sermon in Fiji 2 weekends ago.  He donned his brand new khaki sulu (man-skirt) and white button down shirt, and walked to church in true Fiji style.  Although I am still not sure if Fijians wear anything under their sulus or not.  Of course, I am not eager to find outJ The children chuckled to see their Dad in the skirt, but I have to admit that it didn’t look too odd to me.  Fijian men wear skirts for all types of activities, so the only difference was the white, skinny ankles!  Besides seeing Mike in a Sulu, we were very blessed to hear the message that God had spoken to Mike for that day.  It is awesome to be on a journey with the King of the Universe!

This past weekend, we went to a nearby village for a movie night with the younger children.  Our ride was delayed in picking us up, so I told our hostess that we would start walking home with our flashlights.  Two ladies and several children decided to accompany us. It was a beautiful thing to walk along in the pitch black darkness, with a group of villagers singing “This Little Light of Mine”.  I will never grow tired of listening to Fijian children (or adults) sing.  Jesus came into this dark world to light our path, just like the flashlights enabled us to move forward on the dark and dusty path.

Fiji has been so good to us in many ways.  This last Sunday, the Mission had an early end of the year party, because the Doctor and his wife are leaving on furlough for 7 weeks.  The ladies cooked up a delicious feast, including chicken roasted inside coconut leaves under the ground, and fish that the men caught while spear fishing the night before.  The staff all came in their best clothes and with warm smiles and hugs.  We truly feel like we have been brought into a family.  We feel like we belong here much quicker than I thought we would. 

Village life is so different than at home in the USA.  You see the same people on such a regular basis, that relationships blossom quickly.  We are thankful for the core team here, and the previous missionaries that have laid a strong foundation for us.

Speaking of foundations, we now have 8 (out of 40 something) poles cemented into the ground.  The first 4 were the most difficult to place. Mike worked very hard to get the poles exactly where they needed to be, because these placements would determine where everything else would line up.  It took a lot of brainpower and effort, because the poles are crooked.  They had to design a way to line up the tops of the poles, not just the bottoms.  With God’s help, our first poles are successfully placed, and the rest will now fall into place.   This reminds me of the fact that we need to build our lives on a strong foundation, and set the course on a straight path.  Jesus said he is the way, and if we follow him, everything else will fall in to place.  When the storms come, if we are standing on the rock, we won’t fall apart.  (Speaking of that, we just heard that predictions are calling for 9 cyclones this season, with the first one coming by the end of the year! More fun stories to follow!)

Besides changes in the weather, and getting used to people sniffing us when they greet us, we seem to be adapting to Fiji very well.  I gave my first haircut today, and Ben is thankful for a cooler head.  The younger boys don’t seem to mind the sweatJ The children are swimming every day in the ocean after school and chores, now that it has heated up.  Many laughs, chills, and spills have become the norm.

I was telling my Mom that it will be really strange to celebrate Thanksgiving here.  A small turkey costs about  $100, so we will be content with a few small roasted chickens, and as many of the rest of the trimmings as we can find. The meal certainly wasn’t what the Pilgrims were worried about.  The original thanksgiving was a reminder that all we have was from God, and to be thankful that he is faithful thru all the trials and tribulations of life.  We have so much to be thankful for. 

In closing, I want to share with you another plea to remember those that have very little this year.  We are learning to live with less, but we still have SO much.  Food in our stomachs, and a roof over our head.  The same day I sent out my last update, we received a newsletter from Mike’s Mom.  She has a ministry to the country of Haiti, where they are doing many amazing things for the poor and the needy. As Mike had Bailee read the newsletter, we had to fight back tears as we listened to the story of 2 orphans left on the street outside of an orphanage, because their mother had died, and the Father could not take care of them.

The ministry to Haiti is called Dayspring, and they are raising funds to complete their orphan’s new home, called My Father’s House.  The number of children that need homes far outweigh the resources that have been provided, but God owns the thousand cattle on the hills.  Would you be part of God’s answer to the plight of these suffering children?  Did you know that Americans spend more on ice cream in one year, than the amount of money needed to solve the worlds’ hunger problems?  This figure is staggering to me.

As Black Friday approaches, please consider avoiding the crowds, (save yourself from possible injury!) and write a check for something that will last. Ask the people you love if they would prefer making a donation to a needy cause this year in your name.  If all of you would consider changing your shopping list into a giving list, you may have a more enjoyable and peaceful monthJ  I am going to forward you the email from Mike’s Mom.  If you have time, please read it and see if your heart is touched like ours was. 

I apologize if I seem too preachy, but I truly believe the days are short for us before the Lord Jesus comes back as King once again to pick up his people and take us to heaven.  Let’s make the most of every moment, every thought and every dollar we spend. May we live in such a way that we are happy and expectant for his arrival!

Giving Thanks for All of You!

Sara