Our last team heading to the airport to fly away home.

Banana time!

Planting coffee and avocado! Grow little plants grow!

Cutting stakes at Homes of Hope for the new coffee/avacodo/banana/ironwood plantation.

Following our new 3 ton truck along the crazy momi road.

Hard at work.

Cooking for a group of over 20 people was a full-time job.

No more bare cement at Momi!

The world's most picturesque playground.

My expert teachers helping out in Sigatoka.

Pauliasi-scheming while coloring

Back to work with a new team in a new truck!

Elani Pittman's fourth birthday party.

Bushwacking has its rewards.

Owen Thompson-Super Star

Break Time!

There has been rumors of a Men of SI calendar...July is all yours Oscar!

Jonathan and Tricia Thompson on our trip to Waya.

We have a friend who owns a bit of land on the island of Waya. It may be used in the future as an SI site and we were able to go and check it out. Incredibly beautiful. This is Tim and Ray trying to find it.

Sugar cane season means the cane trains are rolling through town.

We had about two weeks off before our last team and were able to tour around a bit. This is at the Garden of the Sleeping Giant-the largest collection of orchids in Fiji. It was amazing!

Pictures

The team treated us to a night at a beautiful resort. We had a great time relaxing and taking advantage of all the fun stuff to to-like sailing!

Tim and Matthew hanging out in our house.

After a week sharing a home together, the Students International president finally warmed up to his roommate.

Our newly remodeled home. We had to make many changes responding to the elements; super strong wind, rain storms...

Jima(one of our wonderful Fijian staff) and Lindsay digging our water pipe trench.

Tim and I have been at Ray and Laura's house in Nadi for the last couple days. Our last team of the summer left late Sunday night and now we're not quite sure what to do with ourselves! We were totally exhausted after this team and appreciated resting for a while. We're realizing that our ideas of "resting" are a little different from each other, though. I feel like sleeping and swimming in the pool or maybe watching a movie-you know, resting. Tim on the other hand can't stand being still with so many exciting possibilities available. His way of relaxing and regaining energy is surfing/hiking/kayaking/island hopping/doing everything-all in the same day! I'm beginning to get my energy back now, though, so hopefully we'll be on the same page soon. This week we are just helping out the Pittmans and finishing out SI work. I have taught a little homeschooling while Laura has been taking seminary classes and Tim has been helping Ray run vehicles to/from the shops and other errands.
Tim's brother Kevin is coming out on Monday to spend about 10 days with us bird watching and hiking here on Viti Levu and also on another island- Taveuni. We are really looking forward to seeing family and more of Fiji.
I am working on getting more pictures up here and on flickr. I tried a few weeks ago but the internet was down so hopefully it will work this time!

We haven't had access to post lately so it has been a while. A lot has happened in the past few weeks. We had our 3rd team come through and are now awaiting our 4th and last team to arrive bright and early in the morning. We were only with this last team for a week as the two of us were working at Momi trying to prepare it for living in. That week was full of setbacks and we weren't able to get as much accomplished as we had hoped. Despite some frustrations it was a good week of working alongside our Fijian friends and getting to know them better. Everything worked itself out and the team was wonderful. They had a string of people getting sick while at Homes of Hope and it carried in to the week at Momi. They recovered quickly, though, and all went well. After adjusting a bit to spiders and frogs and cement and dirt they warmed up to the site and helped us get a lot of work done. There remains to be a lot to do, but every bit of help makes a huge difference.
The president of Students International was the team leader for this team and it was great to see him work with the other leaders trying to materialize the dreams that they have for the future here in Fiji. They have a lot of ideas and loads of opportunity to work with. It is exciting to see things happen!
The past 2 weeks have been a bit of a break. There have not been teams here, so we have been working here and there and also have had a chance to have some fun and a little adventure. We have been to the beach a few times, tried out Ray's old surfboard, gone hiking, and took an overnight trip to an island where a friend owns a bit of land. We brought some of our local staff and friends which was fun. It was absolutely beautiful. Now it is Sunday and our last team is on their way. This time has gone by so fast. We feel rested and energized for them and hope to give them our best. Pray for God's strengh to keep us healthy and excited.

Pictures on Flickr

Hello again!
We will still try to post pictures on the blog, but I just linked this page (on the right side under "links") to our Flickr website which can hold more pictures. I can only add about 3o pictures a month so I'll do my best! Enjoy.

Lisa, Breauna, and Abbey on the beach for dinner
Another view at Momi. In the forefront-Johnson estate to be?
Tim working on bunkbeds for the teams
I don't think balloons have ever been this beautiful!
Freckles are popping out!

More Pictures

The team brought balloons to the Sigatoka school which were accepted with huge smiles and a morning of colorful bubbles floating all over the playground!
Matthew
Our Fijian staff member and great friend until he goes to Canada on a Pacific dance team ministry(he'll still be our friend when he goes!). He is amazing. He has worked with YWAM for years in the US, Mexico, Fiji, and I think more places-he's been all over. A critical part of our team because he understands Americans and Fijians. And he is good at everything and is hilarious.
I found out that Abbey was afraid of the "giant" Fiji chickens. So I made her hold one! We were cutting the wing feathers so they wouldn't fly. I guess they still did. Hmmm
Tim and Naca(Natha) after hiking through the rainforest at Homes of Hope cutting down trees to build a garden shed. And a Fijian sized bowl of tea.
Women doing a meke at the pottery village.

Finally able to get some pictures to you!

Working at the preschool/kindergarten in Sigatoka with itsy bitsy pieces of play-dough (or plasticine as they call it!)
Snorkel Island! A generous friend let's us use his boat to take the teams to a beautiful little island to snorkel, swim, and relax for a break day.
Eden and Elani Pittman on our way to Snorkel Island
A view of Homes of Hope
We have all been asked to not post pictures of the women and children who live here on the internet. They have all been subject to abuses and/or traffiking and it is probably not wise to advertise them to the world. We'll show you all of their beautiful faces when we get home!
This was at the Momi construction site. Obviously taken BEFORE I got here-I wouldn't have let them!

Flying Nails

Things are going well for the most part here in Fiji. I am sorry for the lack of updates on what we have been doing lately. We have been very very busy with the teams and haven't really had much time to ourselves. We have three two week teams in a row. We had literally 8 hours in between the first two teams and a day between the next (which we had to use to prepare for the new team). After this team we will have a two week break before the next team, it will be nice to be able to relax a little.

Each team goes to three different ministry sites. The first two are at Sigatoka (which is a Baptist church where we help with the preschool and kindergarten) and Momi (which is a new ministry site that we are currently building). It is not set in stone what kind of ministry is going to be at Momi yet, it will be a place for troubled youth to come, an outreach center for the neighborhood, possibly a medical site, and a base for different community development projects, plus many more ideas. It will be exciting to see what results from the work we are putting in there. Currently we are constructing the main building at the site and getting it ready for teams to stay there. The third place the teams go is Homes of Hope. Which is a well established ministry in Suva (the capital) for single mothers and their children. The mothers come from varying terrible situations, from prostitution to forced marriages, or abuse. 30 mothers and their children are currently living their and working through a three stage curriculum of spiritual development. It is so encouraging to see the joy that has been restored in their lives through the ministry there.

The Students International teams get to see a wide spectrum of ministry here in Fiji by going to both Momi and Homes of Hope. Momi is still in the very beginning stages (just a building), where as Homes of Hope is well established having over 60 people on its campus, many buildings, a school, small businesses, gardens, chickens, outreach staff, directors, a guest house, and short term teams from all over coming to help. The campus is very beautiful, being right on the edge of the jungle, and having well maintained gardens all around. Momi will be beautiful, someday, when all of the construction debris is cleaned up.

The first two teams went to Momi and Sigatoka first (staying in a small apartment at the church in Sigatoka), and Homes of Hope second. They loved both sites, and it was good to start out with the less established places first and then going to Homes of Hope which is already so well established. This current team went to Homes of Hope first and will be coming to Momi tomorrow, which brings me to what Sarah and I have been doing lately.

The first teams were able to stay at Sigatoka because they were small (8 people), this team has 18 people and won't fit in the apartment so will have to stay at Momi whether it is ready or not. It is not. The money for the construction crew is out so they are done working there, but it isn't closed in yet. There have been so many problems and set backs which have prevented it from being completed. The latest is that all of the window frames are the wrong size so we have to rip out and redo all of them. We have to close it in all the windows and doors so it will be somewhat livable. So instead of going to Homes of Hope with the team Sarah and I have stayed back at Momi to try and get it ready. Us two and a couple of Fijian staff are trying two do in a few days what a whole crew of Fijian construction workers couldn't seem to finish. Pray for us that we can get it done and not completely exhaust ourselves.

We have been there for the past few days trying to finish up the windows and doors and clean out the whole site. It is coming along and I will be so happy to see a team staying there. The worst part of my experience happened yesterday while I was working. Sarah was holding a board and I was pounding in a cement nail. I was pounding very hard because I was frustrated and cement nails are hard to pound into cement. All of a sudden the nail snapped off when I hit it and went flying right into my forehead. Instantly blood was running down my face and dripping everywhere. I couldn't believe how hard the nail hit me. I went and sat down while Sarah and Aunti Mila cared for me. Mila yelled something in Fijian to a couple of the boys who were there and then all of a sudden they had some smashed up leaves that they were putting on the cut. The pulp stopped the bleeding and Sarah cleaned up my face. It left a cut and a bump on my forehead but I don't think there will be a bad scar. It bled alot at first but now it is just fine. I am glad it didn't hit my eye. I fortunately did have my glasses on too.

The team comes to Momi tomorrow and it is not all closed in yet, but I know it will be a good experience for them, just roughing it a little. I am excited to get to spend some time with this new team and I know we will get a lot more done because there are so many people. In spite of all of the negativity in this entry, things are going well. All of the teams have loved being here and formed great relationships, which is our goal. Many people have said that this was the best missions trip that they have been on. Sarah and I are really enjoying ourselves, and know that we are in the right place this summer. Continue praying for us and that we will have the strength and endurance to keep going strong. Thanks for all of your support.

Tim

2 Years

Happy anniversary to us!
We aren't home to take a picture with our wedding tree so Tim's mom sent it to us.
Two wonderful, happy years together.

Jordyn Grace Johnson!

We have a new niece!
Congratulations Nate, Lisa, and family!

Together Again!

An amazing first few days for me in Fiji. I had a good flight over minus a baggage scare, but everything turned out fine and I made it to Nadi at about 5:30am. Tim was there to meet me and we greeted with tears and as much joy as I think I have ever felt. We were given 2 days on our own while Ray and Laura took over the team. They were wonderful. Tim was excited to show me everything so we didn't exactly rest(which we are kind of regretting now!). We spent the days in the water and sun and reconnecting with each other. We agreed that we are going to avoid spending that much time apart again if we can help it.
After our break we took a long bus trip to meet up with the team at Homes of Hope. This place was absolutely incredible. We were only there for a couple of days so far, but my first impressions were very powerful. The organization is right outside of the capital of Fiji but you wouldn't know it because it is on 40 acres of tropical rainforest. Extremely lush with parrots and fruit bats flying above. There are currently about 25 single mothers there with their children. All of these women have heart wrenching stories of how they reached this place in their lives. Most of them come from broken and abusive families and/or trafficking and rape situations. They come to HOH desperate and with nowhere else to turn. There they can be taken in, housed and fed, and if they choose, change their entire lives. I can explain more later as we get to know these women and their children.
Our first team of students just left to catch their flight. A wonderful group of people. We were blessed to have them as our first team. We had a lot of kinks to work out as far as transportation and sleeping accommodations and they were very easy going and cooperative as we worked everything out. They loved the ministries and fell in love with all of the Fijians that they met. I think HOH and the women and children there will stay in their hearts for a long time.
We had a fun day on Saturday and were given use of a boat to head out to snorkel island. A day full of sun and snorkeling and kayaking and magnum bars. A great way to say goodbye. I was only able to spend a few days with this team but loved it.
Our next team arrives in less than 9 hours and is also a team of 8. This group is from a church in California and has a range of ages. It will be fun to work with different kinds of teams with different dynamics. Pray for these next couple of weeks that the Momi site can get finished for the 3rd team, that transportation issues will smooth out, and that our energy will hold in there. We have both been very tired and being with the teams 24/7 never lets us rest completely.
Overall, Fiji is wonderful and I am loving it! We will post more pictures soon.

The work so far

This past week has been busy. I spent three days of it camped out at the construction site near Momi Bay working with the local Fijians. It was a good but trying experience. The first day we were eating lunch--I had been eating mostly Fijian food--and they brought out some food in a basket that I thought at first was some large brown vegetables. When they brought it out I realized it was a pigs head. They had it leftover from a feast the previous weekend. Once they brought it out they cut it down the middle, started pulling pieces off and enthusiastically handing them to me for me to eat. Since it is rude to refuse food, and I have a hard time saying "no" anyway, I had to eat it. It was terrible. I mean, the taste probably wasn't too bad--it was pork--but, there was this pig skull staring at me with furry pig skin laying around it, and it hadn't been refrigerated for a couple of days. I will just say that I am lucky that I am not sick right now.

So it wasn't the best start of the week. However, the Fijians are so kind and generous, they welcomed me right in. And to them the pigs head is like a delicacy, so they were just being generous to me. The work there went alright. More laying bricks and building forms for cement. We have had some problems. There is no electricity there yet and our generator broke down. Two of the cement beams that had been molded collapsed, and some of the Fijians have been sick with respiratory illness for a couple of weeks. We need prayer that everything that needs to be finished before the Students International teams from the U.S. come gets completed. It has been a good experience for me to be by myself with just Fijians. I am starting to learn some of their language. They speak English too, but while I was there they mostly spoke in Fijian. Overall I have enjoyed working with them. Next week I will be making bunk beds for the site. I have to make 24 of them, and I don't know what tools I will have access to so it may take a while.

This weekend has been great. I was able to go out with Ray (the director) and some other people in a boat to a small island to go fishing and snorkeling. We are possibly going to bring the teams out their for an adventure day. It was wonderful to be able to see that side of Fiji as well. It is such a beautiful country. I am so blessed to be able to work here for my summer. I still miss Sarah so much, but she will be out here in 2 weeks. I am not sure where we will be staying yet. That is another project I have for this week. Apparently there is a house nearby the site at Momi that we have access to, but it has been overrun by goats for the past 2 years and may not be livable. I have to check it out and see if it can be cleaned and fixed, and if so, do that before she comes, otherwise we may be able to rig something up at the site. I guess we'll see. Ray and Laura and their girls Eden and Elani and I will be gong to church tomorrow here in Nadi. Hopefully we will be able to relax the rest of the day. It has been a busy week and next week will probably be just as busy if not more since the first team comes in 10 days.

Construction at Momi Bay

We are currently working on the building at Momi bay. This is where the student teams will be staying most of the time while they are here. It is also going to be a future ministry site for the local Fijians when it is finished. It is all brickwork and cement which is mostly new to me but I am catching on. I will also be leading the teams with continuing construction here when they come.

Made it

Well I made it to Fiji alright. It was 27 hours of traveling and I am quite tired. I am currently staying with Ray and Laura Pitmann who are the directors of the Students International program in Fiji. The past two days I spent working with some indigenous Fijians constructing the site where the Students International teams will be staying. The first team comes on the 25th of May. I will put up some pictures with my next post.

Tim

Packing Up

Well, we are scurrying around getting Tim ready to go. Only one more day! Hard to believe that the time has already come.
Tim is leaving on Sunday from Minneapolis at about 10 am but doesn't fly out of LA until 11:30 pm. A very long layover. He'll get to Fiji May 5th at 5 in the morning.
If anyone is interested, Fiji time is 17 hours ahead of us here in the midwest.
Pray for safe travel!

Thanks

This is our first post of this blog and I want to say thank you in advance to everyone who is supporting us--Whether through prayer or financially. Both are so important. We are so excited for what God has in store for us this summer in Fiji, and are glad that you can join in with us through your support. I will be posting links and pictures about what we will be doing, and hopefully we will be able to update the blog and post pictures while we are in Fiji so you can see what we are up to. Welcome to our team!

Any donations should be made out to Students International so that they will be tax deductible. Checks can be sent in using the return envelope provided in our letter, or write "Tim and Sarah Johnson" in the memo line of the check and send to:

Students International
P.O. Box 2733
Visalia, CA 93279-2733


Call if you have any questions!
Sarah:612-718-7190