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.
Friday, June 26, 2009
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!
MatthewOur 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 HopeWe 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
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
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
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.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
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.
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.
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