Roper Fijian Crusades: 2022-07-17

When the schools go on break for a week, they call the week a holiday. "What will you be doing during the holiday?" "Can't wait for the holiday." "It's going to be nice to have a few days off for the holiday."

So Term 1 ended on July 6. Parent teacher Conferences were July 7. Professional Development was July 8. And then we were free until school resumed on Monday, July 18. But even then, the 18th was just a teacher prep day and students returned on Tuesday July 19. Kim and I had wanted to take a trip to Taveuni. But the flights were pretty expensive and the ferry was a LONG trip. So we didn't go. Plus we would have had to go Saturday and return Tuesday so we would be back for the dorm dedication. So we stayed in Viti Levu. On Thursday, we jumped in the car and drove up to Nadi. It's about a 3.5 hour drive. We stopped in Sigatoka, about 2.5 hours up the coast. Sigatoka is known for their sand dunes. The 7s Rugby team trains here since they provide a very rigorous workout. We decided to walk out to the dunes. OH MY! The flies swarmed us the whole way. When we got there, it's a very steep climb up. The sun was beating on the path making the sand super hot. Every step you take you slide back at least a half step. Kim went up first. I started behind him but wasn't progressing very far. Plus I had sandals on and the sand was BURNING my feet. I tried using my hands to help me get up. That helped but about half way up I had to stop and sit and let my feet cool off. They were on fire! I was carrying my water bottle which made one more obstacle for the trek. After resting a few minutes, I turned around and with everything I had I started back up using all 4 limbs and not stopping for anything! WHEW! Made it! At the top you can see for ever. Below the dunes is the beach. On the other side below in a ravine is a small village. The kids in the village sent their salutations as we fought to the top of the sand dune. Was it worth it? Definitely. This beach is different from most beaches in Fiji. There is no coral reef protecting the shore line so the waves are enormous. There is no swimming allowed because they say the undertow is not safe. The sand is fine and soft! There wasn't another soul around, just Kim and I had this spectacular attraction to ourselves. I could sit and watch the ocean there all day. While trying to get some pictures I wasn't watching the water and got drenched-three quarters of the way up my legs. After that, oh well! We kept walking along the shore. Walked about a half mile or more along the beach until we got to the trail that took us back to our car. The trek back was through the forest. So beautiful. They use to have thousands of bats that roosted in the trees, but the forest ranger said about a year ago they went out one evening and never returned. He assumed they migrated to another area. Sad.

Souvenir shop we stopped at. 😂😂😂

I took this picture from the top of the dunes.

Climbing to the top of the dunes.

Hiking up the dunes. Much steeper than it looks.

The trail before getting to the sand dunes.

I'm doing all I can to get up the hill!😅😅😅

Made it!

Kids from the village on the other side of the sand dunes.

There a whole lot of these "teepees". They're for you to sit and rest in.

There were tons of these flowers along the trail on our hike back but I didn't see any in the trees!

After Sigatoka we drove the rest of the way to Nadi. Nadi is more of a tourist city. The international airport is here and all the BIG resorts....Doubletree, Marriott, Sheraton, Renaissance, etc. We chose to stay in a local hotel since we weren't going to be there long enough to pay the big bucks for the resorts. All we really needed was a place to sleep for 2 nights. We stayed at Wailoaloa Hotel just outside of the airport. I think the jets took off right over our heads. Friday morning we had an excursion on a boat out to the Yasawa Islands. The boat stopped at several islands along the way where many guests got off to spend the night and explore. There were also some that got off just for the day to snorkel, etc. We stayed on the boat the whole day. We left at 9 and returned at 6. It was beautiful. The water was crystal clear and blue, green and turquoise. We started out sight-seeing from the top of the boat. It was pretty choppy sailing for awhile. Unfortunately Kim got seasick after awhile. But gratefully it subsided after drinking a coke and resting in the air conditioned lounge below deck.

Welcoming Warrior on one of the islands!

Dinner Friday night. You can tell Kim got a little sun burned--racoon eyes!

This was the local beach just down from our hotel. Very quiet and calm. It would have been a great beach to get in the water.

Driving home we decided to take the long route which circumvents the rest of the island. Latoka...Ba....Rakiraki....Korovou and Suva. It was probably an hour longer but gave some new scenery. We've taken this route once before in 2019. We drove through Latoka. Quite a pretty city with BIG trees that line the main highway. I don't know what kind they are and for some reason I didn't take any pictures of them. Here's a few pics on our drive home.

They grow sugar cane on this part of the island so this is a common site. Big truck loads taking the canes to the sugar factory in Latoka.

I wonder if they realize how beautiful their country is!

Driving the bulls home. These guys were big and beautiful. I wanted a picture from the front but that didn't happen--to hard when you're driving in a car.

I was afraid this mare and her colt were going to get hit! Not sure where the owner was, where they were going or even if they had an owner. You don't see horses much on our side of the island but we saw much more up north.

I don't know what exactly was going on. There were hundreds of people watching this netball game basically out in the middle of nowhere. They must have come from all the villages in the area. We thought as first that it must be rugby but looking closer we could see the nets. Netball is similar to basketball but different.

They were even lined up along the road.

Not the safest way to transport from one village to the next but the truck was full so I guess you do what you gotta do! I was nervous...just one big bump and he's off the truck and onto the road. Thank goodness we didn't have to follow them for very long.

We got home early evening. Kim said as we got home that he was starting to feel a little scratchy throat! OH NO! By bedtime he was feeling crummy--he went to bed at 7:30. At midnight his throat hurt so bad he couldn't sleep. He got up and took a covid test. CRAP! Positive!!! He was supposed to teach Sunday School on Sunday....that's one way to get out of it. So, now we are in quarantine for at least 5 days. Monday, I woke up with a sore throat but tested negative. I actually went for a walk around the neighborhood. Tuesday, my sore throat was gone but I just didn't feel good. Kim coughed all night Monday night. Wednesday, I had a fever and took another covid test. This time it was positive So there goes our quarantine for another 5 days. Guess it could be worse. Kim's been pretty miserable but is starting to feel better. I'm pretty achy but I don't think it's as bad as Kim. Hopefully we can return to our schedules next week. Kim was supposed to start teaching a new ITEP course--Technology--this week. Teachers get a week break! I'm sure they don't mind.

When I was out on my walk, this dog was walking the opposite direction that I was. I guess he thought I needed a companion and turned around and walked with me for awhile. He kept checking to make sure I was still there! At least he wasn't a straggly dog. 😅🐕

On Wednesday, July 13, Elder Ardern, the area seventy and area president, came with Jonathan Warwick, the South Pacific Schools Director, to dedication the college dorms. The dorms have been finished for 2 1/2 years but because of all the shut-downs with Covid, they hadn't been able to dedicate the building until now. Elder Ardern was the mission president of the Fiji Suva Mission at one time. He is being reassigned after this month to serve in Africa, so this was his desire to dedicate the dorms in a land he loves before he no longer is over this area. It was a great meeting. The dorm students sang 2 songs, "Did you think to Pray?" and "Because I Have been Given Much". When those 51 students sang, it was BEAUTIFUL. I recorded the 2nd hymn. I'll try to post it. Elder Ardern reminded these students what a great privilege for them to be a student here at the Fiji Church College. He reminded them that they are needed to return home to their countries of Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. Return wielding 6 things: Self-Reliant, both physically and spiritually, Quality Education, Build Strong Families, Strengthen the Church, Be Future Leaders and Understand their spirituality. He taught them well and I think they really got it. Their countries need them. Their families need them. The church in their countries need them. Here are a few pictures.

I tried to break the video up into 3 verses. But the last verse with the boys and girls singing together will not load. I'm not even sure if these 2 will play.

Elder Ardern chose 3 girls and 3 boys from the dorm students to make his 6 points. Here is Ashton, Hubert, Uraia and Leah.

this is Uraia, Leah, Jeneth and Frita. Leah and Frita are both very shy, so this was difficult for them. But they did it! The girls are all year 11 students and are new to the dorms as of April.

Elder Ardern speaking with Hubert. The man with his back to us is the village chief from Tamavua where the college is located.

Then Elder Ardern went to some of the students and had them repeat the 6 reasons they are privileged to be at the dorms. This is Wilkenly on the left. He is the college head boy, like being the male student body president. To his left is Daniel. Daniel is new in April and is a year 11.

The dorm students with their dorm parents and assistant dorm parents. The boy's dorm father Mosese (2nd on left) and his wife, Bedi is after Flora who is in yellow. I'm not sure why she is sitting between them. Bedi is holding their son Noah and their daughter, Rika is next to her. Then the daughter, Emalani, of the Girl's Dorm mom, Selai, and her husband, Gavera. The 2 people on the ends are the assistants. Flora's husband is the boy's assistant.

BDorm students with the head girl of the dorms, Jeniffer and head boy, Joseph.

Ashton, Jeniffer and Hubert

Susana and Lokey

Wewena and Melissa

Jopeth and Julie

Daniel

Delia helping with Bette who is the boy's dorm mom

Frida, Jeniffer and Primrose

Jennifer, Tina and Jeniffer. The 2 Jennifers are cousins. The 2nd Jeniffer is the dorm head girl. She loves her girls! She popped up in a lot of these photos.