Weekend Get Away

            On Saturday, Kim and I were invited to take a weekend trip with one of the temple couple missionaries, Elder Dave and Sister Nancy Mendenhall.  We took a ferry with our vehicle to another island, Ovalau.  We were told to be to the ferry by 2:30 so we were there by 2:15, to be safe.  We waited and waited and slowly more cars came and by around 4:15 there were 3 city buses that had arrived. The passengers on the buses got off.  On one of the buses were 2 sisters, a brother and 2 young girls from our Korovou Branch where we attend.  What a joyful reunion since these Fijians are always so happy and loving.  They had the bus passengers board the ferry so they could begin loading the vehicles. To load, they had cars drive on first, backing up the ramp and onto the ferry.  That was a bit tricky but we were successful. The buses also backed onto the ferry.  I guess that way we were all facing forward to disembark. The ferry ride was about an hour.  When we arrived in Ovalau, the tide was high so the boat was high in the water making the ramp for the vehicles to disembark on very steep.  In order, for the buses to get off, they had all the vehicles drive as close to the ramp as possible to put weight at that end.  The 1^st bus was scraping it’s nose, so had to back up back onto the ferry and try again.  They got one of the LARGE ropes used to tie up the ferry and piled it under the wheels as the bus got to the bottom of the ramp to keep the nose up.  Success!  First bus off. The same with bus 2 and 3 and then the cars were able to drive off as well.  It was pretty steep but gratefully we didn’t hit our nose.  It took an hour to drive to the main village, Levuka.  It was amazing scenery as we drove.  Volcanic mountains covered with palm trees and vines and other foliage.  Much of the road was right along the ocean edge with the high tide waves splashing up on the wall next to the narrow windy road.  Plus it was lightly raining and the road was a muddy gravel road.  What an adventure!

            Sunday morning, we found the church and attended a small branch in Levuka.  There were the 4 of us missionaries, and the 5 members from the Korovou Branch which almost doubled the size of the branch! They wanted all of us to bear our testimonies but they had us missionaries last.  Unfortunately or gratefully, there wasn’t enough time and Kim and I did not have time to speak.  Then we got to watch the video about the new children and youth program.  Loved seeing that.  After church, we were all invited to the branch president’s home for lunch.  That was the highlight of the whole weekend.  As we came into the home, there were 4-5 women in the kitchen cooking.  The men were in the bedroom sitting on the floor. We were invited to sit on the floor with the men and the young missionaries who were also invited to lunch.  Soon the women had lunch ready and the dining area was ready.  They had a beautiful woven mat on the floor.  Down the center was a strip of cloth and then it was arranged as a dining table with dishes and bowls of food.  We sat around the cloth, a blessing was asked upon the food and we ate.  That is, the guests and the men ate.  The women sat in the kitchen, on the floor and visited.  There was rice with chicken and carrot curry, some type of green leafy cooked vegetable, kasava, which is a potato type dish, and chicken veggie stir fry with noodles.  The food was delicious.  When we finished, we all got up and then the women came in and ate.  The weirdest thing about this tradition, is that one of the men had mentioned before eating that that was the way things used to be done.  But now that isn’t acceptable.  Hmmm…..   

            After lunch, we decided to drive around the Island.  We’d asked a few of the members if that was something we would be able to do and most of the answers we got were, “yeah, I think so.” Or “probably”.  So we put on our brave boots and off we went.  We soon found out what “probably” meant.  They had never done it and technically there is a road so PROBABLY you could drive around the island.  And yes!  We were successful.  The further we went the narrower the 3 tracked gravel/dirt road became. Soon it was only 2 tracks and less and less gravel.  It also started climbing some pretty steep hills—up, up, up and then down, down, down.  When you’d get to the crest of the hill, it was so steep going back down  that you couldn’t see the road in front of you.  It’s one of those nightmares I use to have when I was younger!  Then it started to lightly rain which made the road slippery.  We had two things in our favor…our car has 4-wheel drive and no one else was driving this road.  Well, almost.  I think we passed a couple of trucks and gratefully they were in places where we could squeeze by each other. There were several little villages all along the way.  I don’t think anyone owns cars in those villages.  They have “transport” trucks which takes them where they need to go. They are covered trucks with benches along the insides.  The scenery was absolutely astounding. On top of high mountainous hills with the ocean glistening below and palm trees swaying in the breeze.  It took us a couple of hours but we safely made it.  Thank goodness the Mendenhalls are very calm and trusting people.  
          On Monday, we walked up the famous stairway--the longest on the island--200 steps.  There was a beautiful house halfway up that looked like it was probably deserted after the Winston Hurricane in 2015.  Such a sad sight.  There are many places in town that were damaged from the big one.  The hotel where we stayed Sunday night has a big ferry that was washed ashore during the hurricane and it still sits there today.  It's really kind of cool.  It would have been really fun to be able to go aboard and explore.  There were a couple of young men on there that night.  Several of their buddies were waiting for them on the road below.  Levuka was the first capital of Fiji so there are a few historic sights we visited.  It's really quite small so it didn't take a lot of time.  After a lovely lunch we drove up the coast trying to find a decent beach, which as far as sandy beaches goes doesn't exist.  But we stopped and explored the cemetery.  Always very interesting!  Add then we stopped at one area where there was an island that wasn't an island at the time because it was low tide.  Kim wanted to climb it.  We walked around and explored and found a few cool shells.  They have many really large clam shells here but many are broken on the coast.  Many of the residents use them to outline their yards.  As we walked along the shore some children came out.  One of them had been to church with us the day before and had introduced herself to me.  Sara is a darling girl with lots of friends and was so excited to see us again.  We took some pictures and went off again exploring.  We retired early as we had to get up at 3:30 a.m. to be at the ferry by 4:30 a.m.  The windy narrow road is even worse in the pitch dark of the early morning.  We were amazed how many people were already sitting out along the road waiting for a ride to who knows where.  We made the ferry and home by 8:30.  Just in time to do a quick change and head to school where the Primary school was having a special devotional for their 50th birthday party.  And that's a story for another day!! 

 Dave and Nancy Mendenhall waiting for  lunch on the way to the ferry.

 The ferry that took us to Ovalau.

 Branch Members we ran into on the ferry.

Young Girls from Korovou Branch.

 The drive from the ferry to Levuka.  About an hour drive.

 Our super cute bed and breakfast where we stayed the first night.

The Whale's Tale Restaurant which had delicious food. We were the only ones there.  It was like eating a home-cooked meal. Mmmmm.

 The best breakfast ever!  After all this, she made us eggs and bacon.

 The view from the branch president's home.

 Lunch is served!

L to R: Counselor in Branch Presidency, Branch President, and the Elders. One from Samoa and the other from Springville. He knows our niece Shaylee Christensen. 

 The women's turn to eat.

 This is the sight we saw as we came around the corner to our next hotel.  The little cabin on the right is where we stayed. Ship wreck!

The other side. 

 Part of the road going around the island.  This area was fairly decent and the view astonishing.

The transport trucks that takes the villagers wherever they need to go. 

 Kim's Island.

Boy we met while searching for shells.

 Sara is in the purple.  She is the one that is a member of the church.

Kids from the village.

I promise, we really aren't on vacation.  Just had such a great weekend I had to post.  I am teaching a reading strategies class to the primary teachers as they are struggling big time with how to teach reading.  Kim is teaching a Computer and Technology Class to teachers that need college certification.  We meet twice a week for that and it's been a great class.  Next post will be more about the schools and our classes!  We are blessed and are so grateful to have the opportunity to share our talents and skills and knowledge with these beautiful people.  They have hearts of gold and smiles and hugs that you will never forget!

  

ITEP Courses Begin

This week we began teaching one ITEP course.  ITEP is International Teacher Education Program.  We are teaching teachers at the college (which is the junior and high school) and the Primary school who do not have teaching certificates.  There are only 3 teachers from both schools combined that haven't been certified either by the ITEP program or from a university.  Kim really wanted to start with the class management class but all 3 teachers had already taken that course.  He was hoping to get other teachers to join the class just as a refresher.  But since the main teachers have had it, we went with the computer and technology class.  We taught on Tuesday and Thursday after school this past week. They were 2 hours each night.  The first night we had 4 teachers there.  Two that were required, one that is a permanent sub who signed up for the class and a teacher who just wanted to come.  It was a great evening.  On Thursday night our class expanded to 8 students and one from Tuesday night wasn't able to make it!  It was fun to have a "big" group.  They seemed to be enjoying learning some new things they can do with their computers.  One of the 8 students was the Principal from the primary school.  We have really been enjoying her.  She's got a take charge personality and she says what she thinks!

The Primary School is concerned about some students that have really low reading.  I tested 5 first graders, a third grader and a fifth grader.  Two of the first graders tested at a level B and the rest tested at a level A.  Level B is low for the beginning of first grade so Level A and B are Super Low for the end of first grade--let alone 3rd and 5th.  We are now in the last trimester of the year.  I believe the 5th grader is new to the school this year.  Both of the upper grade students miss a lot of school.  So pretty sad senario for all cases.  I told them I would work with them to see if I can get some progress with them.  BUT the main thing that needs to happen is teaching teachers what to do with these kids.  I'm not sure how they are teaching reading.  I plan to do some observing in the classrooms and Kim and I are starting this week to do some mini lessons on reading strategies in their weekly faculty devotionals.  Wish us luck!

Last Sunday in our Branch, I was asked to teach  part of the primary lesson.  I put together a little presentation.  It's been a LONG time since I've been in Primary.  The children aren't very disciplined and many are going in and out of the room as they please.  I was asked today to take the whole primary time next Sunday.  It looks to me like they just keep all the kids together the whole hour.  No dividing into classes.  She told me they usually do 20 minutes of music time.  She wants me to take care of that as well.  Welcome to the Korovou Branch Sister Roper.  Kim was asked to teach the gospel doctrine class in two weeks, but we have plans to go to Lavuka, an island just east of here, that weekend with Elder and Sister Mendenhall who are temple missionaries here.  Sister Tamani, the gospel doctrine teacher, said she will get him another time and I'm sure she will.  We were also asked to speak in Sacrament Meeting today.  I really wonder how much they understood since usually their meetings are conducted in Fijian.  I think though most understand English and just feel more comfortable speaking English.  The children all speak English pretty good.  This is such a learning experience for us.  We are enjoying the people and the long drive to church.

Today on the way home, we took a long-cut out to a beach.  It was about 25 minutes off the highway and half of it was a gravel road.  BUT we did find it.  It was beautiful with hardly anyone there.  We walked up and down the beach for a couple of hours and then headed home.

Pictures of the week:

 Sera, Joana (twins) and Abygail.  We're working on 1 to 1 matching.

Our class on Thursday night.  The Primary School Principal, Meisi,  is at the end of the table.

I was asked to help with Primary.  It was really fun.  This is the whole primary. 

Teaching Primary at church....not the Primary School. 😂

These little boys were all in the kitchen taking the used sacrament cups and drinking water out of them.  😂😂😂

The LDS Church College Assembly.

Devotional at the college.  They have some type of devotional every week.  Sometimes it's the whole school and sometimes it's by grade level or combined grades. This was the whole school. They sit by grades.

Recognizing students that were on the basketball team that went to state.  

Funny Story:  Kim goes in to talk to the secretary. While he's talking to her he sat down in the chair beside her and then leaned back.  As he's leaning back, the chair just kept going and before he knew it he was on the ground.  I was in the next room and heard him go over!  When I looked I saw his legs in the air and since he was wearing a sulu...well let your imagination go!  There he was in all his glory!  I was laughing pretty hard.  I'm not so sure he thought it was so funny, although he was laughing.  As you can see, he completely broke the chair.  But according to others in the office, the chair was already broken and he just finished it off. 😂😂 😂 😂 😂

Korovou Branch Activity

About a week ago the Elders (missionaries) called us and told us there was going to be a branch activity of playing games and stuff.  They asked if we could bring some finger foods and some watermelon.  Knowing that the Branch is mostly poor Fijians we made 3 pans of orange rolls, a pan of rice krispie (bubbles as they're called here) treats and 3 dozen rolls with chicken salad along with two watermelons and 3 pineapples. 

When we got to the church yesterday morning at 10:00, the starting time, we found out that it was a district meeting that started at 10 for all the leaders and the activity was just the kids.  OK!  So I went into the kitchen at the church and there are several cakes sitting on the counter.  Great!  But then I go to put my food on the counter and notice that everything in the kitchen is FILTHY  dirty.  I just can't cut the watermelon in those conditions.  At first I'm afraid if I clean that I will insult the branch members, but then I decided I'm here to teach and set an example.  So I start washing the counters with a small warn out  sponge that I found in the sink.  Kim comes in and sees the dirt and he starts washing the refrigerator. 

The Elders then come in looking for something to make a drink in.  They find a square 2 or 3 gallon container that is also filthy.  Elder Moore starts washing it.  He actually found some soap.  I honestly don't know if it's possible to really clean it though.  But he does the best he can.  Then he takes it outside to the water faucet, which is used for the members to wash their feet before coming into the building.  There is no sanitary or purified water in ANY faucets in Fiji.  But the natives apparently drink the water.  We were told to ONLY drink bottled water or water out of the purifier in our apartment.  So the Elder fills this bucket with water, brings it back into the kitchen, and proceeds to fill it with tang flavoring.  Once finished one of the young teenage girls fills a cup (who knows if it's been used before or not) and gives it to me to see if it tastes good. To see if they have the right amount of powder drink in it.  What am I suppose to do?  We're told they get offended if you don't eat the food they offer BUT I don't want to drink that "punch".  So I take a sip and tell her it's great.  I put the cup on the counter and she says, "oh, that is for you to drink."  I politely said thank you and said I'd drink it later.  Later never comes, thank goodness, because when they start serving someone else is given my cup of drink. 🤦

Well anyway, I get the kitchen cleaned.  Kim finds a broom and sweeps.  Then I get the watermelon and Nada and her older sister Eloise insist that they cut it.  OK "BUT don't cut yourself."  They both got to work on that watermelon and did a fair job getting it cut into serving sized pieces.  Then Eloise and I cut the pineapple.  Nada went out to play.  At 11:30 the Elders suggested we bless the food and start feeding the children since the adults should be done soon.   We blessed it and Eloise and Nada start filling plates with food and giving them to the children.  They put one of everything there is on a plate and gave this little 3 year old a heaping plate of mostly cakes.  There were a LOT of kids there and I knew we didn't have enough chicken rolls for everyone to have a roll and wanted some left for the adults.  I started cutting them in half and just giving the children a half of a chicken roll.  Soon all the children had been given food and the adults came out.  I'm not sure that all the men got a chicken roll but I know the women did.  The men got whatever was leftover with no complaining. 

After everyone had been served a sister came with a large container of egg salad sandwiches.  I was grateful to see some more stable food and not just sweets but they were a little late.  But don't worry!  The Fijians like to eat and every one of those sandwiches got eaten and so did everything else.  There were NO leftovers at the end.  I was trying to clean up the now totally destroyed kitchen when I realize I was being a little like Martha when she and Mary were visited by the Savior.  She was busy doing duties and not gleaning the field, so to speak.  Just as I had that thought, Kim came in and said "come out and join us."  So I left the mess and went out front where the women were all sitting and laying on the front "porch" of the church talking and enjoying each other.  I joined in and we just had a very relaxing time talking and chatting and talking some more.  What beautiful people they are.  They were in no hurry to clean up and go home.  Back in America, we would clean up and go home.  But not here.  They have a much more relaxed attitude about life.  They are simple and humble and satisfied and happy.  They are delightful. 

Around 3:00 or so we decided we'd better head home.  I honestly thought we'd be done at noon and home by 1:30.  But it's ok.  Then Sister Tamani asked if we would take her husband into Suva with us.  He is a night watchman and his shift started at 7:00.  Absolutely we will take him.  Then as we were getting in the car, Shirley asked if she could have a ride.  She is the one we took the sewing machine to and lives quite a ways from the church.  So we told her yes.  Well that meant her 4 daughters would be joining us as well.  But don't worry about our 5 passenger vehicle.  There's room for 8 people!   It's an SUV and has a back area where the 3 younger girls crawled right in to. They thought nothing of it.  Besides, isn't that what that area is for? 😅😉  Lal, the oldest daughter, is 20 years old and both women are good sized.  So they rode in the back seat with Brother Tamani.  We took them to the end of their road which meant they still had a good walk to go but they were happy to get that far! 

We just Love these people.  What a day to remember!  💗😊

 Eloise and Nada helping cut watermelon.  There's the big bucket of drink the Elder made.

 These boys were pumping up the rugby ball so they could play.  Rugby is a huge sport here.

Lots of helpers in the kitchen.

 Playing volleyball, basketball and rugby.

 The women sat on one side and the men sat on the other!  😂

 Just sitting and talking.  What a carefree life!  This is Sister Tamani. The sister behind me is the branch president's wife.  I don't know her name. 

 These kids were having a great time playing on this hill.  Oh the joys of youth!

Taking Shirley and her daughters home. La, Nada, Kara and Eloise.  She has one boy, Solo, who we picked up Sunday morning as he was walking up the road to church.

On Sunday, after our meetings, I told Nada that I wanted to take Kim (Elder Roper) to Sister Tagidugu's grave site which is just down a path behind the church.  Brother Tagidugu was the temple president when his wife got cancer.  I guess they fought it hard--she even went to Salt Lake for treatment but lost the battle.  Everyone in the area came to her funeral.  This was about 6 months ago so we never knew her but we've heard all about it.  She and her husband were legendary in this area.  When we started down the path there were several of the children that came along.  The little boys were bare footed, which is very common, and they ran through the field as if they had on shoes.  Their feet must be like leather.  

 They decorate their graves in a very unique way.  I'm sure there is some meaning, but I don't know why. 

 The children told me this was the grave of a young child in the village.  They didn't know why he died, other than he got sick. 

 Salote in the red is showing us Sister Tagidugu's grave site.  She is standing on her son's grave who died 8 years ago at the age of 36.  None of the children knew why he passed away.

 Lily is looking at the son's grave.

 Eloise is showing me what is inside the cloth curtains.

Still flowers and ribbons from the funeral.

 Salote

Running back to the village and the church. 

This is John, Salote and Kara.