This village is on the Nauva river and has a sister village on the other side of the river. There are 250 villagers in the village and half are LDS. Same for the sister village. The village has a chief-and he is methodist. The church has a beautiful chapel and there is a methodist chapel,too. The Wells have understood the importance of the church having a high profile, so they raised the money to buy a small aluminum boat so the kids didn't have to swim the river to go school. The standard gift is kava. We brought vinal flooring for their community center. Cost us 75.00 each couple. Boat=350.00 We were
also there to have Pres. Wells bless a new house of a member. This pic is of the chief [in glasses] missionaries and the Wells family. Yes thats me-with my head down and laughing. Next pic our mission nurse and husband Bohmans. below pic white haired Sr. Wells, me, Bohman, Stephens and Staggs. Your favorite out door kitchen, w dry wood space, blue door shower, white door toilet [out house] .
Most cook out side and have propane gas stoves inside. Each person was given
each a flower lei or neck cape, with flowers attached. There was a welcoming cermony and we will be glad to take your gifts moment and then dancing with the old ladies with few teeth and smiling for the camera.
below Sr. Stephens and myself. Wells, Bohman, Stagg, and Dad in middle picture.
This is what in the pacific is called a bush chapel, w out house on the side. It has one large room and 2 small classrooms. You never can understand how these folks think. The kids just swim the river for school. With a few dads taking their school books on their heads and walking, mostly, through the river. If you can't swim someone will let you hang on their backs and they will ferry you across. Dads from the other side help you come back in the evening. Now for church they would have to walk 1 hour to get to a bridge and to stay dry for church. Still the kids just swim the river to go home from church-to beat their families. Remember how we have never allowed swimming on sunday? Rather a different situation and still yet the same. What would you do??????
The boat is used for sundays to keep the sisters dry. We had different drinks at the village. Me drinking green coconut milk. Good, sorta !!! Shows me with blond hair, sorta. We are crossing on a little foot bridge. Bohman, me, Stagg, sister from the ward. Next is the " lollie attack!!" of Sr. Stagg. She brought lollies and they were gone in 10 seconds dad said. She was so funny. See the sister raising her hand-that was to just slow the second time around'ers down.
left courner The inside of a standard house.
vinal flooring, no chairs or maybe a table and a few folding chairs. When they finished their new building the LDS members divided up the folding chairs and all families had a chair or two.!!! The glass louverd windows below are standard windows here in the pacific=we have them in our flat too. There are no heaters here and few have blankets as they are very,very costly.[28.oo]
middle pic .kitchen in members new house
w dry fire wood underneath. She is cooking on a metal counter with real fire.!!!! in her house. These people pretend to be in the 2008's but really they are still back in 1850's. President Wells gave these members a beautiful blessing on their little concreat block home. And yes they do have electricity, real shower, and toilet. They have a septic basic toilet, and yes you are seeing right a pool table. Our brother Br. Sauvu had lived with his mom for 11 years to save for a home. And in truth the Wells and Nielsons gave him 5oo bucks each to make the house happen. Already members are telling the departing missionaries to be generous with them when they leave to go home to america.
I know it sounds like begging but this is all that they can do. Any cash they earn goes to pay for electric costs and propane. You can see us leaving the village with our capes and flower pieces around our necks. We had a grand time and yes we did bring our own food to eat. And still I got sick. This country can use weed eaters for anything and everything and will trim up everything that moves slowly. Because we were coming they mowed all of the grass all over the entire village. !! I gave our capes to my little house cleaner, Sr. Seru. She used the fabric for new curtains for her home. She has never had curtains and was so pleased. This village is the nicest we have seen and the only one to come close to it was in Tauevoni island and was called Somosomo. [ so mo so mo] There the houses were made of wood and concreat blocks and they were all painted cute colors. The small river ran through the tiny place and had high earthan sides and huge trees through out. This is the village where the woman was fishing and we were the last to see her alive
. This village [Navatuayaba] has water and shade. Still our little family we had been present at the blessing of their house their young mom had just had a miscarriage and it was because she still must go to the river to get their daily water[to flust toilets, etc.] and the strain was just too much. The church has given these villagers children the only way out of this poverity and life cycle. The true belief that the Lord wants better for them and will help by sending others to help them - out of love- we help. And the knowledge that you can live a better life than that of your parents and still be a good son or daughter. However, having said that they will still have to move back to the village in the end- they have no retirement and none can pay for a home in the city[ Fijians that is, not Hindi]. Another time we will talk about democracy and all of its failings-it will never work here. Democracy works in christian countries-mostly. We are a blessed people, but we will see how our own world changes, when we , are then in the minority, in the near future. That is the true test of demoncracy, so bring it on.
The boat is used for sundays to keep the sisters dry. We had different drinks at the village. Me drinking green coconut milk. Good, sorta !!! Shows me with blond hair, sorta. We are crossing on a little foot bridge. Bohman, me, Stagg, sister from the ward. Next is the " lollie attack!!" of Sr. Stagg. She brought lollies and they were gone in 10 seconds dad said. She was so funny. See the sister raising her hand-that was to just slow the second time around'ers down.
left courner The inside of a standard house.
vinal flooring, no chairs or maybe a table and a few folding chairs. When they finished their new building the LDS members divided up the folding chairs and all families had a chair or two.!!! The glass louverd windows below are standard windows here in the pacific=we have them in our flat too. There are no heaters here and few have blankets as they are very,very costly.[28.oo]
middle pic .kitchen in members new house
w dry fire wood underneath. She is cooking on a metal counter with real fire.!!!! in her house. These people pretend to be in the 2008's but really they are still back in 1850's. President Wells gave these members a beautiful blessing on their little concreat block home. And yes they do have electricity, real shower, and toilet. They have a septic basic toilet, and yes you are seeing right a pool table. Our brother Br. Sauvu had lived with his mom for 11 years to save for a home. And in truth the Wells and Nielsons gave him 5oo bucks each to make the house happen. Already members are telling the departing missionaries to be generous with them when they leave to go home to america.I know it sounds like begging but this is all that they can do. Any cash they earn goes to pay for electric costs and propane. You can see us leaving the village with our capes and flower pieces around our necks. We had a grand time and yes we did bring our own food to eat. And still I got sick. This country can use weed eaters for anything and everything and will trim up everything that moves slowly. Because we were coming they mowed all of the grass all over the entire village. !! I gave our capes to my little house cleaner, Sr. Seru. She used the fabric for new curtains for her home. She has never had curtains and was so pleased. This village is the nicest we have seen and the only one to come close to it was in Tauevoni island and was called Somosomo. [ so mo so mo] There the houses were made of wood and concreat blocks and they were all painted cute colors. The small river ran through the tiny place and had high earthan sides and huge trees through out. This is the village where the woman was fishing and we were the last to see her alive
. This village [Navatuayaba] has water and shade. Still our little family we had been present at the blessing of their house their young mom had just had a miscarriage and it was because she still must go to the river to get their daily water[to flust toilets, etc.] and the strain was just too much. The church has given these villagers children the only way out of this poverity and life cycle. The true belief that the Lord wants better for them and will help by sending others to help them - out of love- we help. And the knowledge that you can live a better life than that of your parents and still be a good son or daughter. However, having said that they will still have to move back to the village in the end- they have no retirement and none can pay for a home in the city[ Fijians that is, not Hindi]. Another time we will talk about democracy and all of its failings-it will never work here. Democracy works in christian countries-mostly. We are a blessed people, but we will see how our own world changes, when we , are then in the minority, in the near future. That is the true test of demoncracy, so bring it on. We all had a wonderful day and the church was very, very well represented, and the villagers were impressed with all of the palanques who came. Truely every moment that we were there was a missionary moment. We were told to be so careful and loving to all. Not that you needed to be told, but the office missionaries had not been to a village and above all did not need to talk about the dangers of cooking with real fire in your own home!! We did well. All of our love to all Sr. Mom and Br. Dad Bula Vinoka, Ya'll
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