I’ve always said, Fiji is a prosperous land. There is an abundance of fruit and vegetables to all who want. On “my” property there is a lime tree (similar to key limes, very nice), chili plants, bread fruit trees, and papaya trees. Apparently, they belong to me and anyone who wants fruit needs to come to me to ask. I sense a Holy Ghost Set up. I’ve met some of my neighbors. All quite nice, and are very curious about the European lady who now lives next to them.

As I’ve lifted up the Indian people, one thing that was impressed upon me was that the missionaries came over and evangelized the Native Fijians, the “islanders” but they did not really share with the Indians. Rather they were kept as “servants”/”slaves”. So the “Christian” religion has been thought of as only for the natives and Europeans, not for the Indians.

God is good as he’s going to change that. I’m learning a tremendous bit about this people group and the love for them is only deepening in my heart.

By the way, Hindi lessons are going well… I’m hoping to be able to converse fulently soon!

Sami and I engage in a conversation of a variety of tops. One of the the topics was, about things we’ve ate: So, here we start,

Have you ever had:

Alligator – tastes like chicken

Octopus – if not cooked right, tastes like rubberbands

Squid – same as above

Snake – kind of like chicken

Goat – tastes like beef? Well kind of….

Kivika (a fruit here in Fiji)

Kasava (potato like root vegetable from fiji)

BAT! Yes BAT!!! Yikes… No way… I can not believe that they eat bat…

Sami asks me what way do I like my Fijian food prepared… I say in a lovo. That is an earth oven. Kasava, fish and chicken is just delicious! Sami professes that he’ll be getting me one “bat” to try. Well see… I don’t know about that.

After service and settling the house, TalaTala (Pastor) Akei, his wife, Rundini, Sami (TalaTala’s son) and I went to the “valley”.
It is up the river on the west side, (for future reference, the east side of the river is called the “interior”).

It was a beautiful drive, but also a good thrill ride (due to Cyclone Gene), through washed out roads, fallen palms and branches, all to a church where we were doing a dedication. Part of the congregation swims, yes, swims, across the river, oh say about 300 yards or so, to get to church. No footbridge across that river. Yes, they strap the kiddies to their backs. It’s interesting as they start up river 100 or so yards from where they want to end up and use the current to help them cross. It’s quite fascinating… I say, “Now that’s dedication!”

After Church, Biran finds me and tells me that it will take over a month to finish up the house. There is a small house across the street from where they live that is vacant. He suggests that we go and take a look. The house is nice, but has been unoccupied for months. It is “dirty” from being vacant and the law needs to be mowed. The caretaker and Biran negotiate the rent. Praise the Lord for Favor, it is less than I had expected and include water and electric. HUGE Blessing. I’ll be set to move in tomorrow. Prybu ki jai (Praise the Lord in Hindi.)