Taveuni Spring Break 09'

One of the best spring breaks (or mid semester break as they call it here) that I could have EVER asked for. I wanted to blog about it before I forget all the AMAZING things I experienced and saw on this trip. First going to Savu Savu it was like my own little piece of paradise. We took about a 12 hour boat ride that turned into a 14 hour boat ride from a wharf in Suva to a place called SavuSavu. The boat was called the "Sofi" and it has a story of it's own. When you first board these massive boats you are excited to be at sea. A few hours later your curled up in the fetal position wishing you were safe of land. The boat which is the most rocky out of the 2 boats that leave the wharf in Suva was a journey I never want to experience again. I do not get motion sick or sea sick but this put me over the edge. I ordered dinner and couldn't even eat it because I couldn't walk to the food and then when I got to the table I literally could not sit up and eat it because my little body was getting thrown around! I tried walking back to my room and I hit a few walls and railings. A few other side notes to mention. The water on the boat is brown don't know why it was gross though. Along with no soap to wash your hands for almost a full day! YUMMY! The boat smelled of sanity wipes and animals because I must say that we had live pigs on the boats (no freezers in economy class to keep the meat fresh! SO they had to keep them alive ...also YUMMY!)

Upon arrival in SavuSavu we were wiped out from no sleep basically and checked out the quaint little port town on the ocean. The island was very green and volcanic only a small preview of Taveuni that was yet to come. Walked along the shore to find our lodging. A small cute little "house/bed breakfast" in the village. Of course the nice normal looking hotel was not ours but our cute little one would do. It was quaint and quiet...or so we thought! Until the rooster wouldn't stop crowing and the pack of dogs outside wouldn't quit fighting. I must say I had the most delicious meal in fiji so far consisting of lobster tail in butter with Kokonda which is raw fish in coconut milk with chopped cucumbers and tomato with a hint of cilantro. I actually loved it and I hate raw things especially sushi. Went to bed for a few hours and woke up at 4am to catch the rest of the gang headed to Taveuni.

Boarded another boat called the "sullivan" which we find out has stabilizers and is much safer. SWEET. I was a little sad that the rest of the group didn't have to experience the 30 foot waves but, then really I wasn't cause that was the worst! The Sullivan was a relaxing 6 more hour boat ride to Tavueni. MY FAVORITE place in Fiji so far. It's a volcanic island also known as the garden island of Fiji. it was fabulous to say the least. Words and pictures really don't describe the beauty of this place. The people were amazing and kind, beautiful as always. Such big hearts.
Upon boarding the ship we saw Kyle and his sister Katie, Katie's Fijian husband Timote' and their two mixed kids Zion who is 2 1/2 and Eden who is 1. We loved playing with the kids all weekend. Zion has the curliest black and blond highlighted hair you have ever seen he looks like a baby model and is all boy. Eden is a precious little girl who made all of us want to steal them and take them home. Kyle and Katie are our coordinators. It was so nice to see them! We actually found out that Kyle (who has a wife, baby and another on the way) is only 25!!! Only a couple years older then some of our group. I hope my mom isn't reading this haha he is like our age. We love having young coordinators they are so much fun.

Upon arrival I was so excited. I have never seen so many palm trees in my life! They have plantations of them. Taveuni used to be a Copra export. Which is the meat of the coconut they ship to mills and make coconut oil! Now things have changed but Taveuni is a wealthy place. We dressed in swimming suits and found a "mini bus" to drive us all. A mini bus is like basically a handicap van back home...little bigger then a normal van. It fit all 14 of us in. Don't ask me how cause I don't have a clue but I have a video of it. Our drivers name was Seio and he was a cool chap. PLayed loud music and had no idea what he was getting himself into with all of us. We pulled up to a grassy area and hiked for about 10 min. Got to what looked like Rapids and kyle told us we were sliding down them. I was like oh man this doesn't look safe!!! But the rocks are smooth and the rapids throw you down them!!! It's what they call a rock slide. So you have to cross the rapids first and then you climb up river more then you get in. The current is super strong crossing and you don't want to get thrown down the river cause some areas weren't safe!! But Katie a girl in our group was crossing and Seio wasn't ready to help her yet and she fell down the rapids. The current just swooped her up in it. We were all laughing till we looked at Kyle who was like "oh shit shit shit" (excuse the language) and she flew by Josh who was futher down and Josh tried to grab her but she was to slippery. We were worried she would hit her head on the raging rock rapids but she grabbed on a rock and Seio ran down to save her. The Fijians are fast and have Fijian feet that are rough and can run over rocks and water without hurting themselves. It's kinda like dog pads cause they never wear shoes. Shoes are rare here! Which I love! So anyways he rescued Katie and she was alright. What a champ walked over to us smiling and we were all so worried about her. So once we all crossed the raging rapids safe we went down the rocks that are meant to be slid down on. This was super fun and scary all at once. I magaged 0 bruises! GO ME!

So after the rock slid we went to our huts. Little Fijian huts on the coast is where we Stayed. I think called tavu tavu in a place called Matai. It was nice and we had the rest of the afternoon to relax, shower, and nap. For dinner we went to a pizza place and it was amazin!

The next day woke up early and made breakfast. We headed off to Bouma National Park for waterfalls, fun pictures, and a hike up a mountain. It was amazing and beautiful, adventoruous, exhilerating, all in one. Before we went snorkeling which I must admit was the most AMAZING snorkeling I have seen my entire life. Beautiful reef and fish. I loved it and soaked it all in. The water was a bit rough so I took a break and collected tons of shells on the beach. I played it safe and thought my mom would be proud of me for not drowning myself! We had lunch and I met a girl from the Peace Corp. She had started a school down in taveuni and I was envious of her living the dream. She also lived right next to a church...how perfect!

That night we had kava and lovo for dinner (meal cooked in ground) It was delicious. We sat around and talked and I was almost embarressed to go to bed at 8:30 fighting sleep! IT was nice company and I was loving my time here. We enjoyed Zion and Eden and I realized how much I adore kids and want some of my own but also was reminded how much of a handful children were and that I would enjoy my life and if God wants me to have my own children and husband someday he will provide. Seeing how Kyle talks about his wife and Katie&Timote together made me realize how amazing God is and how he brings people together for a reason. I really love how amazing God is to us! It's so great.

In the morning we woke up and headed to the International dateline. This was super cool. I was in 2 days at the same time!!! MY Right side was Friday and my left side of my body in Saturday. It was surreal... as everything here is. Took pictures of it too! We then went to an old church where the first Fijian missionaries had set up a cathedral. I think it was Catholic because of the holy water but they didn't have signs. Kyle told us that the first missionaries were killed and eaten because Fiji had Cannibalism. It was weird to think about. Poor guys just trying to share God's love. Fiji has a super knarly dark past of cannibalism and chiefs but, Thank the good lord he has been found in Fiji.

One thing I wanted to mention. something I love about being here. (There are lots but this is one cool thing) That many Fijians here have shirts with verses on them that they are allowed to wear in school. I remember in high school we weren't allowed to wear stuff like that. For the most part there are many strong Christians here but it's a different kind of faith. I am not sure how to explain it. It's like they are MUCH closer spiritually to God then any American I know. They really feel the lord's presence. But they also feel the devil here too. It's because like in the States we are attacked by the devil by materialism, money, jobs, TV, etc. and in Fiji they don't have any of that. So they devil kind of reaches them in different more moving real ways. I think of it like in Fiji they are closer to the equator then in the US and in a spiritual way they really feel both God and the devils presence. It's super hard to explain and I don't know how to get my point across but if you saw what I see here you would know exactly what I am trying to say. It's a really good thing they know God because our Lord is so good and with him the devil can't reach us if you have accepted God into your life. I continue to pray that Fiji continues to feel the lord's presence.

SO anyways after the cathedral we boarded the boat once again. I was so sad to leave but, I hope to go back some day soon. I loved that place.
The ride back was much smoother on the Sullivan in case you were wondering :)

So now I am back in Suva and I have so much to do but I can't think right now. My mind is a million other places then my math homework which makes me realize how much I still hate math. I feel really disconnected from my home life of reality but I know soon I will be wishing I was here again. Fiji is like food for the soul, mind, and body. It's seriously healing. If I ever get sick with Cancer and treatment isn't working I want to die here. It's SO peaceful. Your soul feels free and alive. It's like Fiji is healing medicine. You don't think about problems in your head or in the world it's just you exist in God's paradise. I can't even begin to think what heaven will be like! I exist here and all I have to worry about is myself and living. I wish my parents could come here. I think they would love it. Someday I will pay for their plane tickets. Although my dad would hate the heat. I would live here if it wasn't so far away. Maybe though I will have to see where God takes me. I really love life and I love God I love myself and I know what I want and where I am going. It's like looking into a crystal ball and not caring what the future holds. I feel like for the first time I trust God COMPLETELY and fully and I love it. I don't have to or need to worry about who what when where or how. I will just live and love and Fiji brings that out in me. I am changing so much and God is using Fiji to mold me into a better person for myself and for others.

It's food for the soul and I am loving every minute of it.