the issue of cava

One of the big issues facing the church in Fiji is cava. It is one of those difficult issues where culture and Christianity meet.

It is a mild narcotic drink that is part of the Fijian cultural heritage. It used in welcoming ceremonies (like the one above) and as a general part of life. It is sold 24 hours a day in grog shops and is drunk by many each night. Cava is typically followed by grog sessions which last late into the night. So it isn't the cava in and of itself that is the issue, it is what follows.

Our group experienced its some of its effects first hand. Whilst travelling from Nadi to Suva on a hired bus, we discovered the driver had been out all night on the grog. It wasn't a pleasant trip with several team members having to sit behind and prod him and talk to him during the 7 hour bus ride (that should have taken 5!).

It is an issue that is dividing many of the Fijian churches. Many churches regularly practice the use of cava whilst other groups are raising up against its use.
While we try not to engage in cultural and church politics while we are there, it is easy to see the detrimental effects that cava is having on society - much like alcohol among teens and early twenties here in Australia.

Fiji First Impressions

It was an early start. We were easily identifiable, 40 people walking around Sydney airport in blue Year 13 in Fiji T-Shirts at 5:45am.

Meet Wallace Wanawong, he's the one in the photo with a hat on. Wallace had many adventures in Fiji and even has his own facebook page!!

After a pretty non-eventful but excitement filled flight we stepped into the humidity of Fiji. I was overwhelmed with the warmth and moisture. You start dripping the moment you step out of the plan onto the tarmac.

And then we headed into customs....

9 days to go...

There are nine days to go until we arrive home. Our time in Fiji has been wananavu (awesome in Fijian).
There are so many sights, sounds, smells and experiences that I want to share. I have kept a journal (but am slightly behind). There has been so much to absorb and try to understand.
I have had minimal internet access, but you know what - I haven't missed it!!
(hard as it might be to believe that)

We are back in Suva and getting ready to head into some days of getting into the schools to tell them about Jesus. I love the fact that in this country you can talk religion within 2 minutes of meeting someone.

Pray for us in our last week. For the people of Fiji - that many of them might come to know the living and loving and true God. For patience as people feel homesick and we live in close close quarters. For opportunities to share the good news of Jesus. For safe travel as we head home. For our re-entry into a first world western culture.

Getting ready to go

In 2 short days I leave with Year 13 for Fiji. We are going there for a month, on a short term mission. We will be involved in building orphanages, churches, evangelism, kids clubs, youth leadership conferences and school ministry.

Around 2 weeks ago, I was struck with nerves. How will I cope with 36 teenagers for a month? What about eating curry 3 meals a day? Do I really have to wear an ankle length skirt for the most part?
All these questions going around in my head and more. As I was driving to church 2 weeks ago, my heart was racing - anxiety had hit. Although I knew I was anxious about leaving, I couldn't put my finger on exactly what was bothering me. So I started praying.
I knew that God wanted me to cast my anxieties upon him.

And that was when it hit....

It isn't about me!

This trip - it isn't about me. It's not about how I'm going to cope with curry 3 meals a day or even about what I'm going to wear - It's about God!

Mission Day 8 (Part I)- A Big Hole

Friday morning the team headed out to the mine for a tour....



a big hole

big fashion statement

BIG

big trucks, roads and machinery
big environmental impact


did i mention big trucks?

(A disassembled mining truck on the back of a semi-trailer should give you an idea of the size of the machinery used. This shot was taken on the way back from Karijini National Park on the Monday - all other shots are from the Friday morning mine tour. The truck had a police escort and took up both lanes of the freeway.)

Mission Day 7 - High School and Chinese Food

A Red Goanna photographed at Karijini National Park.

Thursday filled me with some excitement and also trepidation. We were heading into the high school for the day.

I had hung out with some of the teenagers throughout the week which was good. It meant that by the time Thursday rolled around, I knew a few of the kids who would be there.
I had some trepidation because we were under quite strict guidelines about what we could and couldn't do and say. In NSW we are truly blessed that we are able to go in to schools and teach about the good news of Jesus. In WA (much like many other states in Oz), we were only granted entry into the school if we agreed to teach on certain things. We were teaching on the meaning of Easter. We weren't allowed to pray or lead in prayer or make any attempt to call for a response.
I MC'd with one of the guys and shared my story about what Easter has meant for me and how it has changed my life. I struggled with the restrictions as I would normally call for a response. But it made me appreciate all the more what a privilege and opportunity it is to share the gospel with teenagers.

We had been warned that the high schoolers were a pretty rowdy bunch and were often rude and don't listen. The minister of the church we were on mission with is also the chaplain at the school. He said that he had been to events where the kids talked throughout the entire program. All in all, I have to say that they were pretty good. In fact I was amazed.

But the most amazing thing was God reminding me that it is his work, not mine. By the time the third seminar group had rolled around, I was feeling on a bit of a roll. But the group wasn't all that responsive. In fact as I was speaking there were a group of girls in the front row who spent most of the time giggling and whispering. Needless to say, I walked away from that seminar feeling a little flat.
We were due to have a lunch break before the last group.
As I was trudging along to get some lunch one of the guys on team came up to me and said: "how good was that"
I said: "yeah, it was ok. how was your discussion group" (we broke them up into discussion groups after the talk)
He said: "one of the girls in my group said to me: 'I really believe now. I'd heard the stories before, but I'd never really believed, and that girl spoke about it like it is real. I think I really believe it now"

How humbling. We can walk along thinking and planning and making sure everything is perfect, but it surely is in our weaknesses that God is working.

We got through the day and later that night a few of us went to the Chinese Takeaway for dinner. The food was great (albeit a tad expensive like everything in Newman). But it was a highly amusing evening. I think it is the only time I have eaten Chinese out and not been able to get chopsticks and was served chinese tea in coffee mugs!!

This lovely meal was supplemented by some extra protein consumed today and was followed by a trip to the Purple Pub AKA Animal Bar. It was more mellow than expected. One of the boys consumed a beverage by the name of Emu Bitter (I wasn't game) and Chookie had an amusing experience trying to find the mens room. Three different guys sent him on a wild goose chase which landed him standing outside of the ladies!

--
Fly Count: 4

Mission Day 6 - Guns and Girls

Wednesday of mission and we are past the midpoint.

The Bishop came and spent the morning with us. He talked to the team about ministry in the North West. I can see the desperate need for people to minister in the diocese of North West Western Australia. I also see how there is very little chance that it would be someone like me who would be the one to go there. I can see the need, but I also learned that 90% of churches cannot even afford a minister, let alone think about putting a woman on staff. Their are places for co-workers or tent makers, but seeing as I don't have a teaching degree or such, it is unlikely that there would ever be a need for someone like me. (although Big Bazza was trying to convince me that he could get me a job in the mine given my previous history of working in education and training of apprentices)

All in all, a an educational morning.
We spent the rest of the day either in prep for the high school seminar the next day, or the primary club that arvo.
I spent the arvo giving out helium balloons at the shopping centre (the shopping centre consisted of a woolies, rockmans, chemist and a chinese takeaway!) and talking to people. It's amazing how many big burly mining men were willing to take a helium balloon and have a chat. It was heaps of fun, and I got to invite lots of them to the shooting later on the day.

So right on dusk half the team headed out to the gun club (on Gun Club Road) and went clay target pigeon shooting.

It was a heap of fun. My instructor told me I was a natural with a shotgun. I don't know whether that is something I should be pleased or disturbed about.

Mission Day 5 - Yellow School

There are two primary schools in Newman - yellow school and green school. For the life of me, I can't remember what their real names were (probably Newman South and East or something like that). They get their common use name from the colour of their T-Shirts.
Apparently there is a bit of tension and jibing that occurs between the students at these schools. At kids church on the first Sunday, one of the team members described the kids' interaction a little like the Jets and Sharks from West Side Story!

Tuesday morning we went into the yellow school to explain the true meaning of Easter. It was a blast. And from all records it was the first time that there has been any Christian input into the school since it was founded.

I wasn't directly involved in the running of the program, but the whole team got to go along. I had some good conversations with some of the teachers and staff at the school. It was so encouraging to speak to people who are so open to hearing about the church and what it was doing.

Tuesday night we had a dialogue meeting at the church. I was roped in to be on the panel. IronOrr gave a talk about heaven and then the floor was opened up for questions. It it not an area that I have had a particular amount of experience in and I was surprised at how much I enjoyed being on the panel and answering questions.

God has been very gracious to me this week.

--
Fly Count: still 2 (no extra protein consumed today!)

Mission Day 4 - Swimming & Night Clubs

Monday was our team day off. Some people from the church packed us into 4WD's and we headed on a 2 hour drive to Karijini National Park.
We walked down a gorge and went swimming in Circular Pool and Fern Pool. It was beautiful, amazing and relaxing.



We got back late afternoon and some of us headed out to the youth event that was planned for that evening. I was speaking at it. It is the first (and will probably be the only) time that I have given a talk in a night club.
There were some awesome conversations had with the youth. I was struck by the lack of inspiration or drive from the youth. Many can't see their way past ever living in a mining town. And I can understand why. I mean, why bother going to uni when you can get a job driving a truck for 100k a year.

It also hit me how they long for relationships. Their parents are often working ridiculous shifts and hours. So much so that they often go days without seeing them.
I spoke of God's love for them and his longing to have a relationship with them.

My heart breaks for the struggles that many of them are facing.

--
Fly Count: 2

Mission Day 3 - Sunday Services

I was rebuked!
I have been involved in music at church for years. And I have always felt the tension between wanting it to sound good and realising that it isn't a performance.

Don't get me wrong. I do think that we should always strive to do our best in what ever way we are serving God, but there is also a point which can be stepped over when it comes to shifting the focus away from glorifying God and onto ourselves.

Basically some of us joined with some people at the church and we helped out with the music on Sunday morning. At the time I thought it sounded ok, but not particularly extraordinary. So when I overheard several people comment on how fab the music was after the service I was rebuked about my attitude toward music.

I love singing and making music, and it has been a great encouragement to me to be reminded again about the focus that music (and anything we do at church) should have.

So Sunday morning was a rebuke and Sunday evening was an eye-opener.

Sunday evening we went to the Martu church. There are two main Indigenous people groups who live locally and the Martu (pronounced Mardu) are one of those two groups. Talking with some of the Martu people over the week were certainly one of the highlights of this mission trip.

Martu church was very different to any church service that I have been to in Sydney to say the least!!(singing time at the Martu Church - the smoke at the top of the pic is from the BBQ which was fired up just behind me)

I had some great conversations with some of the kids and while many of the adults didn't open up that night, being there was an opener for when I saw them later in the week.

The people who are ministering in Newman are doing an amazing job. I praise God for BCA and their commitment to sending people out to preach the good news about Jesus.

Mission Day 2 - Prepping around

(KC and Ton Ton preparing the memory verse for Kids Church)

Saturday morning we woke up and the time change kicked in. It was great thinking that we'd had a 2 hour sleep in (not so great this week). The first thing I noticed as KC and I walked to the church from our billets was the heat - and the flies. The Auzzie salute came out in full force over the week. I learnt pretty quickly that you can't really walk with your mouth open or talk while you are walking - I swallowed a fly!!

We spent most of the day prepping things for the week to come.
During the week there was a great deal of helium balloons which lead to a variety of entertaining moments.

One of the highlights of the week was getting to know the members of the team that previously I hadn't had much to do with.

Saturday evening saw KC and I back at our billets house. We went next door and met the neighbours. They had prepared some traditional Thai dishes and it was delicious. KC and I tried to engage in some conversations but it was a little random.
We did however learn some interesting things about living in a mining town which is pretty much run by 1 or 2 major companies.

Fell preparing me a soy coffee (a very important part of the day!)
--
Fly Count: 1

Mission Day 1 - First Impressions

Leaving Sydney airport we had 2 flights. Sydney/Perth, then Perth/Newman and we arrived.

The first thing that struck me as we got out of the plane and walked down the tarmac was the heat. Sydney was cold when we left, so were the planes and our time in Perth airport. Walking across to the Newman terminal saw most of the team taking off protective layers of warmth.

Feeling slightly overwhelmed and very excited about the week ahead we went to baggage collection. I wonder what they do when it rains? This little shuttle cart brought our bags out to the roadside where we picked our bags off the back.

There were so many things out of what I was used to but that was my main reason for wanting to go on this mission.
As we stood by the road waiting for our luggage to be unpacked from the plane, there was something else that was strikingly different. It wasn't the red dust, the heat or the time difference. As I looked into the carpark there was a complete lack of cars other than 4WD's or Utes. Work cars - definitely not city 4WD's. But an intriguing feature on these rows and rows of 4WD's was that they all had a 3m pole with a little orange flag and beacon atop. They looked like rows of giant remote controlled cars.


I was to find out later that these flags and beacons are to help prevent the cars being run over by the mine trucks which because of their size have an extremely large blindspot.


--
giant is an apt way to describe much of life in Newman.
More posts to come.

back from the west

I'm back. Tired and weary but encouraged. We arrived back on the red eye this morning. I don't fly particularly well so I didn't sleep on the Perth/Sydney leg of the journey. But that doesn't matter as I am back now, and it is time once again to hit the books.

Newman is remote and this pic captures just a small portion of that. The two nearest towns are Port Hedland (452km away) and Meekatharra (417km away). Some of the boys on team drove to Hedland and back on Saturday for one reason or another. Between Newman and Hedland they only saw one building - a roadhouse.

More updates and pics to come but sleep beckons.

arrivals, departures and hello

I have arrived in Perth airport. Our flight to Newman has been delayed. We await our departure in the little plane.
There has been much gaming and fun to be had on the flight (and boring movies). Some interesting conversations, but all in all, it felt like a long time.

We are 2 hours behind Sydney time over here. I didn't get to sleep at all on the flight over from Sydney. Let's hope that I can sleep on the next plane trip, or at least it will mean that I can sleep tonight!! (am feeling a little tired from staying up late last night).

Oh and Kizzie Dawg aka Goldy - I got the message from Ton Ton. Hi right back at you.

10 hours, 10 days - College Mission

In less than 10 hours I will be sitting on an airplane.
This is where I'll be spending the next 10 days.

preparations

this week:

highlight: discovering floorspace and a vacuum cleaner

lowlight: finding out my chaplain won't be coming on mission with us

highlight: reading greek with RJG

lowlight: the realisation that i didn't recognise some of the greek words in the passages that we were looking at

highlight: using BDAG to find them

lowlight: bizarre sleeping patterns

highlight: leaving for mission on an airplane tomorrow

lowlight: a little concerned about mission

highlight: spending the morning with my mum on ANZAC day

lowlight: arrrggghhh - I haven't packed or washed yet

highlight: going away for 10 days to tell people about Jesus

lowlight: catching a tiny airplane

highlight: being taken out for a Thai lunch today

Week 6

Has come to a close.

Sermon preached for chick's chapel and exegetical done (I had to do a fair bit of culling).

This week I have been reading various opinions on 1 Tim 2. And as always, I have also been reading on singleness and contentment. I am not sure how it will play out, but there seems to be a link between certain positions on 1 Tim 2 and singleness. I can't exactly put my finger on it yet. It is something for me to ponder and work over in the coming weeks.

Being in 4th year and going on college mission means I get to delegate. The task of speaking at the women's event on mission has gone to one of the 3rd year girls and I get the joy of speaking at the youth event - I can't wait.

Off to the mountains for 2 days with Trinity, Jax and T. I'm hoping it will be a refreshing time. I just wish I didn't have that essay due on Tuesday!!