Two Tickets To Paradise for Peela & Papa

Waterfalls, Nakavika Village school, and Family in Fiji

Well we are back and in business again after a wonderful 9 day “time-out” with two of our kids and their spouses. Heather and Jason Noonan and Jesse and Stacy Peterson were wonderful guests who embraced the Fijian culture and people whom we love with all our hearts. It was so fun to share our new family with our old family for 9 glorious days. Here is a recap of our adventures.

Day 1 Aug.

The kids arrived at 7:45 a.m. at the Nasori airport. They were 15 minutes early so we watched their plane fly over us.

We hugged and hugged them and it felt so good. They had a TON of luggage because they brought books and school supply’s over for a village up in the Namosi Highlands. We could hardly get everything into our huge 12 passenger van. We made it though and off we went for a great time together.

After going to the flat to freshen up, we took a tour of the Institute Service center, and mission office. It is always fun to show our family off to all the other senior couples here.

We then headed to town. I took Stacy, Jason and Heather to town on the “bone crusher bus”. This is a must when you visit Fiji. We headed straight to the market. There we let them experience the amazing fruits, vegetables and fresh fish. We even had a pineapple popsicle. The market is always a favorite place to take our guests. It is busy and crazy but oh so much fun. The kids were able to practice their Fijian by saying Bula, Vinaka, and Moce. They got really good at those words. Sounds like they are having a hard time getting the Americans back home to understand them.

The boys didn’t last as long as we girls did at the Market, so we took a taxi home. That is a story of itself……..

The bus ride was crazy but it is a must here in Fiji. You haven't visited Fiji until you take the bus to town.

Stacy giving lollies and toys to the kids at the market. Heather and Jason's girls made bracelets out of rubber bands to give the kids here in Fiji.

We love the pineapple popsicle here in Fiji. It is such a treat and a great way to eat a pineapple.

The fish here at the market are beautiful, well some of them are at least. Stacy found some beautiful teal blue and green ones. Her favorite colors.

Day 2

Saturday, we got up and headed to the temple. All three of our guys put on their sulus and looked great. I think they liked them a little to much. We girls all wore our jabas and boy, did we look Fijian. It was great. The temple is always wonderful.

After the temple, we girls headed back to town on the bus. Just didn’t get enough shopping in the day before. These girls know how to shop.

That night, we had activity night with the YSA’s. What a treat this always is. Games, singing, and dancing were the menu for the night. Our kids loved this night the best of all. They were welcomed like family. They were able to see first hand why we love these YSA’s so much. Jason gave the boys who are going on missions a tie that he brought with him. What a nice gesture and one that was much appreciated.

Kremboard game with Stacy, Pena, Lai and Heather

Jason giving Lai one of his ties. Lai will be serving his mission in Phenix Arizona.

Famoana, Tui, Stacy, Jesse and Delana duke it out over a game of Farkle. I think Delana
won this game.

The singing that goes on at the Institute is by far one of the favorite things about our YSA's. They love to sing and they have amazing voices.

Crazy YSA's

Day 3

Sunday, we went to church and were able to introduce the kids to our wonderful ward. We went to the primary to give the kids “lollies”. They sang to us and it was another wonderful Sabbath.

After church, we headed to Pacific Harbor for our 3 day stay there. We stayed at the Uprising Resort again and we love it there. We relaxed and had dinner and went to bed early so we could get up bright and early to go up the Navaua River on the long boat tour.

Day 4

This was another fabulous day on the lower Navua River long boat trip.. We have been on this tour 3 times and we love it every time. We have made some friends at the Discovery Fiji Tours and also at the village. Margarita does the Tapa painting in the village and she painted me a tapa of the Angle Moroni. I gave her a picture of the Fiji Temple in hopes that she can make me a tapa with the temple on it. Keep your fingers crossed.

The tour was great again. Our kids loved it. The weather was great (a bit cold) but it didn’t rain on us. We headed straight up to the waterfall. It was much colder than the last time we were there but just as beautiful. We all had a refreshing swim before we headed back to the village for a program, kava ceremony and a visit to the preschool.

Day 5

Another wonderful day today. This is the day we have all been waiting for.

The kids have been gathering books, school supplies, toys and lollies for the Nakavika Village. They brought 2 large boxes and a huge suitcase full. Elder Peterson and Jesse and Jason took Moses to Vinodpatel to buy a toilet for the village also.

The drive takes about 1½ hours on a very steep, bumpy and winding road but it is beautiful. We we welcomed with open arms by Moses and his cute wife Alamina. We had a sevu-sevu ceremony where we gave the village chief sugar, a bucket of biscuits and some cava :( to the chief. This is a tradition for visitors coming into the village. During the ceremony, the chief told us that we were considered family and that we were welcome back anytime. It was a life changing experience for the kids. They played games, read new books, gave out lolls and toys, and sang "I am a child of God" to the kids. We will definitely go there again.

Day 6

Today we were off to Malolo Island for a well deserved relaxing 3 days on the beach. We just canoed, snorkeled, ate, tanned, ate, jet skied, and visited. It was a great way to end their visit.

What a wonderful time we all had. Memories were made and lives were changed forever. We loved how our kids embraced the culture and loved the people here. Vinaka vaka levu.