"THE MARKET"

 

The Market is open every day except Sunday. 

Each day produce is delivered from family farms to the stands

that line one side of the main street in Nagara.

The store markets sell produce one piece at a time but on the street

vegetable and fruit are sold by the Plate.  It is all or nothing. 

Families also sell their produce in their villages at

small stands outside of their homes.

Cabbage, tomatoes, beans, cucumbers, avocadoes, pumpkins

lettuce, celery, potatoes, dalo,

 pineapple, mango and watermelon are all

sold at the markets.

 

" FIJI FISHING"

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fishing in Fiji is an adventure.  With a line, a hook and

a net the islanders find food to feed their family for a week.

Fishing is done from a boat, the wharf or while standing waist deep

in the ocean.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



"TRIED AND TRUE"

 

 

Eighty Year old Sister Maiwiriwiri is a tried and true "Mormon".

When she was the only female member of the church in Taveuni

she started her own Relief Society.  Elder McFadden was

instructed to act as the Relief Society President.

Sister Maiwiriwiri gathered the women in her village and began

teaching them homemaking skills.  The village chief was pleased and

started sending women to Relief Society to learn homemaking skills.

Her husband drowned while they were serving a mission in Fiji.

Upon hearing he was dead she looked to heaven and

asked Heavenly Father to help her raise her children.
 She claims that he did.
 

Brother Koroca was told he would have to leave his village
if he joined the church.
He chose to join the church.
He moved his family to the top of the mountain and
began farming on his uncle's farm.
He helped the missionaries teach the gospel to his father and mother.
They joined the church along with all of his brothers and sisters.
Now they are all preparing to go to the temple.

 

 



Elder McFadden baptized Mitimiti when he first served as

a missionary in Taveuni.  She raised her family and sent

three sons on missions.

Jerry is the same age Elder McFadden was when

his mother was baptized.  He is serving as a

missionary in Ghana.  Mitimiti died a few months

after this picture was taken.  Heart broken, Jerry

said that serving his mission was more important

than returning home to attend his mother's funeral.

He chose to pay tribute to his mother

 by continuing to serve an honorable

 mission for the Savior.

 

 

"HAPPY NEW YEAR"

 2013 and 2014 at the International Date Line

 

 Cleaning up natures New Years Eve

Party decorations

 

Contemplating the New Year

 

 Dressed in their finest clothing

 

Beating the drums to welcome a New Year

 

 

Standing on the International Date line in the year 2013 and 2014 at the

same time made us realize how quickly our time in Fiji is passing.
From January 1 to January 18 the villagers enjoy celebrating the
New Year by throwing water on each other and beating drums.
On the last day of the celebration the village members
dress in their finest clothes and beat their drums
down the road parade style while welcoming the
New Year.

Our New Years goal is to show more gratitude for the

opportunity we have to share our testimonies

of Jesus Christ and His Gospel

in Taveuni. 

 



"JUST ONE DAY"

 Members of the Fisher family

returning from the farm

 Keyboarding Students 

 

One day old Jeremiah Koroca

 Gathering packages from the boat

 

 Checking a water tank

 

 

 

The "Big Boat"

 

 

Our days are full of fun activities like helping people

learn keyboarding skills, taking new babies home from the hospital,

checking water tanks and collecting packages from the Big Boat.

Sometimes we wonder how we are able to travel so far and

do so much in just one day.

The work never ends.

 

Brother Koroca called us on Saturday and asked us to meet

him at the hospital.  When we arrived we were introduced to

a new member of the Koroca family, Jeremiah,  who was

named after the missionary who shared the gospel with the

Koroca family, Elder Jeremiah Gardner.

Helping the Koroca family take their new son home filled our day

with joy.  Especially when Brother Koroca said,

"I just love the gospel. 

 Reading the Book of Mormon

makes me happy."

The Koroca family will seal their family together in April at

the Suva temple.



"SKYPE HOME"

 

 

The missionaries gathered at the Sombula flat where Skype was

 downloaded on three Ipads and one computer.  Telephones

were provided to those who wanted to call instead of Skype.

Each missionary found a quiet spot to contact family members

to wish them a Merry Christmas, share testimonies of missionary work

and the Savior and enjoy some "down" time together. 

The five hours quickly flew by and then it was back to "work".

 



"CELEBRATTION"

 

 

The birth of the Savior is reason to celebrate. The men and boys

prepare the lovo.  The women and girls cook the food and

decorate the hall.  The preparations take the entire day.

Dinner was served at 5--pork, fish, chicken, walipoki, watermelon

ice-cream and cake and or course cassava.

Gary and I were surprised when we were made the honorary

special guests.  Gary shared his testimony of the Savior

and love for the People in Taveuni.