I’ve been here for almost one week, and am just now getting grounded!!!  I firmly believe that this is what God had planned for the "7th day".  How magnificent.  I'm here with my brothers company, Nature's Nurse, which you can see on the net, to see what the product is about.  I have come to learn the product, love the people, and be here for a harvest to experience it.   I AM COMPLETELY OVERWHELMED BY THE WONDERFUL WELCOME THAT I HAVE HAD!!!! 

It is Monday morning the 30th; skipping one full day on the way has made me loose complete touch with what day it is.  Finally sitting down to a computer, just to let you all know what is happening.   Natures Nurse wanted to sponsor one of the local village’s rugby team for this season, so I came to present their new uniforms, and to meet the men who will be doing this next harvest.   The uniforms were late in being finished, however well worth the end product.  Resina (Ted’s partner, and Fijian) and I took off late Friday to the village, got to find out the correct spelling of before I put it in writing, doing them the greatest of justice they deserve, and my inability to quickly learn the language, I will get back to the proper name.  Anyway, we arrived late after crossing the mountains, Resina doing it at a high rate of speed since she spends her days accomplishing a beautiful task of trying to provide water for the villages that don’t have any, via her company Water For Life.  So everyone on the island knows her truck....we rapidly cross the mountains headed for the village.  

Vatuseikiyasawa:  Resina just walked in from a water meeting and told me the name of my new village.   See why I can’t remember it.  Okay, we just call is VATU.  Sounds like it spelled.   Anyway, 3 hours later, and lots of bumpy roads, we arrive in the dark, and all the villagers are under, and tent type, open air pole barn, we call it. Tons of men sitting on the ground looking at me.  The women are gathered in another area outside with the kids getting ready for a little show for me.  They give us gifts of flowers, like lei's,  got to find out what those are called also, and we sit, quietly, and they pray.....they talk....and they want me to speak....right....and I cry.....these people are so welcoming, loving, giving, and I am still awwwwwwwwww struck in my acceptance!!!   The boys sing, the children sing, all in their native attire, which is a daily thing for them to just put together, with love, and share!!!!  We present uniforms, and they pray some more and thanking us and natures nurse for loving them, and giving to them. Then we celebrate with local foods, I'm still adjusting to,  and I cry some more.  The tears just stream.....the gentleness, the love, and desire to learn, is just magnificent.  By the way, so are the ocean, mountains and air!!!!   We need to stop and just BE, and we don’t do it enough.  I can feel all the years of STUFF melting away from my being!!! 

Next, we go back to the oldest hotel on the Figi where Resina stays for her business.   The acceptance there, even though 2 a.m., is just silently beautiful.  Remember it is dark when I arrive to the village...and when I woke; I immediately went outside to see where I was and what just hit me.   OH MY GOD AND OH MY GOD, AND OH MY GOD......IS ALL I HAVE TO SAY FOR THE MOMENT.    Everything that has breath......is breathing...the colors, the mountains, the just everything!!!!!   I WILL PUT UP PICS AS SOON AS I CAN FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO IT.  We had an Indian man film the rugby game for us, and the honored church service and meal we had yesterday, all for me and Resina, so maybe I can get some of it downloaded so you can see.    Anyway, we headed back to the village after a beautiful breakfast overlooking the mountains to get ready for the game.   We loaded into buses, trucks, the kids in the back with flags and cheering all the way to the field.   I got to be all over the field with welcomed arms to b a part of the game.  Great Game, losing by one point, but the after game was worth my fear of flying all together.   The two teams came together in quietness and respect for one another, blending and praying for the game!!!  Remember, I don’t speak the language, so I have been in my own little world for the last week, learning to hear thru the heart, and facial expressions.   THE TEAM HAS BEEN SO THANKFUL FOR THE UNFORMS, EVEN THOUGH THE PANTS ARE A LITTLE TOO BIG, AND THEY ALL LOOK SO HANDSOME IN THEM,  CHECK OUT FIGI RUGBY ON LINE AND SEE.   It’s quite a thing going on here.   All the little children I talk to want to basketball players when they grow up. 

Yesterday, Sunday, was a completely different high all together.   Resina and I are the guests at a beautiful Sunday service.....every village has a Church in the middle of it, and they are so humble and highly respecting of it.   It's beautiful to FLY thru the island and see all the different churches.  Some of you may not know that I'm a preacher kid myself,  and so this is the heart of my being,  even though I don’t speak of it as much as I will now!!!!!!!    The pastor comes around to the little huts to bring you to church, as you hear the choir singing in the distance!!!!!!!!  Once again, the tears fall without control.   I have never seen so many Bibles that have duck tape on them!!!!   They are used to the utmost of their being.  THEIR RELIGION IS WHO THEY ARE AND THEY ARE WHAT THEY BELIEVE.   Whether you know it or not, I am the one who likes the back row to sit on in church, and I don’t like to have the spotlight on me!!!  Some of you may find that hard to believe, well of course since we are the guest of honor.......we get to sit up at the pulpit with the Ministers, and the Chief of the village!!!!! Of course more tears......I AM COMPLETELY AND TOTALLY OVERWHELMED AT THIS POINT.     I understand that the sermon was about PRAYER and the POWER of it, and why we don’t use and ask more of God and to God, then we do......them wanting me to speak and all I do is cry.....Note: take class in public speaking when I return to the states.     

We have a beautiful meal with everyone when the service is over, and I just spent a few hours talking to everyone asking and receiving questions.    The children are wonderful, and I am making some very special friends that I will have for life................and the then we leave to fly back over the mountains to get back to Suva before dark.   OH YEAH, COMING BACK UP TO THE MTNS, IT BEGINS TO RAIN...AND GUESS WHAT I SEE.....LO AND BEHOLD, ITS THE END OF THE RAINBOW, A COMPLETE AND WHOLE RAINBOW AND YOU CAN SEE THE ENDS.....FLOWING DOWN THE SIDE OF THE MTN, AND INTO THE RIVER.......I HAVE SEEN IT ALL NOW........THIS IS THE POT OF GOLD AND THE END OF THE RAINBOW.   

I will continue my journey with you all in the next day or so.   Some of you don’t know, my best friend Beverly/aka, Beaver died almost one year ago.  We had planned this journey together,  pushing her to get her passport to leave the country with me......and we managed to get the passport,  but she completed another journey without me, however, being here, can only show me, that she is with me, all the way, everyday, and I will continue this incredible journey without her!!!   Completing to grow from some of my lifelong fears and enjoy what God has in store for the rest of my life.  Lesson: don’t wait until it’s over to know what God has in store for you, because you could be missing the whole journey.   

I LOVE YOU ALL UNCONDITIONALLY AND WILL BE PRAYING FOR EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR GODS LAND.  LOVE ONE ANOTHER AND BE GRACIOUS FOR ALL YOU HAVE IN ONE ANOTHER.   

MOCE VINAKA - GOODBYE AND LOVE FROM THE ISLANDS!