Fiji #8

Find some new pictures at: http://gallery.me.com/jamesdchristian#100053

After a week at high school camp, we are now in the airport ready for the eleven-hour flight from Fiji to Los Angeles. What an awesome week the Lord gave us. The students were attentive and soooo polite. They clearly blessed us more than we blessed them. Nevertheless, we could see the lights come on in many of the teens as we worked through the twice-daily sessions.

When asked if they would be willing to give up personal pursuits to heed God’s calling for service in his kingdom, most every hand went up. This was no small covenant. It was sealed before the Throne and we expect the Holy Spirit to do great things through these radical believers in their generation. Praise God!

We made a fun video of two of the campers and the students watched a new installment each night. You can enjoy the whole “The Amazing Thomas” video at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiJ9EKewgu0

As we left Fiji, three different groups sang the national goodbye song in beautiful island harmonies. The words typify the loving Fijian spirit. Here is a rough English translation:

Isa, Isa you are my only treasure;

Must you leave me, so lonely and forsaken?

As the roses will miss the sun at dawning,

Every moment my heart for you is yearning.

Isa Lei, the purple shadow falling,

Sad the morrow will dawn upon my sorrow;

O, forget not, when you're far away,

Precious moments beside dear Fiji.

Isa, Isa, my heart was filled with pleasure,

From the moment I heard your tender greeting;

'Mid the sunshine, we spent the hours together,

Now so swiftly those happy hours are fleeting.

Isa Lei, the purple shadow falling,

Sad the morrow will dawn upon my sorrow;

O, forget not, when you're far away,

Precious moments beside dear Fiji.

O'er the ocean your island home is calling,

Happy country where roses bloom in splendor;

O, if I could but journey there beside you,

Then forever my heart would sing in rapture.

Isa Lei, the purple shadow falling,

Sad the morrow will dawn upon my sorrow;

O, forget not, when you're far away,

Precious moments beside dear Fiji.

Thanks for joining us via prayer. We were very blessed to be the clay jars empowered by your prayers and put to use in sprinkling the Good News about. What a great privilege! We look forward to introducing you to your Fijian brothers and sisters in person. They are such wonderful people, however, we may not get a chance to present them until the new era. Nevertheless, you are going to really love them.

Until the next trip to wherever God sends us, may blessings, peace and grace be yours in Christ Jesus.

Fiji #7

Dear Beloved Partners,

Find some new pictures at: http://gallery.me.com/jamesdchristian#100053

We are getting ready to teach a week of high school camp at Sigatoka and wrapping up our wonderful time with the church in Lautoka. It has been a huge, fat blessing. I use those words because of all the feasts. We have made excellent eternal friends. If you can, look at the pictures and into the faces and you will see why we have fallen in love with the people. Don’t miss the Fijian Fight Dance video.

Over and over we have heard how the Tree of Life Discipleship books are helping even seasoned Christians know their Jesus better.

James had two more students in his Scripture class receive Jesus plus we baptized Tomasi, one of the Lost Boys. Thomasi is the one holding the other fish in the picture--not the old man.

About the pictures:

The story on the tuna is not much of a story. Several times the lost boys offered to take James tuna fishing at sea overnight. They don’t use poles here but hand-line even large fish into the boat. Weather, timing and boats never worked out, so there is something to look forward to next trip.

Not to be totally defeated by the tuna’s, we made two trips to the wharf to buy fish from the incoming boats. When even that failed, we broke down and hooked our catch at the fish market.

Maybe the story will be more interesting next time.

At least Dani has some great stories. Below are copies of emails telling how the giving of our supporters has blessed the people of Fiji. Hope you enjoy.

About Una

Hi, just wanted you to know that I brought some of the knitting needles you gave me and found a lady here who wanted to learn. Her name is Una and about my age. We have had a wonderful few mornings visiting and knitting. She said her grandmother showed her when she was 16, but she hasn't knit since then. She had a few small balls of yarn that Mary had given her a few years back. Una showed me her knitted scarf this past Sunday and is coming on Wednesday to learn how to cast off. She remembered it very quickly. There is not much need for knitted items here because it is so warm, so I am not sure how much she will use it in the future, but we have had a great time fellowshipping over the lessons. I brought one skein of yarn with me that I am going to give her on Wednesday. You probably won't meet her when you come in the summer, she is in Lautoka which is about 45 min from Nadi where Mary lives. She was showing off her scarf on Sunday and every one was so impressed. Thank you for sharing your needles with me so I could pass them on!

Una loves to crochet and has done some beautiful pieces for the church here with small needles and crochet cotton which you can buy here, but haven't seen any yarn at all. Una shared with me her treasured collection of patterns. She has 4 books, one for knitting machines, one of cross stitch, one general craft book and one with quilt patterns. She uses x-ray film to make her quilt templates and the book has been taped so many times to keep it from tearing. I am humbled by her to think of the two boxes with lots of pattern books back home. And all the needles I have and loads of yarn. We are so blessed in the States and it takes coming to Fiji to realize it. To see it so clearly how much I have.

About Shennai

I wanted to share a story with you about how a Bible from Sequim Bible Church was used this week. I have befriended a young mother named Shennae. She has a 15 mo old son and is due with her second in about 4 months. She is married to a young man who grew up in the Lautoka church we are serving at. She was raised Catholic and is just not sure about this church. I was raised Catholic too. The Lord does prepare us in the most interesting ways. The first Sunday I saw her was 2 weeks ago and she was sitting out front of church playing with her son. He was probably a little noisy, so she took him outside during the sermon. We don't have a nursery. The Lord was prompting me to go say hi, so I did and we got to talking. I told her I was raised Catholic too, so if she had any questions, I will understand where she is coming from. I also told her that back in the states, I teach preparation for childbirth classes, then explained what that was. So if she had any questions at all, about her faith, or childbirth, let me know. Then a flood of questions about childbirth came. A few days later she came to church in the afternoon while her husband played volleyball, we just chatted. No faith questions yet, just child rearing and birth questions. I called Mary Cairns and asked her if she had any literature that she could share with me, so I could give it to Shannae. The next day Mary stopped by for a visit and brought me a whole bunch of great things, including a Bible, which I recognized as the ones you sent over with a new sticker on the front "a gift from South Pacific Evangelistic Fellowship". She didn't come for a few days, but when I saw her husband, I gave the package to him to give to her. This past Sunday they were in church again. We stand at the back door and shake everyone's hand as they leave. As she came by she gave me a kiss on the cheek and she said thank you for the Bible, we really needed that, we did not have one. I have only gotten a kiss on the cheek a few times.

So that's my story and I am sure there are many others. Thank you for sharing the Bibles. They are making a difference here.