Hussains for Dinner

We love the Hussain family.  They are so great.  Sister Hussain is always willing to come and show us how to cook Fijian style.  Tonight she is showing Sister Whiting, our neighbor, and me how to make Palau.  This is a popular dish with the Fijians.  It is made with rice, chicken and spices.

Connie Whiting, Maria Hussain, Cherie Tait getting ready to cook it up.

Sister Hussain testing how hot the oil is in the pan.

The rice is browned and seasoned and we are ready to add the chicken, other spices and water.

Pumpkin cut up and ready to put in the oven to roast.  It is so yummy.

Peter Hussain (our Bishop), Kaylela, Maria, Leola

Elder Tait, Sister Tait, Sister Hussain, Bishop Hussain, Sister Whiting, Elder Whiting

The Start of a New School Year and Other Happenings

January 26 was the start of another school year here in Fiji.  These pictures here are actually from the week before the start of school.  This was the teachers first day back and Brother Solomone, the principal, is sharing the testing scores from the previous year.   The scores were better than they were last year, so we were all happy about that.  But since the scores were not good last year - well let's just say there is still room for improvement.  

Brother Solomone

We also started our classroom management class.  There were only 5 people there when we took the picture, but we actually have 8 teachers plus the principal, so that is pretty good.

Elder Tait teaching

During the school holiday we had some of the students in our ward over to do math.  These girls are taking a  multiplication test.  

I know these pictures are sort of random -  but I forgot about this picture.  Right before Christmas they had turkey at the grocery store.  4 Kg is around 8 + pounds and it's $159.00!  I don't know if they sold any or not.  We can wait and have turkey when we get home.

Hathaways In Fiji

During the the school's summer vacation we had some special visitors: our dear friends, John, Sue Ann, and Christina Hathaway.  We feel very blessed that we have the type of mission where occasionally we have a little time off.  So it was perfect timing and we had a great time showing them some of the best places in Fiji. 

We first took a boat to Mana Island Resort in the Mamanuca  (ma- ma- new- tha) Islands.  Our rooms were very big and nice and had a beautiful view of the beach. (somehow we have no picture of the view, so you will just have to take our word for it.)

Dinner with a view of the ocean.  

Mike and John had a friendly bird that would sit on their stomach and eat crackers.

We then headed to Suva and soaked in some of the local culture.

The Fish Market

Fresh Crabs for sale!

Also lobster

We spent the morning at the Suva LDS temple before heading to the other side of the island.

We took King's Highway which is being constructed by the Chinese government.  It meanders through a beautiful rainforest.  Along the way we saw a sign for the LDS church, so we turned around and stopped.  

The building on the right is where they have their meetings on Sunday.  The building on the left is where some members of the church live.  Of course being Fijians, they were so friendly and happy to see us.  They offered us some refreshment of fruit and fresh coconut.

The son climbing up the coconut tree to get the coconuts.

The coconut was cut open, but there was a film across the top, so Christina stuck her finger through the opening so they could get to the coconut milk and the flesh.  There was some kind of pressure in there because the coconut milk shot up into Sue Ann's eyes.  

Yumm. fresh coconut milk.

Some of the family.  The Fijians are just so amazing.  If they have company then they go out into the yard and pick fruit for the guests.  This country has an abundance of food for the people.

Wananavu Beach

Our last night together at Wananavu which means wonderful or awesome in Fijian.  And it was truly an awesome place.  

We really enjoyed having the Hathaways come for a visit.  

Christmas

Christmas turned out to be quite different than was planned.  The schools are out for summer break and so we were going to take the holiday to go to a resort with 2 other missionary couples.  But alas, we ended up at the hospital on Christmas Eve.  It all started with what we thought was the flu.  By the next day Mike was in a lot of pain and by that evening he was really hurting.  They did an x-ray and he had 2 kidney stones.  So we were home and house bound for 4 days.  But we took that time to remember the birth of the Savior and all the blessings we have.  We are thankful for the opportunity we have to serve a mission and the love and support we feel from our family and friends. We are grateful that the kidney stones passed and we have been very healthy (overall) on our mission.  That was our first trip to the doctor and the first time Mike has been sick since we arrived in Fiji.  

Poor Mike.  After 2 shots of morphine he had some relief.  Mike was very thankful for morphine.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Ward Christmas Party

Our ward Christmas party was "A Night in Bethlehem".  Everyone was asked to dress up in clothing of that time period.  They asked Mike to be a Roman centurion and announce the decree of Caesar Augustus that all the world was to be taxed, etc.  We did not have much to use for costumes (as you can see from the pictures).( How do you like the bowl covered with foil?)  Most of the members (who dressed up) had great costumes!  We were really impressed.

A Roman Centurion

 a soldier and an old woman

Apenisa and his 2 cousins

Bishop Hussain

Mary and Joseph

The 3 Wise Men

Of course Santa made an appearance.  Notice the beard.  

Sister Damuni - She went home right after Christmas.  She will be missed, she was a good missionary.

Zone Conference

We had a zone conference with our new Mission President Klingler and Elder Watson counsellor in the Area Presidency.  It was a good training.  And of course the most important part of the conference: the food.

The missionaries enjoying the lunch of pizza and fruit.

The senior missionaries worked in the kitchen.  Elder Tait is working hard on his pizza.

This is actually not a picture from zone conference.  These are some of the people we love from the ward.  Nola, Sis. Vuetibau, Apenisa, Sis. Damuni, Bro. Sharma

Graduations

Brother Qaqa asked us to be the "Chief Guests" at the Primary School graduation.  It was a really nice day.  All the graduates were dressed in black and white and had received a traditional "lei". 

The graduates and the audience.

 Sister Tait passing out certificates.

Elder Tait passing out certificates

Elder and Sister Ronnenkamp, our ITEP supervisors, were here visiting us so they joined us as "Chief Guests".  Brother Qaqa the Primary School Prinicpal is on the right.

Below are some pictures of the College (high school) graduation.  We were asked to interview the candidates for the most prestigious honor of the school, the Lion of the Lord award.  It is the religious award for integrity and service.  It was an honor to be able to talk to the 4 nominees and very difficult to choose the recepient.   But in the end we both felt the same person should receive the award.

The College choir singing "O Holy Night".  It brought chills to listen to them.  It was so beautifully sung.

Geraldine receiving the Lion of the Lord award.  She is a wonderful girl and was also the school's Dux (valedictorian).

Another graduation:  Our Leadership Class called " History and Foundations of Education" finished up.

Brother Qaqa and the teachers from the primary school.

The Graduates 

Back  (left to right)  Bro. Solomone, Bro. Vitinavulagi, Bro. Prasad, Bro. Qaqa, Bro. Sautu

Front: Sis. Toganivalu, Sis. Vitinavulagi, Elder Tait, Sis. Talemaitoga, Sis. Charan