So then… we leave the wintery climate (well Spring actually) on NZ behind and set off for sunnier pastures… Fiji! As you will note in the pics below, it is a land of contrasts….
Actually Fiji was amazing, we met wonderful people there (for some reason I have no pictures of them…?) lots of Christians, lots of snorkeling and heap big plenty rain at times.
I was kindly invited to preach in the local AoG church on the Sunday, an event that we will probably never forget. Around 40 to 50 people in the church, an amazing worship band, and the presence of God… well, enough said!
Max is conspicuous by his absence on this leg. He disappeared into the undergrowth as soon as we got there, muttering something about “relatives live around here” Happily we met up again at the airport… LA was not to be missed by him! HOLLYWOOD HERE HE COMES!!!!
Love y’all, Pastor Mike and Shelagh
Contrasts… Hmm. Fiji is very rural and very impoverished. I snapped these two future sandwich filling candidates on an early morning walk.
And the car, well! You won’t find me complaining about mine any more!
The beautiful island is surrounded by a reef… keeping the sharks out and the pretty coral loving fish in. as mentioned elsewhere, some of the finest snorkeling ever was to be had here.
Though it did have its moody days as well. We arrived in torrential rain. But then it is lush tropical forests etc. so you have to have rain to have that forests… right?
Our hosts at the AoG Church in the village. In a village of around 260 people they have 8 denominations. Most of the folk in the village were in one church or another.
Pastor Mike in action….. I am never sure if the translators are really translating what we preachers say, or if they are maybe using the opportunity to get a favorite message in of their own? Not really… they were great!
The local village…
….and a local villager.
A couple of closing scenes from the island. It is stunning by day and night. Ah well…. We had better prepare for civilization again. (sadly!)
