As I counted up the days it's been since my last post I couldn't help but gasp! I'm so sorry to have left you all hanging! I will do my best to catch you up on the last four weeks! To do this I will split up the posts a bit to shorten the length of this "catchup."
After my last post about my trip to the Yasawa Islands (by far one of the highlights of my life thus-far), the next day we welcomed our largest team ever (27!) visiting us from two high-schools in California. Bakersfield Christian and Santa Fe Christian schools have forever changed SI Fiji! Typically we have 5 sites at SI Fiji, however we started two new sites with the arrival of this team... Now, not only did we have our Primary School, Special Needs School, Preschool, Prison Ministry, and Elderly Care Facility...SI Fiji is proud to introduce a sports ministry site that travels around to various Lautoka schools to put on recreation courses (much thanks to the wonderful equipment donated by Santa Fe Christian), as well as our very own MEDIA site! Now, the media site is my personal favorite, but I suppose I'm a bit biased as I am the leader of the media site! My country directors and vice president asked me to help lead the media site as soon as I got back from the island and I remember feeling a bit intimidated. After all, have you ever tried to edit a video from 4 different cameras with two weeks worth of footage and videos? Let alone, I was going to be working with people I'd never met, and even teaming up with a newly hired Fijian national named Lusi. I began praying that the Lord would put together the team that we needed to start out the media site with and He did just that! (See the photo below) Jake, Lexi, Joy (Lusi is her real name), and I made a great team as we began the media site... Traveling around to the various sites, experiencing new things together, and learning a lot about media and camera techniques--we had a great time! At the end of their time here, I had gained two new American friends, and a new Fijian partner as God totally blessed the start of the media site. He is faithful!
Sadly, the Santa Fe team could only stay for 10 days, so we ended up altering the schedule just a bit. This meant our excursion day to the island was bumped up to the middle of the two week leaving us with a free Saturday to spend with the Bakersfield team. As we considered the options, the idea of hiking was brought to the attention of the leaders. It was quickly decided that we would hike together to a secluded location in the National Heritage park East of Lautoka. As if that wasn't special enough, we were told we would be visiting the waterfall past the highland village at Abbaca (Ahmbatha). Finally the day came and we loaded into (what seemed eerily close to) the Jurassic Park 4x4's and rolled up the mountain. After a (very) bumpy, 40 minute ride we finally reached the launch site and set out on foot. The jungle here was different than other parts of Fiji. At some point, visitors had introduced the pine tree to Fiji, leaving it to fill the highlands with the beautiful green that I'm so used to. Ponderosa and long needle pines mixed with other coniferous trees, fruit and flowering trees covered the surrounding highlands with all sorts of birds gliding around the heritage park. Dark volcanic rock next to the sapphire Fijian sky makes for a breathtaking sight!
Eventually...Though tired, a bit rushed, and ecstatic...We reached the waterfall! Falling over 80 meters (about 260ft!) in two tiers, the Savuione (sah-vee-oo-nee) Falls is by far one of the most beautiful waterfalls I've ever experienced. The sight was entirely breathtaking. Without hesitation, Mosese--equipped with his tough, shoe-like feet effortlessly scaled the sharp, volcanic wall to refill his water bottle under the glorious falls.
After a quick rest, it was time to hike (somewhat quickly) back toward our transportation, but we couldn't help but to stop to catch our breath... Not because of the journey, though we were, indeed, tired. It was because the sight in front of us was unlike any I've seen before. Looking like a scene plucked straight out of the second Hunger Games movie. Grasslands ahead opening up over the sea. To the right dark, volcanic rock hidden by emerald palms slowly swaying in the highland breeze. Above us a saphire sky. The only sound was our heavy footsteps and heavier breathing with the melodic grass blades drawing across one another like a bow across loosed cello strings. It was unreal. As much as I enjoyed the waterfall, this was my favorite place on our journey by far!
Arriving back to our transportation (the "Jurassic Park" trucks) we loaded up and made it back in time for a late lunch at the base. With some intense scrubbing, packing, and final farewells... The team was off. The two weeks with Santa Fe and Bakersfield had flown past so very fast! I couldn't believe it! The Lord totally blessed every part of their visit. And I can;t wait to hear how things go when they return to the gem of the South Pacific next year! Vinaka Jisu!
That's all for now! I will update you on the next team as soon as I can within the next 24 hours! Vinaka, and praise the Lord for He is good!
- Ositini
(The not-so-fun fact about this photo: The spider would be about 4.5 inches across with it's legs stretched out... The fun fact about this photo: I suppose I didn't realized my face was visible to the camera... That expression is then, needless to say, entirely genuine. Enjoy.)
After a short hike through the thick, steamy jungle, we realized we'd lost the trail a few K's ago.We backtracked before Moses--in an attempt to find the shortcut to the real trail--led us up a very steep embankment using vines to pull each other up. After finally getting almost 18 people up the steep hill, we realized Mosese had gone ahead without us. Realizing Mosese was now down in the valley (after calling after him), we walked down and found ourselves right back to where we were lost in the first place! Some were getting frustrated as we were not aware of the rigorous, sometimes treacherous trail and there were small children with us. However, after some prayer, the Lord led Mosese to the right trail (MIRACULOUS we you consider the jungle conditions at the time!) and we continued on our way after being lost for over an hour! After crawling over and under elephantine tree roots and countless terrifying spider webs, we made our way towards the source of the sound of falling water. Upon approach the jungle became more and more wet. The humidity, mosquitos, and dangerously slippery rock made the trail quite challenging at times. At one point--noticing the 6 foot rocky drop off to my right and the steep hill to my left with only a slipper rock passage between them--I looked back to Derek (who easy carrying his 4 year old girl in his arms) to warm him of the upcoming danger, just in time for my Chaco sandal to slide off the side towards the ravine. Luckily, or rather not so unluckily, my left leg caught my fall on a start rock holding me onto the trail. Though leaving a nice, deep bruise and scrape on my thigh leaving me limping for the next week.
Eventually...Though tired, a bit rushed, and ecstatic...We reached the waterfall! Falling over 80 meters (about 260ft!) in two tiers, the Savuione (sah-vee-oo-nee) Falls is by far one of the most beautiful waterfalls I've ever experienced. The sight was entirely breathtaking. Without hesitation, Mosese--equipped with his tough, shoe-like feet effortlessly scaled the sharp, volcanic wall to refill his water bottle under the glorious falls.
Arriving back to our transportation (the "Jurassic Park" trucks) we loaded up and made it back in time for a late lunch at the base. With some intense scrubbing, packing, and final farewells... The team was off. The two weeks with Santa Fe and Bakersfield had flown past so very fast! I couldn't believe it! The Lord totally blessed every part of their visit. And I can;t wait to hear how things go when they return to the gem of the South Pacific next year! Vinaka Jisu!
That's all for now! I will update you on the next team as soon as I can within the next 24 hours! Vinaka, and praise the Lord for He is good!
- Ositini
