A Long Weekend Full of Surprises

QUESTION: What do blackouts, fish, candles, card games, coconuts, strategy meetings, a national holiday, missing New Zealand, a tea kettle, chocolate, and Richard Betts landing in Fiji equal?
ANSWER: Our long, relaxing, chilled out weekend.

After a long day of listening to teaching on leadership and fundraising, Thursday night we had our first “community dinner”…and found out that Monday was FIJI DAY, a national holiday. In Fiji, national holidays are kind of like Thanksgiving in the USA. All the stores and restaurants close down and there are military parades. Apparently there used to be fireworks too…but the government stopped putting it on a few years ago. So we had a longer weekend than we anticipated.

The weekend started with a power black out, leaving us in the dark with our three little candles. Saturday was filled with preparing for Richards arrival, lots of pre-cooking and walking back and forth to the store. Sunday our friend, and the speaker for the week, Richard landed. He brought with him our kettle (so we can make coffee and tea without a lot of work) from New Zealand, gigantic chocolate bars, several card games, and a wealth of knowledge about living in the islands. It is really good to have him with us. Here is a picture to help you put name to face!

Monday was spent getting caught up on life in New Zealand with Richard, playing cards, and eating coconut fish and chocolate. I have to be honest and say that both Josh and I are missing New Zealand and are looking forward to Christmas! To be back in our own home (not that we know where that is right now), to be with friends, and to be able to exercising in the beauty that is New Zealand just sounds wonderful. We know we are supposed to be here for this season though…and we like being effective training up these 7 guys. Anyway, enough rambling….it is morning tea time…and Fijians make the best tea!