LEAVING ON A JET PLANE....

Um dont know why the picture is sideways.... that my new pulitasi. The bottom is our last fundraiser that we did this weekend. Some sort of banana and starch mixture and then a sauce over it (coconut and brown sugar). Hmmmm

IM SO EXCITED ABOUT LEAVING FOR AUSTRALIA TOMORROW! We talked last night about what type of ministry we want to do like street evangelism, helping in shelters etc... I guess the Brisbane base is divided into two - and we will stay in the older section which is cabins. Im concerned about Akuila and Solepoi, being away from the island heat. And they dont have a sleeping bag... its going to be really cold at night. We got some good info from a builder that was here this last week, BRian, about what the base is like and more info on the Aborigenes. I know that our leader, Sai had a heart for the Aborigenes but its expensive to travel to them and Sai said that they may divide the team into two, leaving me behind because im white. Isn't that the same thing they are preaching against? division cause of skin color? I hope he was joking. Its funny cause I hadn't really experienced racism until I came here, even 'good racism' because im a 'palagi'. There are so many things that I will miss here and saying goodbye to the base staff has not been easy. Packing too - im trying to leave with half the bags I came with! I might have to buy some warmer clothes when I get there.
So money continues to be an issue and it seems the base has misplaced 2000 tala that I paid for outreach ( our team really needs it because after paying tickets we have no money for ground fees) so Ill have one more meeting tonite about that. Also the way this team is run is very much island style so God will have to continue to give me patience (i like to put out the fire before they start).... Im excited to see God's faithfulness in bringing our team closer together and providing us with ministry opportunities that we dont expect.
Please pray for our transitioning planes in Sydney, we only have 90 mins to check out of international, take a shuttle, and check back into domestic. Also please pray for Poi as he's never left the island of Samoa and might need some extra care. Also for Sai and Sova, leading the team. For finances, and that we would continue to seek God first in all our plans and steps.
Also please keep praying for our local team in Savai, they are young in age and I think some are feeling homesick or wanting to play when its time for work :)
Hopefully the next blog will bring fabulous news from Aussie land!

Happy bday to me

This is the place we went for my birthday, a shot taken last time I was there: its the ocean and then a fresh water pool with a cave. Its awesome cause naturally there is a blue light that makes the water, and the fish look incredible. Wish I could take a picture inside but didn't want to get my camera wet :) Also people jump off the cliff into the water (um like Akuila and Solepoi, not myself!)

Solepoi, Lavenia, Akuila and myself after swimming in the cave

Liti, La , myself and Solepoi being silly

Yesterday was my birthday! Despite a few ups and downs and the fact that I had to pay for everyone's bus fare, it was excellent. In the morning they sang happy birthday at breakfast, then we all came into town and bought our tickets to Australia! So we will be flying out together next Tuesday and returning on Sept 5- Praise god that decent prices opened up!! Everyone has their airfare except for La so we will do a bit more fundraising for her before we leave. After that we took the bus to Buela Beach , the beach with the awesome cave, and spent the afternoon there. I was thankful that everyone was together and that I got to enjoy Samoa while there. Here are a few pictures from yesterday! Praise God we are going to Australia!!!

Tuesday Update- Go Team!

Picture: Me, Lavenia, Sova, Solopoi, Akuila, Sai, Liti and Jenn

I preached my first sermon on sunday - way to start our outreach, even though its here is Samoa! In the morning Akuila preached (he did a really good job -focused on not worrying about tomorrow as god would provide as long as we seek first the kingdom). I also shared a brief testimony and Liti also and we danced two dances. It was a small church, most of the ones we go to are about fifty-one hundred people. The children there were awesome and they sang and danced their little hearts out during our worship time, they weren't afraid to pray outloud either. In the evening I got to preach! Akuila and Solopoi gave their testimonies and we did four dances. When we first got there they asked myself and Tom, our translator, to go meet with the elders. It was very traditional samoa and I was a bit nervous but they were all nice and just greeted me and prayed in samoan. I was thankful they allowed a lady to preach. It was only about twenty minutes, having translation took up a lot of my time. Awesome! The feedback I got was really good except i talk too fast! Too funny. Thats something I can work on. Praise God that He is finally allowing us to get out there and challenge ourselves.

Yesterday I spent most of the day on the bus, taking Jenn to the wharf because she will be joining the Savaii local team, and then to the airport with Liti to pick up a package and then a few places in town. I love being out of the base and experiencing Samoa and its beautiful scenery. The airport is at least forty minutes away by bus and the road runs around the coast so I got to see lots of water. Yesterday the bus was packed (always) so two little students had to sit on my lap. Only about four years old and six years old . They were sooo sleepy that they kept nodding off to sleep. I cant imagine allowing my four year old to go on the bus alone.

Embassy update: they finally released our passports with visas today after I had already gone to talk about a back up plan- either Fiji or American Samoa. Praise God we should be purchasing tickets tomorrow!

They celebrated all the july bdays last night by getting cakes and singing happy bday (andy, myself, panina and mercy). That was nice. Im still praying we get to do something nice likea picnic just the dts, or the beach. Sova and Sai pulled me over during their meeting and said they were trying to get us released. If not, i might have to run away for the day. Akuila keeps reminding me only one more month until my freedom is back but dang it, i want a memorable birthday!

New outfits

Here is a picture of a few of us in our new outfits: the women in our 'pulitasi' and the men in their shirts. Lavenia (staff from Fiji), Vinepa (Student from Samoa), Solopoi (Student from Samoa), ME, Jenn (student from Washington). And one of our boys fale's in the background.

Need a breakthrough

Couple pics- Jenn , Leo from Brazil and myself in the GIRLS FALE!!!! Way to set a good example Leo! Also Jenn and I at the beach. Some updates: still going to be at least another week if not more before we fly out. Another delay with visas and a dissapointment with finances. Beginning to ask why.... are we SURE we are supposed to be in Australia? Just waiting on God and trusting that He will give us patience and show us the way! In the meantime we do two presentations at church this weekend, the first time as our outreach team so its half the students. The other students will be presenting in Savaii. Akuila will preach in the morning and we all need to prepare to testify. I dont know if I like public speaking... I think im good at it but that doesnt mean I like it! We have a new team on the base, from Canada with lots of kids. Its great having kids around again unless its three in the morning and one is crying (remember we live in OPEN fales). Hopefully more positive updates the beginning of next week. I was given the option of going to Australia alone but decided that I prefer to wait for the team and minister here with the team while we wait to go.... Not what I expected but God reminded me I have a lifetime of serving and traveling. Amene!!

OUTREACH update

Hmmm so now we are into week four of outreach.... and no tickets yet :) We have been delayed a couple times by the embassy on behalf of the Fiji passports but it looks like we are now in the clear and just waiting for them to call us... Then we can buy our tickets for next week. The local team, the ones without enough money to go to Australia, are leaving for the island of Savai on Friday and will be there for one month. The main thing will be a building project but really Im a bit jealous because I did want to see more of that island. They have beautiful waterfalls and you can swim with sea turtles. I guess God is teaching me some major lessons in Patience. I was reading in Ecclesiastes the part that talks about a season for everything and I realize this must be my season for silence and waiting. This week DTS is supposed to be off kitchen duty but we end up being in there still , Im wondering if they dont have enough base staff available to help. The Kona team has been focusing on SPG (south pacific game) outreaches and three of them with major soccer background has been able to practice with the Samoan team.
You know, Im focusing on appreciating my last moments here in Samoa. Ive spent over three months sleeping and eating in the open air (since our fales are open). Ive lost weight (ha Im counting that a blessing and not a concern). Ive made some fun and good relationships inside and outside the base. Ive learned a little bit of Samoan, and been able to appreciate the BEAUTIFUL countryside and ocean. Many things to be thankful for. And hopefully some of these relationships can continue by email when I leave. It makes me excited about exploring new places too!
They have some building projects coming up including two new bathroom buildings and two new fales for guests. On the down side one of the efforts included adding a light to the bathroom we have now which is right behind the girls fale. So when I lay down for bed around ten oclock its like the glory of God flowing through our open fale with the bright light. We've been hanging our lavalavas up just to keep it dimmer (um, I made the suggestion that they place the light on the girls fale FACING the bathroom instead but nothing has been changed yet). I did my clothes by hand again yesterday and wondered if it would be one of the last times. I forget completly what a hotshower is like, and what a tomato tastes like. I think honestly I might go through some culture shock getting to Australia and the 'real' life again. Maybe on the good side I wont spend time on some the things like TV or be more careful with my money now that Ive gone through living like this.
One food ill miss: Saka (spelling?) Basically bananas cooked in coconut cream. Hmmmm
Its lunch time and Im hungry :)
THANK YOU GOD FOR YOUR FAITHFULNESS TO ME!!

Outreach

so we are i think officially in the third week of outreach.... our fiafia night went off well with some money raised (close to 900 talas). We performed really well and the audience was very supportive.
on another note this has been a discouraging day because a decision was made by the new mentor on base that DTS students should be serving in the kitchen this week for the base, so no outreach prep, no evangelism and no fundraising. Make sense to anyone? Me neither. i already voiced my heart, which is to be reaching the people of samoa and serving the churches before leaving for australia but i have to obey my leaders. i asked malakai for half a day to get away because i feel like leaving for a ministry that will have me being active. there will always be hard times but i want to feel that after a long day of serving, not feeling as though i have to fight to reach out and connect. I believe its part of the transition of leadership but it truly makes my heart sad. please pray for me this week and for the leaders.
we have a dts team from kona hawaii here and its been great getting another view and meeting new people! about 23 people in that group including one family, one marriedcouple with baby. Good variety. check out the newer pictures on my photobucket site!
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me right? Maybe this is to make me appreciate the freedom I have everyday to speak the gospel.

CHECK out my link to " SAMOA PICTURES" and scroll down to 'SUB ALBUMS'

Sneaky

Im sneaking a moment in to update you guys- we are on outreach phase so technically Im not supposed to have any free time to email/internet BUT I spent a long day in town yesterday and back this morning to work on turning in our visas for Australia so I decided I needed half an hour! The American applications are no problem but our little Fijians are a bit more complicated. Our trip continues to be postponed and if all goes well with the visas the first team should leave July 19th. I say first team because our finances have not come in as we need so right now I am the only one with the full amount for my plane ticket. We have one more fundraiser this weekend that should put three more people in so four of us will go to the YWAM base in Brisbone with hopefully a few more getting tickets as the money comes in this summer. Again, if you feel in your heart to give financially please email or call. Ive jumped in and somewhat 'taken' over the push to get everything done and in simply because Im anxious to get out there!
Its continued to be a difficult transition of leadership and while our new 'family' (Epi and Andy) bring a lot of strengths and changes it also has become somewhat chaotic and at times confusing. Please be praying that leadership focuses on the spiritual and heart of God and that the devil would not use our words against us or to discourage us.
This past Sunday our team performed at two churches, one in the morning and one in the evening. That was a challenge for us but it was a bigger blessing. Both churches welcomed us with open arms and we performed well, I gave my testimony Sunday morning and God blessed it as it encouraged the church to continue to walk in the Freedom found in knowing God. In the evening we had the whole service so we performed four or five songs, had two testimonies and Malakai also preached. Then they fed us- PRAISE GOD!! We always like partaking in the Samoan food. Im still learning the ins and outs of protocol on what not to do (it can sometimes be formal) but fortunatly everyone has been gracious with my mistakes ! The evening church was over an hour away but what a FANTASTIC view, from the ocean to the mountains. It was beautiful and I felt so blessed to share it with the other students. We did sing alongs and had a great time during the ride, with quite a few 'prayer' moments over our noisy van that apparently doesnt like hills with 12 passengers.
We are doing one last 'fiafia' night on Saturday to raise some more funds so we will be doing five numbers, one skit. Also a team that is here (Kings Kids) will perform also. It should be a fun night.
Personally I have been feeling run down and a bit sick but it doesnt seem the time to be able to rest yet. Please also pray for Malakai as he has been ill for a while also. We've been discussing possibly returning to the beautiful island of Savaii as a team next week, only instead of it being my little break it will be to perform, do community outreach and encourage the local churches and schools. Please pray that this can happen as our team would thrive on such an opportunity.
I am finally sick of cocoa rice! Ha- i loved it when I first got here but after having it for breakfast numerous times Im finally giving it a break! I hope to have more encouraging updates, but dont know when Ill get to the computer!!
The South Pacific Games continue to approach so lots of construction and getting ready for that!