Typical Fijian farmhouse -- bure -- made with corrugated iron and timber from nearby hardwood trees found around the farm. During sunny days, the middle four "windows" are propped up with strong branches and i get a 360-degree view of my garden -- my flowers, vegetables and fruit trees; the surrounding farm -- dalo (taro) and kava plants; the ever changing skies; colorful parrots, various doves, diving swifts, loud mynas and wild chickens flying around...yes, chickens do fly!
i painted leaves typically found around the farm -- except kava leaves...hmm... 
Temporary clothesline for river-washed laundry...which took some time to dry because of the chilly weather, accompanied with fog...not unusual in the mountainous bush.
Visiting family from Naselesele Village, enjoying solitude and bush life for a week. The four kids had a ball -- playing in the river, romping around in the woods, helping me pull weeds! (The tin drum at the right is for catching rain water -- for washing dishes, muddy hands and feet, and gumboots.)
Path to the freshwater pool...from the bure to the pool takes around five minutes...more, if muddied by heavy rains.
Way to the fresh-water pool, past a neighbor's kava farm, inundated with Impatience flowers.
Fresh-water pool used for drinking water, bathing and washing clothes, even as a source for tasty prawns.
And even for snorkeling fun for neighbor's kids!
i like to drink my coffee and read my Bible surrounded by these Impatience flowers. 
This is where i sit to watch the sun come up, shining through the trees, hearing birds chirping, roosters crowing -- offering prayers, reading my Bible, journaling in my Oswald Chambers' My Utmost for His Highest book. (The Snoopy kite is from The ShoppE at Rose's.)
Trees are "ringed" at the base to kill them, for some provide too much shade for the dalo to grow well. The ringed trees eventually die and dry up...that's when farmers have to watch out for falling trees during stormy weathers. The sound of falling timber is loud in the bush.
Planks cut from one of the giant trees which abound around the farm, used for flooring for the porch.
The grass was planted piece by piece and took less than two months to become lawn. Do you know that saying, Somebody's junk is somebody else's treasure. Well, here's my saying akin to that...What may be obnoxious weed at the farm is beautiful green lawn for my garden.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
He leads me beside quiet waters,
He restores my soul.
He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake.
Even though i walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death,
i will fear no evil, for You are with me.
(Psalm 23:1-4)
Awesome & breath takink indeed. Love it and makes me feel homesick.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for such an inspirational journey.
Take care
Vina'a
Thanks for sharing these pics. Your little house looks lovely surrounded by the impatience flowers.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ona :)
ReplyDeletei like all the colors of green that surround me, but someday, i'd like to have a bure overlooking the reefs so that i may have unobstructed views of GOD's sunrises and sunsets. Some of the trees in the bush are like natural skyscrapers.
(The photos above are photos of the photos! i don't have a scanner, so i just took pictures of the pictures...)
Bula, luveiViti :)
ReplyDeleteVina'a va'a levu na nomu vosa. i hope you'll get to visit your homeland again soon. Even i, too, get homesick when i see island pictures.
Hello!
ReplyDeleteYou quote in the right menu “He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.”
So what are the paths of righteousness?
The definition of righteousness according to the first-century teacher Ribi Yehoshua (ha-Mashiakh; the Messiah) from Nazareth, is the same definition found in Torah; and that is to follow the instructions of the Creator found in Torah.
It is written in Torah, Devarim 13:1-6, that it is forbidden to add or remove mitzwot (commandments) from Torah. For example one mitzwah is that one shouldn’t eat pork.
It is written in Malakhi 3:6 that the Creator does not change. You can find Ribi Yehoshuas teachings here: Netzarim
All the best, Anders Branderud
When i pray the 23rd Psalm of David, i understand the "paths of righteousness" as following the sinless path of CHRIST JESUS, my Lord and Savior, my Good Shepherd. Although i will not be sinless like my Redeemer for i still am encased in this flesh, i can follow His pattern, the example He exemplified for His followers. For a clear example of righteousness, the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5-7, is a good start. The Ten Commandments as given to Moses is of course the standard from GOD Himself.
ReplyDeleteHello, Anders :) i've just visited Netzarim as you suggested and i found it very interesting. Tell me if i'm wrong, but the focus is on the teachings of the Torah. Followers of CHRIST focus on the Person of JESUS, Who He is, first and foremost. To follow the teachings of GOD as written in the Torah is indeed a high calling, but who in all the earth can ever do it all perfectly on a daily basis? Even observers of the Torah had to sacrifice goats and bulls to atone for their sins -- those times they couldn't perfectly do what GOD commanded. In Isaiah 64:6, it is written: "But we are all like an unclean [thing], And all our righteousnesses [are] like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away."
ReplyDeleteGOD knew we could NEVER perfectly follow His instructions -- we are fallable human beings. So He in His ominiscience and loving wisdom provided the ultimate Atonement -- the Person of JESUS. Rules and regulations and laws and instructions and teachings -- we can never perfectly follow. And thus we can never be perfect in GOD's eyes. Only through the Person of CHRIST...only His own shed blood, can atone for our sins.
It was cited in Netzarim that JESUS said in Matthew 5:17-19, "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches [them], he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven."
CHRISTians agree to this...but again, note that JESUS said He came to fulfill the law.
JESUS came and fulfilled the Law. The Torah, the Prophets and the Law, all pointed towards GOD's promised Messiah -- if you would also study all the prophecies from the Jewish Holy Books -- you would see the JESUS indeed fulfilled their prophecies.
The The Book of the Revelation of JESUS CHRIST, written by the apostle John (not by Paul), what does Netzarim say about these teachings?