GODventureZ -- LIFE! through Pictures: 2011

Sunday, December 4, 2011

GRADUATION Day at NASELESELE Primary

Graduation Day at Naselesele Village Primary School, December 1, 2011 -- Jotama and Jerome, with their caps and gowns, wearing happy smiles...glad that Kindergarten is finally over!

Rosalia Ranuve doing her thing as Master of Ceremonies...

Head teacher, Ben Underwood Rupeni, welcoming guests, parents and students...

Some of the "graduates" anxiously awaiting certificates...

Graduation ceremonies about to start -- students being patient through it all...

Guests of honor -- (2nd from left) Fiji's Commissioner of Police (Naselesele's very own) Iowane Naivalurua, turaga ni vanua Tu Mika, and All Nation pastor from Wiwi Village...

Big turn out for this memorable event...

The pastor offering up a fervent prayer for GOD's blessings...

A yaqona offering...

Commissioner Naivalurua with his freshly made salusalu...

Commissioner Naivalurua with a thoughtful moment...

Kindies performing the First Advent...

Seleima with her award...a most improved student indeed!

And what's a village gathering without a meke?

This young gal adding her precious presence...going on to Class One!

Mareta of Tovu Tovu, receiving Eric's graduation papers and prize...hmmm -- when asked, she admitted to his playing hooky from this important event...gone fishing!

Duravu, smiling charmingly after being given her certificate...on to Class One!

Our very own little Jotama...such a "grown up" in this little body!

Nana Kata and Filo...mother and daughter team -- par excellence!

Karen dancing up a storm...vibrant with her bright smile.

Joanna and Elena -- very madua with their meke...

Nana Ana and her daughter Makarita -- posing pretty with this policeman...

Our very own Miriama...receiving the gold certificate for a job well done!

Jima...just a little worn out!

Our very own Leone -- happy with his silver award certificate...

Little, little Lidia -- a precious gift of GOD in this little package!

Her mom and aunty were very proud of her!

Rosi -- our next-door neighbor -- receiving her Outstanding Student of the Year monetary award from the Naselesele KidZ Fund.

Graduation ceremonies ended with a rousing permance by the Fiji Police Band. It was a lively and entertaining way to commemorate this wonderful event!

P.S. i am again raising funds for the Naselesele Village school children in Taveuni, Fiji. Your charitable donation of any amount is deeply and heartfully appreciated! GOD bless your loving heart!

Monday, October 10, 2011

Por MAURICIO y VICKY -- Gracias Por COMPARTIR

This Mexican GODventureZ started from the Iris Trolley/Bus Station -- a brisk 40-minute walk from the house...WHEW says it all!

After Vicky and i crossed the border (by foot) -- we were picked up by her son Eliazar. At the corner was this typical canteen with hot tortillas para desayuno (breakfast).

And this perky little one -- Evelyn, Eliazar's daughter -- was my lively company in the back seat.

After getting tamales and caldo de res, we arrived at Vicky's house -- decorated with these flowers, pretty in pink...

Wall decor that caught my eye -- so Taveuni! After meeting the family (finally meeting my facebook friend, Mauricio), feasting on the delicious tamales and beef soup -- we set out for Parque Morelos. i asked Vicky, Are we walking there? DUH... it was some drive just getting there. (i was glad that i wasn't driving. It was quite unnerving how the locals maneuvered in and out and around without hitting each other!)

Asucena, taking a little nap before the fun ahead...

How gracious was GOD's providence -- the tires were a little flat...and we found this llantaria immediately -- just across the street where the car stopped.

Precious are all children, for they are gifts from GOD.

Papa Eliazar with his most precious cargo...

Cuando usted se siente abrumado, solamente grita al DIOS, nuestro Padre. When you feel overwhelmed, just cry out to GOD, our Father. Eche sus cuidado sobre El Señor y él le sostendrá; él nunca dejará a la caída honrada. Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall. (Psalm 55:22)

Mmm...junk food!

Parque Morelos has a small zoo within its grounds, and this is one of the residents...

And what's a zoo without lively monkeys?

These two weren't in the mood for portraits...

Fresh coconuts! But not as fresh as the ones from Naselesele...

Wild ride for the kidZ at heart...

For the artist, a chance to tap into his (or her) artistic talent...

Painting ceramic puercos...

Evelyn and Asucena...donde estan los patos?

Aqui! Here's a whole gaggle of them!

Evelyn's ultra fashionable sapatos...

Well -- here's my self-portrait...

Mi amigo nuevo -- Mauricio...que Dios le bendiga vigorosamente y sobrenaturalmente!

i have a thing about clothes lines... pretty soon i'll have a collection of photos for a separate blog entry!

WHEW...quite a trek up this treacherous little hill! This woman (a tamale vendor) gets a good workout for her quadriceps just going up and down and up and down (and up and down again) this dusty trail to her house.

Vicky's sister's precious ones...pequeñas muy preciosas!

Mother and oldest son -- Jose. It touched my heart to see them tenderly embrace each other. Their love and respect for one another was clear to see...

Honre a su padre y su madre, como El Señor su dios le ha mandado, de modo que usted pueda vivir mucho tiempo y que esto puede ir bien con usted en la tierra El Señor su dios le da.

Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your GOD has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the LORD your GOD is giving you. (Deuteronomy 5:16)

It was a full day indeedy! Vicky and i walked across again, went through immigration -- the line wasn't too monstrously long...not even a full hour total from beginning to end. The moon was gorgeous, shining brightly above McDonald's, American side -- in San Ysidro.

To finish our GODventureZ, Vicky and i took the world-famous San Diego Trolley to our final destinations. i also rode the #929 bus to the nearest stop -- just a long block from the house...just another 10-minute brisk walk in the cool of the night...just in time for a good night's sleep!

Nuestro Padre, gracias por este GODventureZ, por tocar mi corazón para Vicky y Mauricio. Por favor bendiga esta familia con el trabajo sobrenatural de Su Spirito Santo. AMEN.

GODventureZ -- Adventures with GOD

LIFE is an adventure! It's like a long (or short) corridor with many doors. Some doors are dark and ominous--while others beckon with light and warmth. Some doors seem ordinary with muted hues--while others glitter and catch the eye. Some are painted in exciting, vibrant colors--while others with Caution! Do NOT Enter! NO Trespassing! Some are transparent, while others are like mirrors reflecting your image.

Doors, doors, doors! Choices, choices, choices!

All kinds of doors--all designed to catch the imagination... all vying for attention... tempting us to look, stop, inspect closer and wonder--is this THE door that will open up to LIFE!--that abundant life everyone longs to live here on earth?

From birth to death are many doors to walk through. Which one(s) do we choose to open, that we may venture into LIFE!?

Through the choices we make, we can either venture in with GOD--walking with Him by our side, sheltered under His wing, surrendered to His wisdom...

Or we can venture in alone, GOD-less, foolishly thinking to go through each "Let's Make a Deal" door under our own finite intelligence, our own meager power.

We can choose GOD into our ventures, making them GODventureZ (LIFE!--abundant and blessed); or we can choose to go solo, without GOD, creating missed-ventures.

GODventureZ is about adventuring through life with GOD. Through these personal photographs, stories of LIFE! unfold...

my Prayer For You

i ask GOD to give you a complete understanding of what He wants to do in your life, and i ask Him to make you wise with spiritual wisdom. Then the way you live will always honor and please the LORD, and you will continually do good, kind things for others. All the while, you will learn to know GOD better and better. i also pray that you will be strengthened with His glorious power so that you will have all the patience and endurance you need. May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father, who has enabled you to share the inheritance that belongs to GOD's holy people, who live in the light.

(Colossians 1:9-12)

I AM The True Vine

I am the True Vine, and my Father is the Gardener. He cuts off every branch that doesn't produce fruit, and He prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. You have already been pruned for greater fruitfulness by the message I have given you. Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the Vine, and you cannot be fruitful apart from Me.

Yes, I Am the Vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in Me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing. Anyone who parts from Me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. But if you stay joined to Me and My words remain in you, you may ask any request you like, and it will be granted! My true disciples produce much fruit. This brings great glory to My Father.

I have loved you even as the Father has loved Me. Remain in My love. When you obey Me, you remain in My love, just as I obey my Father and remain in His love.

I have told you this so that you will be filled with My joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!

I command you to love each other in the same way that I love you.

And here is how to measure it--the greatest love is shown when people lay down their lives for their friends.

You are My friends if you obey Me. I no longer call you servants, because a master doesn't confide in his servants. Now you are My friends, since I have told you everything the Father told Me. You didn't choose Me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using My name. I command you to love each other.

The Sermon on the Mount

GOD blesses those who realize their need for Him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is given to them.

GOD blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

GOD blesses those who are gentle and lowly, for the whole earth will belong to them.

GOD blesses those who are hungry and thirsty for justice, for they will receive it in full.

GOD blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

GOD blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see GOD.

GOD blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of GOD.

GOD blesses those who are persecuted because they live for GOD, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

GOD blesses you when you are mocked and persecuted and lied about because you are My followers.

Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted, too.

You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it useful again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.

You are the light of the world -- like a city on a mountain, glowing in the night for all to see. Don't hide your light under a basket! Instead, put it on a stand and let it shine for all.

In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

Don't misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to fulfill them.

Psalm 33

Let the godly sing with joy to the LORD, for it is fitting to praise Him. Praise the LORD with melodies on the lyre; make music for Him on the ten-stringed harp. Sing new songs of praise to Him; play skillfully on the harp and sing with joy.

For the word of the LORD holds true, and everything He does is worthy of our trust. He loves whatever is just and good, and His unfailing love fills the earth.

The LORD merely spoke, and the heavens were created. He breathed the word, and all the stars were born. He gave the sea its boundaries and locked the oceans in vast reservoirs.

Let everyone in the world fear the LORD, and let everyone stand in awe of Him.

For when He spoke, the world began! It appeared at His command.

The LORD shatters the plans of the nations and thwarts all their schemes. But the LORD's plans stand firm forever; His intentions can never be shaken.

What joy for the nation whose GOD is the LORD, whose people He has chosen for his own.

The LORD looks down from heaven and sees the whole human race. From His throne He observes all who live on the earth. He made their hearts, so He understands everything they do.

The best-equipped army cannot save a king, nor is great strength enough to save a warrior. Don't count on your warhorse to give you victory-- for all its strength, it cannot save you.

But the LORD watches over those who fear Him, those who rely on His unfailing love. He rescues them from death and keeps them alive in times of famine.

We depend on the LORD alone to save us. Only He can help us, protecting us like a shield. In Him our hearts rejoice, for we are trusting in His holy name.

Let your unfailing love surround us, LORD, for our hope is in You alone.