Sunday, May 15, 2011

NASELESELE Village FUNERAL

The grass withers, the flower fades, because the breath of the LORD blows upon it; surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our GOD stands forever. (Isaiah 40:7-8)


Ratu Isoa's mom (Difilo), Maria and Isoa's niece (Bethany)... making decorative garlands for his grave.


Sili and Sera... in charge of the gunu ti sandwiches.


The toni-toni ladies (elder women waiting for Ratu Isoa's body from the hospital mortuary)...


Vika, Ana, Ana (#2), and one of the Naselesele Village Primary School teachers...


Biu lending a helping hand with the massive cooking...



The three musketeers -- Kani, ? and Jo -- grating (or trying!) coconut for vakalolo waci.


The vuaka slaughtered, being readied for adobo...


The toni-toni women having their gunu ti break...



Ana and Yaita -- squeezing the milk from the just grated niu...


Wati, Biu and Serenia with the chicken, preparing it for curry...


Una, peeling a gazillion moli for kokoda (raw fish... ceviche)...


After guni ti, the women relax... waiting for Ratu Isoa...


The prayer altar... CHRIST JESUS worshiped as the Son of GOD.



Funeral service...


Mass finished...


On the way to the village cemetery...


Una and Luisa, with their flowers to decorate Ratu Isoa's grave...


Six feet down... ready to go...


Feremo covering the grave with traditional gatu...


Final touches, almost done...


Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths, and my age is as nothing before You; certainly every man at his best state is but vapor. (Psalm 39:5)


Decorative sulu...


Family members...


Final resting place... ?


There is no in-between waiting place... those In CHRIST are immediately brought to His bosom after crossing over to the other side... the other side that is Heaven. And this hope of going to the other side that is Heaven is the most important matter of life and death. (For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of GOD is eternal life in CHRIST JESUS our LORD. Romans 6:23)


Naselesele Village cemetery... very green... veryclose.


TJ, from New York (posing with Bua and Ana), just visiting on the day of the funeral... experiencing the real Fiji.


Time to feast! Lovo dalo, vakalolo fish and waci, chili beef, adobo pork, curry chicken, chop suey beef... Celebrating Ratu Isoa's passing with much food and good company...

Thursday, May 5, 2011

VILLAGE Life -- Where LIFE! Happens...

Nau Tuvi and Ana enjoying the new lino floor...



Pink papayas... my favorite po-po!



Leone with momo Vili's string beans harvest...




Lewa... "pet" vuaka, pregnant -- hoping for a whole dozen!



Salusalu -- made by Magdalena, from Wiwi...



Seru and little Jo -- learning to pick po-po like a maqe...




Momo Vili with Elena, Mersiana, Feresiko, Petero... all in the family!



BBQ'd fish from Vili's spearfishing jaunt at Wailegalala...



Biau sewing with this antique that just keeps on going!



Miri, Leone, Kani, Jo -- with just caught puffer fish...