GODventureZ in TAVEUNI -- Day ONE

Thursday -- DAY ONE -- April 7, 2011 -- after leaving San Diego, Tuesday (7:20 pm of the 5th)... finally arriving in Taveuni, Thursday morning at 8 am! i've taken many videos and pictures since then, but because of internet connections being troublesome and vERRRyyy! slow, i'm only posting pictures for now. Hopefully, i'll be able to download the videos soon on Youtube so that all may see the REAL Fiji!

Here's nau (grandma) Tuvi's kitchen area, with her voivoi (leaves, dried, then cut and woven into large floor mats)... and rLn art in the background. Naselesele Primary School kindergarten class... doing their masu (prayers) before eating their brunch snack.Here's Leone, with his State-side soccer shoes from nei (aunty) merlin...Friday -- DAY TWO -- Nei merlin with Kani and funny-man Jo!Naselesele's au naturele laundry -- sunshine and fresh air free!Saturday night -- DAY 3 -- Captain Cook (cruise ship) meke -- Naselesele and Wiwi villages putting on a traditional Fijian dance program for the tourists... A couple of the talented performers... Ana and Kalera... Kata and ... Sunday -- DAY 4 -- Jo and Kani, in their sulus... ready for lotu (church). The little girl in one of Rose's ShoppE's (Ocean View Church) fashions... Little Maria...another in-fashion fashionable toddler, modeling one of Rose's ShoppE's very own... Seleima with her sister Maria...Ana, my sister-in-law... chef, fisherwoman, home-engineer, godly mother and wife, with four children in tow -- DEFINITELY the Proverbs 31 woman!Nau Tuvi -- posing for her i.d. picture... Nau Tuvi receiving her communion wafer from Akosita (in-house, as nau Tuvi is house-bound). Surprise feast -- Vili went diving last night near Walegalala and caught two lobster for me (moi!) and some awesome fish (which we shared with Kuku Vili). Ana, our resident chef, cooked (with husband Seru assisting) fried fish into curry vakalolo (with coconut milk); lobster with fresh squeezed coconut milk with chili, onions and tomatoes; fried with with onions, dolloped with ketchup, the family's favorite sause; and our neighbor Salote gave us waci vakalolo (dalo leavews with tuna cooked in coconut milk). Needless to say, i was very sinai (full!) after i've eaten my lobster and a little of everything else!

Fly swatters Leone and Jo... Yummm! Kana (eat) at last!

Mi La ULTIMA DIA En "LA MAQUILADORA"

Muchas gracias, companeros y companeras, por su amistad bueno! El tiempo que yo trabaje` contigo en nuestra compania es una experiencia especial que yo no olvido.

Gracias, "Yaya" -- por los tamales son deliciosos! Maia, mi hija bonita, con una sonrisa grande. Y Eric disfrute mucho porque le gusta la comida!

Mi amiga Victoria, una mujer seriosa y trabajadora buena... la vida es duro, pero confia en El Senor... nuestro Padre divino.

Mis companeros -- Jaime y Jose Luis... cada dia son amables.

Memo! Gracias por su ayuda con el compresor.

Tostadas de Victoria -- super! tan rico! Aqui mis amigas Mari, Eva, Lydia, Alicia, Mari, Vicky, Guadalupe (se lavado), Lupita, Maria, Elario, Lolita, Leti y Juanito.

Oy, Miss Lucy -- mi pareja de baile... hacemos cumbia durante pausa del almuerzo.

"Yaya"... pero me gusta mas su otro nombre -- "Lala" -- es una mujer siempre simpatica y muy inteligente porque tiene mente de negocio!

Mis companeros -- Savino, Paco, Jorge, y Alfredo.

Senoras Leti, Merlina y Alicia... con una pintura de rLn's Off-the-Wall Art.

Oni, la otra Filipina... su adobo con arroz es siempre especial -- tan delicioso!

Companeros y companeras -- gracias por su compartirse de la cultura de Mexico, las comidas buenas (y interesantes... nopales!) -- pero mas importante para mi, sus corazones amistosos y sinceros. Yo agredicida por este bendicion de Dios.

Por favor, toman a poco momento para leer los pasajes: Sea Parte de La Familia de Dios

Si no ha llegado al momento en su vida en que usted invite a JESUCRISTO a ser el Salvador y Senor de su vida, le invitamos a que considere lo siguiente:

Los 5 pasos del Camino Romano Para Salvacion. (Se llama asi porque todos los pasajes estan en el libro a los Romanos.)

1) Reconocer nuestra necisidad del perdon de Dios. ("Por cuanto todos pecaron, y estan destuidos da la gloria de Dios." Romanos 3:23)

2) Darnos cuenta que nuestro pecado tiene consequencias. ("Porque la paga del pecado es muerte, mas la dadiva de Dios es vida eterna en CRISTO JESUS Senor nuestro." Romanos 6:23)

3) Saber que Dios quiere que recivimos su amor. ("Mas Dios muestra su amor para con nosotros, en que siendo aun pecadores, CRISTO murio por nosotros." Romanos 5:8)

4) Creer en JESUCRISTO y entregarle nuestra vida. ("Que si confesares con tu boca que JESUS es El Senor, y creyeres en tu corazon que Dios le levanto` de los muertos, seras salvo. Porque con el corazon se cree para justicia, pero con la boca se confiesa para salvacion." Romanos 10:9-10)

5) Comprometerse a vivir para los propositos de Dios. ("Ahora, pues, ninguna condenacion hay para los que estan en CRISTO JESUS, los que no andan conforme a carne, sino conforme al Espiritu." Romanos 8:1)

La Oracion de Entrega y Compromiso

"Padre Santo -- Te doy gracias por mostrame el camino que lleva a Tu presencia. Reconozco que soy pecador y que Te he fallado muchas veces en la vida. Me doy quenta de que mi pecado me separa de Ti y merece el castigo eterno. Te doy gracias porque me amas, me arrepiento de mis pecados y Te pido perdon. Creo que JESUCRISTO murio por mis pecados, hoy Te entrego mi corazon y mi vida. Dame El Espirito Santo para vencer, me comprometo a vivir para Tus propositos. Te doy gracias por la nueva vida que me das el dia de hoy, en el nombre de JESUCRISTO."

Mi oracion por todo -- Vicky, Mauricio, Ariadna, Lala, Ana, Alesandra, Jesica, Flori, Thelma, Angel, Eva, Oscar, Alessandro, Bobby, JR, Lucas, Jose, Savino, Laura, Rita, Carmen y Jorge, Marta, Jaime, Angelica, Mari, Lydia, Jose Luis, Jose Luis, Jose Luis, Jose Cruz, Paco, Juan, Eric, Kedid, Oni, Jon, Wayne, Carmen, Lolita, Leti, Eva, Juanita, Zenaida, Felicitas (Licha), Teresita, Cristina, Rafa, Susan, Eric, Rich, Tiffany, Jaimee, Jonathan, Lucy, Alicia, Guadalupe, Esperanza, Marina, Marta, Concha, Maria, Juanito, Horacio, Ignacio, Alicia y Reynado, Urbano, Candido, Lupita, Floricita, Sergio, Memo, Jesus, Armida, Elario, Alfredo...(((Maia))) -- vaya con Dios!

TAVEUNI GODventureZ -- Back To ISLAND Life

First-ever rLn art in Fiji -- mural (acrylics) on corrugated-iron wall in a farmhouse at Narova hilltop, depicting a view of Qamea from my tree-house...

Sunflower seeds from the U.S. -- grown with eager anticipation at the Lagiloa bush-farm...

Net fishing off Naselesele Village waters with Ana, Vili and Vi...

View from Tramonto Restaurant deck -- Matei...

Fallen flowers from Beverly's Campground...

One of the many of rLn's art at Bibi's HideAway...

Wall mural at Vidawa Village tourist office -- first big work. Within the foliage are GOD words, which the school children always discovered immediately to the consternation of the many adults who couldn't find them...

Outside wall mural at Bob's, across Matei airport...

Outdoor toilet in Lagiloa -- bush country outhouse...

Literal sit-down view from the outdoor toilet in Lagiloa...

Little Jo, with fresh-cut string beans -- Lagiloa...

Lagiloa farmhouse porch -- Bible reading sanctuary, surrounded by impatience flowers...

Sable -- my cat and feline bodyguard...

Maria doing laundry duty at nearby Lagiloa river...

Sable's offspring...

"Jack-of-all-trades" river -- for washing clothes, bathing, drinking water, prawn hunting... even snorkeling!

Lagiloa at sunset, with giant ferns a la Jurassic Park...

Sable's other 3 babies...

Vili, during one of our exploring-Lagiloa treks...

Elenoa, braving the falling coconuts just above -- doing her chores at Bibi's HideAway...

Kristika and Lata -- dear friends, minus Parsu...

Blazing sunrise view of Viubani, from top of Narova...

Tila -- line fishing, with Sepo and Andrew...

Naselesele Village church -- Luisa swinging from the mango tree...

The photos above bring back experiences of island life in Taveuni. The life there is simpler, much slower, less tech -- so differently flavored from the life that i live in California. Soon, i will dive into that exotic tropical mix of traditional village/tourist town/bush country lifestyle. And at times, i feel like what Abraham might have felt about going without knowing the details of GOD's will.

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. (Hebrews 11:8)

By faith, i go, seeking to please Him... because GOD Himself promised in His Word --

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to GOD must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6)

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!

GODventureZ in GIVING Back -- VIDEOS

Today i saw first-hand a community of neighbors giving back to each other -- all in the true spirit of CHRISTmas. There was much planning in advance by the City of Chula Vista and City of San Diego; much work by the many volunteers who represented the San Diego Border Patrol, the Mexican and Brazilian communities and many other worthwhile organizations; many hours of rehearsals from all who performed and entertained (Ocean View Church Choir, children doing dance and karate demonstrations) -- and GOD blessed this celebration of giving back to the South Bay community with a most beautiful sunny day!

There's much more to say about the many pieces put together to create this wonderFUL jigsaw puzzle of merriment and camaraderie -- but the following videos will illustrate much better what i can merely describe with words.

GODventureZ at Lucky Waller Park started when i was witness to a helicopter landing in the middle of the same street i was driving -- big commotion -- Santa Claus was about to fly in... literally from the sky!

Santa Claus From The SKY!

Then i made my way to Lucky Waller Park, in hot pursuit of THE police car that had Santa!

Santa At LUCKY WALLER PARK -- with some members of the Ocean View Church Choir enjoying the fuss.

SNOW In SUNNY South Bay! -- Man-made "bbbrrrRRR!!!"

Ocean View Church JUMPS -- As a way of giving back to the South Bay Community, OVC provided safe and fun entertainment for the very young at heart -- all for free. The children's squeals of delight made merrier the merry in Merry CHRISTmas.

MEET the OCEAN VIEW CHURCH Choir -- whose many hours of dedicated practice produced a collection of GOD-honoring CHRISTmas songs. The many technicians and volunteers from OVC made this free entertainment a true gift from the heart.

Ocean View Church CHOIR -- celebrates CHRISTmas at Lucky Waller Park, with Daniel Semsen expertly wielding the baton.

The OVC KIDZ Choir-- energetic rendition of "Back to the Manger" -- led by a very energetic Christy Semsen and her two just-as-energetic assistants.

OVC CHRISTmas Repertoire -- presents "Tis the Season." The OVC Choir, led by Daniel Semsen, will perform all the songs in their CHRISTmas repertoire on Sunday, 6 pm, at Ocean View Church. The KidZ Choir, led by Christy Semsen, will also perform.

'Tis the season to remember what CHRISTmas is all about -- it's really all about almighty GOD Who is love, made manifest in the Person of CHRIST JESUS. He is the true Reason for the season -- every day.

In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that GOD has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved GOD, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

Beloved, if GOD so loved us, we also ought to love one another. (1 John 4:9-11)