Drug Awareness Week -- MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Drug Awareness Week (June 20 - 24) started off with the children doing their special touch-ups, beautifying the school grounds.

A school assembly Monday morning in the soon-to-be-scorching sun began the week's activities...

Madam Maria and Master Sairusi displayed the "Positive Discipline" banner, while a few of the children read the words.

Bhula Bhai and Sons Supermarket, with Arjun's support, allowed the "Drugs 'N' Slugs" banner to be posted at their storefront...

Akosita (from Navakacoa) helped me photograph this banner (also posted at Bhula Bhai's) as she kept the flapping material still for a moment...

This plywood poster (Waste of LIFE) was supposed to be prominently posted at roadside, but the powers-that-be (politicks?) decided to keep it closer to home. Much energy and effort was WASTED, for not very many people saw this anti-drug/drink message. But if even one child was influenced for his/her good from this campaign, then it was well worth it!

Policeman Rusiate Ryland gave a lengthy and powerful message to the gathered children. His talk fit the theme of anti-drugs and save-the-children.

Children are a gift from the LORD; they are a reward from Him. (Psalm 127:3)

Naselesele Village Primary School -- model school for all of Fiji... best-looking school! But i pray that this school will yet be the best-thinking school.

FISH Stories -- JUST Caught!

Our shower is a "jack-of-all-trades" bathroom -- it houses our just-caught fish, too!

Goldie "guarding" our just-caught fish from marauding dogs...

Miri with her trophy fish... just caught!

Jo and Kani "catching" just-caught fish...

Pelasio, Leone and Miri at low tide... chasing after the soon to be "just-caught" fish...

Kani, proud to show off his prize -- a just-caught fish!

GOD's bountiful provision... much fresh fish -- just caught last night...

Ana gutting just-caught fish... Goldie standing guard over this bounty.

A just-caught fish eye-ing fellow just-caught fish!

Leone, with a BIG just-caught fish -- mmm fried!

JESUS fed a multitude of 5,000 (plus women and children) with 2 small fish. (John 6:9-10) He provides for our needs when we first seek the Kingdom of GOD.

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...

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...