Side trip to Fiji.....The way to get to Kiribati is by flying to Fiji then connecting to Kiribati. While we were in Kiribati we were asked to provide some training and assistance to the Fiji Service Center. So, we landed in Nadi, Fiji..spent the night and caught a domestic flight across the island to Suva where we were picked up by Sia, an employee of the Suva Fiji Service Center. The plan was to work Wednesday-Friday at the Service Center. After settling into the hotel I left Miriam to wander around the city alone while I went into the Service Center. We were working on better defining the HR role of the employees in the Service Center and strengthening their “service relationship” with the management of S&I. So Paul and Mele and Sia and I worked on understanding HR and our role to the customers. On Friday we met with the salary survey providers to help them better understand our organization in hopes of ensuring the salary data we use makes sense and relates to our organization. The first night in Suva we were able to have dinner with President Ostler and his wife. They are serving in Suva as the Mission President. President Ostler’s wife is Brad Jensen's (my brother in law’s )sister. We had a great visit with them and enjoyed hearing of their great experiences. Thursday afternoon we went on a tour of the new Service Center that is being built next to the temple. They are building a Service Center, Mission President’s home, patron housing & distribution center. Paul Whippy was responsible for the dedication arrangements of the temple. Right before the dedication, there was a big political coup in the country so the government was not allowing any large gatherings. Because of this the dedication was changed to 60 people only. Paul shared with us many faith promoting experiences about the purchasing, building, and dedicating of the Temple. We toured the school campuses and met many wonderful people.Thursday evening we were fortunate to do a session in the Fiji temple. It was wonderful as you can imagine. Friday night was a stake music festival and dance. The saints of Fiji love to dance and sing. Miriam and a Fijian with great rhythm were one of the first couples on the dance floor. (much to her dismay!) A good time was had by all.. I even danced.Saturday the flights were full so we HAD to stay in Fiji one more day. We woke up to torrential rain and it rained alllllll day long. However we were determined to have a fun day in Fiji. We found a place called ZIP FIJI. The same company that built the zip line in Park City has built a zip line experience through the rain forest of Fiji. They said it would even be more fun in the rain so we went for it. So, suspended about 50 feet off the ground we zipped over rivers, through the canopy of the rain forest. Our guides were young Fijian men that looked like they could be return missionaries…and they were! After doing a lap of zip lines they offered us another lap, and we couldn't refuse. The second lap was more fun than the first because you are more comfortable. Things like hanging upside down, etc. The rain was torrential. We were soaked to the bone but had a wonderful time. We had brought a change of clothes but forgot a towel. We still had a fire walking demonstration to see. We changed in the car and used the heater to dry out Miriam’s un-mentionable’s ! We were back in the bush so there were not too many people to avoid. Off to the tourist trap place to enjoy fire walking and Fijian dancing. The torrential rain made the fire walking not to impressive. That night we took Elder Ramisima out for dinner. He was a full time missionary in New Zealand and we got to know him very well. He taught many discussions in our home here. He had to take a bus and taxi to get to us in Fiji. The buses are packed with people and he described his experience of getting to us. He said the doors were broken so everyone had to exit out the back of the bus. So when one person wanted off everyone had to get out then get back in. Quite a chore! The next morning we headed for the airport, flew to Nadi on the other side of the island then off to New Zealand. Flying in to New Zealand is wonderful. It is so green and pretty. We made it safely home but loved the experience. Enjoy the pics on the Album.
2 comments:
So how much Kava have you been drinking??
Mir and Bob, You're my heros...I am so impressed with how daring you are and what great adventures you are having, not to mention your prize winning photos. By the way, Did you vote in our Presidential Election?
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