Pack for a purpose
- Lisa
- Oct 17, 2016
- 4 min read
I was recently checking out a webpage of a local eco resort here and I was taken with a catch phrase they used -'Pack with a purpose'
Basically they were saying regardless of where you travel in the South Pacific or for that matter any poorer nation, pack with a purpose. Put in clothes that you are happy to wear on holiday but equally happy to leave behind. Add a few pieces of stationary or simple things like panadol. You can leave the sweets behind coz no kid needs the sugar!
As people have visited us, often an extra bag comes along with them, my cousin in Auckland has a network of ladies sourcing clothes to send a bag with the next person heading to Fiji for a holiday and happy to help. Poor Rob did a fleeting visit to NZ recently and was given the task of bringing back a large bag of women's clothes with an equally large number of bras in it. His greatest fear was being stopped at Fiji customs and having to explain his choice of wardrobe!!
Today I heard a scraping sound outside. I didn't think much of it for a while but then it didn't stop so I looked outside. There was a council worker armed with a wheel barrow and spade and he was tasked with chipping all the grass that had grown through the tar seal. Now its no mean feat, this grass is well established and there is lots of it. I really felt for the guy as I had spent the morning in the garden yesterday and I found it tough but my garden is easy. I noticed he would stop and stretch up and catch his breath quite regularly. I couldn't help myself, I went to the cupboard got a bottle of gator-aid and some chocolate and went out to see him. 'Morning morning my friend, tough work your doing'. 'Yes mam it is.' I handed him the drink and choc, he was amazed and stunned. We shook hands and as I left him he said 'mam do you want me to return the bottle!?' He looked mid 60's lean and fit but even I could see the job was hard on him. But what choice did he have and no doubt he would be getting $2.50 an hour.
So think of him next time you complain about your 'well paid' job coz this guy and I shop at the same supermarkets and pay the same prices for food.
Ted continues to charm the locals. He is invited into all manner of shops and the other day I went to my fav coffee place and the girls all ignored my and went outside to see Ted!
Our news paper lady now smiles with delight when she see's him and she has been on the receiving end on one of my "pack with a purpose" bags.
Its hard to know when to help and when not to help. Recently we have had people at our gate asking for money to help a sick relative. We never know if they are legit or not but feel stink not giving anything. Our fear of course is give to one and then you become known as the soft touches and people will always be at our gate.
So we pray constantly for wisdom on who to help and when. Sometimes my way of doing it is buying fruit of the temporary pop up stalls where the fruit is often past it and the owners look quite desperate. I make their day by spending a dollar and my compost bin gets a feed.
Our little angel Rimsha is doing really well. She is so strong and heals well. Her next round of surgery starts in the very near future. Please keep the family in your hearts and prayers. This is such a huge journey for them all. I have been impressed by the strength and courage they are all showing. Being told they need to find more money has taken its toll but we are happy to say people from all walks of life have come forward and are giving to this worthy little angel. We have written to the Fiji ministry of health in the hope they too will help but we haven't had any response as yet.
Here is Pritika and Rimsha having a breathe of fresh air outside their hotel room. New Delhi is so busy, loud and dirty it is not an easy place to get out and relax so our family stays close to their hotel most days.
They are also very aware of the sacrifice people have made to get them to India that they do not feel it is their right to spend money on themselves in the way of sight seeing.
It is my hope they are finding time to relax because it is important for everyone to be able to have a change of scenery, especially when one is confined to four walls of a hotel or hospital room.
If you wish to help us help this family. Click on the donate link on our webpage and tag it Rimsha.
Thank you for listening to yet another tropical yarn. Chat again soon.
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