Lovely Smells

I consider myself fortunate to live next to an Indian family who’s cooking smells waft over the fence. They are always varied and the few times I have been given some it is absolutely delicious.

Feeding people here, like in most cultures is a way of saying welcome or thank you.

Recently I spent time with a friend who heads a cleft palate NGO for Fiji. Rob and I have been on the board of this NGO for the time it has been working here which is 8 years. Over that time my involvement has been varied. Sometimes nothing and other times, like recently, very involved in local community connections.

Always I am impacted by the sheer tenacity of the parents of these children. Unlike in the western world they don’t get great healthcare and support handed to them on a platter. Instead the parents have to dig deep financially, emotionally and physically to ensure their child gets help. It often means hours on a bus to see visiting specialists, fearful operations (because the explanation of procedures is not always great) and expenses they can ill afford.

One such child was ‘discovered’ by visiting mission team members approx 7 years ago as they walked down town Ba (Fiji’s 3rd largest city ½ and hour from here). A sharp eyed person saw a little girl walking with her mum and could see she had had a cleft lip repair. The person stopped the mum and little girl to chat about her operation. The girl was approx 8 at the time and while she had a lip repair she still had a cleft palate that had gone untreated.

A lovely end to the story is, through this NGO she got her palate repaired, however for her this isn’t enough. She needs further surgery. Her upper jaw is recessed and makes speech and everyday life for a teenager hard (yes she is getting older). We visited her and her family in their very humble home. A home that had been tossed aside by cyclone Winston in Feb 2016 and is still in the process of being rebuilt. Five live in the house and only one income earner (remembering the average wage is $2.50 -$3.50 per hour). A simple trip to Lautoka has to be carefully planned and meals must stretch as much as possible.

We dropped into visit and their welcome was warm. Plenty of laughter and banter because we have now known this little gem for 7 years.

My friend looked into her mouth and saw a huge challenge.

In a harsh world one would wash their hands and say we have done what we can and she must be thankful for the repairs that have been done.

However we are great believers in people coming into our lives for a reason. Instead of walking away, plans were made and hope was given. It’s going to cost some serious money and none of us have it but we do have the ability to network, to share stories, to share someones burden in the hope that someone 'out there' will sit up and say “I can help”.

As we were about to leave we were stopped. You can’t go yet, we have made you food. The last thing we wanted was to eat the little food they had. However no was not even allowed to be considered. So we sat at the table of this humble cyclone bashed home and ate one of the best curries ever. A very happy family watched on, constantly insisting we fill our plates with more.

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For those of you who have been following the journey of my little Angel, Rimsha. She has had the first of 3 operations and the doctors in India released her to return home until August next year.

She is an amazing little girl who has responded so well to her operations to date and amazed us all at her speed of recovery.

I enjoyed walking the journey closely with her mum and dad while in India as they kept almost daily contact via FB messenger. We set up a FB page and through it the support both emotional and financial was and still is awesome.

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Pack for a Purpose has seen many people blessed with good quality clothing. Sometimes I put out a specific request for certain types or size of clothing. My newspaper seller has a 15 year old daughter who now sports some teenage clothes, and many ladies are enjoying some decent bras. I return to Gisborne NZ next month until 2nd of Jan if anyone has quality clothes to share please email me I wold love to ear from you.

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Listen with your heart...

Yesterday I jumped in a taxi with Ted. It was an old clanger and I needed all the muscle I could muster just to shut the door. This driver was one of the first guys who had picked Ted and I up when we first arrived. He had a gravelly voice and was a bit scary. He fell in love with Ted and wanted me to bring him one back next time I went home. I would pass him most days en-route to town and I would always greet him and he me. He still looked scary!

I very rarely take taxis and the drivers outside our local supermarket know this and we always have a bit of a banter as Ted and I walk past.

Yesterday it was hot, my feet were blistering and I had a heavy bag of groceries. I went up to the taxi stand and my old mate and his clanger were the first in line.

Hello was the gravelly greeting. Hey boss can you take us home. No problem. I jumped in the front seat with Ted on the floor and in my hands I had a $5 and a $10. I don't know why but I had a strong feeling I was to tip him. $5 is a lot for a $3 ride and I really don't know why I had $10 in my other hand.

We got chatting and in his broken english we talked about nothing much. I ask him how he had been as I hadn't seen him at the stand for a while. Oh my goodness I have been very sick and in hospital for 3 months. Something rong with my heart. Yesterday was my first day back at work.

When he dropped us off I gave him the $10 and told him to put it towards his Christmas fund. He looked at me in shock and said "really". Yep my friend really. I left him shaking his head with tears in his eyes.

How often do we find ourselves complaining about such insignificant things when so many in this world are forced to make do with such little.

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StartFragmentIt's great when NGO's support each other! We recently enjoyed hosting Scott from Kite 4 Water as he went out into the rural communities (Fiji) and gifting Sawyer Water Filters. Being able to network together and share visions is always incredibly benefitial. Sawyer water filters are one of the most effcient and user friendly water filters in the world. Scotts NGO also works in Nepal with Sawyer filters. If your a Kite Boarder or love the concept and keen to know more about how you can help check out their web page here http://kite4water.org/EndFragment

Coming here as a "Trailing Spouse" can mean a few things. You can not work so you either become really good at golf and drinking coffee or you decide to make the most of your time here and help in anyway you can. I have met one such woman who has fast become a good friend. Terri is a speech therapist and is making a huge difference in Fiji's speech therapy world. Recently I was able to see her in action when we bought one of our left palate friends to see her. Vinaka Terri for your caring and giving heart.

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As the year draws to a close I am amazed at many blessing I have experienced here in Fiji. The friendships made and projects achieved. Always it is through being open to hearing that still small voice, being prepared to break the ice and start up conversations. My mate Ted has been a big part of this and even today as we cross the road I heard someone yell out "hi Ted!".

I look froward to next year -

Already I have plans a foot to head to Vanuatu and investigate making soap in communities. My dear friend Aima who's home is deteriorating badly needs someone to take on rebuilding her house. Anyone up for a project??

Thank you to everyone who supports us, we couldn't do the work we do without the back up, the belief and trust in what we are doing.

If you want to get involved in anyway or would like me to help you organise a project of your own. Email me - lisa@lhr.co.nz

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Let us not forget as we celebrate Christmas that "Wise me still seek Jesus"

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