Report 2 – Emmaus in Fiji (posted Thursday 24 July)
written by Claire Jago - your (other) roving Emmaus journo in Fiji!
Bula! from Fiji.
Here is an update on all the shenanigans this Aussie crew are getting up to while away from home … but before I tell you the juicy goss I think I should try to describe what Fiji life is like. I don't boast to be an expert in this having only been here four days, but I can start by assuring you that Fiji is far more than what you see on the postcards – and this has probably been the biggest, but best shock to me. The city most of us are staying in, Nadi, is a bit more like your ridgey didge outback Australian town – but with palm trees! You walk down the main street and everyone says “Bula” to you and most aren't trying to sell you anything, they just want to say hello! From the security guards/porters at our hotel to the casual passer by on the street, everyone wants to make you feel quite welcome in this country. And you do!
Despite how comfortable you can get in a place like this, there are obviously some distinct cultural differences. Take driving for example. On the narrow, windy and pothole-ridden roads of Fiji, one would think you would take extra care but apparently double lines mean nothing and there is a cheap thrill in playing ‘chicken' with the car coming towards you as you overtake the person in front of you. Taking the bus is an experience EVERYONE should encounter. The door doesn't close, in fact I'm not even sure if there is a door to close. There is no need for vanity either as most buses don't have closed windows, you get a free blow dry with your ticket. I don't think I can put into words how cool this experience was, you just have to be there and do it. Fijians also have a great wicked sense of humour! As I was riding this bus in to the main street of Nadi one day, a man sat next to me and started up a conversation (as these friendly people love to do!) and as he saw my hair blowing in every which direction across my face he kindly informed me that they had “great air-conditioning” on their buses. Fijians always end their jokes with a hearty laugh themselves. It's so great and refreshing to be amongst these people who seem to have so much hope and so much joy, and yet in terms of wealth and possessions they have very little at all.
Then you take a small trip in to Denarau which is only 10 minutes south west from Nadi on the coast. Denarau is an island accessible by a short bridge from the mainland. And as soon as you cross this bridge you feel like you are in a totally different place again. You may as well be at the Gold Coast, or Los Angeles – this is where the resorts are. This is where you will find your typical postcard setting. Everything is immaculate, everything is expensive. You also start to notice that there are, in fact, other white people in Fiji . This is the place if you are just after a relaxing holiday, oh yes, it really is an amazing area for that! But I can't help but feel the “real” Fiji experience is back across that bridge with the crazy drivers and hair-drying buses.
This brings me to how Emmaus is fitting in to the Fiji world. As soon as I stepped off the plane I was on my way to the first candlelighting in Fiji. And boy, did it crash and burn pure Fijian style! (in a good way) The complex logistics that go into an Emmaus walk become even more complex in a new setting with a new culture. A lot of Fijians had turned up to the ceremony just to see what it was all about – and most will be attending the Women's Walk this week. We turned the lights out, but with all the windows at the church it was clear that the pilgrims could see that there were a lot of people in the church waiting for them to arrive. And while things like these might grate against our sense of “what a candlelighting should be like” the Fijians seemed to love it! And you can't help but smile (and maybe giggle a little bit too). The first candlelighting in Fiji was a logistical nightmare, but a pure Holy Spirit success!
There had been some real anxiety amongst some team members and perhaps some of you at home about how the Fijian people would respond to the Emmaus Walk. The Closing Ceremony vanquished those fears. As every single pilgrim on the walk got up to respond to the famous two questions we were reduced to tears, laughter and grins from ear to ear that couldn't fade. They were incredibly thankful, even though it was not supposed to be the time to say thanks, nearly all the pilgrims mentioned how grateful they were. For some it was a great experience with some new things to think about, but for others there were some life changing revelations where God really stepped in and transformed them! One man was beginning his fourth day on his birthday and mentioned how this was a significant event for him. Another expressed how he had become physically and mentally drained as a minister and came to the Emmaus walk on the Thursday night unsure of whether he could continue his ministry or his marriage but that during his walk to Emmaus, God had changed his life, and gave him a new passion and joy and focus that he was determined to take back to his village and spread with his family and with his congregation. To see these typically reserved Fijian men get up and express their heart was a miracle and a truly moving experience. May we all continue to pray for their Fourth Days, and for this small Emmaus Community in Fiji .
On the Tuesday after the Men's Walk those team members who were still around all went on a day trip to one of the Fiji Islands . This was actually organised through one of the pilgrims on the Men's Walk as he works for Captain Cook Cruises. And as we began to sail away from the mainland we could see him sending the ship off with his new brightly colourful Emmaus cross hanging around his neck. He was still so grateful and enjoying his fourth days that he wore his cross to work! What a simple yet beautiful reminder of the way in which God reaches and touches our lives.
Now for a quick low down on that goss I mentioned before. Well it almost feels like an Acts community here at the Hexagon International Hotel. If you don't have dinner, someone will feed you. If you're missing something, someone will either give you theirs or go out and buy it for you. If you have a room to yourself and it gets lonely, someone will invite you for tea or coffee. Sometimes we all seem to inadvertently end up at the pool together, or at the same restaurant together. One night before I got here I believe the waitress of a local restaurant nearly keeled over and died when they asked for a table for 30! Some mornings we start the day with “Devotions” where people gather in one room and have some sort of bible study. And if you get sick of everybody you still have your room to run and hide in. Don't worry! This hasn't happened, we all still love each other!
We enjoyed a great cruise out to Tivua Island on Tuesday where people had the opportunity to snorkel, swim, get a massage, play beach volleyball, canoe, scuba dive or just lie down on the beach under the palms and soak in the warm sun and God's beautiful craftsmanship. I believe Mr Warren Boyle was the first one of us to be spotted having a snooze in the hammock. It was a tough day for us all.
Then on Wednesday, while most were having a training day for the Women's Walk, the leftovers were invited up to one of the pilgrim's homes in Lautoka (30 mins north of Nadi). Another tough day where they wanted to prepare a feast for us. You could hear some of the men say “Uh-oh, not more Kava!” (traditional Fijian drink) but it was a beautiful day where we got to see their new church and village surroundings. The weather has just been amazing here!
Well that about wraps up the last week, everyone is behaving themselves so I don't actually have any juicy goss to tell you (sorry about that!). Please pray for the Women's Walk and that God will break down the cultural and language barriers, and that He will strengthen the team and transform the pilgrims!
Many blessings to you!
Claire Jago
PS. I would love to send you some photos but I forgot to bring my camera cable, so please be patient with me as I will have to wait until I return to Sydney to have those posted up.