Saturday, June 4, 2011
Bula Again!
I've finished another week in Fiji and it's really hard to think back over what has happened since I last updated, but I'll try my best!
Sunday night was the first time that we met in our impact groups. In our impact groups we essentially break up into small co-ed groups and share our life stories with the other people in our group through something called a "Life Map". A Life Map is a drawing that represents a person's life and has 5 main parts of each persons story: Hand of God times, High times, Hard Times, Heroes, and Heritage. Half of each group shared last week and the rest will share tonight. It was a really cool way to get to know people on a deeper level and see where they were coming from before this project started.
Then we had two typical days of ministry at USP on Monday and Tuesday. On Monday, Marcus and I met a guy named Tony, who we were able to meet up with a few times this week for lunch and some bible studies. He was a believer when we met him, and we talked to him about growing in his faith and learning what it means to multiply his faith and he was interested. Meeting with him this week was a real encouragement because just like in Zambia, it isn't uncommon for appointments to not show up or be really late so that we miss each other, but Tony has showed up when we planned to meet, and engaged in the topics we talk about. This week we talked about God's love and forgiveness and the difference between relationship with God and fellowship with God.
Like I said, we met up with Tony over lunch a few times...let me tell you what a typical lunch is like for many USP students. We walked across the street from campus to a small bakery. We ordered a "Mince Loaf" which is basically a loaf of bread cut in half and filled with potatoes, meat, and curry, and then we all split a liter of soda. The Fijian style of a meal is very sharing. We all tear away from the same loaf and all sip from the same bottle of soda. The best part of this meal is that it cost about $5 Fijian...which is about $3 American and can easily feed 3 people. It is super filling and super cheap!
Wednesday was a nice break in the ministry week for the team. I began to notice a trend of starting to feel really tired after being on campus for just a few hours. On Wednesday we started our morning off as a team singing some worship songs and then praying as a team. Then we had 2 hours to have our personal times with God. After that we all met up to begin our weekly bible study. We started off as a big group and then we broke up and spent the rest of the afternoon in smaller groups where we could share what's going on in our lives as well as study Philippians. Wednesday this week was really re-charging and definitely gave me the energy to get through the rest of the week without being too exhausted.
Thursday was the weekly meeting of Student Life at USP again. It was their last meeting of the semester because finals are coming up soon. Dave Haluga gave the main talk and it was a recap of the entire semester which they spent looking at different attributes of God. After he talked Abby and I were privileged to lead a few worship songs and allow the Fijians to reflect on all the attributes of God for the last time as a movement this semester.
So like I mentioned, USP has final examinations coming up soon. This next week is a study week and then the 2 weeks following it they will be taking final examinations. This will change how we do ministry slightly. We will not be doing initiative evangelism because the University would probably see that as disruptive during the studying portion of the year. So we will only be going to USP to meet with students we have already met and have arranged times to meet with. On the days when we have no appointments at USP we will be going to another university in Suva, Fiji National University (FNU). This will essentially be the launch of a Student Life movement at FNU, which makes it a really exciting time to be here!
Saturday was a free day, so a group of us were led by Dave and a couple Fijians up Mt. Korobaba. It took us about an hour and a half to get to the top, but once we were there we had a breathtaking view of the other mountains, the ocean, the bay, and Suva. Definitely the coolest view I've had in Fiji so far. Then we hiked back down and spent most of the rest of the day relaxing. The hike was very tolling on the body, and I found myself wanting to stay off of my feet for the rest of the day.
One last thing: I've been listening to a lot of different worship music since I've been in Fiji, but one song in particular has been stuck in my head over and over again. It is by Hillsong United and it's called "Arms Open Wide". The lyrics are essentially about yielding completely to how God wants to use us in His plan for Human history and it has really resonated with me, especially going into my last year at Miami and having to figure out what the next stage of life is for me. It has been my prayer that I would go before him with my arms open wide, willing to go wherever he sends me.
Here is a link to the song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnQPfWlCP_Y
and the Lyrics:
Take my life I lay it down
At the cross where I am found
All I have I give to You oh God
Take my hands and make them clean
Keep my heart in purity
That I may walk in all You have for me
Oh here I stand
Arms open wide
Oh I am Yours
And You are mine
Take my moments and my days
Let each breath that I take
Be ever only for You oh God
My whole life is Yours
I give it all
Surrendered to Your Name
And forever I will pray
Have Your way
Have Your way
I still have about 1 month left in Fiji! Thanks for all your prayers and encouragement! I'll update again soon.
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