my Jasper girls (click on photo-to see whole image)

Be still my heart...I fell in love today...

 His name is Mark (actually a very beautiful Fijian version...Markasiah)

 I first saw him as he most confidently walked down the aisle for communion,

dressed in his handsome pocket sulu and colorful bula shirt... he was short in

stature but tall in resolve...often being pushed aside as if he wasn't there...

no thing or person was going to get in between he and the alter.

Mark knelt and waited for his wafer struggling to keep his balance on his knees...now

only two feet tall and dwarfed by the adults. I just had to talk with his Mom after the

service and thank her for raising an obviously special soul. I was very happy to

know that she acknowledges that about Mark, who is only two years old. He asks to

go to church every Sunday. Yes, he knows it is Sunday, gets his clothes ready, and

is anxious to be there.  I will stay in touch with his mom to see what Markasiah

does to make this world a better place.  And now, more than ever, I  too look forward

to going to church.

Partial pictures...

Thanks everybody for following this awesome journey...I love that so many of you are reading this blog...it has become my journal.OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOClaudia
ps...If you click on each picture...you can see the whole photo..

Rain in Lautoka

Here is an atypical week in Fiji!!   After seven long dry months in my city-Lautoka...it rained!  The poor air quality was no longer an issue...I got to see a green Lautoka for the first time and it is a beautiful city!  The drought was broken and we all rejoiced!!  I was sooo very happy in general... but heard an old voice (in my head) say- "watch out...don't get too happy or something bad will happen".  I pushed that thought away knowing that was an old way of thinking.  I grabbed my potted plants and bare footed I ran outside.  My feet went out from under me...and I landed on my side on the tile steps. The proverbial- 'my life flashed before me...' and 'oh boy, this is going to hurt '..describes my thoughts at the time.   My landlady saw me and walked me into her home with her daughters and our Japanese exchange student (an emergency room nurse) putting ice on me and giving me such loving care!  I know that angels caught me too..because there were no broken bones or sprains, I didn't hit my head or even cut skin.  I hit between my hip bone and my ribs. My foot -which swelled immediately- was wedged into the railing.  My hands or arms were not hurt...I still had hold of my plants!  I was blessed and VERY lucky ...even though three weeks latter I still hurt. I had to attend a week long Peace Corps training, at which one of our PCV announced that some American friends/chiropractic students and doctors were in the near by town giving free chiropractic adjustments...the Lord works in mysterious ways!  Before that adjustment my right hip was so tipped forward and foot turned in that I almost walked in circles!!  After that adjustment I went to a planned Halloween party/weekend at a resort on the beach...where I received a most nurturing massage (for $20!) Although I couldn't party it up with the other volunteers...I was glads to be there- relaxing in the hammock...and oh- I won the best costume trophy!

Diwali

Diwali..one of the biggest , most celebrated, Hindu holidays...3 days of fireworks..everywhere...I'm on a hill top and saw all of the city 'explode' !!

Let me not pray to be sheltered from dangers,
but to be fearless in facing them.
Let me not beg for the stilling of my pain,
but for the heart to conquer it.
Let me not look for allies in life’s battlefield,
...but to my own strength.
Let me not crave in anxious fear to be saved,
but hope for the patience to win my freedom.
Grant me that I may not be a coward,
feeling your mercy in my success alone;
But let me find the grasp of your hand in my failure.

- Rabindranath Tagore

Literacy Training

I use my friend Ivy's method of savings to illustrate saving...really personalizes the workshop!

Lautoka...smokin

This is the view outside my back door....and the reason why I am having trouble with my lungs here...they burn everything...all the time! I AM making inroads ...at least in my neighborhood.  trying to down load picture...if you see it will you email me?

Our Language trainer..our thank-you

9/11 Aniversary....invited to muslim neighbor's house

During training- we visited fellow volunteer's home sites and have a 'cultural afternoon'..great fun