Orchid Island Village and Tukavesi Village

 Orchid Island (not really an island) near Lami Town

once a thriving, busy cultural center now has been abandoned.

One of 3 remaining traditional Fijian Temples 

The insides remain in very good condition with

all the poles wrapped and shell designs on the walls

Elder Collins admires the inside

Foot bridge leading to what used to be a zoo

The path led back to where there are some artifacts and a mural.

Some of  the beautiful flowers flowers there

  

One huge tree on the road to Tukavesi Village on Vanualevu.

We passed this house that the walls are completely woven.
 
 This is an LDS church on the hill in the village of Tacilevu

See the pineapples growing!

The path to the church and missionary flat in Tukavesi.

The sidewalks were done by a humanitarian group.

 

This is the church at Tukavesi--outside and in!

The missionary's flat.

Elder Banks and Elder Saumaki pass their flat inspection!

A river runs through it!

October 2014

             Nasinu 2nd Ward Primary Program Day!

             Love these kids...they are great singers!

October Senior Pot Luck.

President and Sister Davis' (seated center) last time with us.

We added two temple construction couples (Naylors and Houghtons)

 The temple has begun it's renovation!

David at Magoon's Lagoon with the senior couples

while Linda was at the Primary Program Practice!

He even ate Roti!

Farewell to (front) Elder Ravutaumado (Fiji), Sister Kumar (Fiji), Sister Pyne (Utah)

(Back) Elder Corder (Michigan), and Sister Alagaelua (Samoa)

Always something fun going on in the office!

Elder Olsen challenged Senior Elder Walker to the Oreo Minute to Win It...

Elder Walker won!

Birthday lunch at Mamacitas with the Senior Sisters!

Sisters Newsom, Terry, Decker, Collins, Peterson, Wells, Limburg.

Happy Birthday to Me!

Birthday dinner at the Grand Hotel with great friends

the Petersons and the Wells.

Farewell to Elder Brian and Sister Susan Watling (England)

and Elder Fredric and Sister Kathy Christiansen (Utah).

We knew them for such a short time, but so grateful we had the

chance to serve with them.  Forever Friends!

Spam Loaf in honor of Sister Chong from Hawaii(Left)  

We had her and Sister Matheson (Utah-Sister Training Leaders)

for dinner before Sister Chong was transferred.

A fun visit with Tavita and his dad from the Nasinu 2nd ward in their home

  He loves Elder Terry!

This is Tavita's playground in his back yard!

Sister Wells all dressed up for Diwali sharing some Diwali treats!We attended the Fiji Hindi Society Diwali Program

These are some of the performers.

Men will be boys when fireworks are involved!

Elder's Decker, Terry, and Collins getting ready to set off their Diwali fireworks!

This is how the Sisters watch fireworks in the rain!

Diwali fireworks  were amazing.  They went on for hours all over the city!

We attend the last ordinance performed in the temple before closing for renovation.

The marriage of one of our missionaries (Elder Singh), released just one month before! 

He is from the Nasinu 2nd ward.  She now gets to move in with him and his family!!!

It's HindiTradition!

Happy Anniversary and a few more randon pics...

For our 43rd anniversary we got to take a trip around the island

delivering washing machines to missionaries!

On our way we say this cute little boy and a man being pulled

on a sled by two oxen!

Great mode of transportation!

This is where we ended up ... on the beach at Denarau Island

doing some of our favorite things!

Relaxing by the beach  with a lovely pineapple drink

and enjoying the Fijian sunset!

Thank you Lisa Knight for getting us a room at the Radison Blu Resort

Anniversary dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe!

On our way home we stopped at the Wood Turner's shop

where they make beautiful wooden products.

This is the pot David picked out for us! 

 
This is a stake Relief Society/Young Women's Fashion Show!
They modeled items they had made out of recycled things.
Sure saw a lot of things made out of recycled neckties!
The little picture in the top right is a mat woven out of newspaper covered with tape!

 A government official (commissioner of women and childrens rights)

was invited to the event which brought along a lot of media.  

I even made the newspaper! (top Right)

September 30th ours and the Wells Mission "Hump" Day!

Celebrated with lunch at Cafe Thirty!

Had a fun shopping trip to "Pure Fiji", a company that

produces lotions, soaps and all kinds of skin products.

We stopped for a free hand scrub and massage!

 

Sisters Newsom, Collins, and Decker