Contagious - Jay

Today, our friends in Fiji sent us a follow up note via Facebook chat... It was a letter that  really validated the work that we did over the past month in Fiji. We worked on several projects, met many many people, handed out supplies, goods, and good will. We looked, we listened, and we learned.

Terri wrote: 

"You probably don't realize this, but you are still helping those in need in Fiji. We received an email today about a friend's housekeeper who has taken it upon herself to fundraise for the kids in her community whose parents can't afford school fees. We will be donating all of your beach balls (plus boxes of our own used toys, clothes, kids crafts, etc.) for Va (housekeeper) to sell at the Roc Market (flea market) here in Suva on Sunday. Congrats for all the good works you have done... just wanted to let you in on one you didn't even realize. Thanks for all you did here!"

We are very proud of the work that we did in Fiji. We hope that others do follow in our footsteps to do service work overseas and at home.

Trivial Pursuit - Jay

Have you ever sat across the table from some one and thought to yourself, what in the heck am I doing in a conversation with these people? The are so much more worldly than I am! 

Meet the Gurenos... How is it possible that a couple as globally aware, societally focused, civic minded and ethically stable, can be so kind and selfless? Our friends Terri and Joe Gureno are those people. Terri has done three tours with the Peace Corp. She has, amongst other places in the US, lived in Romania, Vanuatu, and Fiji. She has always volunteered helping children and under-served communities. Joe played college football, has top secret security clearance at an United States Embassy, and brews his own beer. Together they are a strong and affectionate couple (with two beautiful & youthful daughters) that have parlayed goodness into a global lifestyle that makes me envious of even their rare down days. 

Not only did Terri and Joe openly welcome us into their home as guests when we went to Fiji, they found us not one, but two separate residences that we could stay in at a significantly discounted rate while in country. They also supported our "giving efforts" by triggering severing several relationships that turned out to be the lynchpin of opportunity on the projects in which we engaged. It was they who recommend and directed us to the free hospital and associated children's ward. It was they who I introduced us to Jim Tora that informed us about Raiwaqa and the work that needed to be done for the kids playing basketball. If was Joe's colleague that hooked us up with father Kevin Barr's organization to help the homeless in the Squatters Settlement; it was that same colleague that recommended that we visit the National Trust of Fiji to find out what projects they might find useful with our skill set. And it was Terri's boss' son who introduced us to the man called Stee that chaperoned us into his mother's - sister's village to give us a feel of traditional Fijian family values. Without the Gureno's hospitality, we could not have the successful trip that we did.

And then there is the "across the board" categorical genius that they display while playing the board game Trivial Pursuit (by Hasbro). From orange to blue to brown to green, they have the answers at the tip of their tongue. All the useless (turned useful) knowledge that one could ask for.

A special thanks needs to go out to them for helping us as a family grow!

The Huge Snowman - Easton

This is the note that we sent to Principal Rosell from the kids school. He had a extra credit "Writing Challenge" to do on his trip. Here is the note that we wrote to his teacher and the story as well. It was sent on January 7th, 2013 (Fiji time).
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Mr. Rosell -

Please accept this story below from Easton Kreshel.  He is currently in Fiji on an extended holiday with independent study, but wrote a story as a part of the winter break Writing Challenge.  He did write this story out on paper first, but we helped him type it up so that we could get it to you in California.  Easton is in third grade in Mrs. Schwartz's class and will return to school on January 23rd.

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The Huge Snowman

Once upon a time there were two kids named Snowy and Cho. They loved snow. But there was a bully that did not like snow. One Christmas, Snowy and Cho built a giant snowman. Cho and Snowy were in front the bully, who was behind the snowman. The bully kicked the snowman and the snowman began rolling down the hill. The ball of snow was rolling down the hill gathering more snow and was about to suck up the whole city.

Everybody ran away, except for Snowy and Cho. They had parents who were scientists, so they knew what to do.  They ran home and got a big vacuum.  They used the vacuum to suck up the big ball of snow from the snowman and chunk it up into little pieces and threw the little pieces of snow out.   Everyone in the city was happy and they made Snowy and Cho's Dad the  new president because of his kids. Their mom was First Lady because of her kids. And most of all, the kids were famous because of themselves.

Helping @ the House - Creighton

This is a quick blog post that Creighton added when we went to work on the home for wayward youth. Both he and Easton were a great addition to the project. It was written on January 8th, 2013.
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Today, while my friends were at school... I went to a house to help people. I built a cabinet for the kitchen. I also used a vacuum to get the dust off of the boards. Additionally, I entertained the kids by playing Monopoly Junior.


At the house there was also a pet snake and a pet bat.

Frogs - Easton

This was a post written by Easton about finding frogs at the resort on January 15th, 2013, but it didn't get posted.

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Frogs are cute animals. The Baby ones are the cutest. They are all around Fiji. I have seen a lot of the at the Fiji Palms Resort. Frogs are lovely until you find one smooshed in the street. I was able to catch one and pick it up. It was black and gray. I love frogs.

Cinder Blocks and Stilts - Jay

As we traveled by bus from the "big" city of Suva, Fiji through the town of Sigatoka, to the village of Vulavutu, I noticed a commonality amongst the structured homes, schools, shops, and churches: Cinder blocks and stilts.

Most all of the buildings were built from a combination of cinder block walls and a custom cement mixture. The blocks are the typical blocks you might find anywhere. They are used for strength and insulation against the whipping winds, beating heat and pounding rain. Stacked up with the cement, they create a barrier to protect the families there within.

Often times these structures are built on short or even high stilts to get the buildings off of the ground. Keeping the homes off of the ground is vital during high tides, over flowing rivers and heavy rains. Elevation allows the water flow underneath the homes toward their inevitable path. Even the taller buildings have ben built on stilts.

Often times, though, neither of these building approaches saves homes during the major storms or cyclones. Cyclone Evan, for example destroyed many homes in Fiji. Winds knocked them down and water washed them away.

Fiji Palms - Easton

During our last week in Fiji, we are staying at the Fiji Palms apartment complex in Pacific Harbor, Fiji. It is a timeshare that we used from Grandma and Grandpa K. But, it is like a private hotel. We are staying in room 13 on the bottom floor near the heart of the complex.

Inside our room they have everything that we need... almost... In the refrigerator, there was a "starter pack", which included: half an egg pack, a container of milk, bottle of water, stick of butter, and a loaf of bread. On the counter, there was a set of tea bags, packets of sugar, and an electric tea pot. In the drawers, we found the normal silverware and flatware. In one corner of the living room, next to two couches, was the entertainment area. There we found a radio, a DVD player and a television set (the TV could only play movies). In one of the two bedrooms, we found a safe. The only thing that was missing from the apartment was a "flipper" for the eggs.

Just outside of our room, there are many on-property things to do.  There is a bar / restaurant with tables to eat, a flat panel TV, pool table, and ping pong. There is a big swimming pool. There are two hot tubs. One of them is warm tub and the other is very hot. Next to those tubs is a massage station. Beyond the pools and a grassy area, is the South Pacific Ocean.  The waves are small, but come one after the other. In the distance we can see another of the 110 inhabited islands of Fiji.

Next door to the Fiji Palms is a resort called "The Pearl". At The Pearl there is a high class restaurant, shops, and a spa. There is a pool with a swim up bar (that we had lunch at - we ordered our food and drinks from the water). 

There are many people among the two hotels. Some are Americans and some are from Australia. We really like the Fiji Palms and we would want to come visit again.