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!