Not Just a Wooden Symbol: Amazing Grace Retold

I'd like to tell you a story. You may have heard it before- I know I've heard a thousand times. I even thought I knew it by heart.

How wrong I was.

Part 1- The Screw-up

This story starts way back- and I mean way back- literally, to the dawn of time. Genesis chapter 3, to be precise. Let me catch you up: God created the heavens, the earth, and all creatures big and small (for those of you who are more into the “Big Bang Theory”, allow me to let you in on another little “theory”: when God said, “Let there be light” and then there was light, I'm pretty sure there was a *Big Bang*). God created man, Adam, from the dust of the earth and woman, Eve, from the ribs of the man. The man and the woman were living in perfect happiness and harmony in the Garden of Eden with God, their loving Creator and Father. Life was good- it was very good.

And then along came a snake.

I hate snakes. I hate them so much that I even had an agreement with Tom, one of the guys I work with: if we ever go to a e-call and there is a snake in the home or business, I get to drop everything and go screaming out the door as fast as I can and Tom will take care of the patient and call for back up to replace my sorry ass. On the flip side, I am to protect Tom from hair. Yup, hair.

I really feel like I got the better part of this dealio.

Any-who...

This was no ordinary snake. This snake was Satan. And he was tramping around, out for the kill. And kill he did. The one and only rule that God had in the Garden was that Adam and Eve not eat the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. That's it. Just one simple rule, but one with severe consequences: death. Satan, the snake that he is, convinced Eve to eat the fruit and her hubby, who was there the whole time, watching this whole thing go down, chose to follow in his wife's footsteps.

Worst. Decision. Ever.

As you've probably noticed, this world is not the perfect, beautiful Garden of Eden. Oh, this world is beautiful alright- as a traveller and someone who lives in one of the most beautiful countries in the world, I can attest to that. But Eden this world is not. It is full of heartbreak and headache, violence and victims, lies and manipulation, sickness and hunger, war and death. And this is the world that became consequence for Adam and Eve- for us. But I want to rewind a bit and focus on how clever and great God is. His ultimate plan- His ultimate wisdom- was revealed with His words in Genesis 3:14-15 to Satan:

“... you will crawl on your belly and eat dust all the days of your life. And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; He will crush your head and you will strike His heel.” (NIV)

Most Christians and theologians agree that in this passage, the woman's offspring is referring to Jesus, and it is He who Satan will attempt to destroy and it is Jesus who will defeat Satan. What I failed to notice in this passage was the reference to Satan eating dust all the days of his life. In essence, Satan was given ownership over everything of the earth (dust)- which included us, and everything else that comes from the dust: our possessions, our finances, our health, our families... the list goes on and on. During the temptation of Jesus in the the wilderness in Luke 4:5-7, Satan talks about his ownership when he tempted Jesus with the kingdoms of the world saying that “... it has been given to me and I can give it to anyone I want” (NIV).

But ownership of this world was transferred back to the One who created it with the most amazing, most preeminent act of sacrificial suffering this world has ever seen...

Part 2: Redemption

Let me state the obvious: God is not a moron. He did not need to read “Defeating Evil for Dummies”, “Seven Habits of a Highly Effective God” or even “The Secret”. In His supreme wisdom and love, from the moment that Adam and Eve chose to disobey Him, He had the ultimate, perfect plan of redemption for those He created, those He loves passionately- a covenant. A covenant is like a legal deed of sorts between God and his people signifying a relationship of commitment.

Wait a minute.

A legal deed is how God expresses His love, passion and heartache for His lost children? This is how “our Father who art in Heaven” is going after the enemy to get His kids back safely? Hmmm. This doesn't sound like a Hollywood blockbuster or very bad ass... unless maybe you're a lawyer...

Before I lose you all together, let's fast forward, to a time long after the Worst Decision Ever. To the time of a man named Jesus- the man whose birth we celebrate at Christmas (I always figured there had to be more to it than just turkey and the Sears Christmas catalogue) and whose death and resurrection (I'll get to that in a minute) we celebrate at Easter (it's not just for bunnies). If you haven't heard of Him, let me give you the run down of His incredible, but short life. It sort of reads like one of those weird tabloids you always eye up while you are waiting in line at the grocery store (don't play innocent with me, you know you do it, I know you do it).

Jesus was born to a young, virgin girl named Mary who had recently married a nice guy named Joseph, who was a carpenter.

Uh, what?!?

A virgin... had a baby?

Huh?!

Seems kinda fishy, doesn't it? The weirder thing is that there was this famous, old Jewish guy named Isaiah, and God often gave him visions of the future and Isaiah actually predicted Jesus' birth and that His mom would be a virgin- like, 800 years before Jesus was born (Isaiah 7:14). Crazy, eh?! But there's more: when Jesus was baptized, God actually spoke from the Heavens and said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17, NIV). What God said, and what Jesus claimed, was that Jesus was God's son. And, when Jesus was only 33 years old, He fulfilled the one vision His Dad had for Him: to be falsely accused, condemned, mocked, beaten, whipped, and then literally nailed to a wooden cross to hang there until He died (for those of you who are medically minded like myself, Dr. C. Truman Davis wrote an article on the physiology of the crucifixion. Click HERE to read it. The Mayo Clinic did a similar analysis, click HERE to read that one). Three days later, His body went missing from the tomb it had been put in and Jesus Christ appeared- in the flesh- to more than 500 witnesses (Acts 15:6).

Did you catch that?

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, allowed himself to be falsely accused, dying in one of the most horrific ways that has ever been recorded, and then rose from the dead 3 days later.

Why?

He said it was His Father's will- God's will- that He die for every mean thing, every hurtful thing, every wrong thing, every despicable and lowly thing you and I have ever done and will ever do. Although He is a King and he is 100% blameless, He made Himself lowly and responsible for the sins of you and I, and He completed it all on an old rugged cross.

Part 3: The Old Rugged Covenant

The cross is not just something you wear around your neck or see in a church. The cross is the centrepiece, the turning point, of human history- it is the covenant, the legal deed, the declaration of ownership of you and I. No more do we have to yield to the darkest, most evil of owners. We now can yield to the Father who loves us more than our puny, itty bitty brains could ever imagine. We can yield to the One who gave Himself- His Son- to the throws of the earth, to live a perfect life of love among us, only to then die the most brutal, physical and emotional deaths, all for the wrongs you and I have caused one another.

Before Jesus came to die for our sins, covenants were definitely no pinky promises. A covenant required 2 parties (God and His peeps) agreeing to something and it required the shedding of blood- a loss of life. In the old testament, God allowed His people to enter into covenant with Him and use the blood and life of their most perfect animals. The new, and really, the last covenant- the cross- was an agreement between God and His Son Jesus, that Jesus would take the place of you and I, that He would bear the brutal responsibility of all of our sins. And it was the shedding of His perfect, innocent blood on the cross that made this covenant complete.

Part 4: Dust to dust

So here we are. The covenant is complete. Relationship with God can be restored. Ownership is no longer under evil management. But yet our world is still full of lies, sadness, famine, disasters, hurt, war, abuse, wicked people, even good people who aren't always good... if the covenant is complete, how can this be?

“you will... eat dust all the days of your life”

Right.

That guy is still around. Oh brother...

Did I mention I hate snakes?!

God told us, way, way back in the Garden of Eden, that Satan would try to destroy Jesus and fail (imagine it: Satan thinks he's killed Jesus, only to find out 3 days later that Jesus rose from the dead... gee, that's gotta be embarrassing... *awkward*). God promised us, way, way back in the Garden of Eden that Jesus would destroy Satan. Well, that hasn't happened- yet. Don't worry, it's definitely coming (if you are one of those types that can't wait to see how the story will end, you are in luck! Check out the book of Revelation to see how Jesus will pop a cap in Satan's ass... or, uh, something similar to that). In the mean time, it's time to sit up straight and pay attention to what's happening around us.

Remember when I said that the dust Satan will eat is the earth, us, our possessions, our finances, our health, our families... Remember? Roughly 1155 words ago (I know, this is a long one... thanks for hanging in there)? Well, how's our earth doing? What about us- any illness or injury you've seen? How are we managing our finances- are you broke? In debt? Are you giving and sharing with others? Is everyone in your area fed with a roof over their head? What's the divorce rate around you? In your family? How many people are you angry with? How much time are you spending on your computer or on your cell phone, remodelling your house, dreaming about a nicer car, thinking about what your next burger is going to taste like, wondering if you are better looking than Jessica Alba or Ryan Reynolds (BTW, no, you're not)? In comparison, how much time are you spending with God?

What I am trying to say is Satan is hungry. He has an insatiable appetite that will never, ever be full. He wants the world back. And he definitely does not want God to reign over it. So, he consumes us. He consumes our possessions. He consumes our finances. He consumes our world. Anything to distract us from remembering the sheer awesomeness and love of the last covenant.

But, there is a way, Friends. There is a way to avoid being consumed. There is a way to avoid just being dust. There is a way to matter. There is a way to finding acceptance, peace and an unimaginable love from a Father who is always, actively, relentlessly pursuing you.

But the choice is yours.

Thanks for reading... and stay tuned, I'm not quite done with this one yet!

Christy

Fatty Fatty 2x4, Fiji and a Guy Named Jesus

I've been an absentee blogger.

I didn't mean to neglect you, my faithful, vast audience of 13 + 1 (Mom). It's not you, it's me. Please do not call Social Services for Bloggers on me. I promise to make it up to you. I know you've heard this before, but this time it's true. I swear. Look, I even got you these to say I'm sorry:

So... are we OK? Good!

What's going on?!?!?

After 2 intense, but amazing weeks, our DTS class said goodbye to our speakers, Jono and Mary Turner (NZ). Although it's interesting to have a new speaker every week, our 2 weeks with Jono and Mary were a treat, because we got a chance to really get to know them... and this couple is SO worth knowing. What an amazing couple- they are just generally good peeps. Jono taught about the Father Heart of God and Mary taught about Submission and Authority. Talk about a double whammy- socks were getting blown off all over the place with these teachings! 

And, better yet, hearts and characters were being challenged and changed... something started in those 2 weeks with the Turners and it lead well into last week's teachings with Debra Nakora (US/Fiji)- The Divine Plumbline. For all of those YWAMers out there that are reading this (I think I have 3?), remember that week? Of course you do- that was the week of your DTS where God lovingly smacked you flat on your ass.

(as someone who just says "ugg" to Uggs, I have to say that this picture makes me giggle... but just a little)

OK, so I'm being a tad dramatic here... don't worry, Friends, our God is a gentleman and He would never actually smack you flat on your ass. But He is persistent when He pursues you and this was evident during our “Plumbline” week. He showed me things that I had never really seen before and, more importantly, He restored me and my pitiful heart to give up a few ghosts and move towards that life of love He keeps talking about. And with that, Friends, He pulled me even closer into His arms. I suspect that an upcoming blog will be under development shortly to explain all of this in much more detail...

But right now I have a few more pressing things to share with you.

Grab your popcorn (Billy)...

sit up straight and be prepared to be...

Amazed!

No, that's not it.

Entertained!

Ooo, too much pressure. Not that one either.

Enlightened!

Yea, um... definitely not that.

Well, I don't know how you are going to feel about this- I will leave that up to you. Without further ado, here is...

MY TOP TEN LIST OF STUFF I'VE NOTICED ABOUT STUFF

(catchy title, eh?!)

(look, I'm pretty tired right now- let's just be honest- I got nuthin'... )

1. One of my new favourite drinks here is Lemon Leaf Tea. What's that, you ask? Well, it's tea made from lemon leaves (duh). It is the most marvellous tea out there (yes, even better than the Aveda tea that I like so much). The smell alone is enough to make your taste buds sing “hallelujah”! How does one make such deliciousness, you ask? Well, step 1 is to find a lemon tree (good luck Prairie people... maybe some of our BC peeps can help us out on that one?) and pick off a fragrant leaf or two for your cup. Step 2, boil water and pour into cup with leaves. Steep for a bit (don't ask me how long “a bit” is, I'm usually too busy sniffing my lemony cup of heaven to notice). Step 3, remove leaves (if you want) and add milk and sugar to taste. Step 4- drink, savour and be merry in all that deliciousness!

2. I'm getting all messed up because the seasons are backwards here and most of that is due to the daylight. When I first arrived here on January 14, daylight would start to appear at about 6am and it wouldn't get dark until after 9pm (it may have been later, but like I've told you before, my bedtime here in Fiji has been around 9pm, which I realize is about the same time my 2 year niece goes to bed). Now, when I get up for my morning Sweatapalousa (aka, the morning run), it doesn't start to get light out until 7am and the sun now sets before 8pm. And, daylight savings time here ends this Sunday (March 6), so we are moving 1 hour back in time. Talk about messin' this Saskatchewan girl up! I likely won't notice a huge change in temperature as we here in Fiji change seasons from Summer to Winter (I told you it's backwards!)- to me, hot is just hot.

3. They have peanut butter here!!! I know, a weird thing to be excited about, but most countries that I have travelled to do not have peanut butter. And, while I realize that I am definitely nuts about peanut butter (boo, who gave this girl a computer to blog on?! Terrible humour!), I didn't realize how much I love it until I travelled and couldn't have it. So, yea for Fiji!

4. On that note, I have been told, on several occasions, by several different Fijians, that I am looking fat. Ouch. I know I have put on some weight in the last few years (maybe too much peanut butter???), but *ouch*, that stings just a little. And then I found out one of my roommates- who is tall, beautiful, slim and in shape- was being told the same thing- all the time. 

Huh?! 

Well, apparently, like many warm-climate cultures, Fijians will call someone fat as a compliment- what they are really trying to tell you (if I understand it correctly and, for the sake of my self esteem, let's just say that I do) is that you look good, and you look healthy. And let's just leave it at that.

5. I've always said that I will most likely die in an accident, working in the back of an ambulance (ironically, ambulances are some of the most unsafest vehicles on the road). I'd like to recant that, if I could. I'm pretty sure that I will die as a pedestrian on a random Fijian street. I have three reasons to support this argument. One, they drive on the “wrong” side of the road here (ever notice that if it's not your way, it's the wrong way?) and even after 2 months here, I still have trouble figuring that out (my Mom says I'm smart). Two, I walk around like a pedestrian in Canada, which means I believe that I have the right of way at all times everywhere and cars will stop for me. That is definitely not the case in Fiji. Definitely not. Three, despite Fiji's world wide reputation as having the most friendliest people in the world (and trust me, it is so true- people here are so nice!), the drivers here are nuts. 

Every time I cross a road, I'm pretty certain that I hear the oncoming traffic accelerate, not slow down. And I'm pretty sure my glaring, white skin gives them momentary blindness. I kind of feel bad about that.

6. Fijians are a people of only so many words. Despite the fact that most of them are at least trilingual (English, Fijian, and their own tribe's dialect), they don't really talk a lot. But they do communicate with one another all the time- through facial expressions. It's really interesting to watch. I was walking down the street with a Fijian guy when he saw someone he knew across the road. They didn't talk, I only saw a eyebrows raised, a couple of twitches and a smile- and he told me that his friend said he would call him later... Wow! It's funny because I've started to do it a bit too. But that's to be expected- I pick up languages very easily.

7. Fiji reminds me a bit of Camrose and a lost era- almost nothing is open on Sundays and most shops close at 2pm on Saturdays. Honestly, I appreciate it as there is no way to have my weekends consumed by “getting stuff done” and “errands”. It's all about relaxing, resting and enjoying the weekend. And there is nothing wrong with that.

8. God is a great Father who listens to His children and wants to give them the desires of their hearts. As a super awesome Parent, He is also wise in that His timing is always perfect and He knows what is best for His children. I learned that lesson last week. My Dad, who lives in Edmonton, ended up in the ER a couple of weeks ago with shortness of breath. He hasn't been well for a long time and when the doctors saw how bad his leg was (gangrene from diabetes), they wanted to amputate it right away. But my stepmother, Dolores, is a Christian and she insisted that they go home to pray about it. So, we all prayed. People prayed in Canada and people prayed in Fiji. When Dad went back to see the surgeon a week later, the surgeon put him on antibiotics and the surgery was cancelled! In one week, Dad's leg went from being one that needed “immediate” amputation to one that is now regaining some feeling (unfortunately for Dad, that means pain) and only requires some rest and a prescription. That, my Friends, is the glory of God. So, we will keep praying and we keep trusting that God knows what is best for my Dad.

(on a side note, my Mac computer died and my very own personal Mac Genius, Nick, delivered some bad news: Mac was gone for good...

I was sad to see Mac go because it is through him that I keep connected with all of you through this blog, emails, skype and Facebook. And then I realized that there is nothing- and I do mean nothing- that my God cannot do. So I prayed for Mac. And, three days after Mac died, he came back to life (I swear I'm not making this up). My God loves me so much that even the little things that matter to me, matter to Him)

9. The average person here only makes FJ$1-3/hour. Things here are expensive, especially given that kind of wage. A 1 litre cartoon of milk, which is not the same quality as home, is FJ$2. A small jar of peanut butter (about 1 cup) costs FJ$4. Chocolate bars average at just over FJ$3, but can go as high as FJ$6. A small chicken is well over FJ$15. A small jar of Nutella (obviously, not a staple, but something I noticed, of course) is FJ$12. A can of Pringles is FJ$6. I found out the other day that copyright/piracy laws don't apply here because how little the average Fijian makes. So, movie shops, for example, can sell "pirated" movies legally. The owner of the shop is required to buy the original DVD (about FJ$25, over 2 days wages for most people here), but then they can copy that DVD as many times as they want and sell the copies for FJ$1-2.

10. I am right where I belong.

Thanks for reading,

Christy

Heart Surgery

I have a confession to make.

I've lied to you on why I am really in Fiji.

I'm here for heart surgery.

One of the most often asked questions I got before I left for Fiji (and that I am still getting in emails and Facebook messages) is “what is a DTS (Discipleship Training School)”? I didn't quite know how to explain it and, in all honesty, I don't think that I truly knew what I was getting into myself. So, my most standard response was “well, it's kinda like a mini bible school that focuses on helping others and helping the world”. Hmmm...

Well, that's just not true at all.

All of our speakers, whom so far are mostly pastors who have completed bible school and seminary as well as DTS, have acknowledged that DTS is not bible school and bible school is not DTS. Bible school is academic study of theology and the bible. DTS, however, exists solely to change hearts, open hearts up to heal wounds, encourage the life Jesus lived- to live a of love- and solidify our identity as children and heirs of God.

Here in Fiji, the staff refer to DTS as heart surgery.

While it is true that my biblical knowledge has increased substantially since my surgery began, it is just a small part of what is really happening here. God did not simply ask me to go to Fiji to learn some words in an old book. He called me here specifically to get to know Him- to be in relationship with Him.

You see, even the best of us- the pastors, the carpenters, the students, the social workers, the nurses, the undecided, the cooks, the mothers, the fathers, the teachers, the paramedics- don't really know God and going to bible school will not fix that. Many of us who believe in God- that Jesus is our Saviour- often go to church, go to our weekly bible studies, finding, like everyone else, that we are still plagued with the nagging feeling that we aren't good enough, that we don't do enough... Too often we are bound in hurt, resentment, unforgiveness and fear from our past and from lies we continually choose to believe about ourselves. God, the Father to the fatherless (Psalm 68:5), the One that created the heavens, the earth and you and me, wants to change that. And He uses DTS as a means to doing that.

The focus at DTS is not about academics, competition, or climbing on your high horse or becoming a holy roller. It is quite the opposite. It is not about you. The focus is on God and getting to know Him like you know your best friend or your spouse, realizing, understanding that He is not some random, angry Zeus-like stranger, sitting on a cloud, who is never happy with you. He is the One that knows how many hairs are on your head (Luke 12:7), how you sleep at night, what your favourite food is, that you never, ever sleep without covers on your feet otherwise the boogeyman will get you, what your greatest hurt is and who is your greatest love. There is no one, and I do mean no one who knows you better. He knows the good, the bad and the ugly and none of it has scared Him away. And DTS helps you to realize this love, His wisdom and the security of being His son or daughter. DTS challenges you to examine your life and everything you thought you knew about yourself, God and Jesus and to throw it aside, never looking back- for the road of life, the road that God specifically designed for you, is about to take you places you've never thought possible. No one comes to DTS a whole and healthy person. We are all, in our own ways, broken, but through the process of DTS, we will leave changed for the better and, I suspect, unstoppable in the life of love that Jesus asked us to live: to love our God, our perfect Father, our Provider, our great Comforter, with all of our heart, soul and mind and to love those around us like we would want to be loved. Yes, even those that irritate and anger us, those that are mean to us, those that don't do things like we would do them, those that have done the unthinkable, as well as those that smell funny (Matthew 22:37-39).

Live a life of love.

DTS is a part of a world wide Christian non-profit organization called Youth With a Mission (YWAM). YWAM was started in 1960 when Loren Cunningham was given a vision of waves of youth going out to all corners of the earth, helping others and telling them about God. In the last 50 years, YWAM went from that dream to hundreds of thousands of people giving their lives to serve the people in the world. On a practical sense, DTS consists of 2 phases: the 12 week lecture phase and the 8-12 week outreach phase. During the lecture phase, speakers from all over the world (there is a new speaker and topic every week) come to teach you about living the life of love. Some of the topics that are covered include "Hearing the Voice of God", "The Cross, Repentance and the Holy Spirit", "The Father Heart of God", "Authority and Submission" and "Relationships". It is an amazing time of learning- just when you think it can't get any better, it always does. Processing all of this takes time and examination into our lives, and DTS is structured to give you that time.

The outreach phase is dependent on the DTS that you go to and what God leads you to. Most DTSes have either a country that they love dearly or a group of people they want to help (or sometimes both). My outreach phase doesn't start until April 11, so I'm unsure of what to expect, but I do know that it will be eye opening, challenging and life transforming. Our DTS focuses on Fiji, so we will be traveling all over Fiji to various Fijian and Indian villages, living with them in community and reaching out to them in love.

I would recommend DTS for everybody, at any stage or age in life. You won't regret it. It will not be easy, even sometimes painful and sometimes you just want to say, “forget this, I'm going home”. But something inside of you always stops you with the undeniable, nagging feeling that you will be missing out on something special that could be a turning point in your life, perhaps even a radical and amazing life change that wasn't expected or imagined. There are over 200 DTS locations throughout the world and so many opportunities. As I looked over all of the DTS websites, I was amazed at how many of these DTSes would be so great for some of you...

For my friend Julie, “University DTS” seems like a cool option. The DTS is held over 2 summers, so as a university student, you can do the lecture phase one summer, and then the outreach phase the next summer. You (or any other university student) can click here for more information.

Joy, Laura and Katie, I immediately thought of each of you when I found the “Children at Risk DTS”. It focuses on the needs of children around the world and the issues that put them at risk — sex trafficking, poverty, AIDS, abuse, child soldiers, and broken families. Click here for more information.

Jenny, I know that you've rethought your career in photography, but I also know how much you love it as well. There is a DTS for you too! “Photography DTS” may be just the thing for you to get to know your Father in heaven and celebrate Him through your beautiful photography. Click here if you are interested!

Nick, I know you are feeling called to serve God at Hungry for Life and I am so excited for you and can't wait for you to start. But maybe a DTS would be a great way to start your new adventure? I found 2 DTSes for you- they both focus on regular DTS lessons, combined with all of the outdoor stuff you love to do. One is the “Adventure DTS”, and you can click here for more info and the other one is “Endurance DTS”, and the information is here.

“Crossroads DTS” has a family focus that welcomes parents and their children for a once in a lifetime experience of learning and outreach as a family. Krist and Terilynn, Reg and Suzanne, Linda and James, I know it might be a stretch for your families to go on such an adventure, but just remember that nothing is impossible with God. If you are interested (even just a little bit), click here.

Leslie, you are one of my closest friends and I know how much you love playing hockey. Believe it or not, there is a “Hockey DTS” in Canada and you can get more information by clicking here.

And Devon, you love music and I know you are going to love traveling after your big trip at Easter. Why not go to Australia when you are done high school and join the “Music DTS”? How cool would that be?! The information is right here.

The amount and different kinds of DTS opportunities really is truly amazing. Really, the only thing that is stopping you is you. No matter what happens, I know that I will never regret putting a pause on my life and going to DTS.

Live a life of love.

Thanks for reading,

Christy

A Day in the Life...

I've had a lot of emails and Facebook messages from people, encouraging me, keeping me informed and just simply wondering what I've been up to. I've been absolutely terrible at writing people back, mainly because I've been so busy since I got here. To those of you who have written to me, thank you. Even your short messages have been great to receive. Please do not stop writing me; I am slowly, but surely writing everyone back. I may be in a different country, a day ahead (depending on where you are reading this) and doing something different, but I still think of you and want to be connected with you.

This week, I thought I'd share what my life is like here- the day to day of my life in Fiji, at DTS. I'm not sure that it is going to make for an interesting or thought provoking read, but it's here for you to read:

Monday through Friday, we have a set schedule and this is when all of our classes occur. Despite the phenomenon of “Fiji time”, we run on time, all the time. Although my life has become more consistent and routine here, I am enjoying it because what we are learning is far from routine. My alarm goes off at 5:50am every morning so I can crawl out of bed to get ready for my morning run and workout. Now, don't be too impressed- my run is more of a jog and the whole run/workout thing only lasts about 45 minutes because it is around 25 degrees Celsius, even at 6 in the morning. I sweat just getting out of bed in the morning, so by the time I'm done this farce of a workout, I look like I've just been swimming (what a delicate flower I am, eh?!). Running here at that time in the morning is interesting too... it's pretty dark at that time and there are very few street lamps, so I will admit I've nearly- literally- ran into some Fijians (who likely saw this white girl glowing in the dark a mile away) and fallen on my arse because of the many, many potholes and uneven sidewalks. Hey, I never claimed to be graceful.

Once I'm home, I make my breakfast, usually eggs and fresh papaya, then head to the shower. Our house doesn't have a great water system, so we frequently run out of water, leaving the bucket bath as our only option. We also use solar water heating so, no sun, no warm water. Let's just say I've given up on smelling good here...

After getting ready and praying/reading my bible, our classes start at 8:30. From 8:30-9:00, we have a worship and/or prayer service, many times focusing on prayer for different countries or ministries in YWAM. At 9:00, our classes begin with an hour and a half lecture, followed by a 30 minute tea time, then back to the lecture for another hour and a half. Every week a new speaker, usually from YWAM, comes to our school to speak on the week's topic. Most of our speakers are from Fiji, New Zealand or Australia, but we do have 1 American and 1 Canadian who are living in Fiji speaking here over the next few weeks. At 12:30, our lectures are finished for the day and lunch is served. Issac, a Fijian and former DTS student, is our cook for the school and I think he is doing a fantastic job. We eat a combination of Fijian, Indian and Western dishes. Food in general is pretty expensive here, but vegetables, meat and dairy seem to be the most expensive. Rice, noodles, and fruit are fairly cheap. Lunches are usually sandwiches or fried rice or soup or roti (that's an Indian bread that you eat with curry, very yummy!). Most of our supper dishes tend to have a rice and a noodle (a lotta carbs!), usually there is a small amount of veggies and meat. And we always end every meal with fresh pineapple, which is found in abundance. There are many days when supper looks a little suspicious, but it is always delicious.

After lunch, we are required to complete some work duties. Every 2 weeks we are assigned a work duty to keep our houses and classroom clean. Dish/meal clean up, dusting, sweeping and mopping, bathrooms, outside work are all a part of these duties. By 3pm, we have some free time until supper is served at 5:30. I usually use this time to catch up on my notes and journal- we are required to keep a weekly journal of everything we've learned during the week and of our relationships with God and others (can I just say that I hate journaling? I really do). I will also try to hop on the internet at this time, because it is the early evening (the day before) back home, so maybe I will be able to catch someone on Facebook or Skype. Once supper is done, we have free time again and I will usually go for a swim to cool off and then read for the rest of the night... which really isn't very long, as bedtime for me here is 9pm! I don't know what has gotten into me, but by 9pm I'm totally knackered! I think that it is a combination of the early mornings, the heat and humidity, and the intense lectures, but maybe I'm just getting old? On Monday nights we might have class if the speaker needs more time with us. On Thursday nights, we host a Community Night, where anyone from the community can come for a night of worship and a short message from the speaker of the week (and always followed by some visiting, tea and yummy treats!). And on Friday nights, it is movie/family night, where we just hang out and have some fun.

The weekends are totally free. So far I haven't left Lautoka yet to explore, but that is going to change this weekend. One weekend, I had to cook supper (we all take turns on the weekends) and the rest of my weekends have been spent relaxing and exploring the city and just getting settled in. I've found a great little coffee shop not far from where I live and that is where I often spend my Saturday mornings, finishing my journal or trying to blog... but mostly I people watch. :) I've been trying out different churches in the area, trying to find a church home while I am here, but so far, no luck. There is one church that I kind of like, but most of the DTS students are going to it, so you know me... I've got to be independent and different, so I'm still searching.

On the "home front", I am no longer sharing a bedroom with anyone- I have a room all to myself! My roommate left to go back home, reportedly to a different DTS there. I'm not sure what she was expecting when she came to Fiji, but she didn't give herself a chance to find it. In all honesty, she really wasn't ready to be here. My mom said to me before I left that she felt sorry for anyone who had to share a bedroom with me because I'm such a picky sleeper... very funny, Mom, but I wasn't the one to drive her away.  :)

And that, my friends, is my life at present, in a nutshell. There's ups and there's downs, but overall there's peace and contentment. I can't say that I am making any lifelong friends here; we are all so different and at different stages of our lives, but the people here are good and just looking for some more Jesus in their lives.

Thanks for reading,

Christy