Fun and not such fun

Interesting, isn't it, how the unusual becomes usual in a remarkably short space of time? Two months ago, if anyone had told me to come to a meeting in the fale (pronounced faleh) I'd have looked utterly blank. Now I potter off there for all manner of things: from morning tea, to community discussions, to a children's Christmas party in October. Basically it's a meeting place with a distinctively South Pacific ethos and aura. I'll let the Revd Dr Jovili Meo, Principal of the Pacific Theological College from 1996-2001 explain. 

The Samoan fale. The fale or fale tele ("great house") is a symbol of Samoan village life and community. Its construction is geared towards community unity, relationship, participation and partnership. Its round or oval shape represents the unbroken chain (no beginning, no ending) for those who congregate in it, thus symbolizing unity. Its openness, a house with no wall, symbolizes inclusiveness: the extension of what goes on inside the fale to those outside in the community. What goes on in the fale reflects the life of the whole community and its concern for the well-being of all.

The fale tele is used for gatherings of the whole village or for district officials. It serves three functions: as the fono, a meeting place for different groups in the village for the welfare of the people; as the tapuaiga, a place for worship or supportive actions for any undertaking by the village community; and as the malaga, a place for entertaining villagers and guests, for the common meal which is brought in and shared among the members of the community. In all three of these functions unity, fellowship and relationship are central themes. Only here can family members come to meet and discuss their differences, worship together or entertain and be happy together without feeling isolated or outcast. Perhaps one of its most important functions is as a place for reconciliation. The fale tele brings together or acts as the place of refuge for different parties. 

Meo, Jovili. "Sharing and Service in Pacific Communities." Ecumenical Review 46, no. 3 (July 1, 1994): 292-300. ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials, EBSCOhost (accessed October 19, 2014).

So here's our fale decorated for the children's party held last Saturday. This did indeed have a tree and a modicum of tinsel because it was the opportunity to bid farewell to the children of families who'll leave by the end of next month, way before real Christmas! Each leaver was presented formally with a beautifully wrapped basket of gifts donated by the PTC Women's Fellowship who also produced abundant plates of food for all reflecting the generosity which is such a mark of South Pacific hospitality. So, party games, fabulous feasting, and a friendly invasion of superheroes all added to the atmosphere. Tinged with sadness too though. Many of the campus children have put down roots and made firm friends during their parents' study period here. Three years or so is a big chunk of life when you're little. There'll be tears...

Now here's a less cheerful picture. The remnants of human partying do you think? It's the rubbish regularly dumped on and in due course washed up on the Suva shoreline. What goes around comes around. Spot the inevitable plastic bottles and polystyrene take-away food cartons. It's a bit of a moral dilemma deciding whether to post such a picture really. Am I trying to present Fiji in a bad light, indulging in a spot of snooty, missionary moralising. 'Isn't it dreadful! I thought people in the South Pacific were keen to protect their environment?!' No I'm not. Far from it, and holier than thou doesn't help. We all know that such scenes are replicated on our shorelines and pavements worldwide. Before coming here I regularly used to drive through Brixton, South London of an early morn on the way to Radio 2. The streets - particularly after a weekend's clubbing - were a total shocker. 

We don't need PhDs in environmental studies to know some of what contributes to this: what we choose to eat and drink and how it's packaged, global demand for goods that bump up markets but don't necessarily meet real needs. The issues are massive but, as ever, each human being's individual actions count too, don't you think? Maybe what I do as a personal response can only ever be a drop in the ocean. But better it's a healthy drop than a sea of plastic.

Meanwhile, back in the vicinity of House 12, things are blooming. The flower....  I meant to ask my neighbour to tell me the local name for this but forgot, sorry. I shall report back...

Down below, here are sunflower seeds popping up with gusto. Surrounded by sea shells salvaged from the rubbish previously pictured. Call it a small stab at a theology of redemption. Those sunflower seeds - my word: God knew what God was doing eh? Bit of local soil - tropical sun and rain. In the space of five days (seriously) - whoosh! 

Perhaps that's why my hair and my finger and toenails grow at such an alarming rate in Fiji. I've never known the like...

And in the light of all that, how about a smidgen of Isaiah 27 to meditate on and finish up with this time? 

Offered from me to you, with warmth and blessings from House Twelve between the Palm Trees. 

A pleasant vineyard, sing about it! 
   I, the Lord, am its keeper;
   every moment I water it.
I guard it night and day
   so that no one can harm it; 
   I have no wrath.
If it gives me thorns and briers,
   I will march to battle against it.
   I will burn it up. 
Or else let it cling to me for protection,
   let it make peace with me,
   let it make peace with me. 

Parliament restored - in time for Fiji Day 2014

Friday 10th October was a public holiday here and the Fiji Times reported as follows:

PRESIDENT Ratu Epeli Nailatikau is appealing to the people of Fiji to be patriotic and remain proud in its history and hopeful in its future. For the first time in eight years yesterday, Fiji celebrated its national day alongside its return to parliamentary democracy, something Ratu Epeli said marked a new era in Fiji's history.

"I appeal to you all to be patriotic, to have a true sense of pride about our nation no matter what we do or where we are. We should sing our national anthem with pride. We must love our country, just as we must love each other," he said. "I believe that the spirit of the Fijian people has never been stronger and that our nation's greatest days lie ahead.

He recalled the feeling of eagerness and excitement which came over him in 1970 on the cusp of Fiji's independence." Precisely 44 years ago today (yesterday), I was in Albert Park as equerry to His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, as he handed the constitutional instruments of independence to our first Prime Minister, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara."

Having read that, I mused.... betcha there's film footage of Fiji's Independence somewhere? And indeed there is - in 5 segments - on the sainted YouTube. Prince Charles is seen being welcomed with a traditional cup of kava, imbibed from a coconut shell. Here's part one of Fiji's Independence Ceremony 1944 if you feel moved to watch.

I wandered downtown along the seafront to Albert Park and watched the celebrations in the crowd - meeting various people from the College campus who were doing much the same.

A uniformed parade followed through the centre of Suva. Here's the army on parade in stunning regalia and impeccable style.

And here's Marika and Veniana whom I met in the crowd, photographed and named with Mum's permission. They're patriotic and proud, as the President suggested they should be. But will democracy deliver for their generation? We pray so.

It matters

Theological Education by Extension, I mean. It matters that Christians across the South Pacific, often in remote places and with limited resources, are taken seriously when they feel the call of God on their hearts and minds to learn more about, for example, the Bible, ministry, preaching, pastoral care and counselling, social action, evangelism and outreach. Our PTC handbook puts it well.

Why Have Extension Courses?

‘Ministry’ does not necessarily mean ordained ministry. There are, as Paul reminds us, a variety of gifts (1 Cor 12:12–26). Theological Education by Extension (TEE) developed out of the need to provide theological education in a way that suits students and equips them for Christian ministry while allowing them to remain in their local communities. PTCEE’s extension programmes are intended to fill a gap in theological education in Oceania. Most areas in the Pacific have theological colleges, but full-time study at a residential theological institution is impossible for most Pacific Christians. Many are unable to leave their homes or pay for residential studies. Furthermore, many local theological colleges are dedicated to training people for ordination and they do not admit lay people, even though lay people may be responsible for much of the ministry within and beyond their churches. The deeply religious nature of Pacific people and their hunger to experience the abundance of the Christian life makes it imperative for PTC to provide accessible theological education. Many people in the region live on isolated islands separated by vast expanses of ocean. PTCEE programmes are print-based, so they make theological study accessible to church people throughout the region. Students can choose a programme that best suits their needs. The courses are written mostly by people in the Pacific to be appropriate for Pacific people. They are applied, contextual and ecumenical.

With all that in mind, a real challenge on the Director's desk just now is to put a bit more oomph behind offering a Bachelor of Divinity programme by Extension so that people can go beyond Certificate and Diploma level. There's lots of interest in developing this and I'm on the lookout for writers to help revise and update existing courses that can fit the BD bill. Anyone out there? It's got tremendous potential, so prayers for that please.

Away from the desk, I feel like I've been island hopping, though I haven't - yet. Kafi, who's from Tuvalu but currently staying in Fiji, invited me to celebrate Tuvalu Day with his fellow islanders last Saturday. It was a breathtaking spectacle and a heartwarming, communal event overflowing with pride, joy, colour and thanksgiving. Kafi is ploughing faithfully through our certificate courses at the moment, but last weekend took a well deserved break from studies and rightly so. In the huge local gymnasium, not far from PTC, we enjoyed a picnic lunch of fluffy white rice, corned beef and a rich tomato sauce (I've always adored corned beef so that was a winner!) and then marvelled at the music and dance on offer from different Tuvalu islander groups competing throughout the afternoon. It was beautiful and powerful; majestic, expressive and thrilling: so many faces alight and bodies alive. All generations too. This is who we are, it said. Roots, identity, soil and soul. We give thanks.

Also known as Twiggy...

It's not all singing and dancing though. The house still needs to be cleaned. Allow me to introduce you to sasa broom - a gift of the coconut tree - and the domestic implement of choice for dust gathering. At first, I secretly and rather arrogantly thought that a 'conventional' broom (by Brit standards that is) with a familiar fixed and unyielding rectangular head would do the job perfectly well. I am now suitably shamed. Sasa broom, as I was advised by those who know, makes light work of flicking effortlessly into and out of dark corners. Computer cables and extension leads hold no fear for her as she swishes over them with ease, fronds separating helpfully to gather in the tiniest particles. The dust releases itself easily from her fibres too - another plus. No more upending the brush to pick bits of old dental floss and squashed sultanas out of it. (Or whatever your personal detritus happens to be). And, to cap it all, sasa broom is also gentle on the ear, offering a kindly, soothing, rhythmic 'whoosh, whoosh' as she does her work. No more the irritating drone and weighty drag of Henry Hoover. Bliss! 

No wonder that good lady in Luke chapter 15 found her lost coin. It's because she had a Twiggy. A Dyson would have been disaster.