BItesize blogging

A few light-hearted sentences and snippets in a kind of random way for this post I think. 

Since we had all the graduation festivities, campus has been slower and calmer, with farewells to families on the move and the start of preparations for those who'll be arriving for the 2015 academic year. Everywhere you look, some household item is being moved, packed, loaded or unloaded. Dangerous to sit in one place for too long. It reminds me of that Bernard Cribbens number.... 

Nice to see a report in the Fiji Sun of PTC's graduation, mentioning the College's first ever PhD graduate. Massive congratulations go to Dr Edward Kolohai, Anglican Church of Melanesia for his tremendous achievement.

Unlike the household contents, Education by Extension most certainly isn't packing up and going anywhere. 28 unfinished BD courses wink at me from their electronic file and paper folders every day and gradually we're getting to grips with them. Teaching colleagues on the staff here the Revd Dr Gwayaweng Kiki from Papua New Guinea, the Revd Dr Upolu Vaai from Samoa and Dr Richard Davies from New Zealand have all agreed to work on Extension courses in their specialist fields. Big Christmas presents for them! 

New sign-ups for courses by Extension are always welcome and roll in steadily. Latest potential registration for the BD by distance currently resides in Honolulu. Was thinking I'd better take the application forms in person...

Now here's some happy news! 

Graduate Apela and the lovely Jessella from the Congregational Christian Church in Samoa tied the knot in Suva the weekend after graduation and kindly invited pretty much the whole College to celebrate with them; which indeed we did, and felt very blessed to do so. 

                                                       

The wedding cakes were many... 

the table decorations were stunning...

...and as for the dance done by the Bride's father; probably better that photographic evidence isn't available!

Suva welcomed the Prime Minister of India last week and Mailife Fiji reported the following:

'Mr Modi made several announcements.

“We will expand our defence and security cooperation, including assistance in defence training and capacity building. We agreed to identify opportunities to expand our trade and investments and work out a concrete roadmap. We are also prepared to increase cooperation in renewable energy, especially solar and wind energy, and in building capacity to adapt to climate change. In addition, we could share our experience and expertise in disaster management and response,” he said.

India has also agreed to extend Fiji’s credit line up to $70 million and provide visas on arrival for Fijians in India. There is an agreement as well to strengthen defence ties while New Delhi will double annual scholarships awarded to Fijian students.

After singing three MOUs, Mr Modi announced a $US5 million fund to promote small business and village enterprises in Fiji'.

Picky I know, but I'm fairly sure he signed those memoranda of understanding...

PTCEEs administrator Salome and I went on an away day to do some performance reviewing and plan for the future in the department. It was well worth it. Just a change of location helps to renew the mind somehow. 

We didn't go far: just to Pacific Regional Seminary, our Catholic neighbours down the road. They kindly gave us a Conference room to ourselves, use of their lovely small Chapel, and enough food to feed all Suva's Clergy for a week. Here's what 'lunch for two'... looked like.

---------------

Never a day goes by without a good chuckle at something delightful and usually unexpected: like the following encounter. 


Some of the campus children enjoy chatting and walking companionably with me on the three minute commute from home to office and back again. They're curious about the kind of differences my presence presents: woman staying alone in a house; speaking English with a strange (ie. English) accent - that sort of thing. When their parents aren't in earshot, they're very free. One younger neighbour padded silently alongside me in her flips-flops for quite a while the other day wearing a serious face and furrowed brow. All of a sudden, she stopped without warning, swivelled to the right, folded her arms and upped her chin to look directly into my face. I stopped too and waited. 

'Do you sweat?' she enquired. 

'Well, yes - yes I do', I admitted, 'and Fiji's much hotter than the country I come from - England - so I probably sweat a bit more here. What about you?' I asked,  not entirely sure whether I should reciprocate.

'Oh yeah, of course I sweat!' she said, a little dismissively. Perhaps she felt my question was typical of white, perspiring British Methodists who really should know better. 'Bye Reverend Val'. My interrogator closed the exchange. Then off she skipped, to continue investigative journalism elsewhere, I presume.

Though as we all know, lady mission partners never sweat. We only glow...

Let's hear it for our 'Granny Graduate!'

Thursday 13th November 2014 won't be forgotten in a hurry. It was Pacific Theological College's graduation day - an occasion teeming with preparations, celebrations and congratulations: not least for one of our Extension students who proudly gained her Certificate in Theological Studies. 





Best of all, Mrs Moka Jessop Togakilo managed to come over to Fiji from the island of Niue to receive her award in person.

Moka was accompanied by her daughter Helena who lives in Auckland, and we were absolutely thrilled to see them! For many friends who study at a distance, attending the graduation here just isn't a goer. Their Churches, hopefully, organise an occasion locally for them. But Moka, on this occasion, was able to be here for the full works and kindly agreed to be interviewed by me for the blog. I began by asking her, delicately, about being a somewhat mature student.

Moka: Oh yes! I just turned 71 on Sept 24^th this year. 34 years ago I and my husband were students at the University of the South Pacific which is nearby to your College, so visiting Suva again after so long is bringing back memories. My husband is also studying for his Certificate so maybe in the future when I get my Diploma at the next level we can graduate together. 

Val: Moka, tell me please about your Church and the work you do there?

Moka: Well...my Church is called Ekalesia Kelisiano Niue (EKN) and that's where I'm an ordained Elder: the word we use is ulumutua. I suppose you could say I'm the Pastor's 'right-hand woman', but actually we have no Pastor so I have pastoral charge of the Church in a village called Toi, and it's coming up to my 10th year of being ordained.

Val: So does studying theology at a distance really help you in that ministry? Does it equip you for the work on the ground?

Moka: It does. Yes! The courses have proved to me that what I'm doing is of God. It's very important for me to have theological education because otherwise people think the only real Pastors - the only ones who know anything - are those who've been to College full-time. It's hard in our Church for women leaders to be recognised and I often think of Paul and his times of misery and persecution. I have known those times too. But they have made me rely on God even more.

Val: Can you think of a particular topic or assignment in your studies which really gripped you and got you thinking?

Moka: Let me think now....oooh - so many.... it was in the Biblical Studies course when we looked at the story of Rehab. I was thinking about her being called a prostitute and how negative that is. But if we are Christians and look more deeply, we see how she performed to save Israel from the hands of her enemies by hiding the spies. It annoys me that she's labelled, and as I was studying, I was thinking, "In any new translation of the Bible, will there be a change in that word 'prostitute?'" I think there should be. You can’t look down on your sisters because that’s the past – the old life.

Val: That's really interesting, Moka: that your studies helped you to wrestle with that passage.

Moka: Mmm - studying, you know, helps you to develop your spiritual side. It's very educational and it applies to your own life and you become a different person. We have old habits and old ways of looking at things. The courses are organized in a way that helps you go forward – they inspire you. That’s it. That’s why I'm studying in the extension programme. I didn’t do it just to prove I’m a Pastor – though you can’t deny that was part of it. But the best part is to know God more and to be a better follower of Jesus day by day.

And so, after a three hour graduation ceremony and a splendid feast on Thursday evening and into the night, Moka and Helena left at 2.00am(!) Friday morning by taxi for a three hour journey to the airport and then a flight back to Auckland to attend her grandson's wedding the next day. Talk about packing it in. Phew! She didn't seem at all fazed however, and was well up for it. If Moka's anything to go by, Theological Education by Extension doesn't half keep you pulsating and perky.

You signed up yet?

Here's Moka with the wonderful Salome, PTCEE's administrator, who's been
such an encouragement to her via e-mail. Moka also paid tribute to Deidre Madden the former PTCEE Director who started her off with the studies and Michael Kafonika who urged her on during his time as Acting Director.

...and here's a hat from Niue with the current Director underneath.
Got the gear - just need the flight!

Missions old and new

Allow me to introduce you to Hannah Dudley, if you've not met before. Second from the left. An Australian missionary: feisty, eccentric and someone whose legacy receives mixed reviews these days from some contemporary Indian writers. Nevertheless, here's what she wrote on 4th November 1912 to the Modern Review.

(Source: T. Sanadhya, 'My twenty-one years in the Fiji Islands', Fiji Museum, 1991)

Sir,

Living in a country where the system called “Indentured labour” is in vogue, one is continually oppressed in spirit by the fraud, injustice, and inhumanity of which fellow creatures are the victims.

Fifteen years ago, I came to Fiji to do the mission work among the Indian people here. I had previously lived in India for five years. Knowing the natural timidity of Indian village people and knowing also that they had no knowledge of any country beyond their own immediate district, it is a matter of great wonder to me as to how these people could have been induced to come thousands of miles from their own country to Fiji. The women were pleased to see me as I had lived in India and could talk to them of their own country. They would tell me of their troubles and how they had been entrapped by the recruiter or his agents. I will cite a few cases.

One woman told me she had quarrelled with her husband and in anger ran away from her mother-in-law’s home to go to her mother’s. A man on the road questioned her, and said he would show her the way. He took her to a depot for Indentured labour. Another woman said her husband went to work at another place. He sent word to his wife to follow him. On her way a man said he knew her husband and that he would take her to him. This woman was taken to a depot. She said that one day she saw her husband passing and cried out to him but was silenced. An Indian girl was asked by a neighbour to go and see the Muharram festival. While there she was prevailed upon to go to a depot. Another woman told me that she was going to a bathing ghat and was misled by a woman to a depot.

When in the depot these women were told that they can not go till they pay for the food they have had and for other expenses. They were unable to do so. They arrive in this country, timid, fearful women not knowing where they are to be sent to. They are allotted to plantations like so many dumb animals. If they do not perform satisfactorily the work given to them, they are punished by being struck or fined, or they are even sent to goal. The life on the plantations alters their demeanour and even their faces. Some look crushed and broken-hearted, others sullen, others hard and evil. I shall never forget the first time I saw “indentured” women. They were returning from their day’s work. The look on these women’s faces haunts me.

The reason Hannah gets a mention in this week's blog is that I went to Dudley Memorial Church, named after her, last Sunday. It's one of the thriving congregations of Fijian Methodism's Indian Division, boasting a congregation which attracts members from across the social spectrum including a fair sprinkling of Suva's successful and high powered professionals. Hannah would be delighted, don't you think?

There was the warmest of welcomes from Senior Circuit Steward Anand Reuben, and his brother Revd Dr Reuben who was taking the Communion service. Dr Reuben kindly asked me to assist with serving the elements - an honour - and somehow had me signed up for the January plan before I left. He's a fast worker. 

It seemed to be a weekend of listening for the whispers of Fiji's past mission enterprises translated for the present day. Methodist missionaries William Cross and David Cargill who arrived in 1835 are named on a memorial stone at 'The Triangle', slap bang in the centre of Suva. It's very low-key; an understated, unpretentious monument, ever surrounded by swirling traffic, beeping taxi cabs and in earshot of the infectious reggae beat that booms out of the buses. 

And on that very spot, last Saturday after dark, another town centre congregation - Wesley City Mission - showed themselves to be thoroughly committed to contemporary evangelism, with a real desire to invite others to turn to Christ. I admired the initiative and was so glad I chose to attend and support. I'd met Wesley's energetic, inspirational youth group the weekend before when taking the service at their place. Just to be in their presence gives you hope and confidence that God hasn't given up. So, about an hour's worth of this contemporary city centre evangelism included powerful testimonies, great dance from the youth group guys (yes the guys danced, not the girls!) and a small, live band. There were conversations with those heading to the nightclubs and a call for commitment to Christ which attracted a handful of respondents. The Methodist Divisional Superintendent Rev Jeremaia Waqainabete spoke of his adolescence sleeping rough on the streets and the dramatic turn around in his life that finding faith enabled. Wesley's Associate Minister Rev Viliame Fatiaki was also there, supporting wholeheartedly. I was moved. It was well done. Dudley, Cargill and Cross must surely have approved?

Postscript. 

I made the point earlier of stressing that I chose to support the young people and the city evangelism event on Saturday evening. The alternative event that clashed, and the one - some might argue - I should have prioritised, was a glamorous dinner organised by Pacific Theological College's Women's Fellowship, at one of Suva's vast Chinese restaurants. There was considerable pressure not to desert the home crowd. On this occasion I did, having been present at numerous in-house celebrations and feasts since arrival, including Women's Fellowship-led events.

I've had a few quizzical looks.

Oops.

Sorry ladies. I promise to glam up and join the party next time!

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.

Let's hear it for the learners

Which most definitely includes me! Learning a lot as ever in week 4 of being in post as Director of the Pacific Theological College's Education by Extension programme and week 5 of being in Fiji itself. We need rain. Especially in the West. Only an ineffectual dribble so far and water supplies a problem for some of PTC's staff living on the outskirts of Suva. OK on campus so far but have bought a spare plastic dustbin and filled it up in anticipation...

A classic mistake of a photo with the light behind everyone - sorry about that - but here's our tutorial class from Friday morning. A beautiful mix of humanity in terms of ethnic background, denomination, age and gender. Members are pursuing various courses - ministry, Church history, ethics etc - by extension but either live on campus or are near enough to PTC to come in and take advantage of a class, the library and the Director - which is great! We talked about Practical Theology this week: how all our learning has to stand up to the 'So what?' question in terms of application to real life and real Church issues. Why does it matter? What difference does it make? Practical Theology is also a recognised academic discipline these days (has been for a while) and as a result has acquired impenetrable jargon. We commiserated about that and agreed not to become fazed or undermined by it.

Not that much fazes Mila, wife of the Anglican Priest at Suva's Cathedral and Elizabeth, President of PTC's Women's Fellowship, also married to a minister and from American Samoa. Little Esther came along with Mum because plans changed and she couldn't go swimming that morning.

Tema (Methodist) on the left and Ema (Anglican) on the right also both deal with Clergy husbands and busy lives, managing to find time for studies too, God bless 'em..

Food was shared at the end of tutorial this week, organised by the students, to say a heartfelt thank you to Michael Kafonika (chatting in the picture on the left) who stepped into the gap between Directors at PTCEE, to the detriment of his own PhD work which is now getting back on track. He's been a massive help to me - thank you Michael.

And similarly indispensable has been Salome, on the right in the blue stripy t-shirt, who is PTCEE's office assistant and my right-hand woman. She's very patient with me.....

Friday was a full day because in the evening the whole College went 5 mins up the road to Pacific Regional Seminary (PRS) which is the Catholic set-up for the formation and training of their priests. We shared a beautiful act of worship in their striking Chapel, were greatly moved by the phenomenal, plentiful and touching generosity we were shown, not least in terms of the feast prepared, and then there was an evening's cultural entertainment offered by both Colleges. PRS have Tongan students and we don't at present, and their vigorous presentation certainly got vociferous appreciation from the fans!

Some of Tonga's Catholic Priests in training

During worship earlier, the Revd Dr Upolu Vaai, a Samoan Methodist minister and one of our lecturers, preached about the ecumenical hope that's created in the World Church when those being formed for ministry 'meet at the crossroads' as Jesus met with the Samaritan woman at the well, each being changed by the other. I so agree with him! But the ecumenical momentum needs to continue and be lived out way, way beyond College with fierce commitment, determination and the same levels of mutual appreciation and hospitality. That's the challenge

It's lovely to have some manageable garden by Staff House 12. My young neighbour Yoane from Papua New Guinea has been helping me with it and we're planning on planting lemongrass because the mozzies hate it, and maybe adding to the pineapple crop: a plantation of one currently, being lovingly embraced in the photo below by Rev Ted. He's one of Pam Mason's family of Teddies for Tragedies which she knits so faithfully. Pam is from St Martin's, Dorking, my last Church, and I was very touched that she knitted Rev Ted for me, who travelled well to Fiji and  - unlike many of his fellow bears - hasn't needed to offer comfort in times of tragedy as yet, praise God. But it's good to know he'll be on hand if the call comes, eh?