We made it!!

A last coffee and gelato with the wonderful Bakers before we leave

Well, here we are in steamy, sunny and sweaty Suva. Its been a week now and we are in our house (via the Novotel) , we met the Board of the PSFC and had a great dinner with them, kids started school ( a bit of a false start for Soph as she was sick) and excitingly we seem to have 2 kittens in our backyard. The kids run out with fresh water everyday, which is lovely, but not helping the "getting a dog cause" much!

All up we are doing well, despite missing our families and friends. Getting the internet was fantastic and a real boost, as we dont feel so isolated. Lots to learn, lots of water to boil, lots of sleep needed and lots of reminding that "one must remember one's sense of humour at times such as this". The kids groan and roll their eyes when I say it, but agree nonetheless! Here are a few pics of last couple of weeks.

Pen pals for a little while

Family dinner -minus the Mears who were camping.

Through customs-having found the lost bag just in time.

Landing in  Suva and walking over to get our bags

Brief stopover at the Novotel until our house was ready.

Very "realistic" start to mission work.

Off to school! Christian Community School.

The countdown is on!!

Only 3 sleeps to go now. We are excited, sad, exhausted, busy and hoping that the anticipation of ;eaving is actually worse than the leaving itself. That's what we've been told, so praying its the case. Here are a few photos of the last few weeks or so. Action-a-plenty!

Enjoying our favourite dinner at Nanny and Grandad's -the "usual"

NYE at Doyles Watsons Bay with the wonderful Cooks

Enjoying the fireworks

We'll miss places like Bronte Beach..ok, we hardly ever went, but we COULD if we wanted..

Loved our week at CMS Summer School -excellent bible teaching and fun family time.

Soph's 8th birthday during summer school

Thinkin' she'll make a great teacher one day....or prison warden....?

Squeezing a last drink in with our super friends

Another Grandad tradition -reading "Beano" to the kids

Yet another final catch up with some  lovely friends.

Christmas Capers!

The last few days..

Baby Alive!

Christmas mornin'

Christmas Lunch

Luke's 9th birthday at Homebush

Bailey's 13th birthday at Luna Park

Gotta love youth group leaders!!

I have always been thankful for the young people at the churches I've been to for their time, commitment and desire to serve the younger people in the church. Now as a parent, even more so. Sarah James has been Hannah's leader for about 6 years at our church and she has been one of the highlights during our time there. She has been fun, energetic, caring, thoughtful, generous with time and money and most importantly, she has modelled to our girl what it looks like to follow Jesus and serve Him with your whole life. Here's the gift she gave Hannah this morning, as a way of encouraging her as we head off to Fiji in 4 weeks. Thankyou Sarah -so typically thoughtful!

It's a  "Fiji survival kit" and Hannah is thrilled!

Snapshots of the last few weeks!

Gingerbread fun!

Finished product

Hannah recieving a "Lindfield Blue"

Yeh baby!!

Last day of school "clap out" for all the leavers.

Getting ready for the gymnastics presentation night

Caleb's 7th birthday

Perfectly normal behaviour....

'arry Po-a

Soph's more recent passion is the Harry Potter series and so her mornings now involve grabbing the book, flinging herself on the bed next to daddy and "assuming the position". I tell her what time she can wake him and she then watches the clock until it is FINALLY time. It's a good thing he shares her enthusiasm over this book - had it been something like Milly Molly Mandy, the reception may not have been so warm.

Commissionanagans!!

We just had the best weekend as we had our commissioning service with CMS. We were officially sent by CMS and our fellow supporters as missionaries to Fiji and farewelled by a whole lot of friends and family. Some of the highlights were:

- catching up with friends from many stages of life
- Dave's fantastic sermon about why we choose to head off on mission.
- seeing the kids with their friends and on the jumping castle
- hardworking friends chipping in and helping out before the day and on it
- Ant back on the organ belting out "It is well with my soul"
- ice cold punch on a 37 degree day!!!
- no rain

All up, it was so encouraging and God -glorifying.....not to mention emotionally draining!