Island AFHA Conference in Fiji

Fiji AFHA Conference group

We finally got to have the training conference for Area Family History Advisors (AFHAs) from the islands that we had spent so much time planning.   Originally we were going to do this back in March, but when Cyclone Pam hit Fiji so hard we had to postpone for a while.  

We flew to Nadi on Monday, May 2.   We had a chance to spend a bit of time with our dear friend, Fipe Rabuka from Savusavu who we had met last October.  It was really nice to connect with her again.

Me with Fipe Rabuka from Savusavu

Our boss, Mike Higgins, and the three couples we would be training all arrived the following day.   We were all staying at our usual place - Tanoa Waterfront Hotel in Latoka.   In addition,  Mike's boss from Salt Lake, Bruce Miller, and Mark Kelly from Australia were with us.  We had some great sessions and everyone got a lot out of it.

We have truly loved the people in every one of the islands we have visited throughout this mission.  However, if we ever wanted to pick a place to come back to on our own when this mission ends, it would probably be Fiji.  Both of us really love our time there.  It helps that the tap water in Fiji is safe to drink and the infrastructure is well developed (good roads, decent Internet, and many people who speak English). After our last trip there in October I spent some time dreaming of the possibility of going to live there one day, joining the strong expat community in Savusavu.   After the last big cyclone I would be less ready to do that.  But we will always have a special love for Fiji and the dear friends we have made there.

On Friday, May 6 we all went our separate ways - each of the couples going back to their homes and us returning to Samoa for the last part of our assignment there.

We've been gone from Auckland for  three weeks now and we are not done yet.   It's been a lot of travel with trainings in three different countries.  We are tired.  We are ready to get back to our own beds.  But we would not have up these experiences for anything in the whole world.

Here are a few shots we took during the conference.   Working with these people has been such a delight!

  Elder Bennett & I with Bruce Miller

Brother Victor & Sister Domonique Hapairai from Tahiti

Sister Siutiti and Brother Sioeli 'Unga from Tonga

Brother Tueri and Sister Seruwaia Senikuriciri from Fiji

Enjoying dinner together

Mark Kelly and Mike Higgins 

Bruce Miller

Larry and I dancing with the 'Ungas on the last evening in Fiji

                                                                Scenes of Fiji Beauty

Meeting the New Zealand AFHA's

This past week we headed back down to Hamilton for a meeting with the Area Family History Advisors from throughout New Zealand.  We needed to stay the night because we had a late conference call with the Advisors from Australia as well.  I was very impressed by the folks we are working with and look forward to getting to know them better.

Bob Munroe

Jill & Dave Hayward

Karen and Garry Howard

Before heading home on Wednesday we took time to take a walk through the Hamilton Rose Gardens and then hike around the lake nearby.  (We found both of these places because we knew there were geocache hides there.  What a delightful way to discover some truly special out of the way spots we otherwise would have missed). I continue to be amazed by the beauty of this place.  I hope I never get so used to it that I cease to be awed by it.

While we were in Hamilton we took the opportunity to go do a session at the temple.  I cornered one of the gardeners there as we were leaving to ask names of several of the trees I did not recognize like the Monkey Puzzle Tree

I am still amazed to see so many different trees, flowers, vines and bushes that are completely strange to me.  There is nothing like this back home.  Oh sure, we have pine trees and palm trees and leaf trees.  But they each grow in their own specific zones.  Here it is all a wild hodge podge growing together.  I've never seen so many shades of green.  The beauty truly is stunning.