"The Survivors: The Real Life Drama"

Our team preparing for return departure from Fiji to Hawaii... "The Survivors: The Real Life Drama"
We made it this far by the power of the Holy Spirit; fruit was harvested, seed sown, and plants watered while we labored in the Islands of Fiji harvest. Only Sally is not pictured here with us... We love you Sally and pray for speedy recovery with no complications.

We love you Sally

Kiesha explains why Sally is getting ready to ship back to Australia for surgery on her ankle, fractured while trekking over a slippery mountain during a rain storm from the village where we helped build a new parsonage for one of the local pastors...
And, John gives a "thumbs up" for our fearless leader, Bill McQuilkin... Our entire team gave him the same rating for his leadership during the entire DTS. In fact, if you are planning to go into tough territory you would be wise to get a word from Bill before you go.

A Fijian Sunset

One of our final evenings in Fiji--what better view than an artists concept of the crucifixion silhouetted by sunset and the Yasawa Islands in the distance as viewed from Denarau Island near Nadi. I'm grateful for all the Lord has done, then and now, here and there, in their hearts and ours as a team. Yes Lord. Your Will, not our will be done. Thank You Father for all the friends, signs and wonders, memories, miracles, healings, Your Glory, and the open doors into hearts of so many beautiful people.

Boarding School on Waya Island in Yasawas

These children are 2nd and 3rd grade level students in the local boarding school in one of the villages on Waya Island where most of our team served for about 12 days. The children seemed so attentive and well mannered and brilliant to visit with. This was one of the highlights of time in the islands away from the Big Island.

Plumbline in Construction

Setting the foundation for new parsonage on Waya and praying over the project with village building crew and our team; a wonderful experience to see an entire village cooperate to help build a home for a pastor and his family.

Marine Reach Hosts Fiji Worship

Several branches of YWAM joined together Monday morning at the Marine Reach base in Lautoka for a time of corporate/intercultural worship with songs of praise and adoration to the One King of kings and Lord of lords, Jesus Christ.
It was a spiritually charged time of prayer for each other and words of encouragement for many who joined together from several nations.

Fellowship on Waya

Some of our team waiting for dinner with local Kindergarten fundraisers.

Father+Son Casting Net/New Home Builders

A common scene is seeing men fishing to provide daily family nourishment. In this picture a father and his son work as a team to bring in a daily catch using their nets, much like the fishermen Jesus called to follow Him on the Sea of Galilee. Note the material for siding in their boat, variegated tin commonly used for roofing material or siding on some homes.
The construction process in this village employed the entire village, all cooperating together laying a foundation with hand mixed cement and concrete blocks, constructing walls with the usual studs, and a roof made of tin. The men worked in shifts except the experienced brick layer and carpenter--exhausted workers would take a break lying down in the kasawa field next to the building site, laughing and singing. The women joined together to prepare a feast for everyone and the guest missionaries from Kona, HI. Three churches all cooperated in this effort to build a residence for the leader's family of the Methodist Church.

School Children in Natawa

Children make their way to lunch in the school cafeteria by way of the rugby/soccer field. Mark and Dennison visited each classroom at the school from grade 1 to 8. These children board at this school in dormitories while their parents spend the week just a few hundred feet away. They go home for weekends but return on Sunday afternoon.

Paradise in Yasawas

Our trip to the villages of Waya in the Asawa Islands off the coast of Viti Levu has been eventful from boarding a large boat full of tourists on holiday to various islands to our own wonderful experiences in a beautiful setting on a sandy beach. We were greeted by a pastor's wife, with fresh coconut milk and fruit, then escorted to the home of the village chief for a formal greeting, island protocol for guests, and his welcome to his island with a coconut shell with a traditional island drink passed around for a token of friendship...
We've also been assaulted by local demonic spirits featuring headaches, food poisoning, dehydration, diarrhea, fever, chills, colds, and a broken ankle. We will not back down from what God has called us to do here. We have been used by the Lord to pray for families and individuals who are tormented by spiritual forces trying to hold people in darkness. While in a small on the other side of the island we participated with the entire community in laying a foundation for a home a new pastor will move into soon with his family.
Darrel has able to catch a few fish, John upgraded some much needed plumbing repairs, Sephanie conducted children's activities, Joe led some kids in ball games, Mark shared his balloon creations while his son, Joshua, led children around with his beach ball. Sally was sent back to the main island with a broken ankle she incurred while on a trek from one village to another in a very strong rain storm. She will be undergoing surgery in Australia. We were able to pray with several villagers during our outreach visitation to homes.
Newer village housing uses a mixture of concrete block and tin to resist the strong hurricane and cyclone winds which we are told occur every year to varying degrees of force. Many still reside in the traditional indigenous grass bure construction. These use natural resources for whomever wants to build a home; last about 7 years in good weather; and are more comfortably cool in the tropical heat. There are limited conveniences such as electricity, modern bathrooms, Nordstroms, Starbucks, and we couldn't find a Mexican restaurant or internet service anywhere... but there's an abundance of fish and kasawa (starch) for every meal. Without kasawa one cannot survive. We are okay without coffee because we have "cup-a-tea" time here every day. Ever wonder what "island fever" is all about? Is that like cabin fever? Maybe we should ask the village nurse.

Big Kup of Koinonia Tea

Some have a taste for local fellowship drinks in a big way... Everyone enjoys humoring Joe. And he enjoys being given a large cup of island tea with the local "chief" better known as Pastor Mike during a men's fellowship at another pastor's home. Later, the same evening Joe was introduced to some of the family's baby pigs...

Joe and Grace entertain the children and youth at the Church of God made up of mostly former Hindus who are now Christians who faithfully follow Jesus. Following the preaching by Dennison and testimonies from our team we prayed for several people who were healed and one man was delivered of a demon that had been tormenting him with pain for several years. He had been to several doctors who couldn't help him. A young mute boy began speaking for the first time in his life.

Plumbline in the Mountains

Bill McQuilkin and Ceasar Vukialau taught Plumbline to a group of young men and women during the first full week in Fiji. They actually experienced non-beach weather at 4,000 ft and a rich anointing to share the Plumbline teaching with 40 students. Students experienced significant spiritual breakthrough and deep impact in their lives while attending the sessions. Also pictured is Joe Kim with new friends at the camp.

Fijian Countryside on way to Nadi

The land is rich and beautiful for situation... a soil that grows year around with ample sunshine and moisture. This is a land of opportunity that could feed the South Pacific. We can see that the potential for this nation is beyond our imagination in all 7 spheres of society. We've been able to invest in the educational institutions, churches, families, entertainment with our public drama skits, marketplace, and have prayed over the government from the time we knew we would be going to Fiji. The news is spreading that God is here to save, heal, deliver from demons, and restore all that the enemy has stolen from the residents who are now living in this beautiful nation.

Kona Crossroads song and dance troupe

We visited the YWAM School of Missions & Evangelism where our drama rose to the occasion for the class that is being trained to reach into the nations of the world from the South Pacific Islands--they are preparing to do missions work in places such as Ghana, South Africa, Mongolia, India, Papua New Guinea, and China. The class of eleven include 3 Tonga students.

Indian Church and College Students Receive Holy Spirit

Greetings from Fiji. Our team arrived a few weeks ago and began ministry from that day onward. It's been nonstop since and even on our days off it seems that God is in the midst and moving by His Spirit. It's the Book of Acts revisited whether in the marketplace, church, door to door, or house gatherings... Diving appointments meeting people and then praying for healing or salvation is common place and the norm rather than the exception as we step out in His power. The presence of Holy Spirit is very strong wherever we go.
Our team is such a wonderful example of diversity in gifts and experience working in unity as He leads us together and individually. God has opened up churches to share with on weekends, and many families to serve in during the week. The hospital is one of the fertile places for outreach as the people there are eager to have someone pray for them; as a result we've seen God do numerous kinds of miracles for those suffering there. A deaf boy was healed last night at a festival downtown, a mute boy began to speak the Name of Jesus for the first time in a church on Sunday, nearly a dozen university students were healed of injuries sustained in sports, and several young Indian believers were baptized with the Holy Spirit in a house meeting. All of these are the result of obeying the Great Commission of going and preaching the good news... and "the Lord working with them and confirming the word with signs following." (Mark 16:10)
This week has proven to be one of the most amazing since arriving in Fiji. The Lord is moving with signs and wonders. I was asked to preach this past Sunday in a small Indian cross cultural church on the outskirts of Lautoka... one man was delivered of a demon, a mute boy spoke the Name, Jesus, for the first time, and an elderly lady was delivered of arthritic hip and back problems. More miracles occurred Tuesday with God healing a young man's broken elbow while he was waiting with me in hospital for tests. The same evening, about 10 university students were healed of numerous sports injuries and serious problems which instantly disappeared. These students are teachers who are being sent to schools throughout Fiji this week for their appointments in education. What a way to begin their lives in one of the spheres of culture here in Fiji. And, as reported, a boy with hearing problems began hearing after prayer in the middle of the festival commotion last evening.
Recently a group of students in a mosque were all led to Christ with their teacher by a local pastor... Some of our team members had been prayer walking around this same mosque for an entire week. We were in the pastor's church celebrating the Lord the following Sunday.
After visiting and praying for people at home in a predominately Indian neighborhood 6 young people were baptized in Holy Spirit in a home cell group meeting; they spoke in tongues, saw visions of the cross, Jesus, and tongues of fire upon those present; all testified boldly of what God was doing in their lives.
The potential for simple house churches is incredible, especially among the young new Indian believers throughout this nation of islands and villages and mountainous neighborhoods. Thanks for your prayers for us as we are scheduled to venture further out into the islands and villages on the 31st of this month.

Vunayasi School of Missions and Evangelism

This is the class of new missionaries during a training time on Kingdom world view. They are students from Tonga and Fiji Islands with specific destinations God has placed on their hearts--Ghana, South Africa, China, India, and Mongolia! What courage and dedicated hearts. Dennison spent 3 days at this base during the first full week in Fiji... After meeting these students on the first weekend of the outreach to Fiji we went to Prayer Mountain, the first piece of property acquired for YWAM by Loren and Darlene Cunningham in 1968. We used the afternoon to pray for God's blessing and anointing for this ministry and its leader, Ledua. It is "beautiful for situation" overlooking valleys in every direction with a view to the ocean toward the Northwest.

Church Construction near Town of Ba

Here's a pic of the crew who we visited who were building a church for the rural community on a mountain outside of Ba. They had their first service with people contacted by team members, Sal, Lee, and Kiesha. Mark and John helped the local builders. In this picture we see Darrel next to the pastor of the Indian church we ministered in Sunday; three of the gentlemen of the congregation in the church, John (Mr. Fixit) in the back row; Dennison next to Bill our fearless leader, Joe and Lee. This was rustic living but truly a prayer mountain experience for the team... God is spreading His Kingdom even to the uttermost regions of unreached Fiji. What a joy and blessing to experience His love and tender compassion for all people groups... What a privilege to represent His heart to the nations, even those whose ancestors moved here over a hundred years ago from India.

Strategy Meeting at YWAM Fiji Base in Lautoka

Our team from University of the Nations in Kona has been working with a local YWAM base in Lautoka, Fiji since our arrival last month. We've been busy with visitation outreaches door to door here and in surrounding communities. We have seen God do miracles and add numerous individuals into His Kingdom. We've been asked to minister in local churches.
One very unique cultural expression of God's family was mostly an Indian congregation led by an Indian pastor/taxi driver Dennison met downtown while trying to get a ride to the hospital to get an x-ray for his leg he injured at the YWAM base in Vunayasi. Nischel Deo invited us to come to his church. Five of us went and shared testimonies and prayed for many in the congregation after the message. A mute boy spoke the Name, Jesus, for the first time after prayer.
Part of our team helped build a church on a hill above a town called Ba about an hour from Lautoka with daily door to door evangelism in the neighboring homes among the hilly region. They had their first service this past Sunday morning. Some of our ladies were praying on the hill above the new building and were assaulted with rocks thrown at them by the local witch doctor who was threatened by the presence of God's love in what he believes is his territory.
Children's evangelistic efforts have been thronged by kids every day. The Jesus skit has been touching lives as well as a skit setting a young man free from sin through the Word of God. Bill and Byung Su (Joe) spent a few days working with a youth camp teaching the Plumbline principles with amazing impact. Dennison was able to share with a group of students preparing for missions at the Vunayasi YWAM base; and Sally taught a group of young future teachers at a local school. We've been through the usual introductory abdominal infirmities and are now moving ahead in health.