This short anecdote illustrates how real it's becoming. Lately, in the midst of raising the rest of the financial support I need, I've found myself spending hours browsing health insurance plans, researching necessary immunizations, and making mental notes to remember to put certain things in my suitcase come December27thish. The Lord continues to grow my excitement for ministry in Fiji, and has even blessed our team to be able to hear about what God's doing there right now!
[emails received from Don and Kathryn Mansfield, the directors of the pacific islands region]
Greetings! Kathryn and I have just returned from Papua New Guinea and leave in two days for a CCC conference for Oceania in Australia.
Things in Fiji are going well. The problem is that we don't have enough people to take advantage of all the opportunities. So we are very excited about you all arriving.
We think that you all will really be able to seriously help in the areas of improving the quality of evangelism and of basic discipleship. Those are two serious needs in Fiji right now.
With you all arriving at the start of next year, you will be right at the star of a huge emphasis on staff development and training.
Regarding Suva . . . It is not really the garden spot of the country but it’s not a bad place to live either. Rather beaches, commercial harbors, and mud flats. (Sorry about that!)
The students there are so open to the gospel. The challenge is the laid-back "manyana" attitudes.
Do you need any help with knowing support levels or with your visa applications?
We are so excited to see you in Fiji!
Blessings,
Don & Kathryn
[second e-mail]
The New Zealand CCC ministry sent a project team this last week and I just heard that by the end of their time they saw 78 Fijians receive Christ and 18 of those are involved in follow-up.
-Don
