Cindy's Travel Bits

My roomie Mel and I made this soup on a whim and it turned out so good. Perfect on a fall day which y’all in America are coming into.

Minestrone Soup

Ingredients
1 carrot chopped
1 celery stick chopped
1 zucchini chopped
1 brown onion chopped
6 garlic cloves chopped
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp tomato paste
salt and pepper

600g bacon bones (or 3 rashes bacon)
1 liter broth (veggie or chicken)
1 cup red wine (cab sav or merlot)
1 cup water
1 1/2 handful of fresh basil
1 tbsp oregano
1 tbsp thyme
1 tbsp sage
1 tbsp rosemary

1 can cannellini beans
1 can chickpeas
1 can diced tomatoes

2 tsp brown sugar
1 cup pasta

Cook vegetables in pot with olive oil for 4-5 minutes. Add tomato paste and mix well. Add either bacon bones or crispy bacon to veggie mix with broth, wine and water. Mix in herbs and canned beans and tomatoes. Bring to a boil and let simmer for about 15 minutes. Add brown sugar and pasta to soup. Let pasta cook through about another 15 minutes. Goes well with cheesy bread.

Back in March I had been emailing my kiwi friend Mel about coming out to New Zealand and traveling around the country we she proposed a trip to Fiji with Christian Surfers New Zealand. I have always dreamed about going to Fiji but living in the states it always remains a dream. The flights alone are through the roof. After checking the cost to fly from NZ to Fiji I bought my ticket the next day. On May 1st (my brother’s b-day) I met up with 19 other eager new friends that I would be traveling thru Fiji with, 3 Brazilians, 5 South Africans, 11 New Zealanders and me, the American. All at the Auckland airport we had heaps of luggage including 20+ surf boards and other gear that we were leaving for the Fijians. It was intense. Finally through the security check we were set the board the plane. I stopped to call my mom to tell her I was ok and to wish my bro a happy birthday when I walked by Mick Fanning in the airport. I did a double take and debated whether or not to take a picture with him or get his autograph and decided to stare instead. Lame, I know.

We arrived in Fiji and were welcomed by the CS Fiji leaders Tuks and Malachi! We were all in smiles not realizing the hard road ahead of us. After a 3 hour drive we arrived to our first destination along the south side of the island called the Coral Coast. We settled into our bunks and had dinner and planned the day ahead. Early the next morning we loaded up our boat with food and surf boards for a 45 minute road off the coast of the main island to a surf spot called Frigates. As we wee getting on the boat I notice coconuts floating down the river. One after the other and so I pinched myself and screamed, “IM IN FIJI!” What a surreal moment, I wouldn’t mind being a floating coconut.

Once out of the river we hit for the surf break. I crawled to the front of the boat and with my feet dangling off the front I breathed in the moment. The water was crystal clear, 80 degrees, blue skies and islands in the distance. I prayed a quick one of thanksgiving and asked if He would bring some dolphins and a few minutes later they came. Jumping and spinning out of the water I was so stoked and they rode in front of the boat until they took off. Can I get an AMEN?

Frigates is a left-hander that breaks over reef. The size was about head high with some bigger ones on the set waves. I tried to psych myself up to go out but the reef underneath scared me. I paddled out but couldn’t bring myself to go over the falls. In a year’s tine I will throw myself over. We spent the entire day under the Fijian sun soaking up the moments, snorkeling and jumping off the boat. By far, one of the best days of my life. The next day was Sunday, a day of rest. We relaxed and jumped onto Fiji time before we started our mission.

What is our mission?
Christian Surfers New Zealand teamed up with missionary Kris Stice who leads Christian Surfers Fiji. Our primary goals were to equip CS Fiji with all the knowledge and techniques we had and to tell people about Jesus. Our group split in 2 for the first few days into different villages. One group stayed on the east side and ran a volleyball competition for the locals as many Fijians play volleyball. In addition to that we ran a board repair shop teaching CS Fiji how to do board repairs and a children’s church program for the village kids. The other group (my group) stayed in a village and taught CS Fiji how to run a surf lesson and then gathered the kids from the village and brought them to the beach. It was a fun day and perfect little waves came thru for our clinic.

After this our group came back together and we ran a girls camp at a surf camp called Sand Dunes. Its one of the few beach breaks on the south coast and it’s pretty full-on and dumpy. (I had a fun session out there before camp started,) For the girls camp we had a surf lesson and hung out at the beach although the waves and current were so strong. That night we showed Heart of a Soul Surfer about Bethany Hamilton and CS New Zealand’s women’s national director Mel shared her story. It was awesome. The guys then met up with us and we had a day of workshops were our team nurse taught a CPR class, we had another board repair workshop, and children’s church. The following Saturday we tried to run a surf competition and had invited all the surfers from Fiji to join in. Some competitors from the Fijian Surfing Association came out for the competition but there were no waves to hold the event so we had to postpone it. We handed everything over to CS Fiji and we know that when the waves and the timing is right they will hold the contest.

The Unforgettables:
Most people who travel to Fiji see only the resort aspect or the surf aspect but for me I saw the unglorified parts, the parts that most people turn their heads from and choose to believe are not there. Maybe I would do the same but that was not my case. Eight of us from the group drove into this village not knowing what to expect and taking whatever came our way with joy and humility. We were welcomed to the village by cute little Fijian kids running around in the dirt with pigs and scraggle dogs. Lunch was on the table and they were waiting for us to arrive. Lunch was on the floor and us girls were in sulus (wrap skirts like sarangs) down to the floor. Sitting on the floor in the sulus is an art. Village life is much different than the surrounding settlements. Women have to cover both their knees and shoulders. You are not allowed to wear anything on your head or touch your head or anyone else’s. The village protocol is strict but very respectful of everyone. We were given the best, all that they had. We always ate first, we were given beds, we were the honored guests and served. As much as we tried to help we could not give all that was given to us. The Fijians live on so little compared to my upbringing yet they are content. They have beautiful smiles, the children still run around laughing and playing. One thing that hit me the most is that the ONLY difference between them and me is a border. I was born in America and they were born in Fiji and yet our lives are so different. I am a spoiled brat when I complain about eating chicken off a bone or not having a flashy couch to sit on. And while these things are a blessing to have they can not be the source of my joy and comfort.

Another sobering moment was in the village…..I was going to the bathroom. Just follow me on this. I’m sitting there with the door tightly shut and held together by a string and nail. There was a huge crevice at the bottom of the door and as I’m looking out I see a little piggy grazing. How did I get here? This is not my reality and I thought long and hard about my life and the lives of so many people throughout the world who live like this. I could either be grossed out or look past it and find joy in the little things like the laughter of children, a momma pig and her piglets following her, each plant and it’s colors, seeing life through Jesus’ eyes and caring for the things He cares about. This trip was more for me than what I thought I could give to the Fijians. I’m so thankful for this experience and I can’t wait for the day when I get to go on another trip and serve others. I have so much to give and I’m ready to give and serve and see the world as Jesus does and serve as Jesus did. I’m ready!