FRUIT TREES AND KAYAKS!

DRAGON FRUIT

 John has planted 70 different fruit trees.  He starts a lot from seed and grafts them for faster growth.  He built his greenhouse that is open to the rain or he covers if too much rain.  Last year he had more pumpkin than he could use.  I hope I labeled these correctly!!!

CITRUS (grafted)

GRANADILIA VINE (GIANT PASSION FRUIT)

MAMEY SAPOTE SEED

PASSION FRUIT AND SEEDLINGS

BLACK PEPPER

MANGO (grafted)

POMEGRANATE FRUIT AND FLOWERS

PASSION FRUIT VINES on the tree

YOUNG CINNAMON, CITRUS, CASHEW AND JACKFRUIT

GUAVA (WEST INDIAN)

PASSION FRUIT AND FLOWERS......

COFFEE

PAPAYA...

"COCKTAIL" PLANT

Outdoor shower

John has made over 20 kayaks.

A PERFECT WEEKEND.....with John and Judy

Good people, good food, good weather and a great time.  Thanks John and Judy.
John and Judy are both RPCV and have now bought land and are building a home in Fiji.  They have 15 acres on the ocean outside Rakiraki.  They have planted over 70 different fruit trees.  John builds kayaks and teaches bee keeping now.  Judy does quilting and is a great cribbage player.  We spent a day snorkeling and picnicking over at Nananui-ra on the perfect day.  Judy spoiled us with great food all weekend.  Carol, Andrea, Alysha, Dan, Joe and I will always remember the good times here.

 Happy Birthday John

John and Judy's present home and new home spot from the ocean.....

 Joe, Alysha, Carol, John and Andrea....

 Truly a beautiful spot....snorkeling....picnic.....coconut husking....hiking....

 My first time using my camera underwater!  A Blue starfish.....

CHECK IT OUT!

www.viseiseihealth.org
www.wellone.massagetherapy.com - Jon and Heather's new web page

CHILDREN CANCER WARD

A mother sleeping with her child.  If a child comes to the hospital the family brings food and clothes for the child.  She may need to bring other children also.  The cyclone blew the roof off the porch outside the ward and Rotary is going to repair it and put in new benches and flowers.

Kiss your babies everyday.....

SPECIAL SCHOOL....a school for physically and mentally challenged

Sue and Terry are a couple from Australia that have worked for the Special School for two years.  They are fabulous people.   They have scrubbed floors, painted walls,  etc. Sue takes a group swimming at the Northern Club once a week.  Their Rotary Club in Australia donated money for computers and musical instruments.  Sue and Terry give so much of their time and love to the people here.  We enjoy knowing them and calling them friends.

 Some of the children live at the school during the week.  Some parents accompany their children to school also.  Sue knows all the children by name and takes a personal interest in each and everyone.  She and her husband are going to bike through Australia next!

"OLD PERSON HOME"

Rotary Club just donated crutches so this man can walk now.  Joe and I have joined Rotary here.  It is a small group.

 Men and women sleep in wards with very little privacy, no air conditioning, and thin mattresses.  Please boys, don't put me here!

 Community Center for tea.  Most residents are Indo-Fijian.

 Dream List....

Today I went to the "Old Person Home".  This is what they call the nursing home.  There are no hospices, Comfort Homes or hospice care that I know of in Fiji.   There are 41 residents here and mostly Indo-Fijian.  This is the only "Old Person Home" in the west of the island.  I really don't know much about what happens to you if you do not have money or family and you get old??????    Dr. R. is talking about building small retirement homes on part of his land but I don't see a lot of retirement areas here????  Senior care might be something that is needed.  I even think child care is something that is more in need as people move out of the villages.  Minimum wage is less that $3.00.  I don't believe there are Senior Centers or a culture for active seniors.  Average living age for females is 68 and males 64.  I will have to ask more questions about growing older in Fiji.......

UPDATE:  Most men die in Fiji before age 60.  Older mothers are usually taken care of by their sons and their wives!  Mothers come first before wives.  There is usually a lot of stress between mothers and daughter in laws because of this.  It is very unusual for anybody to be in a nursing home or "old person home".  Retirement homes just don't exist.   There is very little senior care other than family.  If a couple both work, the grandmother will take care of the children as long as she is able.  Then it is the responsibility of the sons and their wives.  Interesting......
For $3.00/hour one could get someone to take care of you here -  if you had the money.  Interesting...

OUR GREATEST JOYS......

Our greatest JOYS..... JACK, LUKE, and RYAN.....michael, jenny, greg, jonathan and heather.....
WE LOVE YOU!