Crazy Week

This past week started off with three days with no water from the public utility. I have always had to deal with water conservation just to help out with the family I live with, so I just flush my toilet just once a day since I am the only one that uses it in my living area. The four other members of the family share the other bathroom, which I am sure they flush more often. From my bathroom there's a small opening in the wall about head height, that I can look out and see their 500 gallon water storage tank. From time to time while I have been here I have had to let Ravi know that the tank is full and water is flowing out of the top and onto the dirt ground below so he can go out and shutoff the inflow of water. This is becoming a serious issue since I have notice the water tank tilting more, because when they installed the tank they did not build a sturdy concrete fountain to support all the weight of that much water, and in time it will fall off it 3 foot height concrete block support base which was never cemented together, and damage the tank. Ravi is aware of the problem, but has done nothing to correct it other than to use some short wood beams to support the tilting tank which they just sink into the soft ground also and water continues to flow out if not stopped. Now that the city water is flowing again I have had to wake Favi up at 6am to go out and shut the water off because he had not installed an automatic shut off valve. However, he finally told me later that day he just installed one, but the very next morning water was flowing out again and I had to wake him again. Now the he finally correct that problem we had more water presser, but I have notice another problem out in the front yard next to the Poga where there is a water fauset that was never put together correctly and the shut off valve keeps blowing off and I have had to push it back on otherwise it just pours out and floods the front yard and waste more water. I told Ravi about the problem and he need to use some wire to tie the fauset more securely but I didn't do it, and the next night valve was blown off again early in the morning while it was still dark, and I tried to push on the valve but the pressure was too great and it was just spraying water all over my clothe and I was standing in a pool of water. So at 2:30 that morning I went in there bedroom and woke him up and he finally came out, but with no wire and I watched his peel off some old tape from the PVC pipe and push on a shut off cap and stop the flow and I asked if that it would hold with the pressure and he said it would. I just left him and went and changed out of my wet shoes and clothes, wondering why he had not done it the day before. That week I became aware of another problem. I had paid Rave $800 plus for my monthly rent on the 4th when I got back here in Fiji. However, a few days later Sanjeeta came to me while I was still in bed after knocking asking for $20 to give Rachel. I said what happened to the $900 I gave Ravi, she said he only had $10 left. I was furious. After I gave the money and she left, I got dressed and went to their bedroom. The whole family was there and just stared Ravi down and without a word turned and went back to my room trying to figure out how he spent all that money, I later learned he had to pay a lawyer $500 and then spent the money on other things that were needed. So I gave them another $200, but after a week went by I could tell they were out of money again when the Wifi went down and needed more money. It was still ten days before my next month's rent was due, however I thought I could just give them the last $300 I had and then I would give them the balance of $500 on the 4th of next month when I went to the ATM machine, and they agreed to that when I told them and gave them what I had left. Fine, I thought. But the very next day Sanjeeta came to my room and wanted to talk. This was not going to be good I thought. I said, is this about money and she said, no. She told me about the other friend I helped and gave her money that she promised to repay in a couple days when they would pay her, but they never did and I told her I forgave them and her for not keeping their promises. So what was the issue now and she told me that they wanted the balance of the $500 now and not next month. I could not believe what I was hearing, I told her, don't make me regret coming back here. You're just using me as your personal ATM machine. I finally offered to give the balance on the 1st of the month instead of the 4th. of September. I told her that I loved them, but I would not let them use me anymore, She still was not happy with that and so I said, "then go to your other friends who owe you or to your gods for the money." Then I said, "we are done here", and left the livingroom we had moved to. She finally got up and left. Later that night  she fixed my dinner and the next day everything was fine, just like the event never happened. One other irritating problem that has continued this week, is mice and rats. They don't have regular traps like in America, so I bought a can of Glue for those kinds of issues and two flat round trays that come with your purchase, then you pour the glue it. This had work before in my room, but they had issue in their kitchen also where we would see the mice run around every day on the kitchen counter and often in food if left out. So I put one pan on the kitchen counter and one in my room one the floor, where I had caught a rat before. The next day, we caught two mice and a rat in the kitchen, but the rat in my room has manage to avoid my trap for over a week regardless where I  put it. This has been my crazy and frustrating week. I know God has called me here, yet I never dreamed I would have to deal with some of the issues I have. I know someday I will look back on all this and laugh, but right now it can be very frustrating. However, I thank God for His love and faithfulness that keeps me going forward to share His love to another generation..

Change of Plan

It was July 31st. and I had a plane ticket to fly back to Australia, because my 90 day visa was about to expire. Ravi, my friend and landlord had arranged for a taxi to take me to the airport. His wife, Sangeeta and son would come along and see that I got there, while he stayed behind. My flight departure was at 4:10pm and we were leaving at 12:30, so we had plenty of time to get there. Just a half hour drive, but along the way the car was stalling and then go. I soon realized we were running out of gas, and I prayed. The car finally stopped for good just 200 feet from a gas station. I gave the driver money and he came back with a container of gas and we were off again. At the airport, I said goodbye and hugged my friends one last time and then they went off to do a little shopping before returning home.Everything at the airport went smoothly and then I waited to board the plane. When I got to Australia I got a hotel that was $200 a night and that was the going rate in the city of Brisbane. I prayed I would find a cheaper place to stay. That night, I had my first hot shower in three months and took my time enjoying it and then I had a good night's sleep, But after trying to find a cheap place to stay the next two days, evey opption didn't pan out and I asked God that night, what was I to do? I then felt I heard Him say, go back to Fiji. I had not planned on going back to any country that I had left, but I felt this was the direction I was to go and I knew my friend in Fiji would be happy, because they all wanted me to stay longer. I also had seen information regarding immigration in Fiji that allowed for a 12 month visa, but you had to leave the country every 90 days, just like Australia, I was so excited that I could hardly get to sleep, but I manage to get about 5 hours, before I checked out of the hotel at 10:30 the next morning, and paid my bill with my debit card. However, the man who I paid was not nice to me the night before when I asked if he could help me find out what time the next flight left for Fiji. When I went to pay,I noticed a cab waiting at the hotel so when I pulled my luggage out the door he motioned for me to take his cab. After he loaded my stuff in the trunk and got in the car I studied his face more closely and he looked just like Jesus from the program, The Chosen, but not as neatly trimmed. However, I told him that he looked just like Jesus, and he said, I am Jesus, that is my name, Jesus and I am from Nepal where Mt. Everst is. This was amazing, God has used taxi drivers to help me in the most unique ways and I all started with my taxi driver in Argentina, named Angel.  When I arrived at the airport I learned that a flight to Fiji was just about to leave and the next one out would not be until 9:40 the next morning. A kind young lady at the information booth was willing to help me book my flight and use my debit card to pay for it. She also helped me get my laptop connected to the airport Wifi. When I sat down on some hard plastic chairs to wait, another kind lady that worked there, told me that down stairs there was an area with soft chairs and sofas where I could spend the night with other passengers and there were food stands and restrooms. I pulled my three suitcases, still on a cart to the elevator and staked out my spot for a long day and night. It was just a little before noon. The airport provides 24/7 Wifi and I checked out the news and then my email. It was there that I had a notice from the hotel where I had just left, that I had booked another night stay at the hotel. The night clerk had just cheated me for whatever reason and it would cost me my $100 deposit that was to be returned in 5 days.  There was a reply area on the email and I stated I did not make that booking and that I forgave him for what he did. I still had my luggage with me and in one of them I had a half a loaf of multigrain bread, a small jar of peanut butter and one of jam that I had used at the hotel to have some food to eat there, and now I had food to eat while I was waited. I blessed people who helped me and those I met waiting to leave and also let the presence of God touch lives in ways that only He can. There were over forty people spending the night there, who were able to sleep in every position you could imagine. Some even had a blanket from their backpack to cover them. But I was not able to sleep, except for an hour from 4:30 to 5:30 and so I spent most of the time walking and praying. I was finally able to check-in with the help from people who work there, every airport seemed to have a different arrangement regarding weighing luggage and security, but God always provides the people, for an old man like me, who needs help. I still had two hours before my flight left and I had spent the last of my Australian currency except for some change and I was hungry, and I had a Snicker candy bar that I would have on the plane. There was a vending machine where I could buy a drink or some chips for $4, but I was short 40 cents. So I went over to a family that was also wait for their flight and asked for the extra change but they didn't, however the wife took me back to the machime and used her card to pay and I got my onion and vinegar chips and I thanked and blessed her. Then I ate half of the bag and saved the rest to have on the plane, beside I had no water to quench my thirst. On the plane I had a window set and I put my coat against the window and laid my head on it as I watched the plane take off and that was the last thing I remember. When I woke up about an hour later, so I had the rest of my chips and my candy bar as a flight attendant passed by with beverages and I asked for a small cup of water and then drank it. I had emailed Sangeeta when my flight would arrive in Fiji and they said they would be there to meet me. It was hot and humid when the plane  landed in Fiji, but at least I would have a place to stay with friends with A/C. When I got through immigration and had my luggage, Sangeeta and Ravi were there to meet me with a big hug and a big plate of warm french fries and four grilled hotdogs with spicy grilled onions on top, along with a cup of pineapple juice they had poured from a carton of juice. I was stuffed and I noticed a receipt left on  the table and I took a quick look at it to see what they had paid for my meal, it was a little over $10, which was a good deal at an airport. We walked out of the airport and there was the taxi man who had brought me there four days earlier. They loaded my luggage and went to pay the parking fee at a pay booth for the time they had been there. The fee was $5 in Fijian or about $3.50 in American. However no one had any more money, they had spent the last they had on my meal and the driver had no money either. I had no Fijian currency except my Debit card which the attendant at the booth suggested we could use it to pay the parking fee, and then the steel arm bar would rise and let us out. After we left there, I said since nobody has any money, I guess our next stop will be at the ATM machine near Ravi house and we can do a little shopping while we are there. And I could also pay the taxi man. Welcome to Fiji. My home for the next three month. It will be interesting to see what wonderful plans God has for all of us.