Finally Fiji!

Mother Gavriilia had said  “Orthodox spirituality is knowledge acquired through suffering rather than through learning.” 

Mother of 10 helps out at Kimisis.

I am no expert on the subject of trust, but I have felt compelled to write about it a lot this past month. It was mostly as an exploration after an incident back home left a lot of people feeling betrayed.  As I wrote, reflected on events around us including the up coming election in the USA, bringing in things that I have learned from the little Theology that I know, and what I recall about psychology, I can only solidly remember two things:  His Grace Bishop Gerasimos of blessed memory telling us in a lecture that trust in God is very important, and that the theorist Maslow said it was essential to human development.

There isn't a whole lot that is said or written about it per se but we allude to it all the time. I would venture to guess we all think it is one of the most fundamental aspects of our lives. In the book Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman, the issue of trust is talked about throughout the pages but only mentioned by name a little. I am sure, he must know that he was writing about that very thing. To me it seems so anyway.

What exactly is trust?

At first you think you know what it is. And then when you start to notice all the facets of life that involve trust, you come to realize that trust as an issue is more prevalent than you once thought, and less understood. Even the existence of money can be on one hand an example of trust, and an indication of lack of trust. On any occasion can be unclear. 

My Dictionary of Psychology didn't have an entry for the word trust. That was disappointing .... so I decided to go to the NZ dictionary:  "firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability or strength of someone or something".  Gosh that leaves me kind of flat and discouraged. I mean it is kind of circular.  Really, if Maslow thinks it is essential for human development and the bishop thought it is really important for a relationship with God....  how are we to employ it if we aren't sure what it is?  I kept looking through various texts for some help on the issue. I was ready to scour the Philokalia, but got a little intimidated.

Exasperated, I went to Wikipedia.  Lots and lots there.  I liked what they all have to say about the
social-psychological aspects of trust.  So,  for this blog I choose...

1. ^ Barbara Misztal, Trust in Modern Societies: The Search for the Bases of Social Order, Polity Press, ISBN 0-7456-1634-8

.....attempts to combine all notions of trust together. She points out three basic things that trust does in the lives of people: It makes social life predictable, it creates a sense of community, and it makes it easier for people to work together.

Ummmm... I could easily insert mission work between those lines.

The Bible did have the word in there a little:  Proverbs 3:5

Trust in God with all your heart,

and do not exalt your own understanding.

In all your ways know wisdom

That she may cut a straight path for you

And your foot will not stumble

Trust is so important, and yet it brings countless questions with it... Do we trust what we know?  What we see?  Who we know? On and on, to where you start asking about the connection between trust and faith.

In the spirit of the words of Mother Gavriilia above, if you want to have trust that is both milti-faceted and real, being willing to struggle for it, even suffer for it, is not out of the question.

Trust helps a great deal when involved in mission work.  I see the people in Fiji and how so many have taken a leap of faith because  they met our Archbishop and they were drawn to him by something. It was easy to trust him, they want to trust him, they hope to trust him still!  He seems to have that rare, ability to know when, how, why, who to trust, and HOW to best trust each person he meets and with what. Even the Hindu woman in the neighborhood refers to him as "mahatma" a great soul.  Not that this should surprise us, but how uncommon that a man's genuine sanctity as a bishop and as a person is so perceptible.




We arrived in Nadi Fiji on 28th of September. Father Paul and Georgios and I.   His Eminence asked  us to conduct catechism on the Holy Sacraments for the newly baptized and for some catechumens.  It was a challenge  before we even got there as transportation was going to be an issue. One of the vans wasn't starting and the other one was in full use between the staff members there.  Here's our first lesson as His Eminence was trusting us to be there to teach, and we were going to do less than he wanted.

For some the little burger they got from the mission might be
the only meat they eat for the whole month. 

The day after we arrived, we went to the church of Kimisis to do a lesson for the children.  Sister Gabrielle visits them in the morning around 10 am "Fiji time".  They  usually pray in the church first, and since they all know the proper way to venerate the icons they have the initial feeling of full participation and purpose.  They sing their favorite hymns in Greek and English.   Then a craft, some games, a lesson, and a snack.  After the snack they can still play a sport before it is time to go.   We joined in and played some games with the children that would help them learn the words of the Jesus Prayer and how to do prostrations, and taught them some lessons from the Bible.

It has been a while since I've been around a group of kids like these.  They do this thing where they look at you, smile and then change their expression to a frown and then walk away.  They reject you at first and then they test over and over again to see how you might react. When they know you are leaving they come near and smile again as if to say " thank you, you passed the test... for today".   Despite the obvious tests,  they don't know what it means yet not to trust.  Notice I said "yet".  Somehow we humans expect all children to learn how and when not to trust...   but we never imagine we can forget how to ourselves. However, we do.

Courtesy of Sis Gabrielle

The Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos church is in a little village that is really a set of houses along side a dirt road on a property that belongs to one man who sometimes behaves in a very chieftain way.  This is par for the course in Fiji.  Property ownership is not like that in most places.  Goats and cows line the road.  Cats and dogs are everywhere. Most of the homes are made of a corrugated steel, so that they are indistinguishable from barns or sheds.  If there is electricity connected to the home it is most likely in one room only and that means that the refrigerator is in the living room.

Making puzzles: scenes from the Divine Liturgy

Break time. The boys are getting to know each other. 

Back at the compound...

The schedule for Orthros and Vespers and Small Compline was kept vigilantly at the Misson Center, referred to as "the compound" by the Fijians.  The presence of Saint Paraskevi is felt there, as several of the people told me they feel very close to her when they come. This from a group that is not used to honoring the saints.  A beautiful icon of her sits in the iconastas. She looks as though she is ready to speak words of love and joy. She was a martyr.

St Paraskevi Chapel

Father Paul working out the details of the service

In the chapel of Aghia Paraskevi at the Mission Compound. Holy Water service.

The caretakers not only keep the place well, they pray all the services and they minister to the material needs of the people of the parishes.  They give clothes to anyone who needs regardless of faith.  A bread-works is being considered so that the mission can employ some of the people who are in the church who need a job, and to make a bit of independent income.


Saweni and Laotoka....

The view from one of the Saweni homes. The lean-to at the back
of the house is the traditional outdoor kitchen.
They cook on a burning wood stove.  The goats like to
 get into their grains when they are not looking. 

We passed by Saweni several times throughout our stay. We picked up those who wanted to come for catechism.  After vespers and before nightfall we took the drive through Saweni and to Laotoka to the home of Father Bartholomeos for prayer and catechism.

The property for the proposed orphanage and school

Roadside stand just outside the Saweni property

Cows are tied to the trees.  There are very few barns. 

The ones who were most interested in these classes were the young ladies aged 13 - 20.   There were boys there too, and mothers. They were extremely shy at first, and as is their tradition, they didn't ask very many questions although Father Bartholomeos encouraged them to ask.  Overall, I noticed that the people are extraordinarily respectful when asking questions, and they were careful not to challenge.  There is a tremendous civility about them and a warmth.  They speak ever so softly.  It is more important to them to show respect than it is to get their point across.  If we misunderstood anything, they were hesitant to correct us, so we had to try hard to get it right the first time.

Beginning the lesson with Small Compline 

It was touching at times.   So many were able to discuss their baptism, telling the catechumens how it felt to come out from the font, and what it meant to them to be blessed. When we talked about the sacraments they could witness the difference between their perceptions of life,  the notions they had of blessings before and after.  Maria did this also regarding the sacrament of Marriage.

Patiently waiting for the lesson to begin.  Traditionally,
Fijians sit on the floor, and they do not wear shoes indoors. 

Singing songs of parise to God, or of anything virtuous is extraordinarily meaningful to the young ladies who came for catechism.  They had amazing aptitude for it, and were hungry for more and more.  It never occurred to them that I might not know any spiritual songs.  They seemed to understand the positive influence it has on their souls. My experiences with Father Paul really paid off here. I had lots to offer them. He even made one up for them, and gave a new tune to. "My every hope I place in you, Mother of God. Keep me under your protection"  There was an intimacy that they felt in joining their voices in these positive words and gentle melodies.  They began adding Fijian harmonies.   Beautiful!  The ride home past Saweni was never quiet. It was melodious and tranquilizing.


Quality time with the clergy families...

Father Paul did a Bible Study with the priests and the presvyteres, on  St Paul's first letter to Timothy. St Paul instructs us through this letter how one should be as a leader of the Body of Christ.  The fact that they are so new at this, in a new territory for Orthodoxy, made me feel so strongly that in Fiji we are still in Apostolic times, and that we still have so much in common with the early church there.

We had met both clergy families before.  Father Bartholomaios was with us in 2009 when we visited. He had not yet been ordained, but was preparing to go to Greece to learn about what the church looks like in action there, and to make his decisions about accepting ordination.  Father George had come to our home in Auckland with his family. We are fast becoming friends, by the grace of God


Fijian Hospitality.......


We went to several homes while in Fiji.  We had hoped to also visit Father Barnabas in Labassa, Vanua Levu but were not able to on this trip.  I had great anticipation upon entering the homes of the presvyteres especially.  They both treated me like a sister, and their conversations were honest and sweet. Their hospitality was just as warm as any Greek house I have been in.  Their love for Christ is evident in their welcome.  They have great hope for the church in Fiji.  They have so many things in common with the presvyteres that I know in the USA.

Offering what they can.  The lenten Halva that
we know so well is  identical to the
halva the Indian families make.

Notice the Greek Flag in the background

Looking forward to Fijian Independence Day Celebrations

Cooking traditional Vegetable Green Curry

There was a unique comfort in the embrace of these homes.   They had so little compared to what I have had as an American.  That alone is saying a lot. For example in some neighborhoods, the city water is turned off at 8 pm.  They hosted us anyway, and finished their dinner dishes from a pail of water they saved before we got there.   But in terms of dignity and warmth, of care and desire for real fellowship, they had so much more than I could truly perceive.  Being honorable is a much lovelier "garment" than the finest threads.  Genuine interest is and good listening skills are like adornments.

Newlyweds, one of the rare Fijian/Indian couples 

Outside the home of Nicholas who
 said we could post his photo. 

Love in action...



As I explored, and the issue of trust had exhausted itself, I looked to the people we met. I recalled something that Metropolitan Kallistos Ware  quoted in one of his lectures. "Love in action."  I believe this is what the Fijian people see in our Archbishop.  His love for Christ overflows to the people he meets.  They see it as a very special love, and they feel very much included in it.

For myself, I struggle to say "you can trust me" to the people I meet there.  They would never say such a thing to me. I don't think so.  I feel unworthy for such a statement having seen that they have made such a sure and significant change in their lives to embrace the Church. I am sure that Christ, when he said we are the salt of the earth, tells us that we were being trusted with something extremely valuable to keep and preserve. At first it seems like a dilemma.  how can I serve humbly, and hope to be trusted with also a chance to learn where to put my trust.  So, I think of the words of Saint Paul in his letter to the Galatians:

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me

This quote speaks of Christ's love which enables us to be and do good things. It is our trust in Christ that allows Him to live in us, humbles us, and allows us to be near others regardless of our mistakes or theirs. Our understanding that God has infinite love for us all makes it possible for me to trust anyone and for them to trust me.  So I think that what Mother Gavriilia said about suffering and what Saint Paul says here is true for Missions.  We are worthy to the extent that we are a willing sacrifice, in that way to show the path of Christ's love.

Divine Liturgy

I love how in the Liturgy we are all so equal.  There was a young woman there who reads Greek better than I do.  Very bright.  And she went to Greece too.  She sings the psalms during Holy Communion " Give thanks unto the Lord for He is good Alleluia". She knows what she is sining.  The children who don't understand the words sing along with gusto!

Altar boys reciting the Lord's prayer in Greek and English.

Young Reader prepares to red aloud the Epistle 

As for any altar boy, there is a time to sit.

I wonder now if and when we will return to Fiji.  I do hope that Father Paul will.  I personally am not sure about myself.  It is an expensive trip to go from NZ even, and I am not sure what I can offer honestly.  When you feel like you get more than you give....

Father Bartholomeos, at coffee hour in Saweni

Many Years on the Feast of the Dormiton of the Most Holy Theotokos... And after nearly two years... a visit to the States

God Grant you Many Years!

All those named after our Panaghia

For many Greek-Orthodox Christians, the name Maria somehow belongs to everyone.  We take the same joy in having a family member named after the Virgin Maria as we would if we were named after her as well. 

It is the feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos. The end of the Church Calendar year. I consider it a privilege indeed to be able to mark the seasons not only by the moon and stars, the position of the sun, the foliage and the tides, but also by the events in the history of our Church.  It has had a stabilizing impact on our lives, that although we have changed hemispheres, we maintain such a calendar.  Or should I say that this kind of a calendar maintains us?  There are times when I would just love to have Christmas in the winter again (even though we live in New Zealand), but that would take us away from the unity of the church in the rest of the world. Instead I look to the life of the Theotokos for balance. Her life holds a unique place in history, and in the calendar life of the church. 

Beautiful Kouvouklion dressed in the colors
of the garments in the traditional icon
of the Theotokos

 Orthodoxy has so many ways to provide for our sanity, for those of us who are blessed to have some. The constant connection to her history through hymns for example, beckons us to be a part of it. The way we actually participate in worship is another example.   In her wisdom, the Church designates the beginning and the ending of the calendar to coincide with the birth and the dormition of the Theotokos.

  Just like we rely on our mothers for stability in our formative years, so do we depend on the Church's calendar for predictable and memorable events, to encourage us in our earthly struggle towards salvation, which we will see when we come to our fullest spiritual maturity.  And then, the calendar, centered around the life of Jesus' mother reminds us and shows us that the most Holy Theotokos is our mother too.  If we rely on the calendar, and it (our support) relies on her, then we feel more welcome to also rely on her.  And in that the Church tells us that this is appropriate.

IN GIVING BIRTH YOU RETAINED YOUR VIRGINITY AND IN DORMITION YOU DID NOT FORSAKE THE WORLD O THEOTOKOS. YOU WERE TRANSLATED UNTO LIFE, BEING THE MOTHER O LIFE. AND THUS BY VIRTUE OF YOUR INTERCESSIONS YOU DELIVER OUR SOULS FROM DEATH. 

YOU SPRANG FORTH FROM MORTAL LOINS, O PURE ONE, AND THEREFORE YOUR SUBSEQUENT DECEASE WAS NATURALLY APPROPRIATE. BUT SINCE YOU HAD YOURSELF BROUGHT FORTH TRUE LIFE HIMSELF, YOU THEREFORE PASSED UNTO DIVINE, HYPOSTATIC LIFE. 

We see in the second hymn that she is completely influenced by the life of Christ into a perfection of life herself. Just what hypostatic life is, is a bit of a mystery to those of us who are bound by worldly cares.  In modern English, as I have learned it,  it is the experience and the living out of our personhood in the way and form which God intended from the beginning.  It is the healthy ego in it highest expression.  It is the actualization of our being, not by self but by God, for the sake of the self and for the love of Him who gave us life.

Orthodoxy's unique view on  the Mother of Jesus is something that we have begun to express to the faithful here in NZ.  Her life and her meaning for us is elusive in modern times.  We need to struggle a little to understand what she means to us.  For example recently we tried to accurately translate the hymn Axion Estin into English. It is for the translation of the LIturgy that is being published for the novice in the faith in Fiji which needs to be a special edition to help them learn the Liturgy as more and more people are baptized.

It was not an easy translation.  There is a part of the first sentence, which the tradition of the Church tells us came from an unknown monk on Mount Athos, which is very difficult to translate and yet flows ever so smoothly in that particular form of Greek.  It is really neat to go through it and try to decipher it yourself. What truth is brought to light when we praise her?  How is it that we can participate in this truth?

BACK IN THE USA

Just a few weeks ago we got to go home to the USA see my mother Father Paul's Dad and our families.  We also saw some of our old parishes and stomping grounds.  It is not so unusual, in the year 2012 I suppose, to be apart for two years.  We do get to talk through emails, phone calls and such. However, we have really missed everyone, and it was a great joy to see whomever we could.

 It was an unusual reunion.  There was little celebration but lots of love.  There was a lot more silence and being together than I would have thought.  And it was more meaningful and more lovely than if we had had a lot to say.  Still, it was not long enough.   We got to go to the Monastery in Saxonburg, Nativity of the Theotokos, and met friends from the Cleveland Area who came out there to see us.  It was a joy!  We did lot of traveling too!

Look out here come a lot of photos!

It was 110F, 43.3C and we wanted Greek food!
With family in Columbus, including godson new wife  and his family

After Trisagion at my mother in law's grave.
May her memory be eternal

Father Paul's godparents came out to see us.

 Dear Friends and my Dad's siste at Chapel of Saint Seraphim of Sarov.
Father Paul looks like he's carrying the purses so that we could pose together

On the way to my Dad's grave at the monastery

We all needed to pray for our dearly departed
 Memory Eternal to All

Georgios with his cousins and Papou

Cousin Yianni talking with Nicholia and Raphaela
on Skype

Koumbari from ABQ flew into Ohio so they could see us

Although it was summer there, work continued for some,
but  love was never absent

In Dayton with lots of reasons to smile! 

WITH FIJI IN OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS

While in the USA we found beautiful opportunities to do some fund-raising for the orphanage and school in Fiji which is being built with  the blessings of Archbishop Amfilochios.  Both Metropolitan Savas of the Pittsburgh Metropolis and Metropolitan Isaiah of the Denver Metropolis gave their respective blessings for us to talk about this project. Two parishes from the Pittsburg Metropolis, along with individuals from Denver and Albuquerque, took on the challenge to raise money, Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Columbus Ohio and Presentation of Christ Greek Orthodox Church in East Pittsburgh have taken extra steps to bring awareness to their congregations.  The Priests of these parishes Father Nicholas Hughes and Father Michael Kallaur showed their loving support.  Their positive response to mission work in Fiji was to me like when I hear the story of how the Lord told Peter to go out and cast his nets after he hadn't caught anything all night.  Our Lord must have been with us.  Support kept coming and we were able to send nearly $4,000.00 to Fiji before returning to NZ.  We also visited the Parish of Saint Constantine and Helen in Middletown, Ohio where Father Paul served the Liturgy, the people showed us great joy, and I learned that they all read this BLOG.  LOL :)

Gathering at Ypapanti for Vesperal Liturgy  Saint Marina.

  If you would also like to make a tax deductible donation for the building project, feel free to use the Paypal icon at the top of this page.  For the time being donations are being sent to the Archdiocese for the building of the orphanage and school.  Or if you prefer, The Friends of Saint Michael can send a donation for you.  The address there is:

FRIENDS OF SAINT MICHAEL 6701 Rockside Rd - Suite 200 - Independence OH - 44131- 2316  - USA  MENTION MISSION FIJI IN THE MEMO

After our visit to East Pittsburgh, we met up with my sister who brought Georgios to the Columbus airport where he and Father Paul started to make their way back to New Zealand.  It was a long trip for them with lay overs in Phoenix and then the wait in LA for the long flight home.

Lunch at the airport...  last minute fun before departure.

I flew to Denver.  We had a 7 hour delay in our flight due to mechanical repairs.  A part had to be flown in.  When I finally got to Denver, I got to visit the Metropolis and received the blessing of Metropolitan Isaiah, and got to visit The Assumption Cathedral, Saint Katherine's Greek Orthodox Church, and the outdoor chapel of Aghia Anna, and saw more Koumbari and old friends from when Father Paul and I first got married, and before.

Trail leading to the Saint Anna outdoor chapel

Saint Anna Outdoor chapel after services

Can you see the humming bird?  Aghia Anna's 

 At this point in my travels, I was overwhelmingly struck by the difference in Church demographics between the USA and New Zealand.  There are a lot more young people attending Church in the USA....

At Aghia Anna's on Saturday....

...and Assumption Cathedral on Sunday

You are more likely to see whole families in Church there than you are in NZ, and people are so happy to be there.  They will tell you that they feel blessed when they attend.  They are not looking for praise or a worldly validation, but they encourage each other to be there in so many ways, primarily by their attendance and the positive aspects of their prayers.

When you see the mix of ages in the Liturgy (above at Aghia Anna's) you can't help but feel a fullness in the Church, like a flower in full bloom or a lake full of fish.  There are signs of  the fullness of life there.  If we had only the young it would be like a school. If we had only the elderly it would be like an epilogue.  But with all ages worshiping at their respective levels and abilities, you see tradition pouring out her blessings on the children while the children give hope to those who may be contemplating death.  And everyone in between has the feeling that they are maintaining something beautiful, lasting, and significant.

Which brings me back in my thoughts (beautiful, lasting and significant) to the Dormition of our Holy Lady the Theotokos and Mother of our Lord and Savior.  Imagine what a loss of a holy treasure the Apostles must have felt when she departed from this life.  It must have been as though a fullness of their experience was gone. Maybe they felt incomplete without her, even if they were not prone to despair after Christ's Ascension.

In some ways she was, like her Son, the beginning of the New Covenant, "All generations will call me blessed" and "Blessed rather are those who hear the Word of God and keep it": a great source!

 Scattered and isolated as they were, I would think that they depended on every memory that she had of her Son. And with so much grace in and around her, I believe they felt safety in the face of danger. Like today Father Paul read a letter that the Most Holy Mother of our Lord wrote to Saint Ignatios before his martyrdom. When I heard it, I was convinced that she was a great support to the Apostles.

 In those days, they were all missionaries dealing with the unknown for the love of Christ and the people of the world.  They all must have known loneliness and instability. All, but Saint John, were martyred, so there were tribulations as well.

AT YOUR DEATHLESS DORMITION, O THEOTOKOS AND MOTHER OF LIFE, CLOUDS CAUGHT THE APOSTLES UP INTO THE AIR; AND FROM BEING DISPERSED THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, THEY WERE REUNITED BEFORE YOUR IMMACULATE BODY. AND WHEN THEY HAD BURIED YOU WITH DIGNITY, THEY LIFTED UP THEIR VOICES AND SANG THE WORDS OF GABRIEL:"REJOICE, O UNWEDDED AND VIRGIN MOTHER WHO ARE FULL OF GRACE; THE LORD IS WITH YOU." ALONG WITH THEM, ENTREAT YOUR SON AND OUR GOD FOR THE SALVATION OF OUR SOULS.

Personally I feel a sense of loss whenever Archbishop Amfilochios travels. I often wonder if it is the last time that I will ever see him.  With so many people he sees on his journeys, I wonder if he will remember me when he is away.  There are times when he sends a post card and it arrives just at a time when I think I need his prayers the most. Or he will send a message via another letting me know he is mindful of me and my family. This kind of support which comes from prayer is priceless.

To my surprise, Archbishop Amfilochios was in the States, and actually visiting some of the places where we were just a few weeks ago!  I feel both like a forerunner and like if only I could be there with him.  Father George Livanos of All Saints Cannonsburg so generously posted some photos on FB for us to see.  Thanks  Father George!

Here with Mother Gherontissa and the Sisters of the Monastery

Praying in Panaghia's Chapel

I ask you: continue to pray for the mission and faithful in Fiji, and for all of us here in New Zealand.