Day 6 - Fiji

Today was a bit of a humbling day. We couldn't do much as it rained, but I met some wonderful people who had some fascinating stories to tell.

I met a couple who were on their 10th trip to Fiji. They had just spent $255 on excess luggage to bring over a stack of goodies for the locals who work at the resort who have touched their hearts since they have been coming over.

One man, who is recently married plays rugby to stay off the streets. He has a team of fellow friends who are in the boat, only one has a job, the others work on the farm in their village to provide for their clans. This amazing couple asked him what he needs for his team, and he asked if he could have either socks or shorts so the boys could look like a team. Well this couple talked to some people in Australia and managed to get socks, shorts and jerseys for 15 players for $800 and brought them over to him, and gave them to him yesterday. He was stoked. He's told a couple of his team players, but will bring it to them on Sunday when they have their first match as a 'matching' team in black, red and gold. The couple will go and see them play and see the joy in their faces.

But then, the lady mentioned to the man that the four year old daughter of one of the cooks at the resort was killed in a nearby Village the other day. And the man who received the rugby uniforms said, yes she was my niece. Her dad had cut a coconut tree so he could put a netball net up so she could play, and because he cut all the leaves away, he killed the tree, and the root system gave way and fell on her as she was playing. She was in a coma for 2 days before before they decided that she wasn't responding and unplugged her from the system. She died on Wednesday, her funeral tomorrow. So sad for the community.

The couple who bought the rugby uniforms also bought other workers at the resort some bras, t-shirts, shorts and plenty of children's clothes for some of the other workers they consider their Fijian family, hence the reason for their excess luggage bill. It was truly humbling to see the joy and gratefulness that the Fijians had for these amazing people.

It does make you wonder how you can help more. I've asked the boys if next time we come here that we don't do the resort thing, but spend time helping and giving to a Village. They are happy to do so.

Recently the workers of Fiji has a pay rise. The average wage is between FJ$1.50 an hour to FJ$2.45 an hour. They received a FJ5c pay rise. It truly is a joke, especially when a bottle of Coke costs FJ$6.60. A true luxury in their eyes. But we must remember that they don't have to pay for their housing, as they inherit the land through their clans and Villages that stays with their families forever, they are self-sufficient on their land with fruit, vegetables, chickens, cows and they will fish and hunt for wild boars for feasts for their meat. They make their own mats with palm leaves and fabrics for clothing. And they only go to the supermarket for soap, washing powder and the occasional western item. Some Villages don't have electricity, most don't have flushing toilets. In fact, the couple I mentioned before said that they met one chief from a Village who said that he was so excited because they had just received 8 flushing toilets at a cost of FJ$360 for a Village of 360 people.... just shows us how much we take for granted. Only business owners own cars, and all cars are second hand from Japan, and most only need to get petrol to run their fishing boats. They live in a community where everyone helps, however the government don't even help with education. They must all pay the teachers to educate their kids.

But they are happy. Fiji survives on tourism, as 50% of their trade is tourism.

In the end, the wife of the couple mentioned to me that her husband was a street kid, so he is overly generous to people in need, as he had been there himself a few decades back and knows how it feels to live without. He is now a self-funded retiree who enjoys giving to all those who he can. It's his absolute pleasure.

There are some true angels in this world... I hope to meet and be inspired by so many more...