1/ Fiji
Kara
In 1984 my daughter Rachael and I went to Fiji for a holiday. The first seven days were spent at Dick's Place on Malolo Lai Lai island. We were delighted with the Fijian style accommodation. While unpacking, a slim, tall Fijian woman, in her late twenties entered and asked if we needed anything. During our stay she would be looking after us and the bure. The red hibiscus was firmly anchored behind her ear and contrasted beautifully with the white teeth and dark skin.
I don't even remember how the subject of Jesus came up, but when it did, she started to cry. As we talked, it turned out that she had grown cold and wanted to know Jesus again. As we read the Bible, the Holy Spirit touched her and she gave her heart back to Jesus.
The next day she brought three other woman with her to hear the Word of God. Again the Holy Spirit touched their hearts and all three rededicated their lives to Jesus Christ. For the rest of my stay, we then had Bible study every evening.
On the last night I decided to simply read as much of the Gospel of John as possible. We didn't get any further than chapter one, where John talks about water baptism. I asked Kara if she had been baptised as an adult. The answer was "no". I suggested that she should go to the mainland and attend to the matter. "But, what if I can't find a minister," was the reply.
During our conversation God spoke to me. "You baptise her".
My reaction was, "What me? I am not a minister; besides I'm a woman!"
"You are my disciple, aren't you?"
God doesn't look at our gender, only our heart condition. Without further argument (arguments with God are pointless, He always wins), I hesitantly asked Kara if she would like me to baptise her. She was delighted with the suggestion. Only later did she tell me that God had told her that morning at 8 o'clock, to ask me to baptise her.
As the ocean was just outside the front door, I figured that there would be plenty of water for my first baptism. Wrong; the tide was out! Much can be said for Kara's love for Jesus, because water, or no water, darkness or daylight, (it was 10 o'clock at night) she was determined to be baptised. So we walked, for what seemed kilometres, out onto the reef, in knee deep water.
The shore lights gradually faded in the distance and the dark waters of the ocean appeared in front of us. I decided that knee deep was better, than no water at all. Never having baptised anybody, I didn't have the faintest idea of what to say, so I simply said, "Kara, do you want to follow the Lord Jesus Christ through the waters of baptism?" Her reply came quickly and clearly. "Yes". I then said to her, "I baptise you in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit; according to the commands of the Lord Jesus Christ." Then I asked her to lie down making sure that the water covered her.
As we waded back to shore I heard splashes in the water. Being in the tropics my first thought was -- sea snakes! I turned to Kara and asked her if that was the case. "Oh yes, lots and lot's, that's why I was a bit frightened to go into the water."
Just as well Kara told me after the baptism, because I certainly wouldn't have gone into the water if I had known about the sea snakes - which by the way are much deadlier than land snakes. Neither the snakes, nor the sharp coral could keep Kara from following Jesus' commands once she had made her decision.
Leprosy
The last seven days of our holiday in Fiji were to be spent on the mainland at Crows Nest. Here we met Selai, who introduced us to Mary. It didn't take long for the women and myself to sit down and read the Bible. The day before our departure Mary invited Rachael and myself to visit her family in the village.
Shattered were my dreams of post card Fijian villages, where huts are made of dried grasses and artistically plaited palm leaves. Here the walls and roof were made of corrugated iron. The average size Australian loungeroom, plus one bedroom was the size of this dwelling. A piece of material, down the middle of the sleeping section divided the double bunks and single bed, from the parent's double bed. The living quarters contained a kerosene fridge, food cupboard and a lounge. A small outhouse provided shower and toilet facilities. What the house lacked in material possessions was compensated for in cosiness.
The village we had been invited to, was not what we had expected, but Rachael and I were very glad to have been given the opportunity to meet a Fijian family in their home. As Billy said, "Unless you come into our villages and enter our homes, you will never come to know the Fijians and Fiji."
Joining the family on the uneven clay floor, we enjoyed the delicious food of corned beef and beans. They in turn enjoyed the apples I had brought them. From talking about every day issues the conversation turned to Mary's husband Billy, and his hand that was being eaten up by leprosy. I shared with him how I used to be a cripple and how Jesus had brought my dead leg back to life again. I assured him that even though the leg, over a period of time, had shrunk almost to skin and bone, God had totally restored it and He could do the same for Billy's hand.
As we talked about the love of God and his mighty ways, Billy broke down and cried. When the sobbing eased, relief rather than embarrassment showed on his face. Men have been conditioned not to cry, it is only the Holy Spirit who can touch a man's heart to the point where he can see himself for what he really is. Sharing the simple gospel of Jesus Christ with Billy, had given God the opportunity to touch his heart.
Billy had once been a Christian, but worldly interests had cooled his relationship with God. Before becoming a Christian he had leprosy in his right hand, but praise God, he was healed of that condition when he turned to Jesus. Unfortunately the leprosy returned when he became unfaithful to God and his wife.
I asked if Billy wanted to give his life back to Jesus. The answer was "yes". God then told me to put my hand on his diseased hand and pray for healing. Unlike the disobedience I had shown, in the market place, when God had told me to pray for a woman with a goitre, I did as I was told immediately. In the market place I had been too shy (ashamed, fearful??) to obey God's voice three times, there was no excuse to be disobedient again.
Mary wrote a few weeks later and told me that her husband's hand had been completely restored, as had their marriage and his walk with God. Both are now happily serving Jesus Christ.
Many years later I still thank God for that healing in Billy's hand, but I am also still saddened by my disobedience in not praying for the woman with the goitre. God wanted to heal her, but I wouldn't allow him to use me as a vessel. I can only hope somebody more obedient came along soon afterwards.
Back in Australia - The flea plague
Rachael and I had barely passed through customs when we were joyfully embraced by my other two daughters, Connie and Sonja, and Paul, my son-in-law. Echoes of, "we've missed you" were mingled with; "oh mum, the smash repair place resprayed the car bonnet a slightly different colour". "Sorry but half of the plants died, we forgot to water them." "By the way there is also a flea plague in the flat."
My head was spinning at what I heard. I felt like getting on the next plane back to Fiji.
Unpacking the suitcases was exciting, both for my family and myself. Being back home, in familiar surroundings felt great. The fleas must have realised that the mistress of the house had returned for they were in hiding. I even told the children that they must have imagined a 'flea plague'. Fleas or no fleas, I fell into bed that night, leaving half empty suitcases and dirty clothes scattered around the loungeroom.
Shock, horror, the gumboots weren't made out of black rubber, but black writhing bodies. This realisation hit me as I began to draw back the curtains next morning. So there was a flea plague after all! Just as well the pests were only sucking my blood from the knees down.
Being a cleaning fanatic, I wasn't going to share our home with millions of unwelcome, disease carrying insects. A very quick trip to the supermarket and five cans of surface spray, seemed to be the answer. First, all plants had to be carried out onto the front and back balcony, so that the fumes wouldn't kill them. Next, with a lot of muscle power, the furniture was shifted to one corner. The large lounge and diningroom, hallway and three bedrooms were all thoroughly sprayed. The effort nearly killed me; whether the fleas had been affected was another matter.
The next day there was a drop in numbers, but they had not been totally destroyed. I decided it was time to ring up the local pest control company. They promised to come the next day. That night, as I said my prayers, not even thinking of the fleas, God said:
"When my people were in Egypt, no plagues came near them, only the Egyptians were bothered by plagues. I created the fleas, I can just as easily exterminate them."
I was absolutely thrilled by what God had said. Naturally I prayed immediately asking God to kill off every flea. However, not until I picked up the phone the next morning and cancelled the pest control appointment, did all the fleas drop dead. Not one could be found and even many years later no flea ever bothered us again. Praise God for a mighty miracle.
Several days later God revealed to me why he had allowed me to go through all that trauma. In my own strength I had not been able to get rid of the fleas. I was to stop over-working myself, and instead I was to rely on the guidance of the Holy Spirit to help me in all situations. With God on your side, life is so much easier and cheaper.
1/ Fiji
2/ Egypt
3/ Israel
4/ Papua New Guinea
5/ Forgive or I cannot forgive you
6/ Jesus still heals today
7/ Suicide
8/ Long Bay Gaol
9/ Attempted murder
10/ Bathurst Gaol
11/ Angels
12/ How to pray
13/ Cords
14/ Counting the cost
15/ The heart condition
16/ Lorraine
17/ Dracula - fact or fiction
18/ If you love me
19/ Being gay
20/ Faith
21/ Roots
22/ Malaysia
23/ Fiji revisited - 1997
24/ What Jesus means to me
25/ My diary entries
26/ Conclusion