Weston’s New Zealand and Fiji trip: Part 4

Flying into Nadi, Fiji 

We flew from Dunedin, NZ to Nadi, FJ early in the day then drove about 4 hours to Suva, FJ on the other side of the Island. We stayed with Homes of Hope in Suva. 

Homes of Hope helps women recover from abusive relationships and human trafficking. They teach basic skills to the women and help them to develop more advanced skills in different areas such as baking, raising animals, jewelry making, gardening, and sewing. Part of our team worked on producing a short video for their website. The video team had a significant challenge in producing this because they could not show the faces of the women being interview to protect their identity.

Please note: This video talks about human trafficking and abuse.

We had several teams go to different locations in Fiji to do projects. One team went to a special needs school and a deaf school and the team I was on went to a Christian private school then on to a women's prison and then a men's prison. 

Our job at the Christian school was to photograph the buildings, the students working and take a group photo. It was great fun to meet and talk with the students at lunch time. This school uses the PACE curriculum which I had used when I was in eighth grade. It was fun being able to relate to the students a little more since I had some familiarity with their school work. 

Later that day we went to an all female prison to photograph the facilities and inmates. The prisons here are very unique and the Fijian government wanted us to document how they run and what they do so other countries could model after them for a lower criminal return rate. 

It was great to see a country that used the 
Bible as a base for counseling

The Fijian prison system bases their counseling on the Bible and encourages the inmates to study the Word and seek God. It was amazing to see these women studying the Bible and praying. 

If there is no family to watch after the inmates children, they can
 stay in the in the prison. 

One of the other things that I noticed was the relationship between the guards and the inmates was sort of like a friendship. Even though the guards were clearly superiors they treated the inmates with respect and care. 

One of the guards joins in a game of volleyball

While a prisoner is serving their term they are taught a variety of skills. The prison that we visited had a tailor shop and cafe on site. The main goal of the Fijian prisons was to bring in criminals and help them become responsible citizens.

At the men's prison this man works on a 
large wooden chest. It will then be sold and 
the money can be sent to his family.

Once a prisoner is near the end of their sentence they are allowed to work at a job with supervision. We went to three different locations to take pictures of them working. We visited a fish processing plant and toured the facilities then went to a print and framing shop. It was quite a lot work and the required output from the projects was high but our team worked together well and were able to deliver the finished pictures within a day and a half of shooting them.

This man is now supporting himself in a print shop after
being released from prison

Sarah, Kay and me in Tosa Bussan fish processing plant, Nadi, Fiji

Tosa Bussan fish processing plant exports over 2,000 kilos of
tuna to Japan daily (this freezer was 50 below zero!)

Near the end of our time in Fiji we visited a slum village that had been devastated in 2011 by flooding. We went in and met the families and took family portraits then printed them onsite and delivered them. It was a wonderful gift to give to the families. 

Me editing and printing photos in the Nawaka village in Nadi, Fiji

One of the last nights in Fiji we had a simple dinner of rice to experience what many families would be eating. We talked about the value of our gear that we have and not taking for granted how blessed we are. In some places in Fiji, the contents of my camera bag could buy a small settlement village. Or, concerning human trafficking, the price of my iPhone charger could keep a girl off the streets for almost a month. Just being in America is a huge blessing. I came away challenged to use the gear that I have and my talents to help others and to take time to value even the little things. I would encourage all of you to do the same. 

On the last day of the trip we got to take a boat out to a small island in Fiji. It was simply amazing! We packed all of our things at the hostel where we were staying then headed to the port where we took a boat out to a tiny island where we spent the day.  

Only blond on the trip....

We could kayak, swim, and dive around the island. It was an amazing day in a perfect tropical paradise! Sadly all good things must come to an end and we had to prepare for the journey home. 

Our wonderful little island on the last day in Fiji

Kay, Me, Carissa, and Haylee on the last leg of the trip at DFW airport after a little 
over 23 hours of travel!

We had pizza for dinner then finished packing our luggages then drove to the airport to fly from Nadi to LAX then to DFW. The flights seemed to go by quickly and I was glad to be home. It's hard to believe that I was gone for close to 30 days and that I got to be part of an amazing journey! Dad picked me up at and everyone at home was ready to welcome me home. It was a great ending to a great trip.