Been a while since I had the chance to update. Town trips are 3-4 short hours to do everything – email, blog update, upload photos, shop. Hopefully some new photos are uploading as I write this. Check Flickr! http://www.flickr.com/photos/cahillfamilyphotos/
Our stay with Chuck, Susie and family was wonderful – seems like so long ago already. We had some amazing talks - much to learn from each other. Lots of talk about parenting – what works, what doesn’t. Feels good to share some of what we have learned. They have 3 adopted children, 2 they have had from infancy, one older daughter they have had only for 1 ½ years. She was abandoned when she was an infant by her mother, and then abused terribly by the woman with whom she was abandoned – she lived there for years, until she ran away to live at the children’s home. She lived there until Chuck and Susie brought her to live with them. So many challenges come with integrating a child with no concept of security or family into an existing family structure – this is made even more challenging amidst the hard work of getting a new farm off the ground. Quality people they are - I admire the work they do in the world. Their sustainable farm is impressive – they’ve only lived on the land a handful of months and have done so much. They’ve built basic Fijian housing – outdoor kitchen, sleeping rooms. Acres and acres of food growing in the ground, sheep grazing, chickens fattening – hoping the pictures from our time there will upload today. Their intent is to one day have the farm open to widows and orphans as a home – a place to live and learn skills – a place to which they can always return.
I’ll let the pictures tell the story of the rest of our days these past few weeks. Each day is so full – yet still flows with ease and joy – I truly love the way life integrates here. We have grown as a family in ways I couldn’t have imagined before we came. The kids are so comfortable here in their Fijian home and with their Fijian family. This past week has been a week of firsts – all three kids have accepted invitations to go home and spend time in the home villages of some of our friends. Bethie spent the night in Sala’s village on a neighboring island on Friday night, Lucas went home to Jone’s village on the mainland on Friday and stayed until Monday morning, and Oliver went home with Sala last night. They had amazing experiences. It has been such a privilege to watch them grow and mature this summer – they have really grown into their own. They are so confident and capable. It was quite strange being without kids this weekend – only Ollie stayed behind! And when he was invited yesterday, he couldn’t pack his bag fast enough – he couldn’t wait to go to the village and play with all the children. On Sunday, I went over to Sala’s village to attend church – amazing experience. Most beautiful singing you will ever hear on this earth. No pictures, but I do have some video to share when I get home. Had an emotional talk with Sala's mother last night - she has 8 children and lost her 9 year old son, a twin, to leukemia about 3 years ago. To hear her say that she is always looking for the one who is missing, always seeing her son when she looks upon his twin, to hear her describe her pain and tears when they learned what was making his sick, because the only end to leukemia here is death - breaks my heart wide open. She shared with me her faith, her pain, her love for her children - she is an amazing, strong woman. I learn so much from each person I have the privilege of knowing. I am grateful.
Much love back home to each of you reading this. About 3 more weeks to go – can’t wait to see my new niece, catch up with friends, give and receive lots of hugs! XOXO!
