The StepOut-StepFree class in Nasinu Prison (Class 34) have journeyed through a wonderful first week. Eighteen young men together in one classroom facing the challenges presented by the lives they have lived so far.
The last session of our first week was 'Writing Your Lament to God'. A powerful session in the permission that it gives to inmates to be real, raw and open, with themselves and God.
In the 6 weeks since TC Winston blew its devastating path through Fiji the Operation Foundation team have been engaged in relief efforts. This has been made possible by both the willingness of the team to lend more than a helping hand and by the willingness of so many of our ministry partners to financially support our efforts.
To the end of March some $16,478.00 FJD was received. We have been inspired by the willingness of so many to contribute to the restoration of Fiji. What has been a real delight is the willingness of local ministry partners contribute to Operation Foundation's efforts. The graph below shows the breakdown of support received. The support has continues to come in and we are grateful for the sacrifice and generosity of so many.
To the end of March the team had visited 12 villages and settlements providing emergency relief and aid. Over a thousand people were impacted by these visits and distributions across 3 islands, Viti Levu (the main island), Vanua Levu (the northern island), Taveuni (the garden island).
Additionally the team have prepared and conducted a Healing Trauma workshop to affected people from Koro Island. These survivors experienced some of the worst devastation and loss of life and property and were relocated to Suva. Other workshops and trainings have been scheduled for the months ahead.
To the end of March some $4720 FJD has been expended in initial emergency relief and aid and more distributions of assistance are in planning.
In the last week Fiji has again suffered at the extremes of nature with significant rainfall resulting in flooding. Emergency centres have been rehousing affected people and a new cyclone, TC Zena formed and threatened as a category 3 before miraculously breaking apart and suddenly moving away.
Our efforts are now in revisiting these 12 villages and communities and assisting in the re-establishing of livelihood and providing materials for shelter. The Healing Trauma workshops are gaining momentum and necessary as a step in helping people rebuild lives.
Our constructive step over the next months will be in the partnership with 'Tekivu Tale - Rebuild Fiji'. This movement spearheaded by Pst Mark Wilson has given a commitment to rebuild 30 homes and we are pleased to be playing our part in this effort.
Koro Island participants of the Healing Trauma Workshop
The evidence of shock and trauma among the people was the constant discussion in our team debriefings after we had delivered aid and assistance into villages and communities. In response, Don Goulding and Jill Schultz, prepared a 3-hour 'Healing Trauma Workshop' which was has been conducted to our first participants, who were all from one devastated village on Koro Island.
53 people came together to participate in the Healing Trauma workshop. These wonderful people were survivors had been relocated to Suva after there village was demolished. Their stories of the night of survival were incredible, inspiring and humbling. Families said goodbye to each other as the 300kmh+ winds tore buildings apart, and storm surges filled the same homes and escape routes with sea water. Our time with these men. women and children was powerful - we learnt much from each other!
Other affected villages and communities are now asking for this workshop and the Operation Foundation team is moving in response. To maximise the impact we have developed a booklet which has now been translated into Fijian and we are training additional local volunteers.
It is a privilege to work together, at a time like this, in a restoration ministry.
Over two days in late June the team came together for a retreat! Its purpose was to focus on personal spiritual growth and organisational planning. We were blessed to use the guest house at Homes of Hope for our retreat. This allowed the last afternoon to be a fruitful time of discussion and collaboration with the community team from Homes of Hope.
The theme for our time together came from this verse, Romans 15:14 “I myself am convinced, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, complete in knowledge and competent to instruct one another” From this verse we investigated four essential areas for the Operation Foundation team; Being: Knowing: Doing: Loving.
What we discovered from our collective passion is the diversity and strength of our combined gifts, and our commitment to lives of integrity. Working together on the core values and our essential practice was invigorating.
Ross & Peter comparing notes
The last months have been characterised by an increasing crescendo of news items about Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran. War was waged on the political front, the legal front. Our collective conscience has been confronted as we regurgitated how the arrests were made and Australia's own probable complicity through the early actions of the AFP. We have expressed outrage because our collective hope has been sharply focused on their successful rehabilitation and future.
What has not been in contention is the change evidenced in these two men and the maturing elements of Christian faith that became the foundation of their rehabilitation. Their new found selfless approach to life stood in powerful contrast to the hungry selfishness that had so characterised their life ten years ago.
Over the past years we applauded, we hoped, we prayed, we spoke out. What has been revealed before our eyes is the simple truth that Jesus came to save sinners and redeem that which was lost. Their new life emerged with Him in the darkest of places, in the hardest of circumstances, and is even now living on in triumph. There is now a sacredness to their life and stories and having been an observer from a distance I feel to keep my reflections and opinions short.
Eternal God, thank you for the lives of these two men and those that died with them. They reflected Your desire to give amazing grace and true forgiveness and change the hearts of men to reflect the beauty of your only Son and our Saviour, Jesus. The fact that their last breath was given as a praise to You is not a self-denial of who they have been, but rather a mighty testimony of what You powerfully continue to do behind prison walls. Heal now those still impacted by their former sinful selfishness.
Peter Schultz.
