Millionaire Ministries...

This last week was pretty crazy. Being in Vava’u is very different than being on the main island. Many things are the same: The people are friendly, they all call themselves Christians, and they still drive on the wrong side of the road. However, unlike mainland Tonga, this is a Coral island. We hiked yesterday to the highest peak and it was all coral. So there are hills here, whereas mainland is completely flat. The environment is even more relaxed here…though I didn’t think it was possible.

Friday, we went to a school and did a 40 minute presentation. Friday night we went to a youth rally (30 kids) and many of them were the same kids at the school that morning…so we improvised with theatre sports and a few other things. At the end people had some time to laugh, think, and worship. One girl dedicated her life to the LORD!! We were amazed at how God can use anything.

Saturday we went for a prayer walk in the morning, then went to help an organization with building trash cans, however we mostly just stood around. Most of our time was praying. After dinner 4 of us (Ryan, Callie, Ashawnae, and me) went to get home made Italian Ice cream! We sat and had too much, and just as we were about to leave, there were 3 guys who offered to buy us a round of drinks. We declined because we were about to leave. They started talking to us (in their inebriated state) and they insisted we sit down. So we sat with them and talked to them for at least an hour.

After we had declined drinks a few times, I realized that if I turned him down more, I could offend him, so I took a sprite(I had already had 4 scoops of ice cream and 2 dinners). They kept buying drinks and talking and we found out much about them. The “main guy” turned out to be one of the wealthiest Tongans on this island. He is a multi millionaire (Which is good in a country that has an average annual income of $700 US) and owns the hotel where the Prince of Tonga is staying. His name is Tommy. Everyone knows Tommy.

We went home and found out from Diane (the lady we’re staying with) that he is indeed a wealthy and powerful man in Tonga. She said that what we found out about him is very useful information in praying for him, so we told our pastor what we knew, and we prayed and prayed that he would come to church on Sunday.

Sunday morning we did the children’s church then packed up and went to the Hard Rock Island to relax for the afternoon. Since Diane knows everyone, we got a ride to a place where we got a boat ride for free(we gave them gas money though). After unpacking everyone went to the hardrock hotel. I stayed in the shade to put on my sunscreen(yes mom, I use sunscreen). As I was finishing, I couldn’t believe my eyes to see Tommy and his two buddies coming ashore. They came up and I asked if they remembered me. They said they did. UNBELIEVABLE! So this time I was certain it was a divine appointment.

We sat and invited them to join us, and they did eventually and we sat and talked about all sorts of things. They paid for anything I wanted (I just had 2 sprites and a juice) and then the owner started talking with us. After a while I found out that the owner was the keyboardist from the old British band “The Cure.” I thought it was hilarious. It just dawned on me that I was sitting at a table with multimillionaires talking about real estate, music, and adventures. I didn’t need to talk about God because they all know more than me. I just sat and spent time hanging out. The owner of the Hard Rock offered us a few days for free if we just wanted to hang out and explore…I couldn’t believe I had to decline. I have to fly back to Tonga on Friday.

The culture here is a Christian one, and their view on Palangi’s is not good. It does not matter what we say. They do not listen to a word we say. They only watch what we do. So we are planning on going to the hospital to pray and cleaning up the streets a little just so they see white people working. They think that white people are incapable of work. No exaggeration. They truly believe that work is for non-white people. So we are told that if we do something as simple as picking up trash people will do a double take and ask themselves “what are those white people doing?” Then when we talk, they will listen.

Vava'u (Va va Ooo)

Thank you all SOO much for your prayers. Our boat ride was longer than expected, but we traveled faster than expected. We are currently in Vava'u, the northernmost major island in the Kingdom of Tonga. It is known as the most beautiful island in the South Pacific. On our way through the islands on the boat ride in, it was like we were boating through paradise. In all my adventures, i've never seen such beauty. I will have to come back here sometime to explore and adventure, becuase we are here for ministry this time. here's a scenopsis of our journey here: When we arrived the dock to leave the main island, it looked like a scene in a movie where everyone was trying to immigrate. There was a funeral and they loaded up the cascets first then everyone dressed up from the funeral. Everyone was squeezing through a small fence gate and once a few people were on the boat, everyone was passing their bags up to people on the boat. While loading one of the trucks, the forklift tipped over and the truck fell almost all the way in the water...it got pryed inbetween the dock and the boat, so we left at 7pm instead of 5pm. On the boat there were no seats, no trash cans, and one bathroom with 3 stalls labeled girls, one labeled males and two urinals next to the sinks. There were about 3-400 people on the boat so we all piled in a huge group with our stuff on the outsides and two sleeping bags in the middle where we layed in a huge cuddle puddle. The larger group got off at Hapai at about 4am and while offloading the vehicles, one of the barrels fell inbetween the dock and the boat and spilled desil(from what I heard.) So we left hapai around 6:45 instead of 5. (3 hours wait) Just before 1pm we arrived Vava'u. The seas were expected to be "rough. Not smooth like you americans might think, but really rough." I can not thank you enough for your prayers. Our whole trip we got smooth seas and not a drop of rain. The stars were amazing and the seas were so calm I was suprised. I remember fishing in a 15 foot boat with swells worse than our 100 foot boat was going over. It was amazing...seriously. Today we went to a high school and just talked for about 40 minutes and then went on a prayer walk through town(which is hard to do because everyone is so friendly and talkative it's hard to pray because everyone is so interested in the Palangi's (white people)). We found out that we can go to one specific internet cafe for free when we go with diane. So we are here now. Not sure for how long or when I can come back. But it was a plesant suprise. Our living situation is wonderful. We live with a older lady whose name is Diane and her dog Roger. Not sure her story, but she is from the states and lives here now. She has 3 bedrooms (3 beds) and we are sharing them appropriately. It is a nice appartment and we (sometimes) get warm showers, and she showed us the best places to get palangi food. Tomorrow at 10am we are going to have an extra girl joining us.(Callie) She is flying here(3x as expensive as the boat ride..but worth it for her since she gets so sea sick). Our ministry here is not set in stone like it was in Fiji. We have a couple things planned and the rest of the time we will be praying about what God wants us to do. So I would really appreciate prayer in the realm of our team hearing God's will for our day as each day occurs. Everyone here is so friendly. At the pastor's house last night we met the noble's son, Sampson (14 years old ) and it was an honor for us to be in his presence. Very polite boy. He will be the noble of Vava'u when his dad dies(his dad just became the noble). All in all, it has been tiring being here, but good. We will rest this afternoon and then join the youth group tonight at 8pm. We will be leaving here next thursday or friday...so we will only be here a week. I will post pictures from Tonga and vava'u as soon as I find possible. Thank you all for being a part of my life and my adventures. Joel

Internet, TV, and a long boat ride

The interent has been down on the island for a few days, and they had to come reset it or something. So tonight it finally started working. Thank you so much for all your prayers. It has been really relaxing to be here in Tonga. We have mostly been helping out at the U of N base here. We have done everything from gardening to working in the kitchen to cleaning the bathrooms and showers. Sunday we found out that not only are we not allowed to work, we are not allowed to play sports either. The people here laughed at us because we wanted to do our laundry and weren't allowed. We all were itching to check our emails, and I'm sorry that I didn't reply to any of you. I just didn't have the time. There are a bunch of people who want to use the internet and we're taking turns now that we learned that it works better with two or less people using te wireless network. So for those of you who gave me money, thank you SO much! I have been spending extra money on food just because i am losing weight and do not always get enough food. Also, money does go further here. So every little bit has helped.

Saturday we drove around the whole island in a couple hours making a couple stops....just to give you an idea ofthe size ofthe island. the highest speed limit is 40kph, as a result, they are allowed to pile however many people they want. kinda cool really. But we went to bed early to get up at 5am so that we could be read to be on tv at 7am. We arrived the tv station 6:45 and we were the only onese there....we found out there was a miscommunication and we were on at 7PM! Most of us laughed it off, but some were quite upset. We had 2 hours until we left for church and we sat through the church(all in tongan...no english at all) and they said it could be anywhere from 2-4 hours. It took an hour and 45 minutes. The church was beautiful though. All day most everyone slept or watched movies. I walked around campus. That night we went to the TV station and at last moment I was asked to do my testimony, so I went on Tongan TV live and told a brief part of my life story. I still hate mics.

We just worked around the base and went to town on monday and today we went to a beach and hung out as a team for the last time in a while. Tomorrow we split into 3 teams. My team will be riding a boat tomorrow night 5pm(9pm Washington time) and the ride will be up to 18 hours from what I hear to Vava'u. Rumor has it that Vava'u is the most beautiful island in the south pacific. I don't even know what we'll be doing there. I just know that everyone says I'm lucky to go....I sure hope this isn't a joke.

This will be the last update for 2 weeks. Rumor has it that there is no internet on the island. So here are my prayer requests these next two weeks:
-The ride to the islands are on an old desil boat. People are known to get sick solely from the smell of the desil. So pray for calm seas! This is my biggest prayer request. Calm seas can shorten the trip in half. I would hate to start my ministry there sick.
-Wisdom and strength for each of the 3 teams
-Relationships and unity in my team
-Our outreach team is praying whether or not to go back to Fiji like we planned, or if we should go to Samoa like we initially wanted(now that we're allowed to go)...or if God wants us to go somwhere else. If we change anything, we will need more money. As of right now, I have $200 after I pay off my credit card from my dental work in Kona(My tax returns came in so that covered the rest)....so prayer for direction and if we change anything, prayer for funds.

That's all for now. I thank you all for being a part of my life and my adventures. John 3:30.

Joel

Live, Watermellons, and the Kingdom...

We are staying at the YWAM base here in Tonga. The culture is very different in many ways. The people are very laid back(and some people are downright lazy) because the #1 source of income is money sent by relatives overseas. Things here are either dirt cheap or bucu expensive. This morning we spent a little while picking watermellons. The weather has been strong winds...I'd guess they are about 25 miles an hour with gusts above 40....and the rain goes from a sprinkle to a downpoar. It is difficult to sleep at night with the wind blowing through the room and the rain hitting the roof sounding like it is an army with hammers. But at lest it's not hot.

This afternoon 8 of us went to the Christian radio station and we didn't know what to expect, but all of us went into a tiny 8x10 ft room and we went on the air. We didn't get any prep time, but rather we were put on the spot to answer whatever questions the DJ asked. He knew what we were about so it was all about our testimony and the difference between religion and a relationship with Jesus. All in all, it was good. We found out that most ofthe people on campus tuned in to our radio show from 4-6...with music breaks, it didn't seem like it was 2 hours...but it was fun.

Now about the Kingdom of Tonga....It is the last true kingdom on earth. The king became a Christian when a missionary came and talked to the King about an all powerful God. The king dissagreed and said that if his god was real, he could save him from the sharks. The missionary agreed. So the king had him rowed out to the shark feeding ground (not sure how far away from the island) and dropped him off and everyone forgot about him. He swam to shore(no man had ever survived swimming in those waters) and had to hike back to the kings palace. The king was shocked. He had forgotten about the missionary. After that the king became a believer and so did his kingdom. The believers on the island call the King a "born again" believer, and they say that the prince and the expected king to be is not. So they pray and intercede often on the princes and the kingdom's behalf.

Our main ministry until we leave on Tuesday for the outer islands will be helping out their campus. We have done gardening, cleaning and random jobs they have requested. It only costs us $5 per day per person for food and shelter. Unfortunately as a result, we eat the same food, and I haven't learned to like it yet. I weighed myself yesterday and I weigh 167....when I left for DTS in December I weighed 187....so for those of you who want to lose 20 pounds, have i got the diet plan for you!!! I told the guys my goal is to gain 7 pounds...basically, that I need to eat more and excercize more.

It only costs $15 to use the internet here for a month...unfortunately i'll only be here for a week, but still it's not bad. The internet cuts out often and the connection speed is 1Mbps, but it's way nicer than not having internet at all. I have read all your emails(and sean, you're not a better bus driver than me) and will reply if I have a connection long enough to do so. we do not have much free time here...but I didn't come here to have free time....I came here to serve God! ...and I can not reitterate how powerfuly your prayers have effected me. I hope this update is helpful. God bless my friends and family.

Tonga

I arrived tonga safely. The internet is very fickle here and it took me a long time to get it up and running. It cuts out very often. I will try to keep updated, but it took me over 3 hours to check my email and update this blog. I can not tell you how much I appreciate all your prayers. i have felt them. I will have internet, but it's SO fickle! I will do what I can to keep you updated. I love you all so much. I'm off to bed because we start 7am tomorrow.

...to be continued

My friends, being sick this week has drained me physically, emotionally and spiritually. I had a very hard week and very few people took any care of any of my needs(there were a few exceptions). As a result I am very weary. I have been told that I will not have internet access for 4 weeks, but I have been misinformed before. Actually I have not been informed of almost anything about Tonga. I am sorry that I can not give you any more details. Truly sorry. I can not emphasize how much I will be needing prayer. This last week was extremly difficult for me and my for my friend Samantha. She has been my only friend on this outreach and in Tonga we are going to different places....I believe my leaders did this intentionally. They do not want us together because we were the two under the strongest spiritual attack and in their judgment separating us will make it less vulnerable....if it was just mosquito bites and cannibals, I would not be in such despair, but why do I always get in situations where I feel betrayed? MY friends, how I long just for a simple hug or a smile from you! Tears fall as I write. My heart longs for home, but who am I to disobey God? If I don't update my blog before next Saturday, do not plan on an update before May 9th. I love you all and thank you for being a part of my life and my adventures.

And then there were 3...

I found out last night that our team is going to be splitting up into 3 different teams in Tonga. We will have 2 leaders and 3 teams. So for the 3 1/2 weeks in Tonga one of the teams will not have a leader. There will be one team on the main island at the main base (working with media like tv/radio)....and will have internet access. The other two teams will be in the outer islands doing who knows what with likely no internet access for the whole time...and MAYBE we'll have electricity. My leaders are being very cryptic about it. They didn't even tell us about the main island....someone else did accidently not knowing that we hadn't been told. For some reason they do not want to keep us informed, but would prefer to keep us in the dark. The unity of our team is still weak, and I hope and pray that our unity will be strengthened by having smaller teams in Tonga.

On the upside, my pink eye is getting better and I am feeling better. I should be better before I leave for Tonga. Please pray for me where I should go. God doesn't need all the details to speak...but it does help me...so if you hear something email me so as to hopefully confirm where I should go. I would really appreciate it.

Fiji pics

Let me know if this link doesn't work...here are a few pics from Fiji...when I have time I'll explain them.

http://wwu.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2020116&l=266f6&id=25902808

My favorite color....PINK!!!

This weekend we went to a very fun church and the preachers were very animated, charismatic and lively! My eyes started itching sunday morning...as I itched them, they got worse...I didn't think anything of it...then my right eye was getting swollen, so I went to see the doctor I went to the medical clinic with last week. She said it is pink eye...when I woke up monday, my eye was so swollen I couldn't open it. I got some eye drops and my eyes got worse...I then found out I needed to clean my eyes out before I put my drops in every 3 hours... My bad eye was better this morning, but my good eye is WAY worse...so my headache and light sensativity make me want to be alone in the dark...I always wear my sunglasses now. PLEASE pray for the health of our group. A few people now have pink eye(I am lucky enough to claim the worst case), and a lot of people have the flu and the runs. There is a lot of disunity and disorganization in our group...we really need prayer for a oneness in our group...it's not preventing us to minister effectively, but it is certainly hindering us. We are under spiritual attack for sure! So this also encourages us to know that we are worth attacking, but we need your help in prayer! Thank you all for your prayers!

Richard from Suva

I was walking from town saturday(getting apples and popsicles for the sick people) and someone called me over and asked if I was a part of marine reach.(the place we're staying) I explained what I was doig in Fiji. He immediately asked me "Will you teach me the bible?" I had been given strict instructions to come right back from the market for our team eeting, so I told him I'd be back in an hour. We didn't even have a team meeting, so I prayed and went to meet him with SunAwh(one of the leaders) and we talked with him. It was really cool. He was raised hindu, and converted to mormanism. His parents disowned him and he went to Utah for 2 years on his mission. He searched and found Jesus, so he went home (north of Lautoka), then he lost his only F$20 to get back to Suva, where he had been living...he was looking for a church and wanted to know the bible since the mormans didn't give him one. So we read John 15 and I explained it as we went along, and he just kept asking for more bible verses...he was very hungry for the word, then he told us that the bus was leaving soon, and asked us for a little money. I went back to the base and SunAwh read something out of James, so I gave him my last F$50. ($30) I felt like God really was telling me that he wanted him to have a bible in words he understood. He only makes $30 each week as a waiter, so he said he could save F$10 for 2 weeks and get a hindi/english translation so he can learn english too. It really felt like the right thing to do...and I feel like I blessed a brother! So for those of you who felt that the little money you gave me didn't matter, that $30 meant a lot more to Richard than I would have ever guessed.

Construction

Today I joined the construction team and we were sad that we had to leave the job without finishing. There was quite a difference in opinion in how to put the roof on and as a result, we humbly said we were not able to finish the project the way they wanted it done. The rain came and just dumped buckets...it was really warm, but we were soaking wet. We walked for quite a while before we caught the bus. This weekend we will have 2-4 productions at different places. Pray that we are available for God to use us in mighty ways.

Sanbeto

Today we walked around Sanbeto(maybe misspelled). Most of the people weren't home, but it was still a good experience praying for people. Afterwards we ate lunch at a family of the church we're working with this week and they made us amazing indian food(being indians). It was delicious! I climbed up part of a coconut tree because someone wanted one, but I came down because I knew my mom would have flipped if she heard I fell from a coconut tree...so don't worry mom, I'm being safe. But please keep praying for our team! I will update this blog every time I'm online.

Joel

Medical Clinic

Today I went to a village about an hour and a half away from our base here in Lautoka and helped with a medical clinic. We distributed medicine and a team of 3 of us walked around praying for people. It was really good for us to see God moving in the hearts of people. One older man accepted Jesus as his saviour, and one of the ladies working at the clinic had been witnessing to him for years and years, and after talking and praying for a little while, he decided it was exactly what he needed!

One thing I have noticed about the people here is their love for everyone. Wherever you go, you are welcomed with open ears and usually a cup of tea. If you complement somone of a painting on their wall, most of the time they will take it off their wall and give it to you. If you are staying at their house, they will sleep on the floor and give you their bed. They honor their guests in a way I have never seen before. Even when people know about Jesus and disbelieve, they will still welcome you into their house and accept prayer most of the time. All they ask for in return is respect.

My time is about up in the computer lab, but if you didn't get my email I sent out(and i 'm sure there are a lot of you who I missed), email me at joeloliver@gmail.com and I will send you a copy. I will be sending out an email at the begining and end of my stay at each place(hopefully).