Lessons from Fiji 

Gravitate Missions Trip 

By Steve Kelly (Secondary Teacher)

They say that the best way to learn a language is to immerse yourself in the country where that language is spoken, where you will experience it first-hand, everyday. In the case of 15 Year 11 students who are completing Gravitate as part of their studies, the language is that of a selfless faith, of generosity, of loving wholeheartedly, of joy, of humility and of giving all the glory to God.

Our group (which included 4 BHCS staff) were blessed to be able to connect with and learn from many people in Fiji – from the family we lived with to the people living in remote villages. The students were completely immersed into a family that modelled what it looks like to live like Jesus. From the moment we walked through the door, we were welcomed home by Mere (who we all called mama or mum). Mere and her family embraced us, served us, loved us and challenged us in our faith.

We were blessed with so many opportunities to connect with local people, one of the many highlights was an overnight trip to a remote village called WaiBongi where students spent an afternoon in the classroom with local school kids. It was an amazing example of God using the many and varying gifts of our group as we looked around and saw people playing rugby, singing songs, playing games and just generally making the kids feel valued and loved. The students then spent an evening with the village children and a large number of parents speaking about Australia, singing worship songs together and sharing about God. It was a significant time for many of the group and a memory that will be treasured.

The students were able to be involved in a local church service – with two students boldly sharing their testimonies, singing worship songs and joining in with the local community. It was another opportunity to experience such humble gratitude in the face of tough circumstances.

The students were flexible, grateful and generous with their time and resources with the local communities. They certainly showed amazing growth in their selfless faith and we were so proud of them as they immersed themselves into a challenging but incredibly rewarding trip.

We now look forward to bringing these valuable lessons back into our ‘normal’ lives. We look forward to being able to share the many stories that have come out of the experience.

Thank you to everyone who supported the students in being able to attend such an important trip.