fasting makes door hollow

12/20
I’m at my friend richard’s house, looking through his pantry…ummmm..because I’m curious…about the food, and where it comes from, and who’s building empires in skies. Western family (from Portland, OR!), has butters milk and canned mixed up vegetables. Unilever (with the big U) has many many offices it seems: Australia’s food includes chow mein mince, Australasia has chicken powdered stock, and pure classico olive oil. NJ, USA has yummy skippy—this is what keeps meat on my bones here in samoa. Well…that plus the taro and bread fruit, and canned fish. And fresh frish. Frish frash frosh…well, it works in Samoan.

I watched a movie: “sam I am” I like it. Here is why:
“your eyes are older”
“I need love”
“I love yoU”
“you’re the red in her painting”

I was reading the big newspaper in Samoa: Samoan observer Dec 19th. Topics range from parents and children, to the business confidence survey, to power in rugby, to alcohol hangovers, being victims, prices of things in samoa, and also “the dilemma facing the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) is that while we have contributed very little to the causes of climate change we are among the most vulnerable to its negative impacts.” I agree, ocean water rises 6 inches, many houses will be in water. Climate change brings more hurricanes and cyclones, right though these islands. There are many interesting articles (I wonder how they choose topics) in the paper in samoa. I have to say it is a WIDE variety of topics.

I was reading a book called Spiritual discipleship. “he was not yet ready for service.” Hmmmmm..I wonder what not ready for service means>..?.>?/



12/17
I saw a sign for a HOLLOW DOOR. $30 for each. The first thing I thought of was my grandpa: “I will only use solid core doors for the front door.” I wonder if they sell solid core doors in Samoa. Speaking of doors, my principal called me yesterday—someone had forced the computer lab door open at our school. I don’t know if anything was missing. But that is not a good sign. The door was NOT a solid core door. As people learn about computers and the potential value they hold. Their “value” will rise. We had a new lock installed recently, but if we have a hollow door, it’s pretty easy to get in.

Today I am fasting until about 6pm. We’ll see how far I make it. Drink lots of water. I only had a banana, and tea and water. My friend kat was doing a fast “to get closer to god.” I thought I would try because I want to fast, but not by myself. I don’t like to bounce my blood sugar like that. But I didn’t feel faint or have a headache. I prayed for my mom, grandparents, and the students, teachers, and my school—right before a Japanese woman sat down next to me. she just finished a year in Fiji studying English and was visiting samoa for 7 days. I took her to the JICA (Japanese volunteers) office because I thought they might be able to help her better than I could.

If I don’t learn anything from this PC experience, I know it will have opened my eyes to what is really sustainable. I showed my german friend how to reinstall windows on his computer. He wants to start a TV/electronics repair business and asked if I wanted to be partners with him—fixing computer. I told him I would rather teach him how to fix computers because I can only in samoa for one more year and her will be here for a LONG time. I think that would be more sustainable.

I had another thought while sitting on the bus feeling the breeze on my face. Samoans seems to have the ability to let their feelings out very easily. I see that they are very angry for a short period of time, then the anger leaves and they are happy for most of the time.
Back home in America. I see many people hold bitterness and bubbling anger just under the surface of their daily lives. It’s a different way of living. I see that way starting to enter the samoan culture. I think decisions made by the land and titles court creates bitterness. Just an example, but western court system seems to foreign to the samoan culture.

Awe in God: a halo around the cloud in front of the sun; a seed with a cape, made naturally, so it could fly far and make more.