fiji mission trip

In June 2009, Phil La Trobe from St Paul’s and a team from Christian Surfers New Zealand headed over to Fiji to serve the surfing community. Phil describes the experience in his own words below.

Fiji Mish 09 was epic, it was to me the most rewarding and challenging time I have ever had. I went over not really knowing what to expect. The lifestyle suited me fine, not hot water, little shacks for home and the relaxed it’ll get done in due time attitude was awesome aka Island time. But what really challenged me was the generosity of the Fijian community. Even though we would have thought they had little in comparison to us, they were more than willing to give it up, they would have given the shirt on their back to you if you had asked or needed. This to me was the most challenging thing as we take for granted what we have and rarely give a cent and they have little and give a dollar.

The highlight for me wasn’t the surf, although it was real fun getting to know the Fijian Christian Surfers (CSF) and enjoy the waves with them, but it was the way these people loved and cared and how God moved among them. The board repairs were a huge blessing to them as they hadn’t any way to fix their boards. After a couple of days with Joey, Isaac and John teaching them, the basics of board repairs and safety they were seasoned professionals in no time (huge thanks to the support of St Paul’s who allowed all this to happen with the finance from the fundraiser). Especially John, who at almost 30 with little education now wants to start a business up, being the only Fijian board repairer and the next trip, will be trying to set him up.

As none of them had a board I decided to give them each one and man, was this a humbling experience. To see their gratitude was unbelievable (thanks to Ali for supplying two of these). The other boards all went to CSF and Kris is stoked to add them to the quiver.

Although the repairs were rewarding seeing God move was even better. The passion they had to hear more about God, grow in their relationship with Jesus and move in the Spirit was awesome. We went to one of the youth services, which consisted of worship, prayer for each other, prophesying and then to top it off they went up on the dunes and prayed over the nation for the next few hours.

Some of the things I got to see God do is provide waves on a completely flat bay for learn to surf moments after they arrived, completely heal Nev’s shoulder which was damaged from a motorbike accident and stopped his surfing, the pain taken away from Mala’s boil allowing us to clean it out and teach the Fijians how to take care of them, Chris one of the church elders praying over me and prophesying and then getting his broken collarbone healed and also being able to prophesy over some of the teenagers and seeing them move in the Spirit.

Overall the people were amazing and the whole time was epic and I can’t wait to get back there next year or sooner if I can.

Phil La Trobe

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