God and Nature (AND SWIMMING WITH SEALS)

Jody VanDorp (Redeemer '11) writes:

The past week has included a lot of amazing moments, days, and new ideas. Last Saturday, all eleven of us (plus Lisa = twelve) drove down to Christchurch to witness our first professional rugby match. Our team (the Canterbury Crusaders) won, and many of us were very glad to have Lisa with us to explain the (sometimes confusing) rules. Abe and Marcel (SLC’s) were also at the game, and were chosen out of the crowd to be in the half-time show! We spent about 10 minutes distracted watching them as they were taught how to kick the ball etc. and then cheered loudly for them as they kicked (wearing sandals/barefoot!) On the way home, we pulled over for a few minutes to lay down and stare up in awe at the star-filled sky.

Monday brought a new class and a new professor, God and Nature with Steven Bouma-Prediger. We reviewed the groaning of creation, biblical texts that form a creational mandate, arguments to counter complaints against Christianity, as well as passages describing the beauty and order of creation. We were assigned several readings from Sex, Economy, Freedom and Community by Wendell Berry. I highly recommend it to all. I think it is safe to say that for all of us, our understanding of Christian stewardship was broadened over the past week. At the end of class each night, we also had an informal lesson in the ecological messages of children’s stories, as BP read us a bedtime story (ex: The Lorax, Yertle the Turtle, Just a Dream) before we went to bed.

Monday afternoon we all made our way to the beach, where some people were learning to surf. Once again, several of us remarked on the beauty of a small group so that we could all hang out together away from the convent as well.

For many of us, today was a highlight of our whole experience. On the coast to the south of Kaikoura is a huge island/rock about 500 m (little over a quarter mile) off shore. As we have driven past it, we have often seen people swimming out towards it and wanted to make the pilgrimage ourselves. Today was the day. Ten of us suited up (thank you to friends from church for many borrowed suits that kept most of the girls from having to rent) and headed out. Many thanks to Lisa and Allie for driving us out there, our contingent would have been smaller if we had all biked out. Alex did bike both there and back, fighting the headwinds on the way out.

We started the swim, a little shocked by how cold it was since there was no sun to heat things up for us. The waves were fairly large, adding all the more to the adventure. When we got to the appointed spot along the rock, we were greeted by a seal or two swimming in the water. Our presence invited a few more of them into the water, and as more of our group arrived, the number of seals also increased. We were swimming with seals!!! They seemed to like it when we were swimming, looping, etc underwater as they do. A few of them came very close, occasionally bumping into our fins and feet. We shrieked delightedly, not really able to believe that this was actually happening! They were so playful and beautiful; like Sea World but in real life and therefore way better.

It’s been a great day and a great week.

Thanks to Alyssa Kunkle (Messiah '12) for the photos!

CCSP Spring 2010 Samoa Slide Show

Faga Village, Home of Our Samoan Families

We left for our homestays in Faga village on Saturday. All of us were curious, and some were a little nervous. After all, living with a family you have never met who does not speak your language is not a situation we often find ourselves in.

The CCSP group was welcomed into the village by the Matai (or chiefs). We took part in an Ava ceremony during which the village talking chiefs made speeches, and everyone was served Kava. Follow the ceremony pairs of students left with their host families. Many were situated in fales along the beach, close enough to share stories and snorkel with each other on occasion.

You might wonder what we spent our homestays doing? Well, here is a small, in no way all-inclusive list.

If you were Kelsey, Gellie (Messiah ’10) and Alyssa (Messiah ’12), you might have learned how to weave sitting mats from your homestay grandmother. You might have tried climbing a coconut tree Samoan-style while visiting your family’s plantation. Or you may have tried (with mixed success) to canoe in fishing canoes. You also might have spent a morning with your homestay sisters at school and been asked to help with homework.

If you were Alex and Caleb you might have been asked by your family to wear nice lavalavas, white shirts and ties to church on Sunday. If you were Caleb you might have discovered the incredible coral reef in the lagoon off shore. If you were Alex you might have tried, and succeeded in climbing a coconut tree. You might also have learned a speech in Samoan to give our last night in the village at the Fia Fia.

During our last few days in Faga the weather deteriorated. The beach fales that had been so nice and cool during much of the week started to seem like they might not hold together in the wind. We woke up on our last morning in Samoa to the news that the ferry between Savaii and Upolu might not be running due to the weather. Thankfully, after leaving in a hurry, waiting at the ferry terminal and praying that we would make it back in time to catch our flight, a ferry came. We piled onboard and spent the next 2 hours holding onto our bags and our lunches until we arrived at the Upolu wharf.

We made it back to Kaikoura two days later, thanks to the International Dateline. The next week was spent readjusting our stomachs to New Zealand food and processing our time in Samoa both through conversations, Mick Duncan’s second week of Sustainable Community Development and a celebration later the next week.

Samoan Psalms

Samoan Psalms:

One of our community nights in Samoa we spent in small groups reflecting on our time in Samoa up until that point and writing “Samoan Psalms.” Here they are.

Lance, Alex and Marcel

Based on Psalm 119

Blessed are those whose way

Is upright. Who walk in the law of the Lord.

Blessed are those who serve the family

For they will be the Matai.

Blessed are those who live off the land

And take only what they need.

Blessed are those who honor God

Who seek him every day

Blessed are those who pass the fire

For they will enjoy kinship

Blessed are those who sleep in the fale

For the will see and be seen

Blessed are those who walk in tradition

With, their people, and their land.

Gellie, Kelsey and Jess

To the tune of “All I want is You” from the Juno soundtrack

If you were a talking chief, I’d be a Matai

If you’re Fa’amolemole then I’m Fa’afetai

If you were tanoa, I’d be the Kava

And don’t laugh too hard if I lose my lavalava

(Course)

All I want is breadfruit and taro on my plate

You stay we’ll eat at 7 but you really mean 8

All I want it popo from the coconut tree

Or to go for a snorkel in the salty blue sea.

If you make a tapa, I’ll weave a mat

If you start a tattoo then you better finish that

If you were tofa, I’d be malo

Oh Sweet Samoa we never wanna go!

Jody, Alyssa and Courtnay

Job 38

Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me if you understand who marked off it’s dimensions, surely you know. Who stretched a measuring line across it? On what were it’s footings set, or who laid its cornerstone, while all the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?

Where you there when the Samoan Islands were formed? Do you know the birth place of the molten rock that formed the place you stand. Do you know how vegetation came to cover this once barren land? Surely you know, you are so wise. Can you appreciate the power of a volcanic eruption? Can you race the lava to the sea? Can you protect your mighty fortress from a wall of raging water. With your power this world be no problem. Can you comprehend the mysteries of the Samoan rainforest? Do you know how to classify the flying fox? Do you understand how they carry their young? Surely your scientific studies reveal these answers.

Can you grasp the medicinal properties of the plants I have given you? Surely you can find cures. Could you create a tree with more uses than the coconut? Tell me if you can engineer plants as wonderful as these? Could you paint the colors of the sea? Can you measure the depth? Can your imagination conceive the multitude & diversity of life below the surface? Can the partnership between the clownfish and the anemone be ordained by you? The work of your artists are far superior to that of my handiwork. Could you position the Southern Cross so perfectly for navigation?

Sarah, Sandy, Morgan and Allie

Samoan Psalm 23

The Lord is the high chief of my family

I will always have a place

He shows me the road through the plantation

He leads me beside blue ocean waters

He restores my soul

He teaches me the fa’asamoa, so that his Matai’s title

May be respected

Even though I become afraid that I cannot afford

A necessity, I know that I will be taken care

Of because I am part of this family

His word & his kava root comfort me.

He presents fine mats on my behalf, in the present of my enemies.

He gives me a seat of his fale.

My kava cup overflows.

Manuia & alofa will follow me all the days of my life

And I and my family will dwell in the fale of my High Chief forever.

Scott, Caleb and Abe’s Psalm got lost...

"Now Look Here!" (Savaii, Warren Jopling and Safua Hotel)

There are two major islands that make up Independent Samoa. The smaller island of Upolu is more heavily populated and has both the airport and Apia (the only city). The larger island, Savaii, can be reached by ferry, and due to the younger volcanic soil has less arable land and thus a smaller population. During the first week we were on Savaii we stayed a Safua Hotel, a family run hotel that caters to groups such as ourselves. During the days we went on natural and cultural history tours with Warren Jopling, a wonderful, if somewhat outspoken and at times gruff, Australian who has been living in Samoa for the past 25 years.

If you were to ask several of the students and staff about their time at Safua hotel they might tell you that several notable events included:

While catching our dinner on Samoan culture day, Alex (Point Loma ’12) had the misfortune of being bitten by a pig. Several students who had been in the dark regarding the source of pork were enlightened. And we all were able to witness what octopus cooked in octopus ink and coconut cream looks (and tastes) like. Additionally, Sarah (Wheaton ’12), was presented with a necklace of cowry shells by Chris Jackson in recognition of her skill (and timely correction of others) while basket weaving.

Warren encouraged everyone to look into the longevity producing properties of the Noni fruit. Several people, including Caleb (Wheaton ’11), and Kelsey (Messiah, ’12), were convinced to try both the fruit form and the bottled juice, however they affirmed in the end that Noni really does taste terrible.

We learned a little about some of the challenges that Samoan people face. We saw a number of failed forestry projects, toured a new market which had been financed by Japanese aid, but unfortunately was built not only right in the middle of some of the only remaining low-lying rainforest on Savaii, but also far from both the nearest town and the ferry terminal. We also visited a village that had been completely destroyed by a cyclone about 20 years ago, which no one has ever resettled.

Our time a Safua hotel culminated with a Fia Fia. This is a celebration that, literally translated is “Happy Happy” in English. The program consists of each group, the visitors and the locals, performing “items.” The items can be songs, dances, haka etc. Our rendition of “In the Jungle” was a big hi., CCSP groups have been singing this song with such regularity that all the locals know it and sing along, and out unique dance routine made it extra good. One of the memorable moments of the evening occured when we all went on the back porch and were surprised with a Samoan fire dance! Lance (Wheaton ’11) and Alex were asked to try their hand at it and put on a pretty spectacular display. Alex later explained he had never tried fire dancing before but had always wanted to do something like that.

Apia Days

After recovering a bit of sleep back at our hotel we spent the next several days exploring Apia. Apia is the biggest city in Samoa, and is in fact, the only city in the country. It is hot and dusty, and Samoans in other parts of the country will tell you that people in Apia tend to be more stressed and less friendly, however this must be relative. A highlight for several students and staff members was going to church and then being invited to join local families for lunch. There are a number of churches in Apia, a reflection of the fact that Christianity is the dominant religion in Samoa. Students and staff split into smaller groups or pairs and ventured out to various churches. Most of the services were in Samoan, however many of us were welcomed during the service by the pastors who were speaking, and the majority of us were invited over for lunches of traditional Samoan food following the services.

We spent the remainder of our time in Apia visiting the various markets, snorkeling at a marine reserve, and listening to several professors at the University of Samoa discussing development and Samoan culture.

Arrival in Samoa

As our plane lifted off from the Auckland airport on February 27^th we had no idea that between then and when we landed in Apia, Samoa, a major earthquake would hit Chile, causing tsunami warnings to be issued for much of the Pacific. We arrived in Apia in the early hours of the morning and were greeted by Chris Jackson, one of our Samoan hosts, who informed us of the tsunami warning and assured us that we would have a place to go inland from the city.

The drive from the airport to the city was surreal, not only were we in a very different country from the one we had just left, we were witnessing what amounted to a massive evacuation of all of the coastal areas. Villages that would normally be quiet at 4 AM were lit up and busy as people waited in line to fill up their cars with petrol, and purchased food from shops that were taking advantage of the business. We also passed people who were simply sitting at the edge of the beach looking out, presumably towards Chile.

Needless to say, this was not how we had envisioned our time in Samoa starting out.

We relocated from our hotel in the city to one up in the hills were we spent the rest of the night getting a little sleep on the lobby floor (the hotel was already full when we arrived), listening to New Zealand news and tsunami bulletins, thinking about our families who were no doubt thinking of us, and thinking of the Samoan people and the tragic tsunami that they had experienced six months earlier. We were thankful when the 9 AM hour came and passed with no waves, and a normal chorus of roosters. In the moment, it was almost tempting to write off the circumstances of our arrival as an inconvenience and a hitch in our schedule. However, perhaps in the end our participation in this experience along with the Samoan people we would come to know and appreciate over the coming weeks gave us some common ground. Most of us come from fairly stable locations in North America, and few of us had ever experienced what it is to be a displaced person with nowhere to sleep but a concrete floor, let alone the seriousness of a tsunami warning.