During May 2008 members of Christian Surfers New Zealand spent 10 days in Fiji serving the Fijian Surfing Association (FSA) and local communities. A team of 10 set off from around NZ and the world, with members of Christian Surfers from Taranaki, Raglan, Welllington, Whakatane, Titahi Bay , Cambridge , Australia , USA , and Portugal . While they were a diverse group they made a great team and arrived on the Coral Coast of Fiji full of energy and enthusiasm - not just for the great surf, which they got plenty of, but also for the local Fijian surfers.
Despite breaking eight surfboards, a few altercations between their boards and and their bodies, and run-ins with the coral reefs, the team were an awesome example of what Christian Surfers do, providing a Christian presence and witness to the surfing community. They humbly fulfilled an awesome service to the surfers and wider communities of the Coral Coast . They ran learn-to-surf lessons for the youth and women members of the Fijian Surfing Association (FSA) at Natadola Beach and provided training for more advanced members in surfing technique, and competition performance at Sigatoka. Time was spent in a classroom situation teaching judging techniques for entry into Australasian competitions, and surf safety for the younger members.
On the final Saturday the Christian Surfers crew assisted in running a surf competition for the FSA at Sigatoka, getting the Fijians to put into practice the things they had been learning about competition techniques and judging. The competition was held in light winds and sunny conditions, a real answer to prayer after several days of tropical rain and with more forecast.
God provided awesome opportunities for outreach in the local communities, both among the surfers and non-surfers. The team attended local church services, linked in with the work of Kris Stice a local missionary, and his family, helped out with a kids programme in the local village, as well as running two learn-to-surf days open to anyone in the community, surf DVD evenings with a gospel message, a prizegiving ceremony for the competition with plenty of donated prizes, fellowshipped with local youth, and even found a little time to surf themselves. Some of the team were blessed to be able to surf Tavarua Island , one of the world's top surf breaks, as well as opportunities for the whole team to surf the local breaks. Getting there was half the fun, catching local buses, minivans, or hitching rides in the back of trucks, then full of Christian Surfers, surfboards, and the days catch of the local fishermen!
The team worked together well, leant on the Lord and achieved the aims of the mission to be a Christian presence and witness amongst the people and surfers of Fiji and to encourage the Fijian Surfing Association. In fact, some of the locals with a heart for ministry and the local surfing community, and who were brought together by the events run by Christian Surfers NZ decided to start up Christian Surfers Fiji. An amazing occurance which the team were stoked with, seeing God working in the hearts of the Fijians, and events happening that had not been foreseen. The team was able to bless the newly formed leadership team of CS Fiji with a number of surfboards and resources to help them get off the ground and running.
This is the first mission team that Christian Surfers has sent out internationally, responding to an invite from the Fijian Surfing Association, but with an invitation from the Fijian Surfing Association to come back next year, the team is already keen to head back to the beaches and surfing community of Fiji, solid in the knowledge that we serve an amazing God. A God who provides, who protects, who heals, who loves, and a God who saves!
Well done to all the team for your commitment and service to the Fijian surfing community, especially to David Farr, Team Director, and his family.
David Farr (Taranaki CS) Team Director
Gordon Webb (Raglan CS) Learn-to-surf Coaching Director
Jean Webb (Raglan CS) Admin and Finance (And Team Mum to everyone!)
Melony Clark ( Wellington CS) Women and Children's Director
Kirk Beyer (Titahi Bay CS) Developmental Coaching Director
Teriu Le'Mon (CS Australia) Contest and Judging Director
Kerry Whelan (Whakatane CS)
Evan Robertson (Raglan CS)
Ryan Evans (CS USA )
Brafna Garcia (CS Portugal)
