Ki Ora from Paihia

Our Maori host flipped up his cell phone and said, "Excuse me guys, I need to check to see if your chief is going to be met by a warrior." That had us grinning-- our team sitting in this dynamic man's living room as we listened to his orientation for our time with his organization, "Indigenous Trails." Indeed, as we waited outside the gate to the maere (Maori sacred community buildings), we were first challenged by a near-naked warrior wielding a spear, flexing his muscles, sticking out his tongue and widening his eyes as he made his way to our group... stupefied. Our elected chief Ben picked up the fern leaves to signify our coming in peace, after which we were sung an invitation by a woman elder to come into the maere.

Lots moved inside of me as I listened to that woman's Maori song traveling through the blue New Zealand skies to us. Ah, the ritual, the reverence, the community, the power of people and their beloved history... We listened to their speeches followed by song and then our chief offered a heartfelt speech about the preciousness of our crossing paths. We had learned a short Maori song which we stood and sang to our hosts. This ritual was followed by each of us greeting each other by a touching of noses... to become one, breathing the same breath...

After dinner with our hosts, we returned to the community hall which is their library, museum, and hostel all in one. From one end to another, each sculpted wooden panel tells a part of the family's history. We sat in our sleeping bags on matresses on the floor and listened to the oral history of our hosts... Magical, musical, unique and blessed experience...

The next days we contributed to trail maintenance and gardening work at a retreat center called Gideon's Heights. The valley below our sleeping quarters has been sculpted with an international prayer walk with 10 spots along a river with a gorgeous waterfall. A slice of heaven; wish you all could have been there with me.

Now we're on our 'free travel' time on the north island and loving a bit of down time. Went to the northernmost point-- Cape Reinga, where the Tasman Sea meets the Pacific. Wow. Then some sandsurfing on boogie boards, swimming in ice cold waters, eating fish and chips.

The journey is joyous and challenging.

Much love to all------

In the heart of Carpe Diem

'Landed' on my first official day off here in Auckland, NZ. The idea is to take a full mental vacation from my leader responsibilities, though in attempting this I recognize what I love about this 'job'. I've found what I've sought out in terms of melting the line between 'life' and 'work' so that both become congruent and synonymous. What I'm living and breathing every day IS my life, my work, my passion. same same. I am feeling profoundly engaged, present and alive.

Our team of eleven is stellar. Beginning with our orientation in Bekana (small island off the NW coast of the main Fiji island of Viti Levu), each youth opened up his/her fragile doors to the inner journey that has brought each here. These souls are searchers, seekers and I'm honored to be experiencing the South Pacific with them. As I spoke to the crew at the onset, of the 6 billion people in the world, we eleven have specifically come together on this trip, and I'm excited to continue discovering why.

After the 3-day orientation, we loaded a minivan to our host village of Togovere, which is about 10 minutes from the Fiji water factory. Each of us was assigned to a "nau" or Fijian mother, which ensured all our human needs were met. We worked alongside our Fijian bros and sisters in the extension of a driveway up to their community center.

I have to admit I sunk into another dimension in Togovere. I felt utterly in my zen zone-- reminiscent of the DR and La Yautia, this was a tight-knit, joyful and naturally gorgeous community. We gorged on large, juicy mangoes, played all our favorite childhood games with the children (who knows whose house each pertained to...), and went on hikes up our backyard hills to breathtaking views of the Pacific. They joked about me being the "marama-ni-koro," or headwoman, and I was infinitely humbled and heartened by the speech made to us at our farewell ceremony in which the man spoke to women empowerment through our stay there.

Ay, ay, ay, the music! Wow, all know how to create goosebump inducing harmony. 4:30am church service is definitely worth it once those notes enter and lighten the soul. And I stayed up late most nights in the community center, just sitting on the floor, occasionally sharing in kava, hearing the sweet notes, sharing in laughs, and journeying into the legends of Fiji. Heavenly...

I've been expanding myself through wearing multiple hats in this role... nurse, confidant, yoga instructor, logistical coordinator, etc. I find that I worry... as if I'd suddenly adopted 9 kids. But they're certainly not kids, and I find their company fun, informative, and nurturing.

Tomorrow we're off to the Edmund Hillary Outdoor Pursuits Center where we'll help design five days of extreme adventure activity, one of those days most likely hiking Mt Doom from Lord of the Rings.

On another note, I've been purusing the papers and turning my ear toward a TV or radio when one is around. Wow, the world is-a-changing... It's intriguing hearing the take on it all from outside the US. Like downstairs at the laundry at our hostel today, talking with a NZ man from the anti-nuclear movement. Flabbergasted, he is... how in the world does a citizenry let that all happen? Do you have hope? Yes, yes, hope, believe. Sometimes it's all we got.

Bows, blessings, namaste...