A Special Trip to a Special Place: Bryndwr Chapel Visit Fiji Gospel School for the Deaf and Hostels

Vivienne Harland, the visionary founder of the Gospel School for the Deaf, lived in Christchurch, New Zealand, for a number of years and Bryndwr Chapel was her home church. A team from there, led by Brad and Vanessa Anderson, recently visited the school and hostels. The trip idea started over 12 months ago when a Bryndwr Chapel Sunday School class Skyped with one of the Sunday School classes for deaf kids in Suva. This immediately sparked interest in one of the Bryndwr students who wanted to go to Fiji to visit the Gospel School and the hostels. The news spread, and soon after we asked for any other interested people to register, with the hope that a small team might go to Fiji and support and encourage the staff and deaf children. God had bigger plans – we had 20+ people register and plans quickly gained momentum. The final team numbered 19 and the trip booked for 7-14 July 2018. The diverse team brought a variety of skills and God provided tasks for each:

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 -  a doctor did medical exams of all the children and staff
 -  mechanics serviced the vans and did some repair work
 -  building and maintenance people built concrete steps around
the Senior Girls hostel to eliminate the slippery slopes
 -  young people put on a daily children’s programme at
the Gospel School for the Deaf
 -  young ladies came and did a sewing project with the senior
girls
 -  an occupational therapist worked with some of the students

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Because of the large team, there were people to take devotions,
make play dough for the children, help the staff with their chores, do face painting and beaded-bracelet-making with the children after school, as well as help with homework. Highlights of the trip were the shared meals - one where the Bryndwr team prepared a New Zealand themed meal for the children and staff, and the other a lovo, put on by the staff – we really enjoyed the food and helping with the preparation. The team was truly blessed by the trip and we hope we blessed the staff and children with our visit too. God provided great weather for the building team and a very special trip that will last in our hearts forever.

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