Alisi's handmade bags/other side of ministry

Funny! How making the bags began as a need. It started with my need for a bag for my self. While walking through town, I couldn’t find a bag that I liked that was cheap, strong, denim at the same time having   long straps, designs on it that I liked. I find that the less I have to work with, the more creative I become so I tried turning a denim pants into a bag ,then ended up doing embroidery on it, then adding beads. So from there it hasn’t stopped.

I had begun with the bags last year; it has been a great deal of help with my raising funds for staff fees. I know times are getting hard with the economy. Yet I am still hopeful, because the bags are very practical and from a few feedback, they are quiet cheap too. More importantly ,we are not moved by circumstances, Also that’s kind of what I have been trying to impart to the high school students for the last 1 ½ years, that “we don’t have to allow society to determine our future ,we can rise above it despite our family backgrounds.”

Somehow the designs keep changing(part of it comes from my spontaneous personality), some bags have flowers and dolphins painted on them, and some have patches with flower shapes sewn on the bags .The more the ideas flow, the more inspired I am to create more. So you see its more like a hobby.  I love making things. My motto has always been “With art work of any kind in God’s hands? There is no limit to creativity”.

My main challenge is with finding the time to make them.  Since we are also a full-time ministry, I get to make the bags during breaks in the afternoon or late-nights. I know the market is there, yet it’s finding time to meet the orders. I know maybe sometime later there will be people trying to do the same thing to make money, if so? Then I can pray about what to do next, My Heavenly Father’s ideas never ceases. The evidence of His unique creativity is in all that He’s created.

Currently, I have also come up with checkbook purses that can come matching with the bags. So, I am still working on it and pretty excited. Praise God!! Thanks for all your prayers and support.

PTC Newsletter May 2009

The Personal Transformation Centre had quite an eventful run for the last few months… 

The FCM school started again in April with 9 students with about 10 seminar students each week.  Sera Cirikiyasawa is leading the school.  She said, “I have never seen this level of openness in the students for any other school.”  There are dedicated staff to work alongside the students.

Ebenezer ministry has been going to Naviyago Village and working with an average of 30 women.  They had a baking class with the ladies.  Their goal was to make as many different baked goodies as they could with a limited amount of ingredients. 

The Path Makers Kids Club now has an average of 40 students attending the kids club at Razak Road and 20 at Simla.  They are preparing themselves to go to their annual camp on May 12-15^th at Sabeto Youth Camp site.  Please pray that all the campers will have an enriching time with the Lord while away from home.  They have been working very hard in fundraising for this camp. Big Vinaka Vakalevu to those who have helped through their donations.

The Little Tribe Preschool began their 2^nd year with 15 students.  Miss Caphie Cerewale & Mrs. Aralai Vuki are the teachers who have been serving faithfully in the preschool this year.  Miss Caphie will be going to Suva for the school break to do a treatment for her health.  Please pray that she will come back refreshed after the treatment.

The High School Counseling has continued this year.  Tina Hong & Osea Vuki have been going to St. Thomas High School & Drasa Secondary School regularly to minister to students, both in the classrooms and in counseling sessions.   They now have a new counseling department head, Mr. Raj who is an AOG pastor.  The Christian Fellowship has also started on Monday afternoons with Mr. Kevin McLaren, a teacher of DSS.  STHS has provided an office space especially for counseling and is currently being renovated. 

Park cleaning has continued on with the diligence of the current FCM school.  They’ve dedicated their efforts to cleaning the Simla Park and a park in Lautoka town.

Our staffs continue to be involved in the Scripture Union In Schools events and also the Fiji Christian Educator Fellowship. 

Water for Life came to train locals how to build water tanks and filters.  Jeff, Bob, and Jordan came from Kona, Hawaii to serve  Fiji in this area.  Members of YWAM Fiji from different bases were able to join them on a trip to Nacula village, in the Yasawa Islands and built a 2500L tank for the new AOG church.

We have talented people amongst our staff.  One of them is Alisi Gonelevu, a full-time staff with PTC and FCM staff.  She has been making beautiful bags out of trousers.  Each one is unique as she thoughtfully designs each bag to suit her customers.  She does this to support herself while on missions. 

We have new leadership, Sisa Vukialau & Sera Cirikiyasawa.  Viniana Gaunavinaka, our longtime founder & director of the PTC will be leaving for Kona, Hawaii with her family.  They anticipate returning to Fiji after 3 months.

Andrea Glatz, our valued staff, has been serving with YWAM Fiji for the past 3 years.  She has been PTC’s administrator for the past year.  Andrea will be going back to Germany in June to begin a new season in her life.  We will miss her dearly.

We had our 1^st couple fundraisers for PTC.  The 1^st was held at the PTC base in Lautoka which housed 30 special guests.  Our 2^nd was in Suva and we had a great turn out there as well.

It has been a great pleasure serving the community in these various ways.  We provide our services to all people despite racial, socio-economic, or religious background.