Thank You!
June 17, 2025
Violet – Hi again!! Still having so so so much fun! I love Fiji and my group and my leaders. Hi Ava again it is the 16th today but 15th in ATL, HAPPY BIRTHDAY I love you beyond ♥️♥️♥️
Cooper – Hey Mom and Dad, I miss y’all so much, I have had so much fun. Kayaking was so fun and visiting the villages was so eye opening I have so much to tell y’all when I get home. Love y’all so much, can’t wait to see you!
Riley – Hey again!! I’m having a blast and I really don’t want to leave. I have gotten so close to my group and they are all so awesome. See y’all soon! ♥️
Francie – Hi fam & Asa! I am at Mango Bay Resort right now & so super excited to see you guys soon! It’s beautiful here. xox
Knox – Hey Mom and Dad and Laura and everyone else. I’m having an awesome time. We went to 2 villages, the first one was really nice and the food was great and the people were really cool. And scuba diving was super fun, I wasn’t gonna do it but I did and I’m glad I did because I had an awesome time. The second village was my favorite. The kids were super fun and the food was also super good. I was playing a lot of games with them and taking lots of pictures. I went kayaking and it was hard, but really fun. Me and my partner were singing and stuff. Love you!
Harper – This trip has been absolutely incredible. I miss you guys and see you in a couple days! I love you so much!
Landen – Having fun and these kids are still really cool. Don’t buy a race entry. Love you!
John – Mom and Dad, I’m having so much fun. We were visiting villages and the scenery was amazing, I got pictures of the stars with my camera. We kayaked today and it was fun. We are now at a very nice place.
Lulu – Hey Mom and Dad! The time has been so so fun, and I have had the best time! I can’t wait to tell y’all all about it when I get home! Love you guys!
Sunday – Hi Mom and Dad! I’m having so much fun and the food is so good! Can’t wait to see you in a couple days and fill you in on everything! Love you!
Andrew – We have been chilling in the villages and kayaking and it has been fun. I’ll see y’all soon.
Edmunds – Mom and Dad, I’m having so much fun in Fiji! Love you
Warm greetings from beautiful Fiji!
June 16, 2025
Bula vinaka, families!
We wanted to send you a much-anticipated update about our incredible journey so far. The last time we checked in, we had just arrived at Draimba Village, our first home-away-from-home. Since then, it’s been an unforgettable few days of laughter, cultural immersion, adventure, and connection.
We spent two nights in Draimba, and from the moment we stepped foot in the village, the group dove right into the experience with open hearts and open minds. One of the biggest highlights was definitely the spontaneous rugby matches on the village field. Edmonds quickly made friends with the local boys and joined their rugby games, picking up some impressive new tricks along the way. Cooper looked like a seasoned pro out there, and during one game, the village kids lifted him in a classic line-out play, tossing the ball to him mid-air, much to everyone’s excitement and cheers!
Meanwhile, Sunday and Harper became the village kids’ honorary big siblings. They were constantly surrounded by smiling faces and giggles as they played tag, led games, and shared endless energy and warmth with every child who came running to join them.
And let’s talk about the food. Oh, the food! Mealtimes were a daily delight, full of bold flavors and colorful dishes that reflected the heart of Fijian hospitality. But nothing got the group more excited than breakfast… because in Draimba, cake for breakfast is a thing! Yes, you read that right. Safe to say, our group was all smiles with every sweet bite.
Saturday was particularly special as we were welcomed into the Seventh-day Adventist Church for a moving church service. The music, the warmth of the congregation, and the sense of community left a strong impression on everyone-it was a moment of reflection and shared appreciation for the beauty of the culture we’re experiencing.
After our time in Draimba, we traveled on to Tuvu Village, the second stop on our adventure and the launching point for our river rafting journey. The group took to the waters of the Sigatoka River, the longest river in Fiji, with enthusiasm and teamwork. For one full day, we paddled our way through the winding waters, surrounded by stunning jungle landscapes. John kept everyone’s spirits high through every bend and rapid, entertaining the group with his constant stream of jokes and hilarious commentary.
Landen and Lulu were practically pros on the water-these two consistently paddled up front and were the first to reach the finish both days during the canoeing sections, always close behind the lead guide. Their teamwork was inspiring to watch!
After an amazing day on the river, we spent the night back in Tuvu, where we bonded even more with the local kids, learning all sorts of traditional games and songs. Knox discovered a new favorite-the local popsicle stick game-which had everyone laughing and trying to master the quick reflexes it required.
The next morning, we rafted out and stopped for lunch at a truly unforgettable location: the largest cave system in Fiji. The cool, echoing chambers of the cave were a welcome break from the sun, and Riley in particular was fascinated by the cave’s geology and history, soaking in every detail during our guided tour. Afterwards, we feasted on a mouthwatering Fijian BBQ that left us feeling full and happy, ready for the next leg of the journey.
Throughout the trip, our bus rides have been full of music, conversation, and lots of laughter. Andrew’s awesome playlist made even the longest drives fly by, setting the perfect soundtrack to our Fijian road trip. Francie has been a constant impact on the local kids, always eager to learn new games and help the younger ones feel included and seen. And Violet has been our go-to clean-up captain, always pitching in after meals and making sure everyone feels connected!
Tomorrow, we kick off our river rafting exercise, and the whole group is buzzing with excitement. Spirits are high, bonds are growing stronger by the day, and we’re all incredibly grateful for these moments we’re sharing together.
Thank you for entrusting us with your amazing children! They’re thriving, growing, and creating memories that will last a lifetime!!
Wanamaker wake levu! (Much love!)
– FIJ 1A 🌺
Fun, Fish, Fiji
June 13, 2025
Bula (hello) from Fiji! We are so excited to kick off this once in a lifetime journey with all of your amazing kids. We started off the trip at the LAX airport, all meeting for the first time before we hopped on an 11 hour flight – full of smiles and so much excitement.
The group landed in the Nadi airport early Sunday morning, well rested and excited for our first activity on the Coral Cats Catamaran in Nadi Harbour. The day was filled with a bunch of group games, snorkeling in the reefs, and bonding with all of our new friends. Riley was channeling her inner mermaid energy and felt right at home between the beautiful fish and clear blue water.
We enjoyed delicious chicken sandwiches provided by our boat captain, and hopped in the van to head to our first home on our trip for our scuba diving section – Club Oceanus (Pacific Harbour). Harper kept everyone’s energy up with her amazing music taste and song requests during the sunset van ride. Great music, amazing views and incredible people to share it with – a winning recipe!
The group got up early Monday morning, ready for our first day of scuba diving. Edmunds, Lulu, Riley, and Marga, the female leader, were getting advanced scuba certified and had a dive in the morning. Lulu felt right at home suiting up and setting up her gear as if she had been scuba diving every day, a true professional. We saw some amazing corals bursting with color and exotic species. The rest of the group went to the beach with Frankie, the male leader, highlighted by playing catch with the football and tanning on the beach.
The new open water scuba divers had their scuba pool session in the afternoon and learned all of their underwater skills to get ready for their first open water dive. That night we had a delightful dinner at The Establishment with a lot of burgers, pizza and some good bonding time.
The next day was our very first open water dive, and we were so so excited. John was the first person in the water eager to show off his new skills. Cooper and Francie also killed their test sections and looked as if they have been diving for a while.
The advanced divers had the experience of a lifetime going on a shark dive, seeing 30+ sharks swimming above them – ranging from bull sharks, tiger sharks to nurse sharks. Lulu said that she felt like she was watching a movie on a flat screen TV play off before her! What an incredible experience.
That night we had a cook off between the boys and girls. They all went to the store with their budget to buy all the ingredients. Edmunds and Knox were head chefs for the boys and showed off their skills on the grill. Knox made all the ingredients work together creating an amazing flavorful dish. It was delicious given the limited ingredients they had. The boys made a spicy ramen noodle dish while the girls kept it simple with a classics salt and pepper butter pasta. Sunday and Violet was cheffing it up for the girls, cooking all the pasta and seasoning it to perfection. It was great fun!
On our last day at Club O we had an amazing beach day playing spike ball, tanning and burying Landen in the sand with only his head sticking out. Landen also taught everyone an amazing card game that has to be played in silence and the rules have to be figured out as one plays the game. Andrew quickly got the hang of the game and has been a constant source of laughter for the group with his jokes. All in all it has been an amazing couple of days and we are so excited for what is in store next! Vinaka, ni moce mada
Harper – Miss and love you! Love the girls so much.
Sunday – Hi mom & dad! Having such an amazing time here, can’t wait to see you and show you all the amaze pics!! Love you see you soon! Xx
Francie – Hi guys! I hope the beach was so much fun & I want you to know I’m having the best time. Our group is already so close and the counselors are so nice! Also hi Asa!! Miss you all. xoxo
Violet – Hey Mom & Dad. I am having the absolute best time, it is perfect! Thank you for letting me have the opportunity to do this! Hi Ava!! Happy birthday if you see this! Love you all so much
Riley – Hi Mom, Daniel, and Abbey! I’ve been thinking about y’all, and I hope y’all are having sooo much fun! I’m having such a blast and I’m officially advanced scuba certified! It’s so pretty here and I don’t want to come backl. Also Ava if you see this, happy bday!! I’m thinking about you! Miss you all and see y’all soon!
Lulu – Hi Mom and Dad! I am having the most fun in Fiji, and have met the best people. Love you guys and see you soon!
Edmunds – Mom, Dad, Lucas, we just did our last dive and I am now an advanced open water diver. I miss you all and wait to see you again.
Cooper – Hi Mom & Dad, I miss y’all so much. Scuba diving has been so much fun. I’ve made so many new friends. Thank you for sending me on this trip. I can’t wait to see you.
John – Hi Mom and Dad! I’m having so much fun scuba diving, and I’ve made so many friends. I also learned about a new game called Mao and it’s really fun. Can’t wait to see you!
Landen – Hey mom and dad, I’m having a good time and I love fiji. Love and miss you.
Knox – Hey Mom, Dad, Laura, Reed, and Kate and Leah, I’m having so much fun and my group is amazing. Love you guys I’m having an awesome time.
Andrew – Hey y’all the trip is super fun and Fiji is a really interesting place, this is really fun, can’t wait to see y’all and tell you about it when I get back.
All Students Have Arrived!
June 8, 2025
Hi Fiji Families!
All students have officially arrived in Fiji and the group has been reunited! We are so glad that the entire group is all together, and we can’t wait for them to start their activities. We’ll be posting more trip updates throughout the session!
-Moondance HQ
The Adventure Begins!
June 7, 2025
Hello Fiji Families!
We heard from our leaders this morning that most of the group has landed safely in Fiji! Unfortunately, due to travel delays, one student will be arriving soon and will be greeted at the airport by one of their leaders. The group is so excited to start their journey all together!
Please remember our leaders and students will be unplugged during their trips, but we will be posting trip updates throughout the next week! This will allow you to follow along with the trip. You can also follow us on Instagram, @moondanceadventures, to see more of what we are up to!
-Moondance HQ
