The children of St Christopher’s Home in Fiji were buzzing with excitement at the weekend with the arrival of students from Armidale, Australia, for a service visit.

Joy was evident as the children played volleyball and other games with their buddies from Australia.

Each child from the home is paired up with a buddy from Australia.

The Australian students wrote to their buddies before arriving, and the children prayed each night for their buddies’ safe arrival.

A teacher accompanying the students, Fiona Taber, says buddy time is the priority because that’s where “the special stuff happens.”

Armidale students have been coming on service trips to St Christopher’s for 15 years, so the school is very much part of the family.

The 27 students come from the Armidale School (TAS), Presbyterian Ladies College in Armidale, and New England Girls’ School.

Each visit has a project. A past project installed solar power so the home could have hot water as well as a pathway to the lighthouse.

This year's project will tile the dormitory floors and any other jobs that can be achieved in the 11-day visit.