We have been enjoying the cooler temperatures and drier weather to get stuck into projects here in Fiji. We have loved working with the teams we have hosted this year; they are always an encouragement to us. Roy continues to grow his knowledge of termites and how to help people in Fiji with the problem.
Gabrielle turned 12 in June!
Malake Island
Roy has had two trips back to Malake Island since our last update, continuing on with the church renovations of a covered entranceway and storage room. He got to attend the Good Friday dawn service there, which was a special experience. From very early in the morning, the lali drumbeats called everyone to the service which was filled with amazing a capella singing of hymns by the Fijian choir and congregation. Unfortunately due to needing to leave at high tide he missed the Easter lovo feast that followed later that day. He is never lacking help on Malake Island, with lots of villagers keen to get involved and it is great to be able to help such an isolated community. Each time we have been there, either Roy or someone from our team has been sick during or after the trip which has hampered progress and there are still things on the to-do list there.
The completed storeroom at Malake Island.
Evangelism Explosion, Kennedy Centre
In May we were blessed to have another team of six from Morrinsville Baptist join us back at the Evangelism Explosion, Kennedy Centre with our four local guys. They carried on a project that a team from their church started last year, strengthening a bure that had been unusable for years. With two teenagers on the team it was an easy decision for our kids to take time off school to get involved. There is always a lot of fun and learning when involved on a building site.
Our kids loved having a team with others around their age!
This Centre is used by local and international teams to train people in evangelism but also hosts other churches and retreats. We love being able to support them in their mission by helping with their maintenance, something that is often very overwhelming for local ministries to tackle on their own. With a plumber on the team we were also able to install filters to the water supply, improving the water quality at the centre and caretakers home to now provide drinkable tap water. We enjoy enabling people to use their skills to make a real difference in other people's lives.
Mr Plumber supervising his minions cleaning the water tank.
The minions in the water tank!
Pastor Eliki and Lata Lalauvaki’s house in Navua
In June we partnered with a skilled team from Fenton Park Bible Chapel in Rotorua. The work was completing a house for Pastor Eliki and his wife Lata, who have been building this house since before COVID. The church in Rotorua have supported this Pastor for a number of years, so it was great to work with them by having materials ready and tools available for their team upon arrival. We also had our four young guys join the project, which combined with the highly skilled Fenton Park team made for getting stuff done fast. Pastor Eliki and Lata had previously hired local contractors to work on the house, but had not always received satisfactory work, which was often left unfinished by the builder. This house is now in a much more liveable state which is a huge boost to the Lalauvaki’s.
The team from Fenton Park Bible Chapel onsite in Navua.
As this project was further from home, the kids and I (Rachael) stayed in Nadi but got to join the team staying at Coral Coast Christian Camp for the weekend, which was a fun adventure with a night of crab hunting and time at the beach.
Fijian Josh with his fresh catch for Gabrielle's birthday present!
Termites
Roy continues to grow in his knowledge of termites and how to defeat them in Fiji. He has met with lots of key people in Fiji to talk about how they are dealing with termites and how things could be improved. He is also starting his own experiment to work out what Fijian timber is most attractive to termites. This will be helpful for use in ‘monitoring stations’ outside of homes, attempting to attract termites into a location you can see them and then bait them - before they enter the building. When their preferred timber is used, you can easily find them in the outdoor monitoring stations instead of your house.
A range of Fijian timber samples over active termites, which one will they like the most?
Other news
We have kept busy with visits from family and a Pastoral visit from NZCMS which is encouraging.
Josh got the opportunity to spend two weeks in New Zealand in July. He had been missing the comforts of home and was really keen to be a ‘Leader in Training’ at a camp. Needless to say he loved the experience and can’t wait to do it again! Fortunately we will be in New Zealand for an extended period this summer so he will get the chance then. We are grateful that although we sent him alone to New Zealand, we knew he was well looked after in our home community and at El Rancho, which will always have a special place in our hearts (it is where Roy and I met).
Josh enjoying a day on the building site
Gabrielle has finished her second 'convention', where she competed in everything from sports, music, arts, academics and Bible memorisation with kids from her school and four other schools that do the same curriculum in Fiji. She got ribbons for five different categories, which was well deserved after a lot of hard work went into preparation.
Everyone ready and waiting for the day ahead.
Kelepi has been learning drums this year after someone from our church here offered to lend him a drum kit! He has been pretty quick to pick up a beat which is fortunate when the whole neighbourhood can hear him practice.
Kelepi cutting a mean beat on the drums.
I (Rachael) recently went to Savusavu for a weekend to visit our ‘Fijian Family’ as they got together to have a thanksgiving service for the Grandmother that passed away a year ago. It was great to reconnect with everyone even if it was only for a short time.
While Josh was away, we did a local activity that he would never do!
We continue to receive lots of interest from projects needing assistance. Roy has plenty of adventures (often including lots of driving but sometimes lots of time on boats) checking out potential projects and meeting people in need. This has taken him to places like the far side of Viti Levu before heading inland to a remote community that relocated there from Vanua Levu, and most recently to the Mamanuca Islands, right in the area where they filmed Castaway and the Survivor TV series.
We have enjoyed having teams from returning churches and returning team members. This is encouraging as it is nice to go deeper with relationships and we know how to use these teams to their strengths.
We have had an ongoing shuffle of plans changing this year as different ministries find the funds needed and we find teams to suit projects. It often doesn’t work out but we continue to trust God who goes before us and has the perfect timing.
We are looking forward to a team of 21 coming in September from the Wellington region, predominantly Anglican Youth or El Rancho leaders, to partner with us to run a Kids Camp at Sabeto Christian Camp for local kids. This is a bit outside our normal work, but is a passion project of ours that we are excited to get up and running.
You can help this happen by giving here through the NZCMS website.
You can also read more about the camp here on Waikanae Anglican's website.
There are plenty of interesting projects coming up so if you want to bring a team then get in touch with us. We would love to have you here.
We thank everyone who supports us whether in prayer, finances, practical help or words of encouragement to do the work of MMM Fiji. This enables us to partner with local Christian ministries and families to enhance the spread of the Gospel of Jesus Christ through the ministry of building - both people and facilities - to serve Christian work and workers in God’s global kingdom. We couldn't do what we do without the team at MMMNZ, NZCMS, Anglican Missions and many other churches and individuals behind us.
Vinaka vaka levu, thank you so much,
Roy, Rachael, Josh, Gabrielle and Kelepi
Some bonus photos...
Some of the youth group that we regularly host.
Josh, Sevu, Kenneth and Dan - the boys love having a photo shoot!
With Josh away in NZ and Rachael in Savusavu, the rest of us took our dogs for an adventure too!
I've always said that digging a hole together is a great way to get to know each other.
Our team photo with Morrinsville Baptist at the Evangelism Explosion, Kennedy Centre
Team work makes the dream work - unloading a new septic tank for installation.
Josh had an adoring fan when recently visiting Yanuya Island with Roy to look at a potential project
Smoky sunsets are a common occurrence.
