Dennis Visits Fiji -- May 22-28, 2025

Bula Vinaka everyone from Nadi, Fiji.  Sue and I have enjoyed nearly a week in the Happy Islands visiting with our brothers and sisters here.  They send their collective “Bula!” and best wishes.

The first thing greeting us off the plane in Nadi was of course the heat.  Having left Palmerston North’s 5°C in the wee hours of that morning, we emerged from the air bridge into Nadi’s balmy 29°C and suddenly our extra layers were no longer necessary.  Given the very early start, the plan was that we rest overnight in Nadi ahead of the drive over to Suva the next day.

Nadi was fine and hot as it so often is, so having a rental with air conditioning made the journey so much more comfortable.  The open road speed is 80 km/hr, which when added to the many villages one must pass through, makes for a slow but picturesque drive of about four hours.  Suva, when we got there, was a few degrees cooler than Nadi and also wetter.  Having checked in at our hotel, we awaited the arrival of Mrs Va Colati with whom we shared a dinner meal.

It had been a couple of years since we had last enjoyed a meal with Va and caught up with news of her family.  It seems hard to believe that already five years have passed since her husband Isei died during the pandemic.  We share many happy memories with them from earlier visits and conferences during the 14 years Isei pastored the Fiji church.

The next morning, Saturday, Sue and I were joined by Eugene and Takasa Panuve (pictured), who head the Love Avenue in Suva, and shared a lunch together.  Takasa is pregnant with their third child, so much of the conversation centred around baby preparations and the adjustments they have ahead of them.  Hence, ‘talking shop’ was curtailed somewhat because the ‘season’ must take the priority.  Life is not always about getting tasks done but is about living.  Sometimes I have to remind myself of that fact, to enjoy the journey as well as the fruit of one’s labour.  The baby is due in August.

That evening it had been arranged that Sue and I would enjoy the evening with several of the youth in the Suva church (we were 15 all told).  We met at a Chinese restaurant and enjoyed some wonderful food that was rotated passed us on the biggest lazy susan turntable I’ve seen.  At the left of the picture is Savaira, who is the current youth leader.  She is in her final year of university.  Before tucking in to the sumptuous meal, I spoke to them about maximizing the blessing of these friends.  Friendships formed in youth often last one’s whole life and prove especially valuable when facing challenges in life, and help extend the possibilities when opportunities appear also.

As often happens with me, on my return to the hotel I still needed to complete the writing of the sermon for the next day and finalise the PowerPoint.  Life can be a series of small steps forward and not always in a straight-line manner but requiring a certain amount of juggling.  You will be familiar with that in your own life, with interruptions to the flow of what we do.  I continue to find that such diversions, rather than upsetting my concentration, often add new thoughts to what appears in the sermon or other portions of the service.  Truthfully, the Spirit is working with us and speaking into our lives continually, which is both comforting and not a little challenging at times when one’s plan needs to be reorganized in the moment.

Sunday’s services were a special pleasure as always.  Epeli Nakautoga had everyone get up from their seats during the time for announcements and greet those we had not seen in a while.  For me, there were many and I f

ound myself soon enough at the back of the hall.  We were treated also to two praise dances, the first performed by the youth and children from Ra, the northernmost province of Viti Levu, and in the second they were joined by the youth and children from Suva.  Following the sermon, which I gave, then the communion, led by Frank Boyd, and finally a benediction from Jope Uqeuqe, the hall was rearranged and a wonderful potluck lunch was laid out.  How heart warming it was to see everyone coming up to take up the communion symbols, small children with their parents or grandparents, and then all taking these together.

Monday was our last day in Suva, and began with sharing a breakfast with Jason Raki, the Suva Faith Avenue leader.  We spoke of the power of intergenerational relationships and God’s call for this to be an emphasis for the church not only in how Jesus made room for little children, but also in the last verse of the Old Testament (Mal. 4:6) that is the pivot between the testaments and points to the ministry of the church.  We also spoke of the importance of having strong teams around us.

For lunch, Sue and I joined Epeli Nakautoga at a café near where he works and we spoke of the challenges of the Hope Avenue.  Already much has been done in the area of church signage and the flow of services, and Epeli raised new possibilities for involving musicians more and also the children.  As with Jason, the impetus for enriching the worship experience comes first from the leadership, but importantly also from the older members.  It is my hope that the older men and women will approach and engage with the youth as well as the children, and not just involving them in the work needing to be done, but sharing life, their wisdom, and showing the younger members that we are blessed to have them, that they are treasured and respected by us older ones.  Community strength is built by giving oneself to others in generosity and service, being vulnerable even with them and especially when younger ones are clearly hearing what we give.

The day ended with a meal with Frank and Emily Boyd at a restaurant not far from the hall where the church meets.  After speaking a little of what I had discussed with those I had met on this visit, we settled to enjoying the moment, the food and the blessings we share in ministry and life.  It was a lovely way to wrap up for our time in Suva.

Next morning we returned back along the Queens Highway to the sunny west, passing this lovely bay amongst many others in what is called the Coral coast that lies between Suva and Sigatoka.

After settling into the Gateway Hotel once again and returning the rental car, our final opportunity of this trip was sharing a dinner there with Sachida Nath, who called in on his way home from his place of work nearby.  Sachida’s afterhours service to his community, which is largely Hindu, has been one of encouraging both young and old with the love of Jesus.  He is often asked to pray for these neighbours, especially when there is sickness or death, for his message is respectfully positive and encouraging for them.  He also helps local students in the area with their schooling (Sachida works in the accounts department of a large wholesale supply company, his daughter Janice is a school teacher and counsellor).  Please remember Sachida and Janice whose daily experience is a ministry of encouragement to their non-Christian village and region.  One day, I am sure, the seeds that they have been planting in that place will spring into life and maybe one day a church will spring up from their years of labour there.

Now that our trip to Fiji and the church there is finished, we return home feeling again blessed by our experiences there and glad to have been able to encourage them a little.  Please pray for the church in Fiji.  There are many possibilities for doing ministry in their region.  Let’s be asking our Lord that they too can grow the church so that more workers in God’s field will be sent out, for that is surely an important part of the work that each of us is sent to do.

Blessings, Dennis