What a precious experience, our time in the village was. We came to this village to serve yet were overwhelmed by the generosity and loving sacrifices they made to serve us. They were the most loving hospitality-gifted people we have ever met. Relationships are very important and they will walk miles, just to get together. Time stands still and relationships grow deep, even in a short time. Very humbling!
During the days we were able to paint the interior and exterior of their 3 room school house. It was hard work but worth every minute. To know that the Lord brought us thousands of miles and to a place even remote from our outreach destination to help a village re-paint their school and have the villagers say that, “this (painting their school) is the Gospel in action”, made this the ‘Crown-Jewel’ of the outreach for us! So far!
In the evenings we had services in a spirit-filled Christian Missionary Fellowship (CMF). The church building was made of corrugated tin and whatever wood pieces of many lengths fastened together. It held firm and kept the floor dry. Most of all, Jesus was there, meeting with all of us.
One of the highlights of our time was the distribution of Franklin Graham’s Christmas Shoeboxes. There were 109 children who appeared for these gifts during our last morning at the school. Their looks of sheer delight melted our hearts. What a privilege! Christmas here really means just Jesus. They attend Church on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and partake in many shared meals. Gift giving is not part of their tradition. Time for relationships is their gift to one another and us.
We were blessed to be able to minister and enjoyed the wonderful fellowship daily. We saw many miracles as we prayed for the sick and hurting. Every person with pain that we prayed for was healed. One young man Elvin, worked with us painting the school. He put in many long hours is spite of a painful ear infection. He wore a towel around his head, covering his ears. We prayed for him and the next day he was healed. Praise God!
The last day we desperately wanted to gift one host home but we had no money. In a 5-minute span of walking down the road after church, a vehicle stopped to talk with us. After hearing we were YWAM missionaries the driver pulled out his wallet and gave us $100 – which we were able to bless our host family with. God did that miracle provision!
As we were preparing to leave and saying our good-byes, the people serenaded us with the national Fijian Farewell Song “ISA LEI”, it was really hard to hold back our tears.
Mark 16:15
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