November 2022
The first of November started off with a need for the nurse. The Suva temple has been having various groups coming from the different islands in our district, particularly groups of young missionaries to receive their temple blessings before they start their mission. The first few days of November we had a group here from Kiribati. There were 18 young missionaries, and they were traveling with two couples who were their chaperones and supervisors. The first time the group was in the temple, Steve was one of the ordinance workers. He spotted an elder that was limping quite badly. Since he was wearing a sulu (traditional male skirt) Steve got a good look at his leg, and immediately called me to put me on alert that an elder was going to need some attention. I met them after the session and the young man did indeed have a very infected leg. After they'd had lunch, Steve and I escorted Elder Tetoki to the Pacific Health Care Clinic to get checked out. It was a day of miracles. I chose to use that clinic because I was hoping he could be treated there in a more timely manner than taking him to the hospital urgent care. We certainly did get very timely attention, and the doctor who was on duty was one that I’ve worked with before, and a member of the church. It saves so much time explaining things! The doctor completely agreed with my diagnosis (which was serious lower extremity cellulitis) and outlined a treatment plan that I was very happy with. Unfortunately, it included IV antibiotics once a day for 5 days. The Kiribati group was scheduled to leave the next afternoon. Fortunately, one of the couples here as chaperones were the Kiribati WSR manager (who we met the first week we were here) and his wife, who is a trained nurse. She hadn’t practiced for several years but felt confident enough of her skills to be willing supervise medical care back in Kiribati. So, we sent a young man home with crutches (which he hated), an IV cannula in his arm, and a bag full of medications and supplies. I checked back with them 2 weeks later, and it was reported that he was doing fine, and serving on an outer island!
From Steve’s Journal:
 |
| "Farmer" Man |
 |
| The other view of the trail head with Elder Roper |
 |
| The trail head for Saioko Branch |
 |
| Top of the trail at Saioko |
to the Chapel bungalow.
After Sacrament meeting, I did a presentation about the Family farming project to the Branch. All the material and seeds were left with the Branch President.
Sister Bivou was able to make arr-
 |
| Saioko Chapel with Elder and Sister Roper |
 |
| Just the beginning of our adventures with chicken manure! |
bags. While waiting for the transport to return, we loaded 50 bags on our truck. They kept adding more bags. We ended up with about 250 bags total. We only paid for the original order of 150. We think they wanted to clear out the manure worse than they wanted the money.
On 17 November we loaded our pickup with 100 bags of manure and delivered
 |
| Sister Baivou and Sister Hinkson waiting for manure to be loaded. We couldn't have accomplished this project without her invaluable help. |
it and their NPK to Nausatoka. On the 18th I took 40 bags of manure and their NPK to Saioko. I did three separate drop offs around Saioko.
On 29 November Sister Hinkson and I took 25 bags of manure, seeds, NPK (think Miracle Grow) and paperwork to Levuka. We met the Branch president there and explained the program to him for his branch members who wanted to participate. Levuka is on another island, Ovalau. It is a ferry ride of about 1 ½ hours after a drive of 1 1/2 hrs. This completed the distribution of seeds, manure, and NPK to the 5 branch units in the Korovou district. The cost so far for this project is just over $5,100 FJD.
A proposal for the whole scope of the project ($25,000 FJD) was sent to the Pacific Area Presidency on 15 November. At their request, I had to remove some of the items in the proposal and ended up with seeking $16,000 FJD. We are waiting for a decision on approval of this funding.
From Mickey:
 |
| Light Refreshment with President Ashton |
A special experience from Steve (I stayed in Nadi while he took this trip):
In October we met with the Lautoka Stake Self-Reliance specialist and her husband who is the High Counselor over self-reliance, Elder and Sister Rakatia. It was a great meeting about what the Lautoka Stake has done with Self-reliance. During this meeting we talked about a large dependent group of members in Nasivikoso, a village in the highlands of Fiji. There are about 100 active members there. The village leadership has expressed a desire to do a self-reliance course on “Starting and Growing Your own Business”. We planned a visit to go there on Sunday 20 November. It is about a 2 ½ hour drive on narrow gravel roadways. I have wanted to go into the interior highlands.
On November 20th, Brother Rakatia and I drove to Nasivikoso. Once we hit the gravel roadway, I put the truck in 4-wheel drive. The hills are steep and roadways very narrow in places. It was a rock and roll drive to the village.
 |
| The road to Nasivikoso |
While driving to the village, Brother Rakatia shared the oral history of those who first came to Fiji. They came from Ethiopia. They were among with the Israelites who were sent to Ethiopia with the Queen of Sheba. Because of being Israelites, they were hunted and killed. To protect them, the Lord stated he would lead them to a garden of Eden type land. They sailed across the ocean in their canoes. They had with them the Arc of the Covenant. Before landing in Fiji, to protect them from being followed and hunted by those who wished to destroy them, they sank the canoe with the Arc of the Covenant. Upon landing in Fiji, they traveled to the mountains looking for their new home. They found peace in the Highlands. They established their settlements there. They thrived on the land. They had their holy sites. In their village was a sacred Bure which only the High priest was able to enter. He was dressed in special robes. They had a sacred stone which glowed. Over time, the stone stopped glowing. It was kept wrapped and in the Holy Bure.
 |
| The Holy Bure |
After time had passed, there was an aged holy man. He cared for the Sacred Bure. After the Fiji temple was dedicated, and before the temple president left, he wanted to visit the village in the highlands. When he arrived in the village, he met with the aged Holy man. The Holy man advised the visiting temple president that the ancient stone had again glowed and that he had seen the coming of the temple president and had been waiting his arrival. The aged holy man died shortly after the visit from the Temple President.
Brother Rakitia advised that the original Fijians were of African descent and shared the features of that people. I found this to be a fascinating history.
Nasivikoso is a beautiful village. Some of the houses are cinder block but most are corrugated metal sheets over wood framing. The chapel held about 60 chairs. The leader is a returned missionary, not yet married. The village has running water (piped from the river) and electricity (power lines). We were invited to the leader’s home for a breakfast of boiled dumplings with peanut butter and jam.
The bread for the Sacrament meeting was left-over dumplings. Sacrament meeting was in Fijian. Brother Rakatia and I spoke. He and I also blessed the Sacrament. Some of the adult male members had gone to Singatoka to meet with the Stake President for Temple recommends.
Before sacrament meeting there were several primary age children and youth who were singing various hymns. It was great. After Sacrament meeting the children separated to attend primary. I taught the adults about Self Reliance and the various available classes. The group discussed their desire for a class on “Starting your Own Business”. We met for over 1 1/2hours. They are going to prepare for a group. Brother Rakatia will bring up the materials for the self-reliance group.
After the meeting we were invited to have lunch. We had wild boar, casava, and other traditional Fijian food. We sat on the floor on the woven mats. I loved visiting this village and the members. I hope to make another visit when they complete the self-reliance course.
 |
| Lunch with the Members of Nasivikoso |
Mickey again:
 |
| Help with unloading from the branch president at the chapel |
 |
| The very cute town of Levuka, Fiji |
I’m going to end, because that experience was the crowning event of November. We also had a visit from Elder Anderson, one of our Apostles, but I forwarded the LDS Newsroom article on that, so I won’t include it here, except to say that I never get to shake Apostle’s hands unless I am serving a mission!
 |
| The Fiji Suva Mission with Elder&Sister Anderson |
