News Story

Church Leaders Visit Fijian Village

Elder Ronald A. Rasband, the senior president of the Presidency of the Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, visited the chiefly village of Narewa, near Nadi, on Monday 22 April 2013.

Elder Rasband is visiting the South Pacific with his wife, Sister Melanie Rasband. The Rasbands were accompanied by Elder James J. Hamula, Pacific Area President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They were also accompanied by Pacific Area Seventy and Fiji citizen, Elder Taniela Wakolo.

On behalf of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Elder Rasband presented village leaders with gardening tools and a sewing machine to assist the village in its development and beautification.

Out of respect for local practice, the visiting Latter-day Saints participated in a welcoming ceremony with village leaders.

Sister Melanie Rasband told village leaders that for many years she had sewn clothes and quilts for her children. “Many people come together to make your village beautiful,” she said. “This sewing machine is given to you to bless your village.”

Elder Rasband thanked the village elders for their warm welcome. “We thank you for the blessing you gave us. We pray for you, your wives and your children.”

One village leader, Samuela Tuidraki, thanked the visitors: “We are so blessed to have you. You are not only taking the word of God but you’re also showing it.”

Mr Tuidraki explained that the village had just recently purchased some brush-cutters, wheelbarrows and rakes to help them clean their village. The tools donated would assist them greatly.

According to one village elder, the women of the village had been involved in cleaning their village dispensary and meeting weekly to sew and make handicrafts.

“They had recently received a contract to sew uniforms for a hotel and the sewing machine donated would assist them greatly in this project.”

Watch a video about humanitarian service provided by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Read about the Church’s approaches to education, welfare and self-reliance.

“We are grateful for our neigbours and friends in Narewa and throughout Fiji,” Elder Wakolo said.

“We are grateful for the many good people in the villages of this nation, and we are always thankful for opportunities to assist those who need some support.  As followers of Christ we are always looking for opportunities to do what we can to lift lives and bless families.”

 

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