As most of you probably know by now, Jim and I will be stepping down at the end of this year, after 18 years of directing the Fiji Deaf Ministry. We are excited to introduce the couple chosen by the Harland Trust Board to replace us! They are Russell and Sue Neate, from Christchurch, New Zealand.
The Board, at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) last April, unanimously voted Russell in as the new Fiji Deaf Ministry Director. Actually, the Board was just affirming what Russell and Sue have already been doing. They both have been actively involved in the ministry since 2014, working tirelessly on a variety of committees and ministry projects, all while keeping up with a growing family and work at home in NZ. The Neates have two grown children, a son and a daughter, both living in Christchurch. They have five grandchildren (three boys and two girls), ranging in age from eight months to twelve years. Russell and Sue’s home church is Bryndwr Chapel, where they first met Vivienne Harland, ministry founder, about thirty six years ago. Vivienne attended Bryndwr Chapel with her husband Geoff and their two daughters, Ruth and Pauline. It was at that time that Russell and Sue got to know Vivienne and her family, and interest in the Fiji Deaf Ministry began to develop. Russell and Sue have been involved at Bryndwr Chapel over many years, teaching Sunday School and leading other kids programs, as well as a young adults group. Russell and Sue first visited Vivienne Harland in Fiji twelve years ago, to see the deaf ministry first hand. They have since visited twelve times, and Fiji has become their second home. Vivienne passed away in 2009. Russell was then appointed to The Harland Trust Board in 2014, where he has enjoyed reconnecting with Vivienne’s daughter Ruth, also a Board member. Russell’s career of almost forty years was spent in New Zealand, working for the same power utility company in IT and related systems. He will be retiring at the end of this year. Sue has a background in office administration and accounts. Words that come to mind when describing both Russell and Sue are humility and hard work. They are faithful and caring Christians, seeking to honor God in all that they do. They are already well known, well loved, and well respected in Fiji. Russell is an excellent Bible teacher, and often preaches at Suva St. Chapel on his visits to Fiji. He and Sue also lead devotions in the hostels while here. Russell and his committee have worked diligently over the past couple of years, putting detailed plans together for the building of a new hostel. Russell met with each staff member to obtain his/her input for consideration in the final plans. Russell and Sue also recently organized a mission trip for a large number of volunteers from their chapel, to visit Fiji this past July. The trip was a huge success, with much accomplished, and new relationships formed! Russell is a ‘fix it’ man, and on every trip to Fiji can be seen with tools in hand, making needed repairs. Sue always brings along a variety of craft ideas and games for the children, plus some new recipes for the hostel staff to try out. Both Sue and Russell are currently taking sign language classes, in order to communicate effectively with the deaf. Please pray for them, as they take over the leadership of the Fiji Deaf Ministry in 2019. We are so grateful for their willingness to serve, and thank God for leading them to Fiji!
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A Special Trip to a Special Place: Bryndwr Chapel Visit Fiji Gospel School for the Deaf and Hostels12/8/2018 Vivienne Harland, the visionary founder of the Gospel School for the Deaf, lived in Christchurch, New Zealand, for a number of years and Bryndwr Chapel was her home church. A team from there, led by Brad and Vanessa Anderson, recently visited the school and hostels. The trip idea started over 12 months ago when a Bryndwr Chapel Sunday School class Skyped with one of the Sunday School classes for deaf kids in Suva. This immediately sparked interest in one of the Bryndwr students who wanted to go to Fiji to visit the Gospel School and the hostels. The news spread, and soon after we asked for any other interested people to register, with the hope that a small team might go to Fiji and support and encourage the staff and deaf children. God had bigger plans – we had 20+ people register and plans quickly gained momentum. The final team numbered 19 and the trip booked for 7-14 July 2018. The diverse team brought a variety of skills and God provided tasks for each: - a doctor did medical exams of all the children and staff - mechanics serviced the vans and did some repair work - building and maintenance people built concrete steps around the Senior Girls hostel to eliminate the slippery slopes - young people put on a daily children’s programme at the Gospel School for the Deaf - young ladies came and did a sewing project with the senior girls - an occupational therapist worked with some of the students Because of the large team, there were people to take devotions, make play dough for the children, help the staff with their chores, do face painting and beaded-bracelet-making with the children after school, as well as help with homework. Highlights of the trip were the shared meals - one where the Bryndwr team prepared a New Zealand themed meal for the children and staff, and the other a lovo, put on by the staff – we really enjoyed the food and helping with the preparation. The team was truly blessed by the trip and we hope we blessed the staff and children with our visit too. God provided great weather for the building team and a very special trip that will last in our hearts forever. A big thank you to all who participated in the ninth annual Fiji Deaf Hope Golf Tournament, held at The North Kingstown Golf Course on Monday 6th August. It was a huge success! We had 45 players, many of whom have supported the event since the beginning. Their generosity was overwhelming! Jim’s sister Agnes did another fantastic job of organizing the event, along with her team of workers. Sadly, Agnes’s and Jim’s sister Annie, a faithful supporter and hard worker, passed away just a week before the tournament. The family honored her with a photo sign at the first tee. There were lots of prizes at the tournament, along with a meal of corn, ribs, chicken, beans, cole slaw, salad, and cake. It was a great day, and a lot of support was raised for the deaf of Fiji. Again, thanks to all who helped and participated, and special thanks to Agnes, for her tireless work on behalf of the Fiji Deaf Ministry! Despite the arrivial of Hurricane Josie in the South Pacific, we had a nice Easter week here Fiji. Palm Sunday began the week, with Children’s Sunday. The children dress in white, perform mimes and songs, and recite memorized Bible verses. The church was packed, and from youngest to oldest, the kids did a super job! On Thursday, former teacher Tina Mareu, with her family, performed a beautiful mime and song in sign, as part of our school Easter service. Her husband Jale delivered a very moving message on Abraham’s obedience and trust in God; his willingness to sacrifice his beloved, only son, as God did in sending Jesus.
Mesake was the first young deaf boy found by Vivienne Harland when she began the deaf ministry here. He now has a beautiful family of his own----with NINE children!! They are all beautiful, and very talented! “Beautiful on the inside, as well as the outside,” as my father would say. We loved watching them working together in leadership, encouraging and serving in so many ways. The children (ages 2 to 21) are all hearing, and the older ones are excellent interpreters as well. Sign language was their first language, but they are fluent in English and Fijian as well. It was a joy to be with them! Mesake works in Suva during the week as a carpenter, and leads a deaf adult Bible study. He also helps out in our hostels at night during the week. He and his family organized the camp program and prepared most of the meals. The family teamwork was most impressive!
In my last blog, I told a story about how God used a wrong turn in the road to change the life of a young deaf teenager. Here’s another story about a very special couple that we’ve come to know and love, whom God has used tremendously to help the Fiji Deaf Ministry. We met because of an overbooked hotel. Sam and Christine Tawake-Bachofner run a beautiful resort on the island of Beqa (pronounced Ben-ga), in the village of Lawaki. After working in Fiji for some time, Jim and I felt the need to get away for a day or two. We looked online, and enquired about a place on the nearby island of Beqa. Unfortunately, or rather fortunately as it turned out, that place was fully booked and could not take us. The manager suggested we try Lawaki Beach House, a small resort a little further along the coast on the island. It was there that we met Sam and Christine. Sam is a Fijian, from Lawaki, and his wife Christine is from Switzerland. They have run their small resort for about 15 years now. It’s a simple, unspoiled place with lots of natural beauty. It has 4 small bures, a backpacker dorm, and an outdoor covered dining area, all right on the beach. The reef snorkeling is the best, with crystal clear water, and lots of brightly colored fish , sea cucumbers, sea turtles, and coral. There are other activities too, like kayaking, deep sea diving, a relaxing massage, or a visit to the village. Sam and Christine were warm and welcoming, and treated us royally. We could watch the sunset over the ocean from our porch, and listen to the sound of the waves in our bure at night. Everything we ate on our visits to the island was either grown there, or caught in the sea that day. The bread was home made, the eggs free range, and tropical fruits and vegetables all freshly picked. This place was definitely a little piece of heaven! We’ve returned several times since that first visit, and have taken many of our volunteers there. As we talked, she told us her dream was to become a teacher, but she couldn’t afford university fees. Jim offered her a job in our hostel, where she could learn sign language, and offered that the ministry would help out with school fees. Christine came the next year, learned sign language quickly, and graduated from university with high honors. She is an excellent teacher, and sought after as a sign language interpreter. She also teaches Sunday School to the deaf, and is the youth group leader in her church. (Her aunt now refers to Jim as ‘Head Hunter’, for stealing one of her more promising waitresses!) Another couple, Marita and Matt from England, also vacationed at Lawaki. They were running treks thoughout Fiji (Talenoa Treks). They got into conversation with Sam and Christine about a village they had visited on one of their treks. It was Nabutautau, the village where Missionary Thomas Baker had been cooked alive and eaten by the villagers, for touching the head of the village chief, back in the days of cannibalism, before Christianity came to the islands. Marita and Matt mentioned that they had met a young 6 year old deaf boy in that village, named Sailosi. Their heart went out to him, as he was the only kid in the village not in school. Sam and Christine told them about Gospel School for the Deaf, and gave
them our contact. Matt and Marita not only brought Sailosi to GSD, but paid to sponsor him as well. This year, Marica and Sailosi are beginning their 5th year at GSD. They both love school, and now have a wonderful deaf community of friends here. God used a vacation get away to bring us two young deaf students and an extremely talented and hard working teacher. In addition, we have made two wonderful friends who have been a big support to the Fiji Deaf Ministry!! Yes, Lawaki is a very beautiful and special place! Thank you Sam and Christine! We finally arrived in Fiji on March 6th, after Jim was declared healthy enough to travel by the doctor. The timing was good, in that we managed to miss the latest nor’easter blizzard in New England, which dropped over a foot of snow and left many without power for a number of days.
The new school year is off to a good start, with 7 new students, making a total of 52 in GSD, with another 3 in Gospel High School with sign language interpreters, and several others out in vocational programs, or recently placed in jobs. Here are three of our new students: (left to right) Manasa, Aliti, and Iliesa (Aren’t they the cutest?) The word is spreading about a school that is just for deaf children. We are happy to report that we are now enrolling students at much younger ages, which gives them an advantage in receiving a better education.
We have also received money this year from the Japanese Embassy, for a badly needed new school bus. The Embassy requires that we build a garage or bus port for protection, and we are looking into that now.
Due to some health issues, Jim and I were not able to return to Fiji for the start of the new school year in January, but Mrs. Mudaliar, our Head Teacher, graciously agreed to hold the fort until we get back. Jim just received the doctor’s okay to travel, so we’ll be leaving for Fiji this coming Wednesday, going by way of California, for a visit with Erin, Garth, and Lucy. Many thanks to all who have been praying for Jim’s health. And also many thanks for all of your support. The students are growing and learning daily, because of your generosity. In His Love, Jim and Marilyn Good things are happening here in Fiji. For several years, the CFD (Christian Fellowship for the Deaf) has not been functioning well, and attendance has been poor. Deaf leadership was an ongoing problem. This year, however, prayers have been answered, and there has been revival among the deaf. Tuliana (next to Jim in photo) has stepped up and assumed leadership, with the support of the church elders. Mesake, from the West, has joined with the Suva CFD. The two groups came together for August Camp, which was a wonderful time of teaching and fun. Jim and I attended last week’s Bible study in the main hostel, and there were over 25 adult deaf there, with Mesake teaching. Avikesh (top left in blue), one of my first students here in Fiji, who attended University, and is now working as a silk screener, has also stepped up as leader. He was the song leader for the evening. (Yes, the deaf here love to sing!)
Some prayer requests:
We ‘re looking for two teachers for next year (January), as well as a new Head Teacher (Principal) and Ministry Director for 2019. Jim gave a devotional on prayer the other morning for the staff. During his devotional, he shared about a close friend of ours, Vince Griffis, who faithfully prayed for him everyday. Vince was a teacher of the deaf, who worked with us at the Rhode Island School for the Deaf back in the 1970’s. We attended the same assembly in Swansea, MA, where Vince was an elder. His son was baptized at our home, in Hundred Acre Pond, by his dad. His wife, Susie, was Jim’s secretary at RISD. Our families have been long time friends. Jim shared how, in his early years at RISD, Vince told him that he prayed for him everyday. At that point in time, Jim wasn’t sure he appreciated the comment, wondering what it was in his life that Vince felt needed prayer. However, looking back now, he sees the many ways in which those prayers were life changing. Jim shared how he has seen God’s hand on his life, preparing him for the work with the deaf here in Fiji. His only regret is that he never thanked Vince for those prayers. Vince left the school for the deaf to become headmaster of a Christian school in Fall River, MA, where he worked for fourteen years. He then felt called to start an international school in Cameroon, Africa; a school for children of missionaries, and others doing service away from home. The school was Rainforest Academy. Vince served there for many years, until he was diagnosed with cancer, and eventually had to retire. Few have endured illness with more humility and grace than Vince. He continually encouraged those who came to encourage him, and always maintained his sense of humor, even though in pain. Vince passed away three years ago.
Jim ended his devotional by encouraging the staff to pray for someone——their students, their family members, or friends. Prayer does not necessarily change our circumstances—God never promised that. But it does change us. We often don’t see the big picture, but God does, and is personally involved in each of our lives. After his devotional, Jim went back to his desk, and opened up his lap top. His Facebook page was open, and on it was a shared memory, with a picture of Vince. Then, about an hour later, we had a visitor at school. It was Geoff Nainoca, whom we had met at church when we first came toFiji. His brother Vivian is our office manager. Geoff, a missionary in Chad, Africa, had never been to our school before, but was now back in Fiji, and came to visit. As we talked, he shared how his daughter had attended Rainforest Academy while he was serving in Africa, and how thankful he was for that school. Yes, it’s a small world. But I prefer to think of these events as God’s confirmation of Jim’s devotional on prayer— and Jim’s thank you to Vince, who unknowingly played a large part in his coming to Fiji. In New Zealand a few years ago we had the opportunity to meet one of our supporters, who has never been to Fiji, yet prays faithfully for the ministry here. He prays for each staff member by name, even though he has never met them. He also told us that he prays daily for one of our students, Seru, who came to us at a very young age. GSD has been Seru’s only family. His mom, on drugs, abandoned him as a baby, and he was taken in by relatives, and brought to Gospel School for the Deaf. He has grown up in our hostels, and spends school holidays with staff here. Seru has had his ups and downs over the years. But he completed our program, then went on to high school, and is now back working for us as a teacher aide, and also works on staff in the Junior Boys Hostel. Seru is maturing, and developing into a wonderful Christian leader of the deaf. This afternoon he came to ask Jim if the two of them could have a Bible study together. That’s happening tomorrow morning, before school. As the Scriptures tell us, “When a faithful man prays, good things happen.” James 5:16b (NIV Children’s Bible, used by our deaf) GSD recently received a large package from Casper Dyne, one of our supporters in England--- a teacher of the deaf, who is himself deaf. Inside the box was an audiometer and supply of Phonak hearing aids, plus a computer and software for calibrating them. We immediately contacted an audiologist and technician from Hilton Special School, to have ear molds made for all of our students. We’re excited that finally, many of our students will have hearing aids--- an answer to prayer! Several of our students have usable hearing, and the aids will be a great benefit to them. On another note, the hostel staff, in their new ‘kalavata’, recently celebrated Jim on his 81st birthday. They prepared a feast, complete with a delicious birthday cake made by Mere, head of the main hostel. The staff shared emotional words of love and thanks to Jim, for his service to the deaf of Fiji. A second celebration was given by the school staff later, at ‘morning tea’, so Jim felt well celebrated on his special day! The first parent night of the term was held this past week, with a good turn out. Plans were made for the upcoming three day trip to Latoka, for the Special Games. Teacher Tomasi also gave a talk about deaf awareness, and the events being held for Deaf Awareness Week. Marilyn gave a talk on reading and language development, and Jim showed slides of former students and the educational programs they have attended, and jobs they have received after completing their time with us at GSD. Parents asked good questions, and enjoyed a time of refreshments following the meeting. Attitudes toward deafness have been changing in recent years in Fiji; once pitied, or hidden away in shame, and considered cursed by God, the deaf are now becoming valued as productive members of society. Our goal is to reach the many unschooled deaf children in remote villages, and give them an education, and knowledge of God’s love for them, through Bible teaching.
Again, thank you for sharing with us in the ministry to the deaf of Fiji. |
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