Easter Week 2018

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.

Tina and Jale have not only adopted 3 young children without families from the village, but they have also taken in 5 other young adults needing help ---one a former GSD deaf student. (We hear they’ve recently added a room or two onto their home!) They are a beautiful example of living out their faith.

Easter Friday and Monday are school holidays, and Easter Camps are popular. Mesake and his family brought the deaf from the west (Latoka) to join with our deaf here in Suva. All slept on the floors of GSD classrooms for the long weekend. They participated in Bible studies, mimes and singing, games and sports, and a church service on Easter Sunday, which was held at the school.

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!

The rain was heavy for the whole weekend, but it never dampened the spirits of the campers and staff. All had a great time, and were treated to a beautiful Fiji sunset after the rain, at the end the weekend! As Jim says, the deaf always warm our hearts with their love, humility, and service!! We are blessed!