"Time Out" in Fiji: February 3 and 4

Sunday after church Elder Hogge, who is in charge of missionary housing, and I (this is Scott, speaking) left Suva to take the Nasivikoso elders, two kerosine lanterns, pillows, dishes, wash tub, pots pans etc. The Nasivikoso village is about four hours from Suva in the high lands of Viti Levu which some call the bush.

After traveling two hours on the nice Gold Coast Highway we turned off the main road in Sigatoka. We met the Sigatoka elders (Elder Heath and his greenie) and dropped two electric fans to them which took about 45 minutes and then proceeded toward Nasivikoso.

Road to Nasivikoso one of the last villages with electricity.

The wealthy ride horses; the rest walk.

Road to Nasivikoso

We were glad we had a 4 wheel drive Toyota truck because it had rained most of the day. The road to the village was at first graded gravel and then it was all mud, dirt and pot holes filled with water. These roads are not well marked and we had to ask who ever was on the road which way to go to the village. Because we had to go slow it got dark and after a time we really thought we were lost. Fortunately we came across two young men walking on the road and asked them directions. It just so happened the village was only a couple of kilometers away and we were on the right road. These two villagers wanted a ride and we showed them our truck was completely full of supplies. They said no problem and climbed on the back bumper and took us straight to the village. It was a good thing they came with use because the village was dark and we also had a couple of forks in the road.

Bridge through the river.
Going up I had to walk across this in the dark ahead of the truck to make sure the bridge was all there.

We arrived at the village, parked and the boys got someone to take us through the gate into the village. The villager had one flashlight and I had a flashlight. With no electricity and no moon it was really dark. After passing a few houses a man, who was actually the landlord and LDS, showed us into the elder's house and told us to wait while he got the elders who were out in the village teaching missionary lessons. In the room there was one broken table and two chairs that the elders borrowed from the hall. Fifteen minutes later we saw three little pin lights coming down the path--the elders and landlord. The elders were surprised to see us. We had no way to let them know we were coming, because there is no phone service.

We unloaded the truck and the landlord got the two kerosene lanterns working. The light in each lantern is equivalent to a 25 watt light bulb. The elders for the first time have something besides a little flashlight to light their house after dark. The village has no electricity or running water.

Elder Hogge brought two nice mattresses for us to sleep on. We laid the mattresses in the front room and lit mosquito coils to keep the mosquitos out. The windows only had a tied cloth over them which we left open because it was hot (mid 70's and humid). We went to bed about 9:30 PM. Some of the villagers stayed up and partied until midnight. After a comfortable night listening to Elder Hogge snore and the rain pounding on the tin roof a loud bell rang at 5 AM to wake the villagers. The one and only bus leaves for Sigatoka at 6 AM and the villagers have to walk an hour to catch the bus. We got up at 6:30 AM about the time it was light enough to see inside.

When we woke up this is what we found inside the hut and outside their house.

Front room where we slept on comfortable mattresses.
That is a wall behind the mattresses.
There are no closets only the hanging rods.
There is also no furniture in this room.

The Elder's kitchen.
They have to get water from the river and boil it to drink.
Notice the rusted corrugated tin walls

The Elder's bedroom. They have mosquito net fortunately.

Former Elders

The elders home.
Kitchen on right, front room on the right and bedroom in the back.

Current Elders; the greenie, Elder Vai-ai from New Zealand
and Elder Dakunimata from Fiji.
Elder Dakunimata's mother cleans our house to support him
on his mission.

They rent the house for $100 Fiji about $60 US. We brought some wire mesh to cover the windows and holes which was impossible because there were too many. The villagers did try to use what we had to fix the outside up.

In talking with the elders they told us they had 79 people to church Sunday. Usually they have 85, but six were sick. They are teaching several families. The Mission President has submitted an application for them to form a branch. The elders are teaching three families who want to be baptized and cannot because they are not married. One family has one child, the other two children and the last has three children. To get married requires a one hour walk to the bus stop to get the 6 AM bus, a two hour bus ride to town, $31 dollars for a marriage license, the bus leaves to come back at 9 PM arriving at midnight and then a one hour walk home. None have the money to get married.

The village hall
which is used for pre school during the week
and the church on Sunday.
The older children walk 2 miles to school. There is no high school.

The church/school from the outside.

The rest of the pictures are of the village and its people. We loved the people. They are happy, loving and awesome. We had one of the church members cook us scones. We wandered around the village taking pictures and talking to everyone. I hope you enjoy these.

6 AM Rugby Practice. Goal posts are made of long skinny trees tied together.

The bath tub, laundry and water supply.

An outhouse with flush toilets, complements of a humanitarian project for the village.

Enjoying the fruits of the humanitarian project.
There are 4 or 5 of these for about 50 families.
I had to get a key to use it.

I forgot to mention this river is also a swimming pool and park for all to enjoy.

A girl with her brother.
Everyone seems so happy. There is only a couch in the front room.

A village family.
The man is gone to hunt or to work or to town.
The Elders can only teach when the men are at home.

The one and only village shop.
The shop consists of a room about the size of a closet and has candy and a few things. This is also where the shop owner lives with his wife and teenage son. This building contains the shop, a front room, a bedroom separated by a sheet from the front room and an indoor kitchen which has an open fire for cooking.