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By: Br. Michael Kamauoha, Br. Patrick Joseph Tukidia, and Kasimero Bule
It was a gloomy and rainy Thursday morning, however, the spirit of service from the brothers would not be hampered. With a sense of responsibility and love for those in desperate need, we loaded a hundred sacks of food, each weighing about 65 lbs., into vehicles for delivery. Like many other parts of the world, Fiji is currently struggling with the Delta variant of the COVID pandemic. To date, there have been 38,742 cases, 14,310 recoveries, and 345 deaths since April 2021. Among those most affected by the situation are the poor, those who have lost their meager earning jobs due to the lockdowns and COVID movement restrictions. Many are even unable to go back to their plantations and farm for food. This situation has caused many to go hungry. It pains us to see our fellow sisters and brothers who are struggling to feed their families. This pandemic has really dampened the spirits of this nation, and some people are without means to ensure their meal. Recognizing poor families’ needs and the struggles, the brothers knew we had to do something to help. Through the generosity of some families and friends of the brothers and
our own sharing of pocket money, we were able to collect $8,566.00 FJD for this purpose.
Prior to receiving donations from outside our formation community, our initial plan was to provide food for 10 families. However, when the final total was tallied, we realized God blessed our endeavor 10 fold. Instead of being able to provide food for 10 families, we were able to help over 100 families. These included Itaukei (native Fijians), Indo-Fijians, and Tongans. We are very grateful to those who helped us to make this project possible. With these funds, we were able to obtain and distribute food and much needed supplies, including hygiene products, diapers for adults and children, and bandages, mostly to those who live in squatter settlements. Delivering the food packs into the homes, we saw firsthand how people are struggling to feed their families, to care for the young, the old,
and the infirmed. We came to realize the devastating impact of this pandemic to the families. Many had run out of food. These situations broke our hearts. In many cases, mothers and fathers who had been desperate to feed their children shed tears of joy and relief. To be able to help lift a burden from someone's shoulders in these trying times gives us a deeper feeling of being in solidarity. The experience of giving and sharing is something that we were privileged to offer and something we hold dear.
The following are the words of a family in response what they received: “Taura na gauna vinaka qo,me cavuta Dua na vosa na vaa vinaka levu,ena Loma ni nomu dou taba ni Vei qaravi,vinaka Vaa levu na yalo ni Vei nanumi tu,keitou Sa marau na vuvale na vei dou Sa cau mai kina...Dou vosota ga na Turaga ni Sega ni Dua na ka Tu na Loma ni vuvale me dolea lesu kina na vei ka lelevu dou Sa cau mai kina,Sa masu ga ni vuvale me qai sobu tiko Nona Vei vklougatataki ena Loma ni nomudou Vei qaravi... levu tiko na nomudou veisiga vinaka..keitou Sa vaa nui2 vinaka tiko Yani,ena Vei qaravi dou Sa tomana tiko....Dou Kalougata tiko na Turaga…”
(“I take this blessed and gracious moment to say a few words of gratitude and appreciation for the great gift of love that your congregation showered us with in these desperate times, when we really needed it most. Thank you so much for thinking of us, and we are privileged and honoured that you remembered us, and we are blessed that we were graced by this special gift.
I would like to sincerely apologise that we could not compensate for the great Love and repay all you have showered us with, to say even at least in our actions that we are grateful. All we have is all that we can offer and that is just our humble prayers. We pray that you may be blessed abundantly in your ministry. May you have glorious and blessed days in your service of the Lord. We send our greetings to all the good things that you have been doing for those in need. God Bless you, my Dear Children.”) – Mereama, a mother of 3, from Nasinu Settlement
We would like to take this opportunity on behalf of all the families that we've helped to thank you, the donors and benefactors, for sharing your table with those most affected by the Covid 19 pandemic in Fiji. This was a blessed experience for us and only made possible because of your generous hearts.
It can be summed up in the smiles of the children in the attached photos. We also thank Fr. Simon Mani, Rector of PRS, and Fr. Tino Ulupano, Br. Andrea Naleba, Fr. Setefano Mataele, and Fr. Donato Kivi of the Marist community for their assistance in the distribution. We pray that God will bless and protect you and your loved ones this day and always. Once again, thank you for your concern and sensitivity to those in need. We came to realize the devastating impact of this pandemic to the families. Many had run out of food. These situations broke our hearts. In many cases, mothers and fathers who had been desperate to feed their children shed tears of joy and relief. To be able to help lift a burden from someone's shoulders in these trying times gives us a deeper feeling of being in solidarity. Vinaka Vakalevu. Malo aupito. Salamat po. Mahalo. Thank you. “For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in…” - Matthew 25:35 - Maiki, Patrick, and Kasi, for the SSCC Formation, Community, Fiji
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