Work is still in progress on the building of the Vunisei Methodist Church at Toga Naqavoka, Rewa, and everything seems to be on track by the look of the building.
Church lay-preacher Josua Balemila said the hardworking students of Vunisei Village helped their fathers and the elders construct the church during the school break last week.
Mr Balemila said the students helped in whatever way they could by h mixing the cement, carrying the blocks and preparing the profile for the veranda.
He said at about 7pm the villagers stayed in their own homes while he staged an open-air service.
Mr Balemila said he told the parents that by doing this it would keep students from roaming around carelessly and also would avoid incidences of drowning that was spreading around the country considering that the village was situated by the Rewa River.
Mr Balemila thanked those who made pledges over the past weeks which enabled them to buy materials and keep the carpenters occupied.
He also thanked the women for preparing food for the workers every day which included breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea.
Mosese Luveitasau, the headman of the mataqali Burotu said in 1958 before the sugar mill was closed in Nausori, the elders of Vunisei Village had to go and cut sugarcane and the money they collect was to build a new church.
Mr Luveitasau said the late Misiada Sila was the chairman of the church committee and he thanked the Lord that he was still alive to witness the demolishing of the old church and the building of the new one.
He said the carpenter that built the church in 1953 was Tevita Navuasese and his two sons Semisi Kama and Ovini Drauvaki Navuasese.
Mr Luveitasau said God works in mysterious ways as the team leader of the marama vola kawabula of the yavusa Navokai, Makelesi Driu, is the granddaughter of the late Misiada Sila, and is now leading the project.
He said her husband Aminiasi Driu was the consultant and on top of that the carpenter who is building the new church, Akuila Tavuto, is the great-grandson of Tevita Navuasese who built the first church in 1953.
Mr Luveitasau also thanked the women who are married to the men of Vunisei Village for their support.
On Tuesday this week the Turaga Tuvou Ratu Alipate Raicebe Cavuilati and his family from Verata, Wailevu Village in Tailevu, visited the new church.
Ms Driu said the Turaga Tuvou Ratu Alipate Raicebe Cavuilati’s grandmother; Ro Ivamere Louvana comes from the tokatoka Davuilevu from the mataqali Navokai in Vunisei Village.
Ms Driu said in building the house of the Lord new things would appear like the visit they witnessed on Tuesday, where most of the yavusa Navokai didn’t know that the Turaga Tuvou was a close relative of the Vunivalu of Toga Naqavoka.
Ms Driu thanked the elders of yavusa Navokai for waiting at their community hall for the arrival of the Turaga Tuvou from Verata Wailevu Village.
She said when we let God lead the way everything would come together as one and she thanked all Christian denominations in Vunisei Village who pitched in to help in this course.
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Church next Sunday
