CARING FOR AN OUTER ISLAND

Three isolated publishers live on a large island about 120 kilometers (75 mi) from the main island of Viti Levu. Circuit overseers regularly visit these publishers even though getting there may take more than a day. The circuit overseer has to take a small cargo boat to get to the island, which has virtually no roads and no electricity. When he arrives at one end of the island, he has to wait for many hours as the boat goes into numerous bays along the coast, unloading and loading produce and people. At his destination, he gets into a small dinghy that takes him to the water’s edge. Then he struggles through the mud flats, carrying his baggage. After walking several miles through the bush, he finally reaches the home of one of the brothers.

However, the effort is well rewarded, as he sees the brothers’ appreciation and joy when they talk together, share in the witnessing work and hold meetings. One circuit overseer fondly recalls a departure from the island when a Witness family stood in the sea, up to their waists in the water, waving good-bye until his boat was out of sight.

FIRST MISSIONARY PERMIT SINCE 1947

The year 1978 was a big one for the small branch. Due to several changes and the death of one of the circuit overseers, Brother Manoa Baro, a great need arose for traveling overseers. No local brothers were trained for this work. So it was decided to apply to the government for a permit to allow an experienced circuit overseer to come from overseas. The branch had applied many times before, but no permits for missionaries had been granted for over 30 years!

Great was the gratitude to Jehovah when it was learned that permission had been granted for a brother, Vaughan Guy, along with his wife, Jeanne, to enter Fiji for a three-year period to serve as a traveling overseer. Now the local brothers have been given much training, and some new circuit overseers have taken up the work.