“Fishing” in the Waters of Fiji

FIJI​—the name evokes images of a South Seas paradise. Blue-green waters, coral reefs, swaying coconut palms, verdant mountains, tropical fish, exotic fruits and flowers. You can find all of these in abundance on this archipelago of 300 islands about 1,100 miles [1,800 km] north of New Zealand in the South Pacific. Hence, you might agree that Fiji could be everyone’s dream of a tropical paradise.

Fiji is fascinating in more than its natural beauty, however. Yes, just as there is great variety among the fish of the coral reefs, great variety is also found on land. The contrasts in Fiji’s ethnic mix are, perhaps, unequaled in the South Pacific. The two largest groups among its almost 750,000 inhabitants are the indigenous Fijians, who are of Melanesian origin, and Fiji-born Indians, descendants of workers brought in from India during the British colonial days. But there are also Banabans, Chinese, Europeans, Gilbertese, Rotumans, Tuvaluans, and others.

In this multicultural society, Jehovah’s Witnesses are busily engaged in a “fishing” work. (Mark 1:17) It is a challenge to preach the good news of God’s Kingdom in such a diversified community. First, there are the language and cultural barriers to overcome. Though English is the lingua franca, many times Fijian, Hindi, Rotuman, or other languages must be used.

Different approaches must also be taken to converse with those of different religious backgrounds. Most indigenous Fijians and other islanders belong to various Christian denominations. The Indian population consists of Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs, with Hindus being in the majority. Churches are plentiful in the towns and villages, but on Fiji’s two largest islands, the many Hindu temples and Muslim mosques provide a contrast.

Many local Witnesses have grown up speaking the three main languages​—English, Fijian, and Hindi. Having this skill is a great advantage in the “fishing” work. At times people are surprised to hear a Fijian speaking fluent Hindi and a Hindu speaking fluent Fijian. With cultural, religious, and language differences to cope with, it requires a versatile approach to be “a sharer of [the good news] with others.”​—1 Corinthians 9:23.

“Fishing” in a Fijian Village

The indigenous Fijians are a friendly, hospitable people. It is difficult to imagine that little more than a century ago, tribal warfare was rife. In fact, at the time of the first European contact, Fiji was known as the Cannibal Islands. Eventually, with the ascendancy of a paramount chief and his conversion, fighting and cannibalism died out. Tribal differences remain only in the many dialects that are found in the various provinces, although the Bauan dialect is widely understood.

In addition to Suva, the capital, there are many towns throughout Fiji. Most Fijians live in village communities under the control of a turaga ni koro, or head man. When entering a village to engage in “fishing,” it is customary to approach this man to seek permission to visit the various bures, or local homes. Only occasionally, usually because of opposition to Jehovah’s Witnesses by some village clergyman, is permission refused. What is it like calling at a Fijian home?

Entering the bure, we sit cross-legged on the floor. A carefully worded introduction, as used to capture interest in Western lands, is not needed here. Anyone coming to talk about God is welcome. When invited, the householder readily gets up and, with expressions of “tulou” (excuse me), reaches up to a shelf for a copy of the Bible in Fijian and eagerly reads various texts that the visiting minister mentions.

[Picture on page 24]

A bure, or local home