In the 1960’s and 1970’s, small groups of interested people were formed in Munda and Gizo in the western Solomons. But progress was slow.

It did not take long for pioneers to arrive in Munda, a settlement on Roviana lagoon on New Georgia Island.

Munda is actually a series of small villages that dot the perimeter of a landing strip built in the early 1940’s by the Japanese Army. The U.S. Air Force later took over the landing strip, enlarged it, and used it throughout the remainder of World War II. The tribes in this area are matriarchal societies. Brother Fanidua remembers: “When we arrived in Munda on the government mail boat, we began wondering where and with whom we would stay and what kind of reception the truth would get in this new area. We walked along the road edging the lagoon and shortly arrived in front of the house of Taude Kenaz, a Malaitan. I knew Taude would make us welcome, as he was a fellow Kwara’ae, but whether we would be able to stay at his home while in Munda depended a great deal on the reception we would get from the landowner, his widowed mother-in-law, Miriam.”

Miriam was a well-known and respected member of the Roviana tribe of New Georgia Island. Miriam not only wielded power as landowner but was very influential in the United Church. Her late husband had been instrumental in introducing that religion into their area. Because Miriam dreamed earlier that she would receive some unusual visitors, she could not believe her eyes when she saw the two pioneers with briefcases and Bibles in hand, standing at her door. She immediately invited them to stay at her house, much to the surprise of the pioneers. Her hospitality proved to be a blessing for her whole family. The pioneers concentrated on studying every evening with all those who showed such kindness. Miriam and her daughter Esther and Taude, Esther’s husband, were three such people.

It was during this period, in 1970, that traveling overseers John Cutforth and Jim Smith visited Munda on their way back to Papua New Guinea. Quickly discerning the potential interest at Munda, Brother Smith told the pioneers that it would be good if they could stay until a congregation was established. These two overseers diligently helped the pioneers to organize meetings. For the first time, songs of praise to Jehovah could be heard on the island of New Georgia! Leaving the pioneers in Munda to care for the sheep, the traveling overseers set out for other territories.

Suddenly, one evening, the pioneers were rudely awakened by a crowd of angry people. The mob was led by an off-duty policeman, who sternly ordered the brothers to vacate the area immediately. Brother Fanidua turned to the crowd and told them what the police superintendent had said to them back on Gizo: “Should you have any problems in any of the areas under my jurisdiction, be sure to contact me.” On hearing this, the policeman became frightened, and the crowd dispersed. However, this disturbing news quickly spread and was heard in Gizo by the superintendent himself.

The superintendent immediately boarded a plane for Munda. Soon after his arrival, he asked Brother Fanidua to come to the local police station. On entering the station, Brother Fanidua noticed that two high-ranking local police officers were present. Then it dawned on him; the interview with the superintendent was for the benefit of those two local police officers. After Brother Fanidua explained why he and his partner had come to Munda, the superintendent summed up the hearing by saying: “I have a religion; you, Albert, [pointing to one officer] have a religion. You, Alex, [the other] have your religion. The law of the Solomon Islands guarantees freedom of worship to everyone. The Witnesses are staying at Miriam’s home at her invitation. She is the customary landowner, and she is quite within her legal and tribal right to have people of any religion visit her in her own home, and you as officers of the law, either on duty or off, have no right to try to prevent Miriam from showing her interest in Jehovah’s Witnesses.” He concluded by placing the two pioneers in the special care and protection of the local police officers.

Though Brother Taude died some years ago, the small congregation in Munda continues to thrive and regularly praises Jehovah’s name in song and in the preaching work. And as for Brother Fanidua, he remains a faithful proclaimer of the good news.