At PTEC's services on the 13th November members present were challenged by the messages shared through stories, testimonies, special music and congregational singing.
Mrs Salanieta Ratulevu, wife of one of the previous Fiji Mission President's the late Swamuela Ratulevu shared her testimony about how in the late 1950's many young Seventh Day Adventist Fijians went out as missionaries to regional Pacific islands. She explained how she and her late husband after one year of marriage were called to teach at Aore Adventist School in Santo, New Hebrides now Vanuatu.
Looking back today, she shared some homourous examples of their initial misinterpretations of Bislama Pidgin and how they had to learn it in order to be effective in their roles. Her memories of Vanuatu and the people during their time there were generally positive She remembered USP Tutor, Barry Ilaisa who was in the congregation as a little child during her days as a missionary. She gave birth to a baby girl but unfortunately they lost that daughter which led to her not wanting to return to Vanuatu after their furlough in Fiji.After some persuasion, they returned and God blessed them with another daughter. The Ratulevu's then went on to have a son and another daughter.
Mrs Ratulevu is still connected to mission and is an active member of the Fiji SDA Retired Workers Association. She ended her testimony by challenging the PTEC congregation on their roles for mission and responsibility to participate in the great commission of Matthew 28.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment