6th Fiji Report August 2018
August 2018 Fiji Report: Number 6
It’s been a long day.
We started our ride from Labasa to Savusavu around 7 a.m. The road takes us up and over the spine of the mountain range that divides the island. When we arrived around 8:15 we had a lovely breakfast at a very nice restaurant with a patio right next to a beautiful ocean bay. Then we headed to Aisake’s house about 20 minutes away.
I gave him all of the fishing and diving gear I brought from the States to be given to the fishermen on nearby Kioa Island. They’re still suffering from the aftereffects of the massive hurricane that ravaged Fiji two years ago. This is the 3rd load of equipment we've been able to bring over. Although aid was promised from the government, none has been received. So whatever we can supply is really helpful.
Two years ago TUtP assisted Aisake by providing materials for fencing, a green house, facilities to house meat and laying chickens, bee hives and a number of other items to help the family become self-sustaining small land holders. Aisake is an incredibly hard-working person. He was the general secretary of the Christian doctors group that provided medical personnel for our village outreaches. He is extremely active in his local church, especially with the men’s group. And he is a farmer.
Before we helped him his family could not grow a garden or keep any plants alive because goats, horses and cattle from neighboring homes would eat whatever they planted before anything could grow. Now he has a large variety of crops growing around his compound. He has doubled his number of bee hives to eight. And he has about 45 laying hens that produce a number of eggs for family consumption and for sale.
His house is almost direcly on the beach so I also provided a spear gun and fishing nets that allow him to get fish to provide a more varied and balanced diet.
He just leased an additional 29 acres of farmland to expand his operation. We drove with him up to his new farmland and Chuck was able to give him some very practical advice regarding how to best manage the new land.
He is well on his way to self-sufficiency.
While we were in Savusavu, the equipment we bought yesterday to help with water management on Chuck’s farm was delivered. Chuck should be able to get everything in place within a week or so.
Tomorrow morning we will drive over to do some additional beekeeping training at Lawaki Village where we have our model beekeeping project with the local women’s group. This project is only a few months old and I really am excited to be able to see how they have progressed towards accomplishing the goals they set for themselves last year.
Everything has gone very smoothly. We are making plans and arrangements to advance our varied projects.
Thank again for your many prayers.
Blessings!