Tropical Cyclone Winston began its visitation almost one week ago. PTC reopened on Wednesday and - on the whole - there's power, water and internet. The sewerage pump only got back to normal yesterday however (yuck) so that's been challenging for a number of homes.
We're thinking much beyond ourselves though with colleagues and students planning visits to families who've been affected in places such as Ba, Rakiraki and Koro Island. Extension students who'd travelled in from Nausori for Friday tutorial were still without power and have limited water, so they were glad to come over for a few hours. Also, as we shared stories from the past week, it became clear that there are numerous 'don't know' answers in response to queries about loved ones because there's still no way of communicating. 'We know they're alive', said one participant, defiant and faithful. 'We're only waiting for the call'.
Who can help Fiji be #StrongerThanWinston?
WE CAN!
Bank: Westpac
Bank Address: 1 Thompson Street, Suva, FIJI
Account name: Trustees Methodist Church in Fiji - Hurricane Relief Fund
Account number: 9806098696
Swift Code: WPACFJFX
BSB: 039 001
Please include your name and location in the narration.
Click here for more details of how the money will be spent.
Bank Address: 1 Thompson Street, Suva, FIJI
Account name: Trustees Methodist Church in Fiji - Hurricane Relief Fund
Account number: 9806098696
Swift Code: WPACFJFX
BSB: 039 001
Please include your name and location in the narration.
Click here for more details of how the money will be spent.
An emergency response will also be made from the Methodist Church in Britain's World Mission Fund. Go here for more details and the Just Giving page.
Methodist Church World Mission Fund
Methodist Church House25 Marylebone Road
London NW1 5J
As you can imagine, the news here is filled with stories that touch deeply. Here's just one
Ovalau survivors relive their horrific tales
By: Akuila Cama
Out of the several lives claimed by Tropical Cyclone Winston on the island of Ovalau. One was a 72-year-old lady Selai Waqa from Nauouo village.
Not far from where Selai was laid to rest, her sister in law Susan Ravuetaki was struggling to her feet. Susan was buried with Selai under the rubble of the church for almost 2 hours and she thought she would not survive.
"I thought that we were going to die, that nobody could come and get us because the winds was just too strong and I was watching the people all inside the lali house and when I looked up it looked like the telegraph pole was going to fall. Then I saw them all run and then I heard Selai crying out for help, and I said to Selai, "Just lie down because nobody can come and get us now because the wind is just too strong for us," said Susan Ravuetaki – Selai’s Sister-in-Law
Villagers of Nauouo fled from the first evacuation center which was the church hall before it was destroyed. They then moved into the community hall which later fell before they found shelter at the church and it was not long before it collapsed.
The late Selai only saved two items from her home before she was moved to the evacuation centre. Inoke recalls, "When she came to church for shelter she had a little bag, and in that bag we saw on Saturday night, when she died, was her Bible and her church dress. She came to church ready."
Only one house was spared by Tropical Cyclone Winston in this village.
Out of the several lives claimed by Tropical Cyclone Winston on the island of Ovalau. One was a 72-year-old lady Selai Waqa from Nauouo village.
Her younger brother recalled the last moments he spent with her before she died after the church collapsed on her on Saturday evening.
"What happened was when we started getting warnings from the radio, we had our last lunch together and she cooked sausages and after that people came in and told us we should move into the church," said Inoke Ravuetaki, Selai’s younger brother. Selai’s only son is serving in Afghanistan under the United Nations.
Not far from where Selai was laid to rest, her sister in law Susan Ravuetaki was struggling to her feet. Susan was buried with Selai under the rubble of the church for almost 2 hours and she thought she would not survive.
"I thought that we were going to die, that nobody could come and get us because the winds was just too strong and I was watching the people all inside the lali house and when I looked up it looked like the telegraph pole was going to fall. Then I saw them all run and then I heard Selai crying out for help, and I said to Selai, "Just lie down because nobody can come and get us now because the wind is just too strong for us," said Susan Ravuetaki – Selai’s Sister-in-Law
Villagers of Nauouo fled from the first evacuation center which was the church hall before it was destroyed. They then moved into the community hall which later fell before they found shelter at the church and it was not long before it collapsed.
The late Selai only saved two items from her home before she was moved to the evacuation centre. Inoke recalls, "When she came to church for shelter she had a little bag, and in that bag we saw on Saturday night, when she died, was her Bible and her church dress. She came to church ready."
Only one house was spared by Tropical Cyclone Winston in this village.
I'll be preaching and taking Holy Communion at Wesley City Mission tomorrow in Suva city centre. Challenging that the lectionary Gospel records Jesus handling questions about sinfulness and suffering. Is it the worst suffering for the worst sinners, in Christian understanding?
Luke 13. 1-9
At that very time there were some present who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2He asked them, ‘Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans? 3No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did. 4Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them—do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others living in Jerusalem? 5No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did.’
Then he told this parable: ‘A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and found none. 7So he said to the gardener, “See here! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the soil?” 8He replied, “Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig round it and put manure on it. 9If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.” ’
The interpretation that 'the worst sinners get the worst suffering' seems to receive a definite theological thumbs down from Jesus. Those who make that connection also get a sharp challenge to put energy into their own repentance and reform. Not one of us is going to cheat death in the end.
I'm also taken with the concluding fig tree parable. Luscious, productive, fruiting trees were laid waste by the cyclone here and we weep. If TC Winston had swept away this useless fig tree doing nothing, we wouldn't have cared much. Yet the gardener cares and makes a compassionate case for its potential. Let's spare it and see what it can do.
God of might and mercy:
spared from cyclone,
I humbly pray;
dispel my fearfulness,
accept my thankfulness,
increase my fruitfulness,
for Jesus' sake.
Amen
