Village Visit....

A couple of weeks ago we had the opportunity to visit Veivatuloa, a small village about 30 miles from Suva. As we drove outside of the city of Suva, it was like going into another world. The dense rain forest and primitive huts come into view quickly. Each small village near the road was marked with large warrior spears – about 15-20 feet high – on each side of the road. These indicated that one was entering a village. We finally managed to locate the turn-off to Veivatuloa. Off the main road, we drove another 15 minutes or so on a very primitive road, lined with taro, cassava, and sugar cane. As we entered the village, many stopped and stared. Vehicles are not common there. The people waved and shouted ‘Bula!’ Each village has a chief, and visitors are required to get approval to enter the village. This was done beforehand through the principal of the school. We found the school and parked. We were given a quick tour (the school has only 4 rooms, one of which is a small library – with most books more than 30 years old).

This is the front of the school. The house in the background belongs to the principal and his family.

Joanna, one of the teachers there.


The children were quickly assembled outside to hear their guests. Little did we know we would be speaking to them! Our friends and fellow missionaries, the Taits, gave a short lesson to them (they are teachers serving in Suva helping to train other teachers at the LDS schools here). The children were very well behaved and attentive. The teachers and children had prepared for our visit, and the children performed three songs for us, one in Fijian, one in English, and one was a combination of both.


After school, they hurry home.



Rules of the classroom.

This is the school bell. As far as we can tell, it is an old empty oxygen or gas tank of some sort
and there is a heavy metal wire to hit it with.

Here we are with the 1st and 2nd graders. On the right is Brother Qaqa (pronounced Gonga). He is the principal of the LDS Primary School in Suva. He wanted to come along. He grew up in a village, and is good friends with the principal of this school.

Afterward, the principal took us on a walking tour of the village. In the village, children ‘belong’ to all of the families. They take care of each other, and many are related. There was no indoor plumbing or electricity. Some of the homes, or huts, had no furniture to speak of.

Some women in the village preparing dinner. This village is right on the ocean, so they gather clams to eat. One is peeling taro root. The 'potato' part of the meal.


At the end of our visit, we got into our van, and were joined by one of the teachers and 2 of the students. We offered to drive them to the ‘main road’, which actually was no better than the side road, about 2 miles from the school. From there they would walk to another village. They enjoyed the air conditioned van, and some candy we had with us. The school system in Fiji is sorely lacking…many of the children will not know how to read or do simple math by the time they reach high school. They simply do not have the resources available. Somehow we hope to be able to help them.

We are so grateful to be here!!! We love and miss you all!!