BURNING BUSH AOG - VUNIDAWA

Vunidawa saw a hype of activities this past Saturday (July 18, 2009), as family and friends gathered in large numbers to witness the Ground Breaking Ceremony (soqo ni vakasobu duru) of the new church complex at the Burning Bush AOG.

Present at the ceremony was Rev Rupeni Vauvau (Administrator) of the Central/ Eastern Division Office of the Assemblies of God of Fiji. The Special Guest and also to officiate at the ceremony was our Senior Pastor and Executive Member of the Assemblies of God of Fiji, Rev Saimoni Waqa.

The ‘Soqo ni Vakasobuduru’ was an emotional and historical occasion since it was blessed with the attendance of some of the prominent chiefs of the Vanua of Naitasiri. I was told that it is very rare for the chiefs of such status to be seen together at such occasions.

A bus load of our very own church members also attended the ceremony and leading them on the trip to Vunidawa was Naitasiri High Chief and One of our very own Ratu Savenaca Maraivalu and his family. His son Ratu Kaliova Maraivalu is our Media Director. Accompanying them on the trip to the highlands was Reverend Jovesa Nakaitaci and His Family. Rev Jovesa’s son Sailosi a member of our Board of Deacons and his daughter in law Sis Tulia is our Sunday School Superintendant.

The story about the inception of the work in Vunidawa was birthed in Lautoka. Ratu Save had long prayed for his people in the Highlands and since being saved, had dreamt of having a church established in the area. Little did he know that just a few minutes drive away from his Rifle Range home, God had already birthed a burning desire in the heart of Rev Jovesa Nakaitaci in Banaras.

As a form of traditional protocol, Rev Jovesa approached Ratu and informed him of what GOD has laced upon his heart. They then paid a visit to the late Rev Filimoni Kama Waqa to relate the message. Their conversation was beginning of a victorious chain of events that followed.

A few months later, Rev Timoci Naivalu (a son of the province), was sent to pioneer the work there. Not too long after, the construction of their first church building commenced and Lautoka Fullgospel contributed by providing the roofing irons for the building. Over the years, we continued our support in other areas and a little over ten years later, a new chapter of the chronicle books has just been written. The work in the building up of the KINGDON OF GOD in the province of Naitasiri is moving forward.

Just a few meters from the foundation of the new church complex, rests the grave yard of Rev Timoci Naivalu. While a few hundred miles out on the hills of Nalova, in the Yasawa Islands, rests the graveyard of Rev Filimoni Kama Waqa. They may not be present to witness the unveiling of the work they helped pioneer, but their legacy in the building up of the work in the highlands will remain in the pages of history.

TO GOD BE THE GLORY