A Visit to Fiji by Anna L. Hindson

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · May 11, 1905

A Visit to Fiji

By Anna L. Hindson

ANNA L. HINDSON

On Monday, November 7, just one week from the day we left Sydney, the “Moana” pulled into the beautiful harbor of Suva, Fiji. The charming tropical vegetation and the nicely laid-out little town of Suva presented a very pleasing scene. It was about two in the afternoon of a beautiful day when we arrived.

Brother Arthur Currow and his wife were the first of our friends to reach the boat, and we were glad to return with them to Suva. On our way they pointed out Suva Vou, lying a few miles across the bay, and as we looked, we could see the mission launch just starting across to meet us.

From "The Scientific American" A FIJIAN RAFT

While making a hurried tour of the little town, in which there was much to interest us, we were happily surprised to meet Sybil Read, who had come in search of us, and a little later, Brother Lou Currow and his family. Presently the mission launch arrived, bringing Brother and Sister Fulton, Sister Parker, and Brother Carr. We can not express our pleasure at meeting all these dear friends.

Our boat was soon to start, but we learned that she was going a few miles up the coast to take on sugar, and that passengers would be taken on a launch to join the boat at 10 P. M. This was welcome news to us, and soon we were on our way in the fine little mission launch, to Suva Vou. On the way Brother Fulton pointed out the little cemetery, and the spot, as nearly as possible, where our dear Brother Tay lies sleeping. Brother Tay, of California, was the first of our brethren to visit the South Sea islands with the present truth. It was through his efforts that the inhabitants of Pitcairn Island received the message. While laboring in Fiji, he fell asleep. What will be his joy in the awakening to greet the many precious souls in these islands who have been won to the third angel’s message!

Suva Vou is a pretty little native village, surrounded with an abundance of rich tropical vegetation, and is close to the bay. It was our privilege, for the first time, to see the native huts of which we have heard so much. We called upon a number of our native Fijian brethren and sisters in Suva Vou, and this indeed was a great pleasure to us.

In Brother Fulton’s comfortable home we were very pleasantly entertained during the evening. A variety of choice native fruits was spread before us, which were very refreshing after a week at sea. One room in Brother Fulton’s house is occupied by the printing-office. Here we saw the little printing-press, donated by the Avondale Press, where the Rarama, our monthly Fijian paper, is printed. The Rarama is doing a grand work in spreading the light (Rarama means light) of the third angel’s message in the Fijian group. The type in the last number of this paper was set entirely by Sister Guilliard.

The new church building in Suva Vou is a very neat little wooden structure, which now does service also as a school-room. At the present time, including the youth and children who are keeping the Sabbath understandingly, there are about one hundred and fifty Sabbath-keepers in the Fijian group, with four organized churches.

Brother and Sister Fulton, with their two daughters, were just ready to start out in the little launch to visit an island eighty miles away. When the time came for us to leave, we joined in a season of prayer, and Brother Fulton, with three young Fijian brethren, took us (this time in their little rowboat) across to Suva, where we boarded the launch for the “Moana.”

Let us remember the work in Fiji in our prayers. Our laborers there are carrying a heavy burden for the work, and are few in number.

Washington, D. C.