Methodist Women’s Fellowship Raises $30,000 From Singing
There were more than 60 women who came to sing at the festival from Yasawa-i-Ra
The Fiji Methodist Church women’s fellowship collected $30,000 at the end of their singing competition at Suva’s Furnival Park.
A record 72 choirs took part in the daylong event yesterday. Today the men’s fellowship will be singing.
Yasawa-i-Ra Circuit
Despite the struggle and severe damages caused by Tropical Cyclone Winston last year, the Yasawai-Ra circuit did their very best to attend the Festival of Singing and Gift Giving this year.
Inoke Rauga of Naviti, Yasawa, said the women from the village did not lose hope as they looked forward to attending the festival of singing to praise and give thanks to God.
Mr Rauga said the women spent the night in Namoli, Lautoka, on Monday before leaving for Suva yesterday morning.
Yasawa-i-Ra has four divisions that include Soso, Naviti, Waya, and Viwa.
There were more than 60 women who came to sing at the festival.
Happy choir
He said the women were happy with the singing, as this was the first time they had a joint circuit choir, unlike before they came with their own divisions.
“We thank God for His guidance and protection on our way from Yasawa, as we were able to reach Suva safely.” Mr Rauga said. For their soli each division gave $500 as their contribution.
Suvavou Circuit
Venina Daveivalu from the Suvavou Circuit, said their women were happy to attend the festival of singing.
The 30-member choir was happy in singing in their specially tailored uniform.
“We wanted to take part in the singing this year because we wanted to be part of and support other women from other circuits in Fiji and Rotuma in the singing and praising our God,” Ms Daveivalu said.
Navocake Circuit, Gau
Lenaitasi Gukinaivalu, spokesperson for the Navocake Circuit in Gau, said he came to the festival of praise with fellow church members to support the singing festival before the Annual Conference next week.
He said that the last seven years their church superintendent represented them at the conference. The men’s fellowship unanimously agreed that they will come to Suva to support their church superintendent.
“He is God’s representative among us, he needs our support,” Mr Gukinaivalu said.
“We would like to thank the President of the Methodist Church, Rev erend Tevita Nawadra Banivanua, for allowing us to use the Methodist School to billet us.” Mr Gukinaivalu said Narocake circuit raised $3360 for their soli. “We were not destroyed by Cyclone Winston but we have been preparing to come since January. Each member gave $15 as their contribution.
He said they were happy to be part of the festival and support the singing.
“We used to sing in the past years, but this year only Gau Secondary School sang last Saturday.” “We had a good time socializing with other circuits from the 58 divisions.”
They hope to have more choirs from Gau sing next year.