Homeless man cuts first birthday cake
HIS FIRST BIRTHDAY CAKE
Clear skies and sunshine were definitely a blessing yesterday as Fijians around the country celebrated Christmas Day.
For some, the experience was overwhelming; for others it was just another day at work.
In Suva yesterday, Jope Taimanoa, cut his very first birthday cake.
The 47-year-old has been living on the streets of Suva for the past 28 years after his parents died. He was overcome with emotion as a crowd of people who barely knew him applauded and cheered for him as he grew a year older during the Fijian Broadcasting Corporation (FBC) Christmas brunch for the homeless.
“FBC celebrated my birthday and everything because I have nobody, I am staying on the street, I have no family, but thank you everybody who helped,” he said.
FBC’s chief executive officer, Riyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, said last year they went around Suva to give
the homeless food for Christmas. But this year they sought a method that would be more effective.
Soko Ranuqanuqa, Suva
Christmas Day for Soko Ranuqanuqa was just another working day.
The 38-year-old Tavueni man who rings the church bell and works as an usher at the Sacred Heart Cathedral Church in Suva, says he loves his job because he loves serving God. The Taveuni man has been ringing the church bell since 2001. He resides at Bagasau in Toorak, Suva.
At first, he said it was hard to pull the rope because the bell was heavy, but with God’s blessing, nothing was impossible for him. “Everything is big but nothing is impossible with God’s blessings,” he said.
“And over time, I got used to it and can ring the bell easily. I thank the Lord for giving me the strength to continue ringing the bell,” Mr Ranuqanuqa said.
The bell rings according to the mass times – from 7am to 8.30am, and then the 10am mass.
Labasa, Vanua Levu
The Children’s Ward at the Labasa Hospital was filled with a lot of joy. Staff members from the Fiji National University Labasa campus paid the children a surprise visit with Christmas gifts.
Head of the campus in Labasa Pardeep Lal said: “The idea was to bring joy to the children in hospital. We want to see the kids happy and hope that they recover from their illness and go back home to their families.”
Wairiki Methodist Choir
After a lapse of 15 years, the Wairiki Methodist Choir group in Labasa are singing Christmas carols again.
Group leader Ropate Rakuro said this was made possible through the support of four villages in Korotari, Labasa.
“The group consists of 50 members from Suweni, Navakuru, Matalolo and Satulaki,” Mr Rakuro said.
They sang carols at the Golden Age Home in Labasa and visited homes and settlements around Labasa Town.