We arrived at Suva and at Nausori Bro. Rattan and his wife were very pleased to meet Sister Ann and renew acquaintance with me. The following day — Sunday — a memorial meeting was held at which Mrs. Rattan was present and showed much interest, and later joined in the reading and discussion of the Word. We much enjoyed their kindly hospitality on this and other occasions spent at their home which, later in our visit, was condemned by the Health authorities.
As much time was to be spent in the Nausori district, it was desirable to find accommodation nearer than Suva and at the home of another Mr. and Mrs. Ram Rattan we obtained a self-contained flat. Each week we were there we discussed the Scriptures with these fine people, who showed a genuine interest in the Word, and gladly enrolled their eldest daughter in the Mission’s postal Sunday school, conducted by a New Zealand Sister.
Advertising was carried out in the English, Fijian and Indian language editions of the “Fiji Times”, from which several enquiries resulted. With Brother Ram assisting in the translation, and Mrs. Rattan helping with the proof-reading, another leaflet was compiled for distribution, and printed in Hindi and English for use among the Indian and Fijian population respectively.
Acquaintance was renewed with most of the Mission contacts visited on the occasion of our stay in Fiji during January, 1964, and others who had written to the Mission for literature since that time. We also made some new contacts during the course of literature distribution and “door to door” work, in addition to those in business houses, municipal and other offices.
We were again received very cordially at the “House of the Priest of the Idol Worshippers”. The priest himself is not interested, and he made a stand for his own religious beliefs (which are failing in Fiji) during the discussion with his sons which lasted about an hour. Many of the younger Indians are now querying the things they have previously accepted from their parents in respect to religion, but, because of the inbred attachment to racial customs, habit and environment, are reluctant to sever connections with their present religious groups. They seem to need something tangible—a place for worship—as a centre for all their associations; something to which they can feel they “belong”.
Much time was spent by Sister Ann, and some by myself, in almost daily instruction to Brother Ram’s wife, at her request, on the fundamentals of the Faith, of which she already had some knowledge. It was evident that the seed sown by Bro. Ram and the ministrations of Sister Green, of New Zealand, during her stay earlier in the year, had taken root and found expression in a desire for association with others already in “the Way”. This later bore fruit, when, after a good confession of faith, she was immersed in the waters of the Toga River. So far as we are aware it was the first Christadelphian immersion in Fiji. We thank God for the increase, and pray that Brother Ram and Sister Mary may walk unitedly towards perfection, as manifested in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Early in our stay we enjoyed the company of Sister Janet Bairstowe, of Sydney, and Brother Clarrie Bennett, of Christchurch, New Zealand, who, en route to England, were travelling in the same ship, which spent one day at Suva. We met them off the ship, and took them to the home of Bro. Rattan where we “broke bread” together in memory of our absent Lord.
The day following Sister Rattan’s immersion we moved to the other side of the island, making Lautoka our headquarters, and renewed acquaintance with earlier contacts. One of our very interested contacts made a round trjp of 80 miles to spend the day with us on the Sunday, in discussion on the Scriptures and some personal problems in which we were able to help.
A two-hour discussion was held with a male teacher attached to the Methodist school at Mba, who also visited us at Lautoka. He has an exceptional knowledge of the Scriptures, which he states is the result of personal study, and holds beliefs almost identical with our own, with the exception of the “pre-existence of Jesus. A very promising contact.
We also met, by appointment, a nephew of Sister Rattan, with whom we had a three-hour discussion. He has partly completed the Bible study course. A few days later he again kept an appointment, and brought with him another young Indian interested in Bible teaching.
Another interesting contact is a Samoan tradesman in Lautoka, a member of a small group associated with the London Missionary Society. He accepts the Bible as “the Word of God”, but holds several of the orthodox conceptions as to its teaching. After an evening’s discussion with him at his home, we left a quantity of literature with him with which to follow up on the subjects of the discussion.
Just how far the Postal Bible Study Course is effective without regular personal follow-ups is difficult to assess, as the ability of individuals to absorb its teaching differs with the individual. At the home of one young man receiving this course, we spent 11 hours correcting his answers to lesson questions, whilst an elder brother listened in. Both had completed a “Light of Love” Course, based on the Gospel of John, and issued by an organisation in Suva. It is full of false doctrine, yet these two young men seemed pleased to let me know that they had received a certificate for pas-mg in false doctrine! They did not appear to be aware of the difference between our teaching and this false course, neither of which had apparently penetrated beneath the surface of their minds.
In contrast was a Fijian gentleman and his daughter whom we visited on five occasions for two-hour discussions. Subjects such as “the mortality of man”, “no heaven at death”, “resurrection to judgment of the responsible at the return of Christ”, and “subsequent immortality of those counted worthy” were dealt with, and are now accepted as true Bible teaching. Both these contacts need personal instruction, where explanations can be given and differences reasoned out; things which literature cannot accomplish by itself. There are some matters which have to be gone over time and time again, and words and phrases broken down to the level of their understanding. Both are goods contacts!
Another interesting contact made at a business house was an orthodox Mohammedan with a fair knowledge of the Scriptures. Because of his knowledge of the views of orthodox Christendom on the Trinity, etc., he cannot accept the Bible as true. We were able to establish a basis of agreement with him on the “Oneness of God”, and explained that the Bible did not teach that Jesus is God. Although he did not appear to be very interested, he was willing to listen.
An ex-Seventh Day Adventist, now attending the Assembly of God movement, has a fair knowledge of the Scriptures, and, after four one-hour discussions with him, agrees with our teaching on the fundamentals we discussed.
Another, a Samoan, is married to a Catholic. He has no fixed views of his own, except that he does not agree with the Catholic teaching! In deference to his wife, we called on him at his work, where permission was also given to distribute our literature to the employees of the firm, whose manager is an Englishman associated with the Church of England, but very tolerant. We left with him a copy of the booklet, “The Things we Stand For”.
Several of the new contacts on the Suva side of the island were made in connection with the building of a small home for Bro. and Sister Rattan, which was completed before our departure. At the request of Bro. Ram we ordered material and fittings and generally supervised the construction, thus leaving him free to pursue his normal avocation during ordinary working hours. Whilst this restricted our preaching activities, it did bring us into contact with municipal officers and heads of business houses, who were most helpful and co-operative, and to whom we were thus enabled to introduce the Word of Life.
We earnestly pray that God will bless the seed sown in Fiji and that other brethren may follow on and water it, that in God’s good time it may bear fruit to his name.
Lord, What wilt thou have me to do?