Our Personnel Manager, Bruce White, recently visited our Mission Partners serving in Fiji, Roy and Rachael Hogan. The Hogans serve with Mobile Mission Maintenance Fiji (MMM) by coordinating volunteer building and maintenance projects for the Christian community in Nadi.
White sandy beaches, cloudless skies. You can watch the beautiful marine life unfolding beneath you as you gently snorkel in the inviting ocean. As you sit on the beach enjoying this paradise, waiters will come and bring you drinks and food at your request. Who wouldn’t want to sit and soak up this slice of paradise? Send me there now! This is what Fiji looks like.
Cars held together by duct tape, in need of critical maintenance. Dusty, gravelled, rutted roads – more like a roller coaster ride than driving a car. Lack of daily necessities, a number of types of abuses part of the fabric of society. Without extra money, no power to turn the fans on during the hot season to ease your sleep. Would you want to be sent there? This is what Fiji looks like.
These are the two sides of Fiji. One — the picture postcard island paradise. The other is a daily reality of many who call Fiji home. Talk to a young Fijian here, and their dream in life is to find a home anywhere but in Fiji!
This is the context in which Roy and Rachael Hogan and their family live, serving with Mobile Mission Maintenance, an organisation that helps ministries with practical repairs and maintenance. It wouldn’t be possible without the generosity of churches and individuals back here in New Zealand and beyond who support this work.
The level of physical, emotional and spiritual need within Fiji is confronting, and it is right on our doorstep. These are our neighbours, a short 2 ½ flight away from New Zealand. Fiji confronts us with this wrestle between our comfort, the niceties of life and the desire to make our lives the centre of our desires and decisions. Or, will we take seriously the call of Jesus to go to the least of these?
Fiji needs ordinary people with ordinary skills who are willing to be authentic followers of Jesus.
Willing to live for the others. Teachers, accountants, mechanics, and tradespeople. People who are willing to listen for the still small voice of God, saying go in my name and make a difference by living there. Make the most of the skills you have been given to work where you can be of the most help. There is a great need for people with these sorts of skills in Fiji.
So, do you call yourself an ordinary follower of Jesus? Maybe that’s exactly who Jesus is looking for to send and serve in His name.
Learn more about Roy and Rachael. Learn more about NZCMS Partnership Opportunities.
Thank you, Tessa. I remember Ray (and Jean) very warmly from our time at St Tim’s before we left for St John’s College at the beginning of 1987, and was excited many years later to learn of their visit to the Elliotts in Uganda. (We visited them in 1997 on study leave.) That visit, and a later one, showed their quiet growth in faith and mission during the years. I praise God for Ray’s life and service, and pray for the Comforter’s presence to be so close to Jean.
Hey there,
A friend of mine told me about you guys and I’d love to come along on Monday!
Cheers,
Caleb Croker
Hi Caleb, I’ve just seen your message. I apologise that this was missed. I assume you’re talking about the Seriously Interested in Mission group? The next one is August 11 and we’d love you to join. Can you email us at office@nzcms.org.nz (Rosie writing here)
Thank you Tessa
Thank you Archdeacon Fran. Mothers Union appreciated your input when we visited the Far North recently. Your wisdom and wise counsel made it a memorable weekend. God bless you in your new role.
Rev Fran, you and Rapiata are a gift to the Church. May the Lord bless you as you serve in this next season
With reference to the article ‘By invitation not invasion’. My husband and I were involved with CMS from the 1960s onward and this was always the attitude of CMS leadership. They deferred to the church leadership opinions whenever possible, wherever there was a local church. I’m not aware if this has change. It isn’t something new.
Hi Pauline,
I agree with you!! I don’t think this has changed, just good to re-iterate why and we send mission partners. This is Rosie writing — hope you’re doing well!
Yes Pauline it was the same for Alan and me. When we went to Singapore 1966–69 it was in response to a request from the Bishop oof Singapore and Malaya.