Muslim Indian healed by Fijian Catholic
Gary Walker
In the village of Natunuku life goes on. It's a small Fijian village about 12kms from Ba, partly visible from the Kings Road as motorists drive towards Tavua. Ba is a large and prosperous sugarcane growing town on the western side of Viti Levu, one of the largest islands in the Fiji group.
On this western side of Viti Levu, Indians and Fijians work together. Fijians speak Hindi; in fact, Fijian students have won prizes for oratory in Hindi. Indians speak Fijian. The old stereotype of perennial animosity between the Fijians and the Indians is misleading and mischievous. A water tank stands in the village of Natunuku donated by a Muslim man, Tabijan Bi, who grew up with his parents and brother near the village.
His father and brother died from the same illness which he contracted himself. He is alive because he was healed by the catechist's son, Filimoni in the village. In Fijian culture, gifts are handed down through families, so the gift of healing resided in Filimoni's family. This man wanted to pay Filimoni for his cure but Filimoni refused the money saying, "The gift I have is a gift from God, I cannot take money for it."
Not to be dissuaded from doing something in return, Tabijan Bi donated a water system to the village. The ‘burning West' can suffer from water shortages in the dry season; this guaranteed water supply is a boon for the village. He continues to pay the electricity bill for the water pump. At the grass roots level life goes on, a healing touch, a healed man brings life-giving water to the village of Natunuku.
The village has Catholic and Methodist families. The Catholic community has been fundraising for some years to replace their small tesaphon church, St John the Baptist, with a new and larger church. So far they have raised FJD$40,000 (AUD$29,100) with another FJD$40,000 to go. The recent instability in the country from a series of coups has left the people in tight financial circumstances. But they have a good water supply and this is a story of generosity lived out by both races.
Filimoni the healer and the gift of a water tank. The plaque is above his right shoulder.
