Sai’s parents. Photo: Sainiana Tamatawale
In the 1900’s my great grandparents on my paternal side left their village to look for work in Viti Levu (the largest island in Fiji, where the capital is located). In Viti Levu they began a family, worked, raised their children, and never returned back to the village.
My great grandfather died and was buried in an island called Taveuni (the 3rd largest island in Fiji), but my great grandmother and grandparents died and were buried in Suva (the capital of Fiji). Even though he never went back to the village, my grandfather knew very well what was taught to him by his parents, i.e., where he belongs, who he is, the name of the village, where it is located/, the province, name of his tribe/clan, their tradition, and culture. He also knew his relatives and family who lived in the village and passed on these teachings to my dad and his siblings about our village custom, tradition, culture and stories.
My grandfather also shared the faith taught by the Catholic Columban priests who evangelised throughout Fiji at the time.
In Fiji, history was passed down through story-telling and learned experiences by our ancestors. They may not have been great writers; but they were great story tellers!
My parents continued the tradition of storytelling and learning from experience to us. All they learned from their grandparents and parents they taught and shared to their children. Everything begins at home, the respect, discipline, praying together, listening, education and faith. These values have guided me everywhere - in relationships, work, and travels.
During my cross-cultural mission in the Philippines and the U.S./Mexico border, I encountered many children living on the streets, often homeless and searching for their parents. Many were raised by grandmothers or extended families, and their stories of abandonment and hardship deeply saddened me.
While learning Spanish, I chose to work with children because they were excellent teachers - correcting my pronunciation and guiding me in the proper use of words, while often sharing about the situation in their families.
During that time, I also observed that the family-oriented culture in Mexico and the Philippines were very similar to those in Fiji.
Parenthood is vital to the strength of families and communities. Parents are not only caregivers but also transmitters of culture, faith, and values. On this Global Day of Parents, I believe we must remember to pray daily for parents, honoring the unique gifts they share with their children, grandchildren, the Church, workplaces, and communities.
Let us celebrate parents in lively gatherings - within churches, villages, neighborhoods, and workplaces - expressing gratitude for their uniqueness, giftedness, and the blessing of God they bring to family life.
Sainiana Tamatawale is a Columban lay missionary in Fiji.
