REBUILD FIJI: SARANUKU FAMILY

Netani Bolatolu is organizing this fundraiser.

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UPDATE # 7 - 22nd Mar 16
Message from Naomi -

Well Inia is back from Fiji!!! Yay! He arrived back on Friday the 18th March, however it's been a busy few days and no time for an update until now. Apologies for that! It's been so good to have him home, it's definately been a long three weeks without him.

Inia spent 3 weeks in Fiji all up, bringing support to his family following Cyclone Winston. It was such a blessing to be able to go physically but also to take along the finances to help start the rebuilding of their new home.

Inia's trip to Koro was a short but really beneficial. It was an emotional time for Inia as he surveyed what was left of his family's house. All the childhood memories and years of hard work are now in rubble on the ground. His father pointed out to him their neighbours concrete house where the family had been sheltering when the tidal waves came, more rubble. The pictures Inia has showed me make his village look like a war-zone. No buildings only makeshift shelters, trees uprooted, bushes are bare, debris randomly strewn everywhere. I can barely recognise any familiar places as all landmarks I know are gone.

Inia and his father took with them the first load of materials needed for the house (foundation and floor). Inia's dad is ready to start however they are just waiting for the village to finalize the paperwork for the relocation and then be allocated a new plot for our family's house. We expect that it will cost another $10,000 AUD or so to complete the house. Thankfully not all is needed right now, as Rupeni will build and purchase materials in stages.

So, This will be my last update via this GoFundMe page. From now on, if you wish to donate towards rebuilding Inia's family home, we would ask you direct debit into his bank account. Type "for Fiji" in the reference if you can.

Acc Name: Inia Saranuku
Acc#: 1040 8064
BSB#: 064 819
Bank: Commonwealth Bank

Let me say a BIG thank you for following our story, sharing, liking, donating and praying for Inia and his family during this time. It's been an exceptional month or so, one that worst nightmares are made out of, so we really appreciate all of your love and support. Our newlywed season has definately not been what we have expected. But through it all we have felt so loved and looked after and God has still been good.

As of today, we are on our way to PNG to continue our volunteering work with the YWAM Medical Ship. This was a commitment we made prior to Cyclone Winston and we are glad that personal finances were donated and the timing worked which enables us to go. Inia will be a deckhand on the ship, and I will be leading the Primary Health Care team. We both love serving the people of PNG but as we work, I'm sure our hearts and thoughts will not be far from our family in Fiji. Please pray that God strengthens and equips up for this new season we have before us.

UPDATE # 6 - 14th Mar 16
Message from Naomi -

Today is the day Inia goes to Koro Island!!! After some setbacks last week, he's finally on his way. He is travelling with his dad and brother and taking with them the materials needed to start the house! That's right - it's happening!

This past week they have been busy purchasing everything they need for the foundation and the flooring of their new home. Inia said that over this weekend he and his dad, Rupeni, were in the hardware store. Rupeni looked to their purchases and simply said to Inia "It has begun" with a smile on his face. Inia conveyed to me later how happy and motivated Rupeni was in that moment.

At the moment, Rupeni will be rebuilding the house alone. He's a very good carpenter with lots of extra skills so this is not unusal for him. The materials bought thus far will keep him busy for a little while. As more money comes in, he will purchase what he needs for the next stages of the house.

Having the big heart that he does, Inia has also purchases a few bags of vegetables to take to his extended relatives who have remained in the Nasau village. As the cyclone has destroyed all their gardens and crops, they have only had rationed dry food to eat, which is quite different to their normal diet. This gift of fresh veggies will be a very welcome one, i'm sure of it! :)

Due to the timetable of the ferry, Inia will be in Nasau village for only a short time. Just long enough to drop off his dad and all the supplies and take a quick look around. Please pray for safe travel on the overnight ferry and that there are no major hiccups while on the island. Also, as this is the first time Inia will be seeing his village and home since the cyclone, please pray that his heart will have courage and stregnth.

Vinaka, thank you friends :)

UPDATE # 5 - 10th Mar 16
Message from Naomi -
It's been almost 2 weeks now that Inia has been in Fiji. We have been so grateful for Optus' free calls to Fiji which sadly ends tonight :( Inia has been kept busy as he helps his family settle into their new temporary life in Suva. They have arranged a place to stay, purchasing basic items for their home and arranged for his siblings to attend a nearby school.

Here are the girls on their first day at their new school. They don't look too happy here, but at the end of the day they said they had fun! Such cuties! :) He's been a very busy man but he is really glad the family can now go about life in a semi-normal fashion. There are still nightmares and tears but Inia says they are recovering well.

There has been some difficulty in travelling to the island so far. Either boats are full, or the runs are cancelled. It's been frustrating, but Inia will continue to work on this. As he waits to go to Koro, he has continued to make plans with his dad to rebuild their house. Tweaking drawings & drafts, looking at purchasing tools, finding out what suppliers have stock of the building materials.

A few days ago there was a village meeting of all the Nasau members who are currently in Suva. After much discussion and recalling their village history they have decided not to relocate the village. This will mean a faster rebuild as there are no trees to clear and family plots are already divided. The village members also discussed the importance of remaining unified as a community and work together to clean up and rebuild. They also reconfirmed their trust in God and recalled His faithfulness to them.

Once bible passage that has been on my & Inia's heart lately is Isaiah 43:18-19.
“Forget the former things;
do not dwell on the past.
See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
and streams in the wasteland."
We pray that God will indeed make a way and bring life back to Nasau and Koro. God is doing a new thing, and taking the village and its people on a new journey. It's a little scary and a lot of hard work, but we know that He is a good Father, that He restores what was lost and He turns mourning into joy.

UPDATE # 4 - 4th Mar 16
Message from Naomi -
Inia has been spending some great time with his family in Suva. Inia has told me that their physical injuries are healing well, although they are still in a lot of shock for their ordeal. Inia has taken them out on a few excursion - like a picnic lunch in the park just to bring some distraction and new fun memories together. Inia & his dad have some plans/drawings for the new house and getting quotes and the like, talking through the detail of it all. All of his dad's carpentry tools have been lost in the cyclone, so there is that element to consider as well. It is becoming more clear that rebuilding the family home will take months rather than weeks.

There has been a restriction on travel to Koro Island for these past few days. There have been too many travelling that just puts pressure on those already struggling in the villages. Inia says that early next week travel will recommence so he will go then. He is eager to get back to his village - see the damage for himself and lend a hand in the clean up of debris.

But on a ligher note, Inia's family were so grateful for the suitcases of donated clothes and medical supplies. They now all have flip flops, clothes, 2 bibles & first aid supplies. Inia said the 3 girls were so happy - carefully choosing what they wanted to wear and parading around the house. I can just imagine their smiles and giggles and I am just so grateful. A huge thank you to everyone who helped fill those suitcases!

UPDATE # 3 - 1st Mar 16
Message from Naomi -
Thanks to many generous hearts, Inia has left Townsville to go to Fiji. It's so wonderful that he is able to bring support to his family during this time.

Here is a picture of what reamins of our family's house, they are fortunate to have escaped before it was flattened. The only way to recgonise it is the steps and the bathroom tiles.

Prior to the Cyclone, Inia's father was in the process of renovating their house and adding an extention. It was close to being completed. This is what the house looked like 12 months ago as he was beginning the project.

We have heard that his family have travelled back to Suva and are staying with relatives there. It was difficult for them to leave their village, but they knew it was the best decision for the children right now. Inia will join them, bringing gifts of clothes, flip flops, toiletries & first aid supplies from some friends in Townsville. Our family have been living in the same clothes since the day of the cyclone, so these gifts are very welcome.

His mum and dad, Marama & Rupeni, have sustained some non-lifethreatening injuries; however the government has raised concerns about infection and disease in light of the Cyclone's damage. Water supply and food supply has been destroyed.

Over the coming days, Inia will travel back to Koro with his father, Rupeni, and brothers. There will be meetings amongst the village members as they decide on a plan to rebuild. Many options are up for discussion, even relocating the village off the beach entirely. Once these meeting take place and decisions are made, Rupeni and Inia can make more detailed plans for rebuilding their family house as well.

Thank you for all of your donations and support thus far... please continue to share like and pray. Our family has been so encouraged by people all over the world offering their love, prayers and being so generous. When things around them are bleak, your support provides a glimmer of hope for their future.

Stay tuned for more updates of Inia & our family.

UPDATE #2 - 26th Feb 16
Inia and Naomi heard today that their family in the village is safe. They are injured from the debris and roofing tin but all children are well. What great news!

Thanks for sharing and donating everyone. This is so great and such a help to the Saranuku family. Keep it up!

UPDATE #1 - 27th Feb 16
A recent picture of Inia and Naomi with the Saranuku and Colwell families at the Saranuku home in Nasau.

CAMPAIGN INFO - 26th Feb 16
Cyclone Winston has destroyed thousands of homes across Fiji, with countless people displaced, without shelter, food and water.

On Koro Island, among the hardest hit by the eye of the storm, is a beautiful village called Nasau, hometown to our dear friend, Inia Saranuku. Only weeks ago, Inia and his new bride Naomi were celebrating their new marriage in the village.

Now, they are unsure of the state of their family as they are cut off from communication.

Inia and Naomi volunteer full-time with the YWAM Ships where for the past 2+ years have committed to delivering life saving health care and training in partnership with Papua New Guinea.

Now its our turn to support the Saranuku family and help them rebuild their family home.

Funds raised will go directly to this cause, empowering Inia to help his family build a new and stronger home for the future of the family, the village, helping to rebuild Fiji one family at a time.

Thank you on behalf of Inia, Naomi and the entire Saranuku Family!

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