On Wednesday, July 13, Elder Ardern, the area seventy and area president, came with Jonathan Warwick, the South Pacific Schools Director, to dedication the college dorms. The dorms have been finished for 2 1/2 years but because of all the shut-downs with Covid, they hadn't been able to dedicate the building until now. Elder Ardern was the mission president of the Fiji Suva Mission at one time. He is being reassigned after this month to serve in Africa, so this was his desire to dedicate the dorms in a land he loves before he no longer is over this area. It was a great meeting. The dorm students sang 2 songs, "Did you think to Pray?" and "Because I Have been Given Much". When those 51 students sang, it was BEAUTIFUL. I recorded the 2nd hymn. I'll try to post it. Elder Ardern reminded these students what a great privilege for them to be a student here at the Fiji Church College. He reminded them that they are needed to return home to their countries of Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. Return wielding 6 things: Self-Reliant, both physically and spiritually, Quality Education, Build Strong Families, Strengthen the Church, Be Future Leaders and Understand their spirituality. He taught them well and I think they really got it. Their countries need them. Their families need them. The church in their countries need them. Here are a few pictures.
I tried to break the video up into 3 verses. But the last verse with the boys and girls singing together will not load. I'm not even sure if these 2 will play.
Elder Ardern chose 3 girls and 3 boys from the dorm students to make his 6 points. Here is Ashton, Hubert, Uraia and Leah.
this is Uraia, Leah, Jeneth and Frita. Leah and Frita are both very shy, so this was difficult for them. But they did it! The girls are all year 11 students and are new to the dorms as of April.
Elder Ardern speaking with Hubert. The man with his back to us is the village chief from Tamavua where the college is located.
Then Elder Ardern went to some of the students and had them repeat the 6 reasons they are privileged to be at the dorms. This is Wilkenly on the left. He is the college head boy, like being the male student body president. To his left is Daniel. Daniel is new in April and is a year 11.
The dorm students with their dorm parents and assistant dorm parents. The boy's dorm father Mosese (2nd on left) and his wife, Bedi is after Flora who is in yellow. I'm not sure why she is sitting between them. Bedi is holding their son Noah and their daughter, Rika is next to her. Then the daughter, Emalani, of the Girl's Dorm mom, Selai, and her husband, Gavera. The 2 people on the ends are the assistants. Flora's husband is the boy's assistant.
BDorm students with the head girl of the dorms, Jeniffer and head boy, Joseph.
Ashton, Jeniffer and Hubert
Delia helping with Bette who is the boy's dorm mom
Frida, Jeniffer and Primrose
Jennifer, Tina and Jeniffer. The 2 Jennifers are cousins. The 2nd Jeniffer is the dorm head girl. She loves her girls! She popped up in a lot of these photos.
Aiavuna and Jill
Marie and Melissa
Pauline and Jill
Nathalie
Jessy
Angelina and Gloria
Jessy and Lafaele
Jessy and Daniel
Rika, Noah, Bedi, Christine (I think) and Wilkenly
Jeneth and Elder Roper
Tina (I think) I still haven't learned all the new girls' names yet
Wilkenly and Jill helping clean up
Great little helpers! Culwick, Jill, Jessy, Lafaele, Sister Sere and Smith
Brother and Sister....2 adorable kids to Mosese and Bedi, the boy's dorm parents. Rika is in first grade and Noah is 3.
Before he left, the dorm students sang Isa Lei to Elder Ardern. It's a traditional farewell song.
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