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Missions

Priceless Gifts

On Fiji's Rabi Island, children crowded into a small, makeshift classroom. The surroundings were not the best for learning, but the teacher had no other option. A fire had destroyed the island's school and all its furnishings. Lacking pencils, paper and books, the children did their lessons by writing on the walls and floors with the ends of burned sticks. The teacher held out little hope for help, since only one supply boat comes to Rabi each year.

But God supplied the need-not through a supply boat but through a team of students from South Pacific Bible College in Suva, Fiji's capital. The group came to Rabi for an outreach and was immediately touched by the children's needs. Determined to help, they returned to the Bible school and collected an assortment of school supplies, which they presented to Rabi's chief.

"Although the students have very little themselves, they are willing to share," says missionary Bettye Trask. After more than 25 years of pastoral ministry in the United States, Bettye and her husband, Spain, came to Fiji in 1998. Bettye's previous experience with Women's Ministries has helped her in her new role as she directs the Fiji fellowship's Missionettes program and assists at the Bible college.

"Spain and I describe what we do as practical ministry," she says. "We look for needs and then try to help with whatever has been placed in our hands." She has learned that no items, however small, are wasted or considered useless.

This emphasis on practical ministry has served as an example to the Bible school students. As a result of their concern for the children of Rabi, a new ministry is being established on the island. "The students' act of love and caring has helped open Rabi to the gospel," Bettye says. "A former student has moved there and is preparing to build a church. Isn't it amazing what God can do with a few pencils and hearts willing to reach out?"

Crayons, pencils and paper may not seem like valuable items, but to the children of Rabi, they were priceless gifts. Even the simplest items, sent by United States churches, can be put to good use when given to God's service. "Because people in America care, we are able to help others," Bettye says.