When faced with a daunting task such as project managers for MMM Fiji, the thought has occasionally popped into my mind of “What is the point of this?” Shouldn’t ministries be able to fund and organise their own maintenance needs? Isn’t that a part of the ongoing costs of an organisation? Are we really needed? However, lately one project has really proven to me the value of MMM. The Harland School for the Deaf in the glorious capital city of Fiji, Suva. This ministry is heartfelt, sincere, genuine and Christ-centred and this ministry also needs our help. They have big jobs that need doing by dedicated, hard workers. Jobs that require certain expertise that are not always easy to find in Fiji. They need big hearts, big nails and even bigger sledgehammers! One toilet and a storage cupboard needs to morph into two toilets, a hand basin, two showers, changing areas and some storage shelving. This was a job that perhaps was beyond their expertise but that fit ours perfectly. Who, but God, could have allowed our introduction letter we sent through to the Deaf Hostel in November to coincide perfectly with the plans they had just made for improvements to the hostel. Who, but God, could have orchestrated a team consisting of a young, qualified builder, a jack of all trades plumber, a handyman who could put his hand to anything and a former MMM NZ Team Leader?? God knows the needs of ministries like these, and He knows the hearts of people who want to help. A bit of a wriggle around and it all fits together perfectly! The Gospel School for the Deaf is a small private school in Suva with 50 deaf students between 4 and 17 that are taught in sign language. Most of the students live in the hostel accommodation provided, as they often come from remote island villages. This ministry is giving the kids the gift of language which, lets face it, is something we all take for granted at times. The Main Hostel houses 24 students plus a number of carers and it is also the main hub where meals are cooked for a further 15 other students living at other hostels. The improvements we were to make at this hostel would allow the daily running of the hostel to be much smoother. Imagine doing washing for all 24 students, plus staff every day with no washing machine! Imagine cooking for 24 plus staff plus 15 extra students living in the senior hostels with no fridge! Imagine getting 24 kids through 1 shower at night which also doubles as the toilet. The people that work there deserve a medal because I can barely do washing, cleaning and cooking for 5 without pulling out my hair some days. This is who MMM is. We help others – we empower them and release them to focus on the ministry which God has called them into. They don’t need to be thinking about floor joists and where to put the plumbing for the washing machine. They need to be serving and ministering to those precious deaf children. And the faces of those kids when they see their new facilities – that is priceless. That’s the point. Working as a family, operating in the giftings God has given us so that ultimately God can be glorified. We may not be preachers or church leaders or street evangelists or even remotely good at sign language, but the point is we can bless those who are so that they can operate in the best, most focussed, most effective way. That is why we do it. That is the point. Check out the website, www.fijideaf.net for lots more information or to sign up for newsletter and blog notifications or how you can support the ministry. Your prayers for the Fiji deaf ministry that God will continue to bless and meet the needs, would be very much appreciated.
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