In the nation of Fiji, there is a remote island group called Lau, of which Lakeba is the most inhabited. In fact, Lakeba is also the major attraction of Lau and its hundred islands with traditional culture that have now begun to draw in tourists. On the island of Lakeba lives a woman named Mereoni Kiti Motukiliu.
Mereoni loves what she is doing — that is, working for God’s Kingdom.
Her daughter, Eva Isabella, is now 21 years old. When Eva was a little girl, her mother would say to her, "Come, let us go visit the homes." And off they would go to visit some of Mereoni’s family and friends. More often than not, the people in the homes Mereoni visited would show up next Sunday at the Vunidakua Methodist Church. Many would continue to come to the Church.
Mereoni has an extended family and many friends. Over the years, she estimates she has brought easily 250 of these friends and the extended families to Christ. In total, this would comprise of a large part of the population of Lakeba Island.
When she is not busy bringing lost sheep into the fold, Mereoni is the Vice Principal of Ratu Finau Secondary School on Lakeba Island. There are 165 students in that school. Mereoni has a Bachelor’s Degree in Education and Geography from the University of the South Pacific, a post- graduate diploma in Education, and six units toward her Master's degree; she is awaiting approval of her thesis.
Mereoni Kiti Motukiliu is tall and graceful, and possesses a serene temperament. When she talks about her work for the Lord, her face lights up like a radiant sun, and you begin to understand how she has been so successful at winning souls for Christ.
The bloodless takeovers of the government, in 1987 and 2000, were followed by chaos and violence throughout the nation. They left Fiji in economic ruins, from which it is still struggling to recover. Unemployment, drug abuse, and poverty are rampant. It breaks Mereoni’s heart, and steps up her passion to save the lost.
"They need to believe in the Lord," she says.
"One day, three years ago," Mereoni says, "I had a thought from God." She and her husband, who is also a strong evangelistic Christian, were planning the renovation of the ground floor apartment in their home. "Suddenly I knew that this was a way I could help the children." They borrowed from the bank and the ground floor apartment became a pre-school, a kindergarten where Mereoni unabashedly teaches the children, especially the non-Christian ones, about Christ.
Her little school started with 10 children. "Now there are 30," she says proudly. The school recently was recognized by the government and will receive support this year.
Mereoni first learned about Haggai Institute from the lady she invited to speak at her pre-school’s first graduation. "People told me to have an important government person speak, but I said, ‘No, I know who I want.’" The speaker was her pastor, Kelera Wesele. Pastor Wesele had been a participant at the Haggai Institute in Singapore.
"She told me about H.I., and I knew I had to go. I want so much to learn more about how to reach people for Christ. Pastor Wesele had me apply right away, and, oh, how happy I was to be accepted by the Haggai Mid-Pacific Center in Maui."
She talks excitedly about her training at Haggai. "I learnt so much," she says. She loved the morning devotional by Dr. Fontao. "He is inspirational, full of love for God and there is so much to learn from his sharing.” She took in hungrily all he had to offer of the Word. Maui stepped up her love for the Bible. "I am gaining knowledge all the time," Mereoni says. "This is what I need. This is what I want. Now that I am home, I can’t wait to start training others."
