Fiji Welfare Conference

This last week we flew to Nadi, Fiji to host a Welfare Conference.  Attending were the  humanitarian missionary couples and the country welfare mangers for each country in the Pacific area.  I guess we should say, for most of our countries.  The couples from the Marshall Islands and Solomon Islands were unable to attend.

All at the conference received a review of basic welfare and humanitarian principles.  The 2015 Pacific Area Focus (diabetes prevention and treatment) was discussed.  Everyone received more detailed instructions on how to use the Church database program to develop, record and monitor humanitarian projects.  We learned about the Food Initiative (gardening) pilot programs currently under development in Samoa and Kiribati.  We even learned how one couple teaches the community to save their seeds for replanting.   The evaluation forms which were completed by conference attendees gave positive reviews and a great time was had by all.

The group photo will be posted at a later date when we receive it from our photographer (Elder Roth).

Here are a few photos of those who attended, minus Elder Adolf Johansson, who snuck out before we could get his picture.

Brent and Debbie Buckner, Director of Temporal Affairs

Hans Sorensen, Area Welfare Manager

Luisa Vaifale, Administrative Assistant

Elder and Sister Winters, Area Welfare Specialists

Jackson Yee, County Welfare Manager, Fiji

Frank and Susan Stanford, Assistant County Welfare Manager, Fiji

Elder and Sister Roth, Fiji

Elder and Sister Lata, Samoa

Elder Fata, Area  Seventy and County Welfare Manager, Samoa

Brett Macdonald and Sam Williams, Garden Specialists, Samoa

Elder and Sister Waldron, Humanitarian/Self-Reliance, Kiribati

Burentia Kaiea, Country Welfare Manager, Kiribati

Eddie Alembo, Country Welfare Manager, Papua New Guinea

Ana Ika, Country Welfare Manager, Tonga

Sister and Elder Murdock, Tonga

We were priveledged to visit Port Denarau, Fiji where we met several Church members who recognized us because of our Latter-Day Saint Charities shirts.    The Port was lovely and the fish was tasty.

Flame Tree

Port Denarau

A few small boats

This just in from Elder Roth - our group photo

"Welfare services is not just a program; it is the gospel in action.  Its principles are the principles of the gospel.  It is the Christian rule in temporal affairs."  Marion G Romney