Honouring Deaconess Olovia Nataniela

by Malagrani (nee Mani) Smith

Whilst on a recent (Februrary 2005) private visit to our famly in Sydney, my "big sister" reluctantly agreed to talk about her life and "calling." It is from these conversations that I present a brief overview of her life.

Deaconess Olovia Nataniela

Olovia was born in Motusa, Itu'ti'u, in November 1938, the youngest of nine children born to Nataniela Veragtuamaoi of Haroa, Motusa and Akesa Vafo'ou from Losa. Two of her siblings died in infancy and an older sister died in childbirth at the age of twenty-three. Her father, who was a fa hua'i (lay minister) in the Methodist Church, died before she was born, and her mother died young, at age forty-three when Olivia was twenty-one years old.

Soon after she was born, Olovia was embraced and included as mapiag (grandchild) in the family of the late Gagaj Jotam Tigarea, who was chief of Itu'ti'u district and the first local, resident doctor, and his late wife, Sarote Tigarea. They had eight children of their own (two of whom died before Olovia joined them), so she grew up in a household with four "uncles" and two "aunts" as well as her adoptive parents. Sarote Tigarea imparted love and Christian values to her, and was a central figure in Olovia's life. She assumed a teacher/mother/friend role, taught, and led by example throughout Olovia's childhood, adolescence, into adulthood.

Therefore Pslam 27 is particularly meaningful to Olivia. In her own words: "When my father and mother died; God took care of me. I wish to acknowledge and pay tribute to all who raised me with unselfish love from birth to now."

Olivia has dedicated her life to service within the Methodist Church. She was first "sent forth" as one of four Fiji locals, and ordained deaconess during one of the early Methodist Church of Fiji & Rotuma Conferences. Her work as a deaconess began amongst the Indian, Fijian, and Rotuman communities in various parts of rural and urban Fiji. She was posted to Rotuma twice, from 1970-1972 and from 1982-1984.

What is a Deaconess ?
According to the United Methodist Church's General Board of Global Ministries (USA) Web Site:

A deaconess is a professionally competent lay woman commissioned to ministries of love, justice, and service. The United Methodist Church has a rich history of 100 years of 'sending forth' Deaconesses who have played and continue to play a vital role in the Mission of the Church throughout the United States.

Deaconesses helped establish community centers, orphanages, schools, hospitals, and clinics. Homes for Immirgrant women and outreach ministries ib both rural and urban settings were also part of the ministry. Whatever their professionals training, deaconesses concentrate their efforts among those who are poor, oppressed, ostracised and geographically isolated.

Deaconess are lay women who:

• Affirm being called by God to lifetime service through the church.
• Are committed to Jesus Christ and dedicated to mission.
• Are committed to love, justice, and service.
• Are professionally trained in their chosen field.
• Complete theological and missionary studies.
• Are commissioned by and have a relationship with the General Board of Global Ministries

In her role as deaconess, Olovia has participated in programs training youths and women for leadership roles in Fiji and Rotuma. She has also attended international conferences and training programmes in Canada, Hawaii, Korea, Japan, Bangladesh, and India.

In 1987 she was appointed to Dilkusha ("Happy Heart," or "Delight to the Heart") Children's Home in Nausori, where she has served until now. She was the first local person to be appointed superintendent, a position previously held exclusively by medical sisters who usually came from Australia or New Zealand. In September 2004 Dilkusha Children's Home marked its centennial with a week-long celebration. The Rotuman community in Nausori provided mats and food for the celebration, and took the opportunity to honour Deaconess Olovia for her hard work and for the pride she has brought to the Rotuman community.

Deaconess Olovia has also received national recognition in the form of an "Order of Fiji" award for service to the community.

As part of the centennial celebration, Deaconess Olovia gave these words of gratitude and thanks:

Luke 1:46 "My Heart Praises the Lord My Soul is Glad because of God My Saviour"
" I am indeed very grateful for the initiative taken to publish this booklet to celebrate the great ocassion of the Centennial Celebration of the DilkushA Home. Foremost I must thank the Almighty God for the showers of blessing he has bestowed on the Home, and for His Spirit's touching and moving the hearts of those humble people who contributed towards the welfare of the children since its inception in 1904.

Through the years I have wittnessed many significant physical, social and spiritual developments that have reflected the ongoing growth of the Dilkusha Home. We are greatly indebted for the many resources provided by the efforts of those of the past, and it is important that we continue that development in the future.

Many girls have come and gone, finding good jobs and a secure family, and echoing their grateful sentiments for their upbringing at their 'Happy Home'. On behalf of the Dilkusha Home, I sincerly thank the Methodist Church in Fiji and Rotuma, the Department of Social Welfare, the Indian Division of the Methodist Church, The Dilkusha Church and many other 'Good Samaritans' who are always in the depth of our hearts for their generous and combined efforts in moving the Home forward as it is today.

Sincere thanks to business people, friends in Fiji The Australian Aiding Inc, Australian Inter-Country Aid, Uniting Church of Australia, General Board of Global Ministries.

The original purpose of the establishment of the Dilkusha Home should always be intact, as it is laid on a platform in nuturing our children in their spiritual relationship with God. Jesus said; "I tell you, whenever you did this for one of the least important of these followers of mine, you did it for me!" (Mattew 25: 40)

May I also take this oppertunity to wish you all God's blessings on this great ocassion.

(Extract from Methodist Church in Fiji booklet, "100 years 'With a Happy Heart," 2004.)

Photos from the centennial celebration of Dilkusha Children's Home

Mother and father to forgotten children

From Fiji Times Online (1 January 2009)

She spends her days and nights caring selflessly for her loved ones – children of all ages, races and colour – who need constant help and love. And for this woman, The Fiji Times Person of the Year, life with children is as intense at the age of 70 as it was 21 years ago. GERALDINE PANAPASA tells her story.

Devotion ... Deaconess Olovia celebrates Dilkusha Day with children at the home

OLOVIA Kauroto Nataniela was born 70 years ago on November 3, 1938.

Youngest in a family of seven, she wanted to be a nurse but God had other plans for her.

She was going to be a Florence Nightingale all right, but her patients would be younger, more vulnerable and completely helpless.

When her father died, her grandparents took charge and instilled values and virtues that have helped shape and mould her into the person we all know as Deaconess Olovia Nataniela.

When her grandmother became ill, a young Olovia left school at Class 8 to care for her.

"My grandmother and mother were caring women," she recalls.

"Through her (grandmother), I learnt to love and care. She also taught me to love the church."

When her grandmother died, she came to Suva and worked at a clothing factory.

She was still heavily involved in church work, taught scriptures at Sunday School, joined the choir and attended Bible studies, and was president of the Rotuman Methodist Youth Fellowship in Suva.

In 1965, she went to a youth convention in Western Australia and met Deaconess Litia Rabuku.

When she returned, her mind was made up it was to join the Deaconess Order in the Methodist Church of Fiji.

She studied for three years - from 1967 to 1969 - did two years probation in Rotuma and was ordained in 1971.

"I enjoy just being a servant of the Lord," Deaconess Olovia said.

She first set foot in Dilkusha Children's Home in 1967 when she had to complete a one-month practical.

She remembered the work there as being hard because everything was done manually.

But the children captured her heart and the missionary sisters at the home taught her a lot.

From 1978 to 1979, she was given a scholarship by the church to study child care in New Zealand.

Before she finally settled at Dilkusha Home in 1987, Deaconess Olovia travelled to places she never thought she would visit.

She joined Youths With a Mission in Hawaii for a year, then was off to Asia, the Holy Land, Nairobi and Geneva.

Her experiences broadened her knowledge and deepened her faith and love for the church.

"I saw that to know the Lord, you have to work with people all the time. You have to work with faith too," Deaconess Olovia said.

"I thought when I came to Dilkusha, I couldn't travel anymore.

"But because God has done so much for me, I said it was time for me to serve.

"I've never regretted coming here.

"It's very rewarding and I think if I retired, the home is well established.

"I really want to thank the Deaconess Order, the Government and the Department of Social Welfare, my helpers here and the community for supporting Dilkusha.

"Without them, I may never get anywhere.

"Maybe this recognition is a testimony and encouragement to look after your own families and for me it has to be the Lord."

FACTFILE

• Deaconess Kauroto Nataniela was born on November 3, 1938.
• Her mother, Akesa Vafo'ou, is from Losa and her father, Nataniela Veriangtir Maoi, is from Haroa clan in Motusa.
• Her father was a church catechist.
• She likes to eat taroro, rourou and seafood.
• Her favourite drink is coconut juice.
• She was one of two co-ordinators to lead youths on an exchange scheme to Canada in 1975 under the Ministry of Youth.
• She was the secretary for Women's Fellowship in Fiji and Rotuma for the Methodist Church from 1984 to 1986.
• She's a recipient of the Paul Harris Rotary NSW Award from Australia for community service.
• She's a recipient of the Ambassador for Peace International Award.
• She's a recipient of the 2008 Westpac Community Service Award.