Today was a very sad day for Vunikura. First, the missionary youth group that has been volunteering with their children over the last two weeks, headed back to California this morning. Their departure brought many, many heartfelt tears from the sensitive and loving women and children of the nearby villages, especially our new friend and guide Ana.
Next, was the funeral of Eleanora, the daughter of headman (Tironi Ni Koro) Titimo. We headed to Vunikura well before the funeral started and were welcomed into Ana’s “family room” to wait while the family prepared. Ana’s niece entertained us by drawing out Ana’s family tree (see attached photograph for the size of the family; this is just from one grandparent!), and soon a variety of village children gathered around to play with us. Justin luckily had a couple games up his sleeve to entertain both the little ones and their young mothers.
The funeral was a somber affair with everyone in their Sunday best (sulus and flowered shirts). We squirmed through the two hour catholic mass and ceremony, sitting crosslegged on the floor and listening to the Fijian prayers. We then made the short hike to the cemetery for the grave-side ceremony. All-in-all it was a very typical funeral, and we were glad to be there to show support for our new friends.
We left Vunikura before the meal was served, as we knew the Mission would have our lunch waiting for us. With the youth group gone, it is only Dr. Anibal, Nurse Nani, and us staying here and the mission is eerily (and happily) quiet. This won’t last long as there are upwards of 30 guests coming in the next two weeks!
In the evening we attended a pizza dinner at the home of Dr. A and Nani. It is a beautiful home on the hillside above the mission; a very original design of a circular tent-like structure. We enjoyed getting to know the couple over a delicious dinner. They are very friendly, open and generous people - before working here in the Fiji they spent two years in Madagascar and 10 years in Paraguay; they are originally from Argentina.
Sample results: We have completed the sample results for the Loa source and tank and Mission tap – which suggest the presence of total coliforms and E. Coli.
We have been spending a good deal of time thinking about our results, and discussing our observations in the various villages. For Vunikura, even though our sample results are positive, the health records at the mission and conversations with the villagers do not indicate that they have been getting sick from the bacteria in the water. There have been two cases of typhoid in the village, but they were on the outskirts of the village, and it is suspected that appropriate hygiene was not being followed. We believe that EWB can help them by improving their catchment system at the source, replacing sections of the distribution system, and improving their septic system.
RAIRAI VINAKA O KEMUDRAU
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