Bau Branch Chapel Groundbreaking

Here is the site of the current Bau Branch Chapel.
This is a very humble structure and the land it sits on has had some issues with the land owner

so the Church has been looking for another site to build a new place to worship for this growing Branch.

Last week I got to attend a really choice event - the groundbreaking for a new Chapel for the Bau Branch. This event began at 10 am and it was a very rainy day but despite the less than perfect weather, lots and lots of members showed up to be part of this historical and anxiously awaited event.

The location of this property is just down the road from the current building but on a very large, spacious and level piece of property that the Church has leased for 75 years. The new building will be enclosed with louvered windows. The design is called a R85: R stands for rural design and 85 means it will accommodate 85 people. As of the 3rd quarter attendance report for this year, this branch has an 80-person attendance at Sacrament Meeting! I hope they don't outgrow this facility too soon!

Young, old and everyone in between were in attendance this morning. Thankfully they had anticipated the rain (truthfully, it has been raining almost non stop for about this whole month!) and had set up this makeshift structure just for this service.

Here were the "important people" for the presentation.
From left to right:
Paul Whippy, our Service Center general manager: In his remarks he mentioned that the Church completes one new Chapel some where in the world EVERY day of EVERY year! Seriously, that is 365 buildings a year! Amazing!
The man in the blue shirt (I don't know his name): He is the Chief of this area. He is not a member of the Church but he was representing the villages in this area and he is the one who the Church dealt with for the land lease. He didn't speak but Paul Whippy also mentioned that it was this man's great-grandfather who was the Head Chief of Fiji that ceded Fiji to Great Britain back in the 1800's. He is a pretty important guy. I did make a point to shake his hand!
Next is the Pacific Area Physical Facilities director (I forgot his name, whoops). I asked him what his responsibility included and he told me he was in charge of EVERY building (chapels, Temples, schools, service centers) in the WHOLE Pacific Area. Believe me, that is a huge responsibility!
Next to him is the Stake President for this Stake. His name is President Tagidunu. He is such a wonderful, competent, committed Church leader. We are blessed to get to work with him quite often. His talk was all in Fijian so I have no idea what he said but it was powerful!
The last man up front is the Bau Branch President, Pres. Koroi. What a dear man also. He is so humble. We just love and admire him so much also.

During the speech-giving portion of the program, there was rain just poring down nonstop but just before the men got up to go out and start digging their shovels into the soil, the rain cleared up! I have to tell you that it didn't surprise me at all. I felt like that would happen. It was really impressive to see it actually take place!
Paul Whippy also said in his remarks that it will only take 10 weeks to complete this construction! We may even still be here for the dedication!

After all the first men completed their shoveling, lots of individual Branch members went out to join in and dig out their portion of the ground. This picture is for Barry & Jackie; there is your favorite Bau Branch member right in the middle of all the action!

This event wouldn't have been complete without traditional Fijian refreshments! Aren't they beautiful! Very yummy too! Thanks to all the Bau Branch sisters!

It is so exciting to see growth and progress in this country. So many of the Saints are so committed and humble and strong in their faith and their testimonies. They are a beautiful example of serving our Heavenly Father with everything they have to offer. There was a really sweet spirit at this event. Even the Head Chief told Bro. Whippy that he felt something really different and touching during this meeting that he had never felt before! I know I felt blessed to be among such faithful and deserving members.