Fiji Temple Open House

We had the opportunity to attend the Fiji Temple Open House before it was re-dedicated.  We went on the last day of the open house.  2,000 people went through on the last day.  The temple is beautiful and all the ushers, hosts, guides and everyone working in the temple were Fijians.  It was great to hear them bear testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel to their fellow countrymen.  The week the temple was to be dedicated a cyclone was bearing down on Fiji.  President Eyring and Elder Cook were flying in from SLC for the dedication.  They were advised about the cyclone and how dangerous it would be to fly into Fiji.  President Eyring said he felt peaceful about everything so they continued on and flew into Fiji and dedicated the temple.  Because of the cyclone only a few people were able to attend the dedication, but hopefully it will be televised next Sunday for everyone in Suva, Fiji to see.  They are so grateful to have a temple in their country.

With ITEP missionary couple, Elder & Sister Greenburg

 Elder and Sister Greenburg, our ITEP missionaries, at the Fiji Temple Open House

About two weeks after we returned from Fiji, Cyclone Winston, a category 5 cyclone, hit Fiji.
The cyclone hit the weekend of the Temple dedication.   Elder Cook and President Eyring were on their way to dedicate the temple.  They were advised to turn back because of the cyclone.  They both had a peaceful feeling about continuing on, so they proceeded and landed in Suva, Fiji and dedicated the temple in the midst of the cyclone.
Vito Qaqa, a counselor at the Church College of Fiji we met on our trip to Fiji, related his experience in an article on Mormon Newsroom:

Vito W. Qaqa, president of the Fiji North Stake and local chairman of the Suva Fiji Temple rededication committee, was up all night before the rededication because a sliding door at his home collapsed during the storm, bringing water and wind inside. When power outages prevented him from opening a metal gate to make his way to the rededication, he removed a grill in the gate and, with his wife, slid through.

“No one will stop this work,” he said. “We are so blessed in Fiji. Now we have a Church school and a temple. We have everything we need. They are preparing Fiji for bigger things.”

President Eyring and Elder Cook at the Fiji Temple dedication

President Eyring arrives at the Fiji Temple dedication

Fiji Temple in the midst of Cyclone Winston
Cyclone Winston is the worst cyclone experienced in Fiji.  Ultimately 45 people were killed in the cyclone.  Students at the cultural celebration were housed at the Church College over night.  The cultural celebration had to be cut short because of the cyclone.  The faith of the people and the love they have for the temple is inspiring.