Marta Tooma was raised by medical missionary parents who dedicated their lives to serving underprivileged communities in the biodiversity-rich Amazon rainforest. Growing up, she witnessed the severe challenges faced by countries struggling with disease and a lack of healthcare services. Alongside this, she embraced the joys of helping others, developed an appreciation for nature, learned about diverse cultures, and became a source of healing for those in need.
Currently, she is the co-founder and dental director of The Mission at Natuvu Creek, a clinic located in a serene forest-to-sea setting in Buca Bay, Cakaudrove, established in honor of her parents’ sacrifices and inspired by her children. A dentist by trade, Dr. Marta has been visiting Fiji since 1997. She recently shared her inspiring journey and aspirations for the future.
Reflecting on her family, Dr. Marta expressed concerns about raising her two children amidst the luxury and privilege of a large California city and prayed for a chance to preserve their innocence. Her prayers were answered when she received an unexpected call to volunteer in Fiji, over 5,000 miles from home—a decision that would profoundly change her life.
She packed her children, her sister—who is a nurse—and her niece for the long uncertain journey to the Pacific. Dr. Marta vividly remembers arriving at Savusavu Airport on a rainy day, where even the pilot chose to walk barefoot to avoid muddy shoes. Upon arrival, she discovered no one was there to pick them up as promised.
Feeling nervous about her family’s safety, Dr. Marta secured a taxi and embarked on a journey to Vatuvonu, Buca Bay, navigating poorly maintained roads where their luggage frequently fell off the car.
Once at the mission site, which was operating under the Dream Machine Foundation, she encountered disorganization and incomplete equipment deliveries. Recognizing the need for better resources, Dr. Marta returned equipped with portable dental tools that could be powered by diving tanks. Her children joined her efforts, helping to sterilize equipment and adapt to the unique challenges they faced, despite occasional health issues due to contaminated food.
Determined to create a functional clinic, Dr. Marta and her husband, Dr. Thomas Tooma, an eye surgeon, acquired 750 acres of land in Buca Bay and established The Mission at Natuvu Creek in 2006. Their commitment to serving the Fijian community stems from a particularly humbling encounter during Dr. Marta’s early visits, when local villagers gave her their best clothes when she was left without a change of clothes after losing her luggage.
Today, the clinic features top-quality equipment comparable to leading clinics in the United States. Each year, it hosts around 20 volunteer missions featuring doctors from various specialties who stay for at least ten days, providing essential medical and dental care.
Dr. Marta emphasizes that the mission is more than a health facility; it also embraces a strong spiritual healing aspect. In the past 25 years, the mission has treated over 10,000 patients annually through a variety of free medical and surgical services.
Recently, Dr. Marta traveled to Fiji for the first time since the pandemic, where hundreds gathered for a free eye clinic. Following this, a dental clinic offering services such as cleanings, extractions, repairs, and root canals is scheduled to conclude soon.
The Mission at Natuvu Creek aims to provide a unique experience, described by Dr. Marta as a place that offers a healthy vacation enriched with cultural experiences. She noted the unique sense of community in Fiji, where help extends beyond family to even complete strangers—a reflection of the peacekeeping culture present in the nation.
Additionally, students from Pepperdine University in California contribute to volunteer efforts through the mission each year. Funded by the Tooma Family Foundation, the mission continues to pursue its goal of providing comprehensive healthcare while fostering personal and spiritual healing for both patients and volunteers, encouraging them to return home with an enduring sense of peace.