Villagers from Kabara Island in the Lau group dedicated the past three months to prepare for their journey to the Methodist Church Conference in Suva. Despite limited income opportunities, more than 40 villagers embarked on a multi-day trip to participate in the national annual event.
The villagers plan to stay in the capital for an additional two weeks to visit friends and family, taking advantage of this occasion to extend their time on Viti Levu due to transportation challenges back to Lau.
Under the leadership of local chiefs, who contributed $5,000 to cover travel expenses, the villagers brought various seafood products to sell at the conference. Tui Lomati Mosese Kotobalavu, one of the chiefs, explained that this trip is a longstanding tradition for the villagers of Kabara.
“About 40 church members joined this trip and we spent the last three months preparing seafood for sale at the conference, which was successful and brought in a good income,” he noted. “This event is significant for us, allowing us to engage with our faith community and absorb teachings from our church leaders. Upon our return, we will share our experiences and insights with our families.”