Vilisi Verebasoga, from Tavualevu Village, is grappling with the unexpected loss of her husband, Jope Tuivanuavou, who passed away in a locomotive accident on Wednesday at Lausa, Tavua. The 55-year-old died instantly at noon, while a colleague sustained serious injuries and is currently recovering at Aspen Medical Lautoka Hospital.
The accident occurred while the men were transporting sugarcane to the Lautoka Mill, with eyewitnesses reporting that the locomotive derailed from the Lausa sugarcane bridge.
Ms. Verebasoga described her husband as an obedient man of faith, serving as the senior pastor for the Fiji Evangelical Church Tavua branch. She recounted receiving the tragic news while at home, highlighting the significant impact it had on her. Despite the devastating circumstances, she expressed gratitude to God, sharing that she had sensed a forewarning prior to the tragedy and had fasted for a week seeking guidance.
Just days before the incident, during their final prayer meeting, her husband invited their group members to spend the night at their home. She mentioned that on Wednesday morning, she woke him up for prayer, driven by an uneasy feeling. After breakfast and their final goodbye, he left for work.
Leading up to the accident, Mr. Tuivanuavou had spoken to their children living both locally and abroad, encouraging them to take care of themselves. His sudden death has been difficult for the family to process, as he was known to be a humble and caring man dedicated to his family.
In her reflections, Ms. Verebasoga found solace in the biblical verse Proverbs 19:21, stating she accepts this as part of God’s will and feels at peace knowing her husband is in the Lord’s hands. Funeral arrangements will commence following Mr. Tuivanuavou’s post-mortem examination, and relatives from New Zealand are expected to arrive next week for the service. He is survived by his wife, eight children, and four grandchildren.