February 15, 2026

During the last 3 years, our Hope for Today World Journey has taken us to distant and difficult to get to places that I have always been curious about. This journey has also taken me to places that I knew about, but when I got there, I saw them in a completely different light. I love the fact that those types of experiences facilitate more reading and reflection on my part as I prepare to write these blogs.

But this journey has also taken me to places I have never heard of before. Out of the way places, not on any tourist map. Dravuni Island is such a place. 

Dravuni Island is one of the smallest populated islands in the Fiji archipelago-and that’s what made it such a fantastic and unique destination to me. There are only 178 residents. This is the Pacific as it’s been for thousands of years. Dravuni Island is one of the Pacific’s most unspoiled destinations. In fact, it’s so unspoiled that Fiji’s University of the South Pacific sends experts and students to study the nearby pristine coral reefs and the abundant marine life that
live around the island and reefs. Unknowingly, many on board decided not to tender ashore as I assume they felt there was nothing to see or learn. Chongae and I are so happy we did not make that choice. Sometimes just showing up is enough to reap unexpected rewards. We arrived on the island at about 10:00 a.m. and this is the first thing that we heard. It was Sunday morning and the choir was singing their first hymn to begin Sunday morning service. Their sweet voices drew us to where we were supposed to be.

I have written before, that without exception, in the most remote locations that I have visited around the world, the first thing that a community does is build a church and a school. Drauni Island was no exception.

After church service we took a short walk to the island school in the shadows of the church. As it was Sunday, the school was closed but we could envision the children attending classes in this part of the community which represented the heart and soul of Dravuni Island.

The residents of Dravuni Island are economically poor with just the basic necessities. They hang their clothes out to dry; they cook their food on open fires; they take great pride in their homes often decorating the exteriors with the numerous seashells found on their island. Yet they are not poor in spirit. In the village you’ll experience how and why Fijians have earned their reputation as friendly, smiling and hospitable people.

Throughout this journey I have taken many photos of churches because they represent to me the “spiritual homes” of a community. This was once true in the United States. Travel through New England or the founding states of our nation and witness all the steeples representing a community’s commitment to their faith. Not so much anymore.

But there are greater implications for me. The Bible says: “And behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before God.” This is a powerful image of unity for me-people from every culture and language together in worship. I love this passage because it paints heaven as beautifully diverse, not uniform.

I did not understand one word of today’s sermon, yet I felt right at home. The whole purpose of this journey for Chongae and I was in the closing chapters of this life to “See God’s Hand at Work Around the World.” We can report that is what has been happening.

We are blessed to be part of the faith community.

An example of determination:

On my blog on Papeete, Tahiti, I reported on the British ship HMS Bounty that was sent to Tahiti under Captain William Bligh where lieutenant Fletcher Christian led a mutiny. After the famous mutiny onboard his ship, the Bounty, Bligh, along with 18 others, was put in a small boat and set adrift. Bligh and his castaway companions passed between the islands of Vanua Levu and Viti Levu (the channel is now known as Bligh Water). When Bligh returned to England 11 months later, he took command of another ship, returned and charted 39 islands. It was Captain Bligh who is credited with discovering Fiji!

Thirdmill Update:

Here is a message from Nelso Oboli, President/CEO of Preachers’ Mission Africa, Uganda.

“Many times, Pastors graduate from college and think that it’s enough to delve into the work of ministry and leadership roles. This wasn’t my experience. When I graduated from college, I realized I hadn’t learned enough. This propelled me to continue pursuing my career as an evangelist, church planter and learning from fellow pastors, evangelists and teachers of God’s word. I’m glad that God connected me with Third Millennium Ministries and gave me all the relevant teaching resources I have been yearning for. I would like to recommend pastors, evangelists, church planters, emerging leaders and missionaries to applaud these teaching resources offered by Third Millennium Ministries and adopt them in your respective churches and ministry networks.“

Thanks for traveling with us.