Friends and family, as you know we have deep connections with our beautiful Fiji family, from the moment we stepped foot in Fiji, Sai, Kara and family took us into their village and their hearts. For 5 years we have travelled back and forth making sure we take toys, clothes and school supplies to support Naroro village and staying connected to this beautiful family, who are so generous with their time, love and hospitality.

Just under 2 weeks ago the family lost brother Jona, a proud Fiji serviceman, and father of 9 to a sudden and unexpected heart attack. The devastation was felt across the family and village as they rallied together to make sense of it all.

What happened next is unfathomable. At the funeral this week to farewell Jona, our dearest and much loved friend, Sai (Sairusi) the very first face we met at the airport all those years ago, the man who showered us with love and kindness and took us home to his family, suffered an adverse event at his brothers funeral and also passed away.

There are simply no words and no way to make it make any sense. We are utterly heartbroken at this loss and unfathomable impact on the family and village. His beautiful wife Kara, his amazing children and his siblings and parents are all completely shattered.

In the Fiji low season, the families are already laid off from their hospitality jobs, now not only losing these wonderful men, fathers, brothers, sons and uncles, but also 2 important income streams for the village. In a country where the national average wage is $2.60p/h, yet chicken meat is $14 kg, the impact on the entire village will be widespread and devastating.

We are fundraising to help support the family to be able to hold yet another funeral to lay Sairusi to rest and also help them provide for the village in a time of such uncertainty and heart break.

Every dollar you are able to share goes a long way in supporting the entire village. Holy most of you did not know Sai or Jona, I know every single one of you can imagine the profound devastation of two sudden losses like this would be.