Page 11 - SPBD September 2024

SPBD

LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH

SPBD Fiji’s Young Pacific

Leader: Joana Tabua
This year, SPBD Fiji’s Membership, Training, and Compliance
Manager, Joana Tabua, was honoured to be selected as a
participant in the Young Pacific Leaders (YPL) Regional
Workshop on Sustainable Development, held in Fiji from
20-22 August.

Joana was one of the 31 people selected for the program, from
more than 400 applicants. Joana Tabua with Deputy Chief of Mission, John Gregory, at the US Embassy in Fiji.
She writes:
opportunity to connect with diverse individuals from different
“The three-day workshop featured a variety of engaging backgrounds and perspectives. This cultural exchange
activities, including panel discussions, guest speakers, and fostered a sense of understanding, tolerance and inclusion. I
visits to the Fiji Museum and the Navakavu Blue Economic believe that the skills and connections I developed during the
Zone. These experiences provided valuable insights into the YPL workshop will enable me to contribute more effectively
cultural heritage and economic development of Fiji. to sustainable development initiatives in my community and
Through discussions, interactive sessions, and cultural beyond.
exchanges, I gained valuable insights into the various levels at As I look ahead, I am excited to organise the YPL LEADS
which sustainable development occurs. I also learned practical initiative for the month of October. This annual community
skills and methodologies that I can apply to my own work. service initiative focuses on Leading, Engaging, Advocating,
The workshop emphasised the importance of cross-country Driving change and Serving (LEADS). I plan to focus on
collaboration and encouraged us to identify tangible solutions education, environment, civic leadership, and social
to address the challenges facing our region.
development. Through YPL LEADS, I hope to inspire others to
One of the most memorable aspects of the workshop was the take action and make a positive impact in their communities.“

From 7-22 August, Semiti Waqa,

Acting Team Leader for SPBD Fiji’s
Ovalau Branch, was in Egypt on a
short-term mission to share his faith.

Semiti writes:
Travelling overseas to fulfil the Great Commission in winning
souls for the Kingdom of God is not easy. Indeed, it takes
the power of God to provide and act supernaturally. It also
requires our cooperative effort to make things happen. Semiti Waqa with a member of the Angola mission team.
Therefore, I extend my sincere gratitude and appreciation to
my SPBD family for their financial support and their fervent and the abundances that we have. We must be thankful for
prayers and thoughts on my short-term mission trip to Egypt. what we have, because many people around the world are

It was a challenge in taking the Gospel to a foreign land and indeed in need.
it takes the power of God in witnessing. One challenge that I am so blessed indeed to work in a caring and supporting
I faced was the language barrier, as few people understood working environment that recognised the calling of God and
English. We used Google Translator in our conversations as my zeal and the passion for His work.
the means to convey the message of love and hope.
Once again, thank you very much SPBD management and
My heart was so broken seeing their living conditions, and the staff for your tremendous support. May God bless our SPBD
struggles that they endure daily compared to the privileges families.

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