Joeli Bulu
Encyclopedia
Joeli Bulu
Joeli Bulu was one of a band of Tongan teachers who came to Fiji
in 1865, and pioneered the work of the Christian Church in this group. He served the Church in Fij
i for almost four decades. Many others were great in the same way. Paula Vea, another dynamic Christian missionary was a contemporary of his.
We would think of Joeli Bulu as the leader of a fine team of workers sent by King George of Tonga to spread the Church in Fiji. Joeli was converted and called to preach in Tonga
and later ‘called’ to Fiji. He came to Lakeba
by canoe, and was appointed to help with the printing of catechisms and passages of Scriptures.
A whole book could be written about his adventures in fires, storms, wars and floods. He had some miraculous escapes, and we might well believe that he was a ‘chosen vessel’ for Providence certainly protected him in no ordinary way. How a man could survive death so many times, and yet be spared to serve a 40 year ministry is nothing short of a miracle.
He served first at Lakeba and then at Rewa
, and after that the station was closed because of the wars, at Viwa. John Hunt sent him to investigate possibilities of establishing the work in Vanua Levu, and to that field he was later appointed. He was the first Pacific islander to be placed alone in charge of a circuit – Ono
, in 1848, and also the first to be ordained (1850) as a Native Assistant Missionary. After this he served at Nadi (Vanua Levu), Bua
and Cakaudrove where he pioneered the work before any white missionaries were established there. When the Cakaudrove
station was finally established Joeli was found in charge of an institution for training catechists. Afterwards he was appointed to Bau, where he served as Cakobau’s own chaplain. His grave is beside that of John Hunt at Viwa Island. He came to Fiji from his own land and gave himself wholly, and finally found his grave with the sons of her own soil.
The Lelean Memorial School
, a Methodist run school at Davuilevu, Nausori
, Fiji honours his name by naming one its four houses after him.
His remarks concerning his decision to convert to Christianity, "I will lotu (accept Christ as my Saviour) so that I may live among the stars", became the title of a book, "To Live Among the Stars", by John Garrett.
Joeli Bulu was one of a band of Tongan teachers who came to Fiji
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
in 1865, and pioneered the work of the Christian Church in this group. He served the Church in Fij
Methodist Church of Fiji and Rotuma
The Methodist Church of Fiji and Rotuma is the largest Christian denomination in Fiji, with 36.2 percent of the total population at the 1996 census...
i for almost four decades. Many others were great in the same way. Paula Vea, another dynamic Christian missionary was a contemporary of his.
We would think of Joeli Bulu as the leader of a fine team of workers sent by King George of Tonga to spread the Church in Fiji. Joeli was converted and called to preach in Tonga
Tonga
Tonga, officially the Kingdom of Tonga , is a state and an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, comprising 176 islands scattered over of ocean in the South Pacific...
and later ‘called’ to Fiji. He came to Lakeba
Lakeba
Lakeba is an island in Fiji's Southern Lau Archipelago; the provincial capital of Lau is located here. The island is the tenth largest in Fiji, with a land area of nearly 60 square kilometers. It is fertile and well watered, and encircled by a 29-kilometer road. Its closest neighbors are Aiwa...
by canoe, and was appointed to help with the printing of catechisms and passages of Scriptures.
A whole book could be written about his adventures in fires, storms, wars and floods. He had some miraculous escapes, and we might well believe that he was a ‘chosen vessel’ for Providence certainly protected him in no ordinary way. How a man could survive death so many times, and yet be spared to serve a 40 year ministry is nothing short of a miracle.
He served first at Lakeba and then at Rewa
Rewa Province
Rewa is a province of Fiji. With a land area of 272 square kilometers , it includes the capital city of Suva and is in two parts - one including part of Suva's hinterland to the west, and a noncontiguous area to the east, separated from the rest of Rewa by Naitasiri Province...
, and after that the station was closed because of the wars, at Viwa. John Hunt sent him to investigate possibilities of establishing the work in Vanua Levu, and to that field he was later appointed. He was the first Pacific islander to be placed alone in charge of a circuit – Ono
Ono-i-Lau
Ono-i-Lau is a volcanic and coral island in Fiji's Lau archipelago.One of the southernmost of the Lau Islands, it is located at 20.80° South and 178.75° East, and occupies an area of 7.9 square kilometers. It has a maximum elevation of 113 meters. It is 90 kilometers southsouthwest of Vatoa, the...
, in 1848, and also the first to be ordained (1850) as a Native Assistant Missionary. After this he served at Nadi (Vanua Levu), Bua
Bua
Bua or BUA may refer to:*Bua, Luzon, Philippines*Bua Province, Fiji*Bua *ISO 639:bua, ISO code for the Buriat language*Bua, Varberg Municipality, locality in Varberg Municipality, Sweden...
and Cakaudrove where he pioneered the work before any white missionaries were established there. When the Cakaudrove
Cakaudrove
Cakaudrove is one of fourteen provinces of Fiji, and one of three based principally on the northern island of Vanua Levu, occupying the south-eastern third of the island and including the nearby islands of Taveuni, Rabi, Kioa, and numerous other islands in the Vanua Levu Group...
station was finally established Joeli was found in charge of an institution for training catechists. Afterwards he was appointed to Bau, where he served as Cakobau’s own chaplain. His grave is beside that of John Hunt at Viwa Island. He came to Fiji from his own land and gave himself wholly, and finally found his grave with the sons of her own soil.
The Lelean Memorial School
Lelean Memorial School
Lelean Memorial School is one of the largest co-ed schools in Fiji today. It was established in 1943 and is run by the Methodist Church of Fiji. It is co-located at the Davuilevu Methodist Compound with the and the Young People's Department, which runs training for Methodist catechists...
, a Methodist run school at Davuilevu, Nausori
Nausori
Nausori is a town in Fiji. It had a population of 47,604 at the 2007 census, the most recent to date. This makes it the fourth most populous municipality in the country. Situated 19 kilometers out of Suva, it forms one pole of the burgeoning Suva-Nausori corridor.Nausori grew up around Fiji's...
, Fiji honours his name by naming one its four houses after him.
His remarks concerning his decision to convert to Christianity, "I will lotu (accept Christ as my Saviour) so that I may live among the stars", became the title of a book, "To Live Among the Stars", by John Garrett.