Hope Restored: Adult Mission Story for March 7, 2026

As told to Maika Tuima by Mereseini Galuvakadua

In the heart of Suva, Fiji, the Hope Clinic stands as a symbol of transformation. Established through the support of a Thirteenth Sabbath Offering, the clinic offers more than medical services—it provides a lifeline. For many, it’s a place where broken bodies and weary hearts find restoration. One person who found healing was a 53-year-old woman named Mereseini.

For years, Mereseini battled high blood pressure. She visited doctors, took her medications faithfully, and followed instructions. But the numbers never improved. The fatigue lingered. Her strength slowly faded.

“I felt stuck,” she recalled. “Nothing worked.”

One day, driven by curiosity and hope for change, Mereseini walked through the doors of Hope Clinic.

“I didn’t know what to expect,” she said. “I just wanted to feel better.”

Inside, she met staff who didn’t just treat symptoms—they listened, encouraged, and educated. Among them was Dr. Akuila, whose calm confidence gave her courage. He explained how natural, simple lifestyle changes could help her body heal.

“No salt, no meat, no processed food,” he said gently. “Eat what grows from the ground. Your body can recover, but it needs your help.”

Mereseini nodded, absorbing each word. It sounded hard, but something inside her stirred. She felt seen. She felt hope.

Determined to try, she returned home and cleared out her pantry. The salt shaker went first. Out went the meat, white rice, cassava, and taro. In their place, she filled her kitchen with sweet potatoes, plantains, and leafy greens.

Then came the real challenge. Dr. Akuila suggested a 10-day water fast—just water, with lemon for support. Most would hesitate, but Mereseini looked at her reflection and said aloud, “I’m going to do this. Not for anyone else—for me.”

She began the fast quietly, with no fanfare or complaints. At every mealtime, she slipped away to her room while her children sat at the table.

“I cooked their food like usual,” she said, “but I prayed instead when it came time to eat. I asked God to help me through this.”

Days passed. Her children started noticing.

“Mum, you’re losing too much weight,” one of them said, concern in his voice. “You need to eat.”

“I will,” she replied softly. “Just not yet. I’m almost there.” Mereseini felt stronger than she had in months, so she pushed forward.

“I didn’t feel hungry,” she remembered. “I didn’t feel weak. I cleaned the house, walked around, and prayed. It felt like God was carrying me. I used to fast for one day and count the hours until I could eat,” she laughs. “But this time was different. This time, I had purpose.”

On the last day of her fast, Mereseini returned to Hope Clinic.

The nurses looked at her in surprise. She smiled and let them read her test results. One by one, they checked her weight, pulse, and pressure. All were normal.

“I haven’t taken my medication once during the fast,” she told them. “And I haven’t needed it since.”

Mereseini no longer needed to take her medication. Her diet is now a deliberate choice: no salt, meat, or processed food. She eats sweet potatoes, plantains, vegetables, and fruits. The transformation has touched every part of her life.

“I go to church again,” she said. “I pick up my grandchildren from school. I walk without feeling tired. I live again.”

She speaks with quiet confidence, not just about her own healing, but also about the lessons she’s learned.

“We have to choose wisely what we eat,” she said. “God gave us food to heal us, not harm us. I’m not telling people what to do, but I’ve lived this. I’ve seen what happens when we trust God and take care of our bodies.”

Hope Clinic gave Mereseini more than information—it gave her a new way of living. A path she walks proudly every single day.

Her story reminds us that true healing often begins when we’re willing to listen, believe, and change.

“Hope is real,” she says. “And I found it when I walked through that door."

Part of the Thirteenth Sabbath Offering for second quarter of 2016 helped build the Hope Clinic in Fiji attended by Mereseini. Thank you for your Thirteenth Sabbath Offering this quarter, which will help support children’s health projects in the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.