NASELESELE Village -- Traditional FUNERAL

Hand-made florals and hand-made masi

completely covered the casket.

No matter whether the person who died was the chief of the village, or related to the chief's mother, or just regular folk related to the chief's mother's sister's son -- any funeral at Naselesele Village is a big event. And every family who's related to the dead person's clan is obligated to show up, or at least have some body show up as a representative of that family. Even if that representative has to come from the smaller outer islands (Viti Levu is the main island and the biggest, then Vanua Levu, and Taveuni -- where Naselesele is located, is third largest)...never mind the expense.

Susi mourning for her aunt.

Since every family is related to one of the four or five clans which make up Naselesele, it ends up that almost everyone is related to each other in some way or another.

The women elders -- pray-ers and mourners --

"guarding" the dead.

During a funeral (or traditional wedding), each clan is assigned a particular task to help feed the sometimes hundreds of people who will come during the two- to three-day ceremonial duties and feasting.

A solemn procession to the village cemetery --

Virgin Mary banner, courtesy of rln Art.

Farmers (which all the village people are to some extent) are mandated to contribute dalo (taro) to feed the crowd, as well as to give to departing guests. Monies are collected to buy a cow (or two or three, depending on the wealth of the dead one's clan), pigs and chickens...and most also contribute some side dish. The funeral feast becomes a humongous pot luck!

At the village burial grounds...

Cooking and clean up crews are given little direction, as everyone seems to know his part, having been raised to do this type of gathering since childhood -- tradition ingrained for several generations.

Bundles of dalo contributed by most of the village farmers.

There are even "professional" pray-ers and mourners -- this task delegated to the older women... usually led by the chief's wife, Matawalu.

These women probably caught up on the latest

as they did their assigned task.

The grave site is usually within the village perimeter, which has been prepared the day before by a clan responsible for such things...as also constructing the casket assigned to the clan or family who has traditionally done so in the past.

The feeding crew...with Beta as one of the many servers.

Sometimes, if the dead is a chief of a village as well as chief over an island, the show of respect (more cows killed) may run the village into debt!

The women elders were honored by being served first,

along with the chief and others of higher authority.

Having worked at Glen Abbey Mortuary as a part-time file clerk, i discovered how expensive it is to die in San Diego (and maybe in most parts of the U.S. as well). A casket alone can run into the thousands. i've told my Mom to do away with my body in the cheapest way possible -- cremation -- if i died here. Then to use my ashes to fertilize the kalamansi tree in the backyard.

Last duty...clean up. No washing machines here!

Absent in the body, present with the LORD. And when i join other believers in receiving a glorified body like JESUS did when He resurrected, it doesn't matter what method would used to return my body to dust. GOD -- Almighty and infinitely wise and Who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all i could ever ask or think -- can certainly put together this body again... and even much better than the original model.

To me, death is but the door to the real adventure! The wonderful GODventurez our Father in Heaven has blessed me with thus far are but mere shadows of the real thing. For followers of CHRIST, death is not to be feared for we believe in an afterlife that is gloriously beyond our highest expectations. As children of GOD, we are assured of our place in Heaven by our faith in JESUS. Best of all, those who trust in CHRIST have the breathtaking hope of seeing Him face to face -- this GOD/Man who laid down His life for sinful mankind. The Reality of being enveloped in His loving presence makes death lose its sting.

Psalm 23

The LORD is my shepherd; i shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake.

Yea, though i walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
i will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Psalm 23 is a promise from GOD that whatever kinds of valleys we may go through during the seasons of our lives, we can be confident as GOD's children that He walks with us through any and all difficulties that will arise, so that we need not fear any evil (worldly temptations, natural catastrophies, the certainty of death). GOD, our Father, in CHRIST, protects and comforts us through each storm.

This promise is the confidence for those who trust in JESUS CHRIST as LORD and Good Shepherd of their lives, today and forever.