Mr Green, who returned to the Pacific Island nation where he reaches out to Hindus and Muslims in January, says his last stint had been eventful and probably his hardest time ever on the mission field.

The Kiwi missionary, who over the past few years had been working in the northern part of the country, rented a house in Rakiraki on the main island of Viti Levu, working in the rural areas. He was in Fiji with the backing of Auckland’s Northcote Baptist Church, under the auspices of mission agency World Outreach.

Despite some difficulties in recent months Mr Green, who has taught in schools; handed out tracts on dusty streets; done door-to- door visitations; preached; taken home groups and individual family Bible studies and many other activities, has seen some positive developments.

He says it is particularly exciting to note that churches have increased their evangelism. A few of the churches, he says, now even have church-planting as their vision and have built churches in remote areas.

“Indian churches are recei-ving good teaching and preaching. More evangelists are hitting the streets distributing tracts that are now printed for free by a local Christian printer and sent throughout Fiji,” says Mr Green.

“I have got to sit in and listen to pastors use the discipleship and leadership material and apply it in their sermon preparations and presentations.

“The work around the rural areas of Fiji is continuing to slowly grow and Hindus and Muslims are becoming more interested in the Gospel message.”

Mr Green was also relieved that Christian resources he had shipped over from New Zealand recently, which were subject to large customs charges, had been released.

He believes God’s hand on this was evident and tells of how he went to the storage place to pick up the resources with a Kiwi friend who was visiting and a shipping agent he had known for years.

“Firstly, the storage agent cleared it. Then we went to see the Customs officer. His father was visiting him and he came out of his office. He introduced himself to my shipping agent friend and struck up a friendly conversation.

“He happened to be a church pastor and went back into the office and told his son, the customs officer, to do all he could to help.

“So he opened up one carton with the Hindi bibles and that was it. Cleared it with no problem and minimal charges. Praise God. A divine appointment at just the right time.”

The children’s resources and Hindi Bibles and tracts have now been widely distributed.

One of the highlights for the missionary was a visit to the country by a team from his church.

“They took worship seminars, visited primary and secondary schools, did tract distribution, door-to-door visitations, visited old peoples’ homes, took youth groups and Sunday School and church services.

“They were a real blessing to the locals,” says Mr Green.

“My pastor, Peter Eaton, came for a pastoral visit so it was good to see the touristy side of Fiji for a change and to spend time with him.”

Mr Green feels he has now covered all the rural areas and pastors in Fiji and it is time to finish up in the country.

“Apart from short follow-up visits in the future I feel it is now the time to move on and leave the locals to it.”

He now plans to travel to Asia and certain other restricted countries from June. “I may return to Fiji in the future as it’s always good to keep the door open and options open — but otherwise, this is it.

“As I look back over the last seven years, and perhaps the last 21 years, which includes a number of short-term visits, I feel that I have completed all I need to do and I’m quite happy and content with what has been achieved.”

As Mr Green looks forward to a new mission in new countries he muses on some of the things that he will miss about Fiji.

“ … The heat, humidity, sweating, flooding, muddy roads, toads, cockroaches, hornets, ants, geckos, mosquitoes, rats, mice, long drops, dog bites, water and electricity cuts, gossip, slander, lack of privacy, curries, and spiritual battles.