Boissevain residents, Chad and Patricia Reimer, have a deep passion for the families of Fiji and they're currently raising funds for the kids' camps that take place three times in the year in the Fiji Islands.

Patricia Reimer was born and raised in Fiji and has seen the great need for the Gospel to reach her islands.

Reimer says the kids' camps are a way to build relationships with the families and to show the love of Jesus, much like our summertime Vacation Bible School programs for children here in Canada.

"Everything is funded from Canada to Fiji, and we hold a camp every school holiday, which is 3 times a year in Fiji and other pacific nations, including the Solomon Islands," explains Reimer. "We get the kids and the school system involved.  Kids come for a whole week for free.  Because many kids come from the interior, our team of volunteers and 8 staff go to different locations in the interior of the Fiji Islands."

"At one point we have hosted over 2,000 kids, in 14 different places, all at the same time!" she says.

"Our hope is to mentor children in a safe and a fun environment, giving them opportunities," she adds.  "At the moment we have [gone] into the interior of the Solomon Islands to a group of unreached tribes where people are just starting to wear clothes.  What we have been doing there is building a school; we are now going to build a clinic."

Reimer says they belong to the faith-based organization, The Great Commission, but when they travel to the remote locations, they build relationships first with the community.  A staff member will try to live in that community for 3 months, to interact with the people and start the process of building relationships.

"It is a formula that works with different tribes, with different islands, with different groups of people; whatever works.  We work alongside them, especially with building the relationship just so that we can have interaction with the children.

Chad and Patricia have fundraised for the kids' camp programs through different incentives.  Currently, Patricia is cooking authentic Fijian dishes, as well as some Mennonite dishes, from her home in Boissevain for those who want to support this mission outreach.  Through purchasing her meals, or donating to their cause, monetary gifts to The Great Commission Foundation will receive a tax-deductible receipt.

Reimer is excited to share her traditional cuisine with her Canadian community, and to raise funds for this program that reaches the lost in her home country. 

Please listen to the audio recording with Patricia Reimer and CJRB's Barry Lamb as she explains more of her passion and her vision for this mission outreach.