ABOUT one hundred descendants of Jotivini Vesidrau gathered at Rararua Village in the province of Ba, to mark her 92nd birthday on Friday.
The Namena, Tailevu native was emotional as she was surrounded by nine of her 11 children, and more than 100 grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
“I never thought I’d see this day,” shared the emotional widow.
“I thank my children and my grandchildren for remembering me on this auspicious occasion.
“More importantly I thank God for His protection in my life and my descendants. He has blessed me abundantly.”
Jotivini’s children came from as far as Kadavu and other neighbouring provinces.
Six of her daughters married in surrounding villages in the province of Nadroga/Navosa.
The granny remembered meeting her husband who was a soldier in Suva while she was working for an European family. After falling in love with him, she decided to follow him back to Rararua.
“I stepped foot on this village in 1946, when I was 18 years old. I remember walking up in the highlands late in the night with the moon shining bright as we made our way to this village,” she said with a smile.
“We reached Waicoba, had dinner there then we walked up to Narata, at that time the road had not been developed. My husband’s elders were already waiting, we did our presentation (sevusevu) and then they did a magiti to celebrate our wedding.
“From that time until today, I have lived my life in this village.”
Asked if she regretted that long walk up to Rararua Village (which is more than three hours) when she first came, she replied: “Au a taubale tu mai ena noqu veidomoni. (I walked here out of love).”
The occasion was also a great time for her descendants to have a family reunion.
