Pastor Onisivoro Masiamete could be mistaken for a Tanzanian.

He acts like one and speaks Swahili, the native language, fluently.

Pastor Masiamete, originally from Nadogo, Udu Point, Vanua Levu, has been serving as a missionary for the Christian Mission Fellow ship International in Tanzania for more than 12 years with his wife and two children.

He said it was most important to gain the trust of the people.

“If they eat, you have to eat too or sleep where they sleep. As a missionary you actually live a life like you’re a native even if you have to wear their traditional clothes,” he said.

He added his family’s first years away from home made them feel a little homesick but the help and guidance from the God made things better for them.

He was one of the four who were interviewed yesterday. The others were Viliame Rokolekai (Philippines), Paula Delaibau (Madagascar) and Nemani Raqio (United Kingdom).

They are here to attend the church’s conference at the World Harvest Centre, Nasinu, and celebrate its 25th anniversary.

The decision to pack up and move to a foreign land with wives and children was not easy.

But these missionaries described it as answering to the calling of God. Today the Christian Mission Fellowship International church has missionaries serving in many countries including nations in the African continent.

Pastor Delaibau, who flew in from Madagascar, described the country he was called to serve in as his children’s adopted home and the place of God.

“One thing every missionary must keep in mind is to love the nation they serve with its people,” he said.

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