Mum Recalls Son’s Faith In God And Power Of Prayer When Faced With Obstacles

He would kneel in prayer and fast for days when all financial resources were exhausted while still a student at Pacific Flying School.

This is how Joana Bainivalu described her late son, Pacific Flying School instructor, Iliesa Tawalo who was one of the victims on board Cessna 172 Aircraft which crashed in Delaikoro Ridge in Macuata on Monday.

The aircraft was on a routine training flight when it also claimed the life of 21-year-old trainee pilot, Merelesita Lutu.

“My son was a man of courage and humble too, he was brought up in a Christian family that is something that held him together whenever challenges hit him,” Ms Bainivalu said.

In an interview at their Votualevu residence last night, she described how all their family members had to pitch in their financial resources to help Tawalo successfully complete his studies at the Pacific Flying School.

“As we all know the school fee is very expensive, all members of our family had to exhaust their FNPF just to help my son achieve his dream to become a pilot,” Ms Bainivalu said .

“It came to a point that we couldn’t afford to keep paying for his  fees, but it was through his faith in God that enabled him to fight the odds and successfully completed flying school. He would pray and fast for days.”

Originally from Bukuya in Ba, she then described her last conversation via Facebook with her late son before the tragic incident.

“It was around 9.46pm when he messaged me and I started sharing the word of God to him. That was my last conversation with him, he was a man of faith,” Ms Bainivalu said.

The 50-year-old said she was at work on Tuesday when the news reached her through a church friend that her son was one of the victims on board the aircraft.

“I was on night shift when a friend called to inform me that Tawalo was on board the aircraft when it crashed, so I called my family to confirm with them if it was really him” she said.

“I felt a heavy burden on me after the news was relayed to me, I could not think straight and my heart was heavy, but it was until they found his body when that heavy burden was taken off me.”

With tears in her eyes Ms Bainivalu said that whatever had happened to her son was God’s will.

“We should always thank God for the sad and good times in our lives, I am at peace with my son because I know that he has gone to be with his Savior, his faith has impacted the lives of many around him, his life was rooted in God’s word,” she aded.

“Whatever happens, let God’s will be done.”

Ms Bainivalu is expected to be in Labasa today to receive her son’s body.

The family has also confirmed that funeral arrangements will be made once the autopsy is completed.

Edited by Percy Kean

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