The Fijian Olympic team are heralding each day of the competition with a praise and worship service.
The athletes, coaches and staff from Team Fiji came together to sing ‘Mo Ravi Vei Jisu’, a Fijian hymn, which translates to, ‘Put your trust into the Lord and he will guide your way’ from Proverbs 3:5-6.
Australian water polo player Matilda Kearns shared a video of their harmonious collective sound on her Instagram.
Kearns heard the heavenly echoes of athletes, coaches and staff participating in a worship service on a Sunday afternoon and couldn’t believe her ears.
She quickly grabbed her phone to record the magical moment of music unfolding in the Oceania building of the Olympic village, and the Internet went wild.
For many Fijian people, religion is a large part of everyday life and culture, and worship through song is a regular fixture of that practice.
In fact, just listening to the video, you might think you’re overhearing a rehearsal by a professional choir. The harmonies, rhythms, musicality and sheer beauty of their resonant voices make it hard to believe these aren’t formally trained musicians.
Professional country musician Coffey Anderson remarked on Instagram: “A TRULY christian country. Take notes, folks”.
One Instagram user (@gwenz10) commented: “Honestly, is music a mandatory subject in Fijian schools?? They know harmonies and stick to them so well!!!” Another (@bestjuliawest) said: “The ebb and flow of their voices together is otherworldly. Islanders sing like the ocean.”
(Picture Courtesy: Instagram)
