Sunday 24 December 2017

Celebrating a special day... Vanuatu style

Hello! It's been a few weeks now since I went to Vanuatu - in fact nearly a month since I got back. But, as promised, I have a few more stories to share yet! And just at Christmas too. The story as I wrote it at the time last left off on a Sunday, when we had gone for a walk to the local church down the road. We were clued in to what would be going on the day after when, as we finished dinner that night, we saw some ladies we didn't know sitting in the backyard trees, picking armfuls of frangipanis. They were picking these flowers to use as decorations, for the celebrations taking place in big blue marquis tent the next day - a tent which had sprung up on the grass, it seemed, in the few minutes we had been distracted. So after bringing all the chairs we could find over to the tent, we called it a day, ready for the next day to come...

DAY 4 - Monday 20th November 2017



It has been a privilege in Vanuatu to see God's provision at every turn, to know more deeply just how faithful our God is. Our God is the God who saves, and every day I see this in beautiful ways; I see God providing for His children, whether for us or for our family in Christ here in Vanuatu. We all love and worship the same God; it is an honour to meet strangers who love God as I do and be able to talk with them and hear their stories.

This morning, after the usual routine and breakfast, people began to arrive for the 150th anniversary of Scripture Union, the celebrations of which were being held at the campsite (Scripture Union is a Christian ministry that began 150 years ago in the UK and today is worldwide).
We headed down to the beach for a while, and some of us climbed trees while others went swimming. We learned the names of some of the kids who had come along to the celebrations and hung out with them at the beach. Then when the guest of honour arrived, it was time to head back up to the big blue marquis tent pitched at the campsite. Just as we reached the grass, a man screamed and ran out in front of us. We all looked a little startled as some more men yelled and blew shells, then realised this was all part of the plan when Albert asked us to sing 'This Little Light of Mine' as we walked up, over the traditional song the men were singing. Then the men did a traditional dance for everyone, singing at the same time. We later found out they were the dance troupe who usually performed at all the tourist hotels, but they had kindly agreed to be part of the celebrations for free I think.


Then we sat down in the tent and sang 'Lord We Lift Your Name on High' with Albert. The tent, despite being just a hired tent, was beautifully decorated. It was artfully strewn with with flowers, colourful bolts of material, and even small trees in pots in true Vanuatu style. An older pastor gave a short devotion on John 15, and then a few different people gave speeches. We heard the story of how the new campsite had come to be - it had been largely destroyed by Cyclone Pam in 2015. But even after everything had been destroyed, the owners still had joy in the hearts, knowing God would provide. People from around the world sent support to help rebuild; a friend from Australia happened to be an architect and became the planner for the rebuilding process... God was moving. Some friends in New Zealand also sent over a shipping container of timber, before the plans had been made, saying 'we're sure it will come in handy'. Now the new buildings are built from this timber, all made to withstand a category 5 cyclone!
The love of these people for God and their community is an inspiration; in everything they say 'to God be the glory'.
After the speeches, the kids did a dance for everyone; then some gifts were given to the people involved in running Scripture Union things. Some gifts were, for example, woven mats - traditionally, these mats seat the family as they share food or teaching or fellowship, so the mats were given as symbolic gifts on behalf of the children of Vanuatu who have been blessed by the work of Scripture Union. Then some woven baskets given as gifts; traditionally you would fill this kind of basket up with water to bring back to your village - but here they were a symbol to 'fill up with good things and the love of God' to bring back to the recipient's 'village'!

A ribbon was cut to officially open the new buildings, after a speech in which they were dedicated to God. That was the end of the official program, and we played games with the kids for a while. Then it was time for a delicious lunch! We also learned the story behind how the celebrations came to be now. They were supposed to be back in July, but that hadn't worked out - but since it ended up being in November it meant us Australians were able to be there too. Then it was raining yesterday, and those organising it began to wonder whether anyone would come at all. But, as Albert said, even if no one came, the glory would go to God. 'We may have plans, but God has the last say!' And in the end, the tent was full.



After talking for a while with various people, including a pastor from the Solomon Islands, we all went swimming down at the beach with the kids and looked at coral. I sat in the shallows for a while, talking with a teenage girl named Jovanna. When the two of us started walking back, we found lots of hermit crabs! I hadn't seen hermit crabs in years. Then I sat on the beach again with Jovanna and another girl named Lilian and talked for a while. All the kids were originally from another island, but lived in Vila. Then the girls started listening to music on their phones, so I began talking to a lady named Daisy. She is 29 and has two daughters, both of whom were there today. She only studied up to year 7; her parents couldn't afford the school fees. She went to sit her final exams in year 7, but they sent her outside because her fees hadn't been paid. She left with tears streaming down her face, and that was the last time she ever went to school. She was married when she was 15. Now she is a cook at a local community school that is partnered with a sister school in Australia; many kids there have their fees paid by the school in Australia. She says being a cook is hard work, but she loves her job because she can talk to all the kids.

She cares very much for her two girls; they are her heart. I asked what would be some things to pray for her and for her community. For herself, she asked prayer for her daughters' education; she didn't want them to end up like her, and she works hard and encourages them to stay in school. For the community, she asked prayer for unity between the churches. Sometimes people in the community have small disagreements that come to stand in the way of unity between brothers and sisters in Christ. So, if you would like to join our brothers and sisters in Vanuatu in prayer, you might pray for love and acceptance between church communities.

After coming back from the beach, I watched everyone else play a game of soccer; then it was time for all the visitors to go home. We had afternoon tea and talked for a while, and then it was time for an afternoon bible study. After discussion groups, encouraging each other as sisters and brothers in Christ, we had dinner (and a cake for the birthday of one of the leaders!). We prepared some of the activities planned for tomorrow, and played a round of the card game Mafia. Then it was time for bed.


...

The next days were to be filled with much joy and laughter and small giggling children, as we had the privilege to be part of running a bible camp for these same kids over the following two days.
Hopefully I will continue the story soon... not that anyone really reads all of these posts haha :P But it's nice to relive the memories while transcribing it all, and I needed a digital copy anyway in case something were to happen to the little starfish notebook I took around everywhere (it's now covered in lots of dirt and the covers are warped from the salty sea air and occasional light rain that fell while I was scribbling things down).
And lastly, I'd better say the obligatory
Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year!

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