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Vanuatu (Torba) Project
 
Update 16th May 2008
 
     
     "To every thing there is...a time."    
Exodus 14:15
 
 
Seizing the Golden Moment
 
 
Greetings again from Remote Northern Vanuatu!
 
How To Stay On Top of Murphy
When flying an aircraft in remote northern Vanuatu, it always pays to make allowances for Murphy's Law: "If anything can go wrong, it will go wrong." What that means is, in practice, Be very careful! Multiple checks and double checks are necessary to stay 'on top of Murphy'. Recently I have developed my own personalized ABCD of flying in remote Vanuatu, especially formulated to work against inevitable old Murphy:
Be Alert-Stay in touch with every sensory input and with everything that's happening-all the time.
Be Brave-Be decisive in every thought and action, then carry the decision all the way through to completion.
Be Calm-Avoid merely reacting to situations; but rather be proactive and act deliberately, calmly and precisely.
Be Diligent-Dont miss any details; make sure that every job is properly done; then double check to see that it was done.
All this is great character-building experience for me. A good pilot must develop all of these 'ABCD' characteristics, 'in case of Murphy'. (You know who Murphy is, dont you?) But these qualities are not only for pilots. Murphy sure gets around, doesnt he? Indeed, sometimes his presence can be so predictable that we expect to meet him at every corner. That's why we all need to be Alert, Brave, Calm and Diligent at all times, in the battle with 'Murphy'.
 
The Golden Moment
Nevertheless, sometimes in life, although dangers abound, 'Murphy' doesnt seem to be on top of things...There are some special moments when we can see clearly that a favorable set of circumstances seems to be prevailing, at least in some areas of life. Its as if we find that Murphy's Law is being overruled, that Satan's power is being held in check-for somehow God's blessing is there-and we know that a golden moment has come.
 
"If anything is accomplished to the purpose, it must be done at the golden moment..."       
Testimonies for the Church Volume 3 p 497
 
Here in Torba Province, Vanuatu, we know that God has set up circumstances for a favorable outcome for His work. Multiple providences that simply could not be explained by chance, suggest that God is in control, and that He is opening up the opportunities necessary to 'Go Forward':
 
"It is the very essence of all right faith to do the right thing at the right time.
God is the great Master Worker, and by His providence He prepares the way for His work to be accomplished.
He provides opportunities, opens up lines of influence and channels of working.
If His people are watching the indications of His providence, and stand ready to co-operate with Him, they will see a great work accomplished.
Their efforts, rightly directed, will produce a hundredfold greater results
than can be accomplished with the same means and facilities in another channel where God is not so manifestly working."
Testimonies for the Church Volume 6 p24

"Long delays tire the angels.
It is even more excusable to make a wrong decision sometimes than to be continually in a wavering position, to be hesitating, sometimes inclined in one direction, then in another.
More perplexity and wretchedness result from thus hesitating and doubting than from sometimes moving too hastily.
I have been shown that the most signal victories and the most fearful defeats have been on the turn of minutes.
God requires promptness of action.
Delays, doubtings, hesitation, and indecision frequently give the enemy every advantage....
The timing of things may tell much in favor of truth.
Victories are frequently lost through delays.
There will be crises in this cause.
Prompt and decisive action at the right time will gain glorious triumphs, while delay and neglect will result in great failures and positive dishonor to God.
Rapid movements at the critical moment often disarm the enemy, and he is disappointed and vanquished,
for he had expected time to lay plans and work by artifice."
Testimonies for the Church Volume 3 p497
 
If we were to be discouraged or disheartened at this time, surely, we would greatly offend our loving God. So clear are the indications of His providence, so ample are the promises of His provision, that we have no choice now but to go forward in faith as He prepares the way before us. We feel constrained and compelled to seize this Golden Moment!
 
Small & Economical Mission Aviation Program Launched
Since our last update, we are thankful to say that God has blessed our recently launched mission aviation program for Torba Province. Although most mission aviation programs are very expensive to set up and operate, our small aviation program is an unusually low-cost operation. Three main reasons why this project has been and continues to be MUCH cheaper to set up and operate than the average mission aviation project are:
  1. The aircraft we were freely donated is almost brand new and came already set up with the right avionics and equipment for the work it will be doing
  2. We are using a 4 seat aircraft (6 seater aircraft such as the Cessna 206 are generally MUCH more expensive to operate)
  3. We are a private, non-commercial operation (commercial level flying is MUCH more expensive in almost every way)
The 2003 model, M7-235B Maule aircraft which was kindly donated last year, was successfully imported and registered here in Vanuatu during February and early March this year. Since that time, the plane has proved to be exceptionally well adapted for our work here:
In a recent email to Jeff Reich, our director in Idaho, I stated, "Jeff I feel constrained to use this plane to the maximum capacity for God's glory, because of the fact that God has provided it so wonderfully. In practical terms that means taking it into bush strips in remote places-where it can do what perhaps no other plane can do to push forward God's work and bring blessings to needy and receptive people."
 
A Search & Rescue Flying Work-Horse with Multiple Safety Systems on Board
It seems very fitting that this plane, which was set up at the Maule aircraft factory in Georgia-USA for search & rescue operations by the original owner, has now been dedicated to searching for and rescuing God's people in remote northern Vanuatu! This area is a challenging place to fly-our biggest challenges are visibility, remote area maintenance and cyclone season. God provided for our special needs before the plane was even known to us...as stated above, it came to us already installed with over US$20,000 worth of avionics which have turned out to make this plane much safer to fly in this setting. I am increasingly convinced that God chose this particular plane for this particular work. I would describe it as 'extremely suitable'. This plane was built for hard work-a real flying work-horse! We are most thankful for God's leading in selecting just the right plane for the work at hand.
 
Thanks Lord for the Flying Work-Horse!
 
The Boat with Wings
We have just returned from western Vanua Lava, the island just north of us. 28 youth and adults joined us for the only annual fellowship event for the SDA church in Torba-District Meeting. Although it rained so heavily during the time of those meetings-more than I can ever remember experiencing in my entire life(!)-the Lord really blessed the fellowship. It is evident that God is working mightily to unite His people to go forward. The trip accross the ocean is always a challenge, and more so when both boats are full to maximum capacity with lots of people and cargo on board. We are always short of outboard motor power-25HP per boat is not really adequate, but where there is a will, there is a way! We managed to persuade a local friend to come and bring his very beaten up old 15HP outboard motor as a backup engine...but unfortunately he forgot to mix 2 stoke oil in his fuel and he ended up seizing his engine! In preparation for the journey, I finally found time to build a wooden frame for the banana boat outriggers which we purchased some months ago, using local namamou wood-a very sturdy hardwood. The two inflatable, torpedo like outriggers (outriggers are called nasama here) attached to our banana boat have created quite a lot of interest in this area. Everyone uses little outriggers on their dug-out canoes in Vanuatu. And there are many banana boats also, but to our knowledge the combination of banana boat and outriggers has never been seen before. They give the banana boat the appearance of having wings, and greatly assist in stabilizing the boat. Our trip to Vanua Lava proved them to be effective and adequate-the trip back was quite rough and the outriggers held up well. We are anticipate that these outriggers will greatly increase our ability to travel safely on the rough seas of Torba Province-another effort to meet the huge challenge of transportation in this territory!
 
7 minutes by air or 7 hours on foot
South-east Gaua is always a challenge to us. The prevailing south-easterly winds drive waves and surf into the small passage through the coral reef, (there is only one 'passage' available) making boat access to this area almost impossible for many months of the year. During our visit, we are always concerned for the boat, because the harbour is not sufficiently sheltered to keep a boat there for any extended period of time. The significantly sized villages in this area are cut off from the outside world and are very poor and disadvantaged. Skin disease and parasite infections abound. But these needy people are also exceptionally receptive to our work. The only access by land to this area is a long, muddy winding path-7 hours of tough walking from our homebase. Recently we flew over the village at only a few hundred feet-the local kids were delighted to get special attention from an aircraft! The journey took only about 7 minutes flight time and I couldnt help thinking of the incredible possibilities which a local bush airstrip could provide. We are looking for an area to put a bush airstrip-which enable us to serve this very needy & receptive area much more effectively with medical care and possibly with some educational help also. The SDA Mission has also appointed a minister to be based in this area who we hope to take by boat later this week if the water is not too rough. By God's grace, His light will shine in this dark community in the not too distant future. Perhaps our donated aircraft will play some role.
 
"[God] has caused that the means of rapid traveling shall have been invented,
for the great day of His preparation."
Ellen G White, Special Testimonies on Education, 1897, Page 7
 
First Emergency Evacuation
STOP PRESS: I just made our first emergency evacuation from Gaua. This morning I was called to see a very sick man on the east side of Gaua. When I got there, I knew at once he needed evacuation. He has a large abscess covering most of his back, and septicemia and heart failure. Still in a critical condition as I write after bringing him down to Santo Hospital. We just did an Xray-Miliary TB to be confirmed tomorrow from pus samples. TB is basically eating his whole chest out. I brought him to the plane in our boat and then travelled with him to Santo. Conditions were very windy and the crosswind here in Santo was very strong and gusty. But God helped me bring the plane down safely and we got him to the hospital in an ambulance. Praise God for the plane. If he had stayed longer in Gaua I think he may not have made it through the night. Condition is stabilized but he is not past the most dangerous period. PRAY FOR HIM. Name is Renal.
 
Matavanga Primary School Plant an Encouraging Success
One exciting happening on Gaua Island, is the recent establishment of a small SDA primary school. We are more convinced that ever that if we are to reach the people of Torba, education has to be at the heart of what we are doing. The best way to develop character is to start with humble, receptive children. This small beginning is a step in that direction, and we are very excited to see the potential for its growth and positive influence. Already the local community have shown unexpected interest and support, and the kids attending the school seem determined to come and enjoy it, in spite of the strict rules we have established! High standards, rather than repelling students, seems to be attracting them-more students than we can handle! Both Naomi and Kay have been heavily involved in assisting the two local teachers to plant this little school with the barest of school supplies and an extremely humble classroom-the old Matavanga SDA Church. This classroom is certainly not adequate, but we have to simply make do. By God's grace we hope to see this small school grow gradually and become a fully fledged primary school that is representative of the Seventh-day Adventist lifestyle, message and mission. We believe that God will provide funding for a small piece of land and building supplies for a fly and build project now in planning for early 2009. Dates will most likely be the last two weeks of January.
 
By Youth For Youth To Reach Youth
Over the last two years we have become increasingly aware that the youth of Torba need plenty of encouragement to make good decisions and follow the right path-and stick with it. Backsliding is universally common. Often, just when you feel you have got really close to someone, they will dramatically backslide and really let you down! Many young people are attracted to our message but are easy preys to temptation and distractions. Although we do try to provide that encouragement for youth ourselves, we know that the best people to lead youth are other youth-noone can reach the young better than another young person. There is a great need of consecrated young people to act as leaders of the youth and to provide a steady positive influence by example. Recently, some youth from Port Vila responded to my invitations to come and help as volunteers in Torba. I had the opportunity of speaking to 3 large congregations in Port Vila-Portoroki, Epouto and Freshwind SDA Churches. Many young people responded to the invitation and four recently actually arrived in Gaua at their own expenses to get involved in youth ministry. The fact that they came means a lot because it is a long way to come, and Torba holds no serious attractions as far as work opportunities or pleasure is concerned. These young people came with a sincere and serious desire to boost God's work here. This has been a tremendous help to Matavanga Church, and their positive influence is already spreading to other islands. We see tremendous potential in encouraging youth to motivate and lead other youth in multiple ways in Torba Province, and plans as to how to do this are just starting to formulate. The three centers of the SDA church in Banks Islands-Matavanga, Vureas Bay and Saranda Churches, all need similar assistance. Please pray for these three churches and that God will send just the right youth to each center to assist the church in developing in a positive and healthy manner.
 
Back to Surgery & Emergencies
Over the last two years I have found it difficult to find time to do much surgery. I have been willing to see almost any patient at almost any time-which has become increasingly burdensome as people have become more aware of my work and as my influence has spread. But our recent move has changed all that. Now I am refusing to see so many minor medical problems, as they can be dealt with by the local nurse. (Our previous location was far away from the local clinic.) Some 'regular' patients have been disappointed with the change but we have had to stick to the decision. I am now trying to focus on a long list of basic or minor surgical cases which I have been neglecting for some time. I have had to make many announcements to clarify to the community that I am now only available for surgery, tooth extractions, significant emergencies, referrals or second opinions, and visiting seriously ill at home. Gradually the concept has been accepted, which is freeing up time for me to visit other islands. My purpose in coming here was to serve multiple different areas, rather than concentrate on one small part of the population or on one island. As I am the only medically/surgically trained person permanently based in the whole province of islands, other than some nurses, I feel that I can contribute more to the province by eliminating and concentrating on surgery, acute care and emergencies-and the aircraft and our new location is now making that a possibility and a necessity. I also particularly enjoy this kind of work-God trained me and built me for it and to me, its more fulfilling for me to be doing what God has called me to do.
 
Why not Eliminate & Concentrate on what God has called you to do?
 
Baby Snaps
Recently we were donated a high tech, extremely portable ultrasound unit. What a blessing it is! This is the only ultrasound in use in Torba Province, and I knew it would prove itself to be especially helpful with taking snaps of babies-that is, in checking out pregnancies, especially pregnancy complications such as breech presentations, transverse lie babies, twins and stillborns, and in detecting fetal distress. Just last week I had to inform a mother that her baby had died in utero, that its head was presenting, that the skull was fractured, that there was definitely no heart beat and that it was a small baby with a bi-parietal head diameter of only 5cm. All of these very helpful facts proved to be accurate when she delivered 6 hours later. I have already used it to check out cysts, gall bladders, livers and enlarged spleens also. Diagnostic equipment like this ultrasound unit are very high value in this remote environment. Most physicians would be totally frustrated by the lack of diagnostic facilities available in Torba, and I know of one volunteer doctor who after coming here, refused to see patients at all because of the almost total absence of diagnostic facilities available-she simply didnt know what to do! The average Australian or American physician would want to refer almost every case to Santo for a blood test or other investigation. All radiology and blood tests except for malaria slides in Torba Province are a case of DIY-Do It Yourself!
 
Thanks Lord for the special gift of the ultrasound.
 
Where Do We Go From Here?
We often have to step back and take a good look at what we are doing to be sure that the Torba Project is really heading in the right direction. Sometimes we do get discouraged, especially when dealing with apathy or backsliding, which is very common here. But in some ways, the hardest part about working here is the seemingly incessant rain, mosquitos, flies, mud, tropical sores, rats, cockroaches, ants. And the remoteness and isolation of our location makes delays, delays and more delays really frustrating at times-mostly because God's work and His people must thereby suffer. We also sometimes accept too much responsibility and find ourselves feeling almost overwhelmed with too many things to do which others could and should be motivated to do! There's no reason why we should be so busy when others simply stand by, watching! But by God's grace its all bearable, and there is an escape route for us:
 
"There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man:
but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able;
but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."
1Corinthians 10:13
 
In spite of the difficulties involved, evidence abounds that GOD IS WITH US..."Emmanuel"! We know that He is blessing, leading, guiding and protecting. Here's a rough summary of the vision we have for Torba:
How You Can Help: Adopt an Island or Center
We have found by experience that our friends and supporters in Australia and the USA are very willing to help with genuine needs. Often the most important role we can fill is that of providing information to link the need with those who can help. For this reason we have come up with a plan. We would like interested helpers to adopt a project. This will enable helpers and supporters to work with us in a focussed manner to achieve a specific goal. We have multiple projects happening and each one is important in its own way. 3 Centers need more thorough development, because of their big influence on the other islands. Then we need multiple small projects to be developed and nurtured in various places:
 
Matavanga Center Project:
This is our local church in Gaua-destined to play a significant role in the future of God's work in Torba. Central to all Gaua, Merig and Merelava islands.
-Church building is now complete
-Rainwater tank and materials minister's housing urgently needed
-Primary need: Land for schoolgrounds ready for purchase-funding needed
-Funding for building materials and volunteers for fly and build for school early 2009 needed
-Basic accomodation needed so that English speaking volunteer student missionaries from USA or Australia can come to teach in the school
-Small solar system and HF teleradio needed
-Two 25HP outboard motors needed for boat in the not too distant future
 
Saranda Center Project:
Saranda is the longest established SDA Church in Torba. The largest population in Torba is on this island-Mota Lava. An important and significant center and central to all Mota Lava, Ureparapara, Mota and East Vanua Lava islands.
-Church building was completed some time ago
-Primary need: Small solar system and HF teleradio needed
 
Vureas Bay Center Project:
Vureas Bay is a well populated area with huge needs and incredible natural resources. This would be a great location for a training facility for youth. Strategically central to the whole Banks Group of islands and central to the whole of Vanua Lava island. Although it is still relatively remote-no public phones or airstrip, it is destined to become a significant center in the future as the population grows.
-Church building materials will be needed in the not too distant future
-Boat and two 25HP outboard motors needed in the not too distant future (Reliable and skilled boat captain is already available)
-Primary need: Bush airstrip needs to be prepared as soon as possible
-Small solar system and HF teleradio needed
 
Dorig (Gaua Island) Project:
Dorig is a small but receptive and extremely poor community in the most remote part of Gaua Island. It is one of the most difficult communities to access. The people of Dorig, Biam and Koro villages are waiting for God's light to shine in their darkness.
-Minister has been provided for this area
-Small church building under construction-more help needed with some materials
 
Merelava Island Project:
Merelava is in some ways the toughest island to live on in Torba. It is a volcano with very little flat space. Gardens and plantations are grown on its steep slopes by hardworking people. It has a large population of cheerful, receptive, physically active but poor people. Merelava is an island that is very close to our hearts.
-Minister now working in Merelava
-Materials for small church building now needed
 
Torres Islands Project:
Still in its infancy, this project is to us, totally unforgettable and unignorable. These islands are the most remote in Vanuatu, and who knows what the future holds for them?
 
Youth Ministry Project:
We are now in contact with two SDA teams of youth-one group in Port Vila and also a branch of their group who are volunteering, at their own expenses, to assist us in Torba Province. These youth are aspiring and fruitful. The Port Vila team have lead out in programs that have led to hundreds of baptisms over the last few years.
-These youth are in need of some portable sound and audiovisual equipment as their previous equipment was destroyed by a group of Catholic villagers.
-The group in Torba are also in need of similar equipment which would boost their effectiveness in this very needy area.
 
Media & Translation Projects:
-'God's Love' Bible Study Folders for Ministers and Bislama Sabbath Tract Project now completed and being distributed
-Funding for two more Bislama tracts is now needed
-A big but potentially influential project: Vanuatu SDA Mission is aspiring to establish a Hope Channel TV rebroadcasting station in Port Vila.
 
 
A Pause for THANKSGIVING...
 
Again, we want to PRAISE GOD using others to help us:
DVD Videos Now Available from Laymen Minstries, Idaho-checkout www.lmn.org
All We Need-Our Only Need: God With Us...
We all know that anything or many things can go wrong at any time, as they often do.
Life often seems so frail, and the outcome of events often seems so completely beyond our control.
But if only we can know this one thing-and be sure of it-that GOD'S PRESENCE IS WITH US-that will be enough.
That assurance will see us through.
If God is for us, seriously, who can be against us? Romans 8:31.
For greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world. 1John 4:4.
Please pray that God's presence will continue to be 'with us', 'in us', 'for us' and 'through us'...Emmanuel...this is all we ask, all we need and our only need.
Thank you for your interest in the Vanuatu Project.
 
Mark Turnbull
Laymen Ministries Volunteer,
Vanuatu Mission of Seventh-day Adventists
 
Pioneering Matavanga SDA School
By Naomi
 
How do you start a school with nothing but a few books, pencils, and a few inexperienced, yet willing teachers?
 
Well, it has been tough, but the Lord has seen us through this first term successfully. On the 1st of May we had our end-of-term program where all the parents came and the children received their first report card.  We expected that there would be just a small attendence, since we only have 24 students in the school.  In spite of the rain which disrupted our program and forced us to relocate in the church, we were surprised to see quite a lot of people from the local community, who don't have any children in our school, had come to see, hear and taste that the Lord is good. It turned out to be a great opportunity to share publicly the principles of true Christian education. More than half of the students in this little school are from non-SDA families, and few of them come from families that are leaders of other denominations.
 
Most of the parents were pleasantly surprised that their children received a nicely printed school report, instead of the usual hand-written report on a piece of paper which is customary here. Thanks to those who have kindly assisted us with equipment such as a generator, computer and printer which makes this possible!  
 
Another thing that was different about the reports given out was that they had a section on character development, and were an honest report of how we have been training the children in the areas of obedience, honesty, diligence etc. Instead of announcing who came first, second, third in the class, we encouraged the parents to inspire their children to compete against their own record.  If they received a B grade in Maths this term, encourage them to strive to get a B+ or an A for next term. The spirit of competition here in Vanuatu is very strong, and we are trying to curb it into a healthy form by encouraging a striving for excellence in character development.
 
Some of the students that have transferred from other schools wanted to attend our school so badly that they were willing to go back to grade one again, although they were supposed to be in grade three or four. Some of these students have been out of school for several years, due to a lack of funds for school fees. So we have a very mixed group in our grade one, with students ranging from 6 yrs up to 12 yrs of age!
 
The average school fees here in Gaua for Kindy and grade 1 are about $5:00 US per term for each student. Since most families on this island have many children, anywhere from 4 - 10, they struggle to pay school fees for all their children. Some will inevitably miss out, and just spend the rest of their lives cutting copra, washing clothes, working in the gardens and fishing. There is still a large portion of the population that is illiterate, and often the parents don't really seem to think that education for their children is really all that important after all, especially for girls.
 
I am saddened as I go to church each Sabbath and see how many of the mothers just sit and listen, without being able to read the Bible for themselves.  They have done very well to memorize all the hymns (at least the first and last verses anyway). The only spiritual food they get is what they hear at church, or if their husband or children happen to read something to them during the week. So, the need for a school to teach our young people how to read the Bible for themselves, and how to develop the kind of characters that God is wanting to take to heaven, is very real.
 
Since we don't have a school principal or headmaster as yet, I have found myself doing a lot of administration. This is something I have never done before, but I am thankful for the good counsel from the book Christian Education, and others like it. These books, and a lot of prayer for wisdom have helped me a lot. I am also thankful for the way the Lord has been leading me in the past, and preparing me for this role. Since our daughter Kay was about 6 1/2 yrs old, I have been teaching her at home. Often I thought of joining some home-school program that had the curriculum all planned and easy to follow. But every time I thought seriously about it, I didn't feel completely happy with some parts of the curriculum, or the price wasn't right, or the demands were more than I felt we could cope with.  Now I see that God was making me feel that way, so that I would have to struggle and search for the best methods of teaching and the very best teaching materials, and learn how to do my own administration and keep my own records etc.  Without such a background, I think I wouldn't have taken on this new responsibility of pioneering a school!  I am reminded of a little quote that has often been a source of encouragement to me: 
"God never leads His children otherwise than they would choose to be led, if they could see the end from the beginning, and discern the glory of the purpose which they are fulfilling as co workers with Him."  Desire of Ages p224.
 
We are looking forward to the day when we have desks and chairs for the teacher and students, storage space for some school supplies that have come from Australia, a classroom with proper walls that keeps out the wind, rain and dust, a toilet that has proper walls and a door, and a tap with running water to wash dirty little hands!  In the meantime, we are making small improvements as we can, and praying that God will continue to supply all our needs as He has always done in the past.
 
Thank you for your continued prayers and support.
 
Current needs for the school project are:
Properly trained, committed teacher/principal for next year (starting February)
Purchase of a suitable piece of land to build classrooms ready for next year
Funds for buying building materials to build classrooms
Furniture for the school - desks, chairs, bookshelves or cupboards
Proper water supply and bathroom facilities
School uniforms (Austrlian supporters: contact Gaye James in Queensland Australia on rgjames@winshop.com.au  if you would like to find out more about uniforms) 
Books on character-development such as those produced by Basic Life Institute
Christian Readers - Kindy or Grade one level
 
Annual District Meeting & Showers of Blessings
 
We have just returned from our annual District Meeting - which is really a campmeeting for all the church members to come together in Torba Province.
 
This time the island just north of Gaua, called Vanualava was the venue for the program. Church members came from Motalava, Gaua and other parts of Vanualava, and our guest speakers were from the mission office in Santo and Vila.
 
We had good weather to travel across, which was a great blessing. We took two boat loads (28 people in all) from Gaua to the meetings this time, which is the first time so many people from Gaua have been able to travel to a district meeting.  Many times these district meetings are not well attended due to the difficulties encountered in trying to travel from one island to another.  Once we arrived, however, the rain was incredible during the whole week we were there, barely stopping for an hour or two then continuing again through the days and nights.  I don't think we have ever experienced so much rain in one week! 
 
All the rain made walking to and from the meetings rather tricky. It was very difficult to walk from the school buildings where we were sleeping, up the hill to the church, without getting very wet and muddy, or even sliding on the slippery ground.  Fortunately we had remembered to bring our umbrellas, but that didn't help much with the sticky mud flicking up onto our clothes from our thongs (Flip-flops for those in the US).
 
While the meetings were in progress, someone had to be constantly pushing the tarpaulin to get the excess water to run off before it became to heavy. At one point during the meetings, I was sitting near the edge of the tarpaulin when the rope tying it up suddenly gave way due to the weight of rain collected on it. I was sitting in just the right spot to get very wet, along with a few other people!  The program just continued, with the speaker needing to almost yell to be heard above the noise of the downpour on the tin roof.
 
Have you ever been asked to help cater for a campmeeting, and felt a bit daunted at the idea?  The cooks in charge of our recent district meeting had incredible challenges to face. They had no gas or electric stoves, no microwave ovens, no refrigerators, and just an open-air make-shift table made out of corrugated iron on a stand, with a large fire on the ground. Finding enough dry wood to cook with was a big task, but surprisingly they managed to do it. Since the cyclone hit in January, the food supply has been scarce for most families in Torba, so having around 50-60 extra mouths to feed for 5 days was a real concern.  Another trial they faced was that the ships carrying basic supplies to these islands had not come to Vanualava for the past few months, so all the little "stores" had completely run out of salt, rice, flour, sugar and other things they had hoped to have for the meetings. Some of the men then walked 3 hours to Sola, the Provincial Capital, crossing 12 rivers which were running swiftly due to all the heavy rain.  When they got to Sola they discovered that all the rice had been sold, and only managed to come back with some rock salt.  Another trial they faced was a lack of clean water. The header tank up the hill in the main village is not enough to supply the needs of everyone for a full day. So the water usually runs for about an hour or two each morning, then they cut it off for the rest of the day until the tank fills up again. Many mornings we had no water at all, since the population up in the other village drained it all before our community received any. After heavy rains the supply pipe often gets washed out of place or filled up with debris, and that also adds to the problem.  So we had to appoint people to take buckets to the little stream nearby to collect water for drinking and cooking. Fortunately, the stream was pure and comes down from a mountain where there are no people to defile the water upstream. We were also able to catch lots of rain water in buckets, which was a great help. Before we located the salt, young boys were sent down to the beach to get buckets of sea-water for cooking (this is a common practice here in Torba where people are very self-reliant and don't waste money on buying salt when the ocean is full of it!).  The Lord blessed the manioc (cassava), water taro, yams and other island vegetables that local people donated for our use, and no-one went hungry. I'm sure most could have enjoyed eating more, but we all survived and were satisfied.
 
As for bathroom facilities, we had a pit toilet with a door for the girls. The boys had no door on theirs, but it faced the other direction towards the bush.  We didn't have any showers or a bathroom as such. We all went down to another river near the school to have our daily "swim" and wash our clothes. That was fine until Friday afternoon, when the river become coffee coloured from all the heavy rain washing the top soil into the river. That same morning, the torrential rains were so severe that the brown water streaming down into the ocean via multiple rivers discolored the ocean for about 2 miles out to sea! Thats how much mud and rain was around! 
 
On the Friday afternoon we met with all the lay-ministers and pastors, and distributed the "God's Last Message of Love" Bible Study Guide folders to them.  They were very happy to receive this valuable teaching aid, and wish to convey their thanks to Adrian Ebens and the South Queensland Conference for making this possible. This was also a good time to find out what they are in need of to help them in their work. Most of them mentioned that many of their church members still do not have hymnbooks.  So if you happen to have a hymnbook that you no longer need, please think about sending it to us to share with those who need one. Please contact us first about the best way to get it to us.
 
During the district meeting I also had the opportunity to catch up with some of the Children's Ministries leaders, and have made plans to distribute some of the materials I have here in Gaua.  Right now I have an excess of supplies, and will be glad to share what I have. Some of these leaders hold branch Sabbath schools in different villages each week, others are just starting Adventurers and others just need Sabbath school pamphlets and pictures/felts to help them teach a class.  One of the challenges facing Sabbath school teachers here in Torba province is being able to get lesson pamphlets.  Some of the people on these islands only earn about $10.00 for a hard day's work, and that is also dependent upon when the ships come to pay for their copra. A lot of other people don't earn much at all. So for them to pay $9.00 for a Sabbath school pamphlet every quarter (for one child) and another $2.50 for a pamphlet for the adults, plus school fees and other expenses that they have, just isn't realistic.  What usually happens is that the teacher gets a pamphlet to teach from, but all the families go without pamphlets.  So I have been asking friends to send their used pamphlets to me (Beginners - Junior) and I am distributing them around the churches and small companies. When I have enough I give one to each family to have for family worship in their homes. I will be needing more in the future if anyone would like to send some.
 
Here are some statistics about Torba Province for those of you who may be interested:
Torba Province is made up of 13 inhabited islands, with a total population of approximately 10,000 people. (Many families have children born at home, and do not register them, so numbers are very appoximate here!)
The Seventh-day Adventist church currrently has 13 churches/companies on 6 of the inhabited islands.
Torres Islands have no Seventh-day Adventist Churches, congregations or members apart from a teacher and a dresser who are both from other islands.
Total SDA membership as of May 2008 is 279 members (many of whom are not well-grounded). Backsliding is universally common.
 
Naomi Turnbull
Volunteer Missionary
Vanuatu
 
Overcoming Challenges in Youth & Children's Ministry
By Kay
 
The last few months have been busy with teaching and helping to keep the little school running that we started at the beginning of the school year. I have been very involved with teaching during the first term. In some ways it has been quite a challenge for me, not having the right books to teach from and also not having experience with teaching in a school. But I have realized that there isn't a better place to learn than on the job. I have learned so much while teaching these last three months. I have learned to have patience when things don't go the way you want them to. We have had a lot of challenges with keeping order in the class-room because the children have very little, if any discipline in their own homes. The parents don't seem to know how to discipline their kids properly. Some even throw stones at their kids and hit them with sticks but the kids still don't always obey! The result is that the kids don't respect their parents; they fear them instead. So when they come to school they don't always listen to us when we try to reason with them. We have had some very stubborn kids that we have had to deal with, but we have prayed a lot about it and with God's help we have overcome a lot of troubles that were arising. When we first started school we only had a couple of students in Kindy and a couple in class one. Now we have 11 students in Kindy and 13 in class one. So the numbers are growing. Teaching has had many challenges for the two teachers, myself and Mum (who has been an administrator), during this first term. I know that all of us who have been leading out in the school have had so many blessings and we have all grown spiritually. I would like to appeal to every young person to take hold of all your opportunities. If God opens the door for you to do something for Him, go ahead in faith and do it. Even if you have never had any experience in what you have been called to do, don't worry - God will teach you on the job. Take every opportunity that God gives you and don't be afraid to be a leader. Please pray for the school to continue to go ahead in faith. We have already seen Satan trying hard to disturb God's plans for the school and distract the teachers from their work. But we all know that God has more power and will overrule. Please especially pray that the teachers will not fall into Satans hands.
 
Last month a few young people came from Port Vila to volunteer their help up here in Torba. They have been a great boost to the church. They have encouraged the young people to work together and pray more. Recently, we had a youth revival week of prayer. It was a great encouragement to all of us. Last week 28 church members (mostly youth) went with us to a nearby island, where we enjoyed a 5 day District Meeting or camp meeting. Some youth came from other islands as well. There was a really good spirit present and the theme was "Working together in Unity". It seemed so appropriate for the time, especially since there has been some disunity in the church on that particular island. At the end it seemed that everyone wanted to unite and work together for God to reach the Torba islands. Just since we have come back from district meeting, in the last few days we have seen the youth tempted, and it is always a constant battle to keep unity amongst them. Please pray for the youth of Torba that they will stand up for truth and will become leaders.
 
Kay Turnbull
Volunteer Missionary
Vanuatu
 
 
 
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