Saturday there was a working bee to pour the footings for the Guest Accommodation at Joy Bible Institute. Heavy rain punctuated the frantic pace of mixers, shovels, wheelbarrows, trowels and lively talk. Crushed coral is used in Vanuatu as the coarse part of concrete instead of blue metal. Russell cooked up a batch of pancakes that were included in their luncheon. Russell enjoys any chance he gets of connecting with these men. This is all happening some 40 feet behind our apartment.
Australian and New Zealand Ex-pats gathered together at 5.30 am to celebrate ANZAC day. This was followed by a breakfast put on by both High Commissions. This type of celebration takes on a whole new meaning when we are living outside our home country.
Exams are over and the students are at our apartment relaxing over coffee and watching a Bill Gaither Video.
Some of the kinder children with their teachers at Rainbow school. They had just had the story drawn for them with pastels about “Jisas i blesem ol pikinini” the children were spell bound as the drawing unfolded. Without all the modern entertainment and tools that the western world has, these children are fascinated by the simple ministry tools we use.
The grade 1 children are reciting poems with actions with their teacher Mrs Ruth. The school uses all home made teaching aids and is very resourceful making do with what we in Australia would throw out.
Ekoftau is a squatter settlement not far from town. The children do not go to school as school costs money. There is no welfare in Vanuatu.
Robyn has teamed up with two friends to work with these children. Ginger the puppet was a real hoot, the children kept touching and feeling him. It didn’t take much for him to get them laughing. Robyn used the flannelgraph to tell the story of creation. They were facinated by the colourful presentation. There is a real joy to be had when teaching such beautiful children. They are so happy with so little.
