Royal Rangers was launched on Tanna island last Saturday 16th May. A full day of training for 8 leaders from 5 different churches, a trial run of the program with a few boys who had come along to watch, and everything was ready for our first night the following Monday.
On Monday afternoon 34 excited boys came after school to New Life church in Lenakel for the first outpost meeting. This meeting gave the new leaders a chance to put into practice what they learned on the Saturday.
It was 5.45 pm when Rangers finished, and some of the boys had a 2 hour walk home in the dark, without a torch back to their villages in the mountains. The leaders are thinking of running Royal Rangers on Saturday morning each week. The plan is to consolidate this group first, then key leaders will take some of the boys and plant outposts out in the villages.
This group of leaders worked really well together as a team, each leader playing a part in the program.
Pre Meeting Activity, was run by Jimmy. He had the boys racing to various places around the church in search of lollies he had hidden.
Opening Parade, Tom confidently taught the boys the Royal Ranger Pledge.
Games, Daniel had the boys rolling around on the ground with laughter, they had so much fun.
Meeting Feature, Joe taught the boys about their unique fingerprints. They all recorded their thumb print and compared them.
Devotion, Johna gave an excellent devotion using a tube of Colgate toothpaste. One boy emptied the toothpaste out onto a plate, then tried to put it back into the tube. He couldn’t. Our words are like that, they come out easily, but do not go back in. He talked about watching what we say.
Closing Parade, Tom finished off the outpost meeting with prayer.
34 very excited boys went home looking forward to the next outpost meeting.
