As our second year as missionaries is drawing  to a close, and we  are returning to Australia for a break. We would like to say thank you to everyone who has visited this weblog, prayed for us, encouraged us, and financially supported us along the way.

We have enjoyed sharing our journey with you through our weblog. We trust you have enjoyed a glimpse of our busy but rewarding life here in Vanuatu.

We could not have achieved everything we have done without you all, so together  we can say “LOOK WHAT THE LORD HAS DONE!”

We trust you all have a happy time celebrating the birth of “our Saviour Jesus” with your family and friends, and we look forward to sharing  the next part of our journey with you when we return to Vanuatu  on 27th January 2010.

The AOG churches on Efate Island gathered together for the Closing Combined at Saama Village  on the North of the island. The ladies from Bethany Family Worship Centre put on a beautiful meal for all. The church year ends with an official closing and all the departments close until February so people can return to their home islands over the Christmas break.

There was a steady drizzle but that did not dampen the peoples enthusiasm. This was the last combined for the year, the theme for 2009 was “Pentecostal Explosion”.  There were choir items, testimonies, and the main speaker talked about unity amongst our brothers and sisters in Christ. At the end of the evening, men, women and children came together in unity, praising and worshiping God.

45 boys and girls came to the party at Ekoftau Family Worship Centre. These children had been faithful in their attendance over the past year, may coming for the past two years since the Good News Outreach started. During this time they have grown in their love for Jesus and their understanding of His love for them.

The children formed small groups and recited memory verses, sang songs, and shared what learning about Jesus meant to them.

These children live in a squatters settlement, so the party was a big event for them. Mumma’s from the church cooked a nourishing meal for them. Each child received either a Children’s bible or a bible story book that was generously donated by a sponsor in Brisbane. It is the generosity of people that allows us to bless so many people.

Sunday afternoon seven students graduated from Joy Bible Institute. This was the culmination of 3 years of study.

Hundreds of people gathered at Pango Family Worship Centre to help them celebrate this important occasion.

These students have worked very hard and are looking forward to their future ministry opportunities.

Clovis will be pioneering a new AOG church on South Santo, Ps Jack will be returning to his Church on Malekula, well equipped to teach his people, Alick will be moving to Lamen Bay on Epi to start a new AOG church. Jill and Ronneth will be returning to Pentecost to work in the Church of Christ, Rinnett is travelling around the  various Islands as an Evangelist, Florah will be joining her Evangelist father on his mission trips.

The students represented many islands in Vanuatu, they were from Pentecost, Ifira, Efate, Epi, Melakula and Banks islands.

For us, it has been a joy to be part of the lives of these students for the past two years.

26  Royal Ranger boys and girls of Tanoliu village made salvation wristbands  as part of their activities on Sunday afternoon. They used black, red, white, green and yellow beads threaded on leather stapping. This exercise was a fun time with the older children helping the younger children with the threading.  Some of the parents watching joined is as well and made their own bracelet.

They learnt how to explain the salvation story by using the coloured beads.  These children are going to wear their wristbands to the village school on Monday to share the Good News with their friends.

UPDATE:

Last night (17th November) The  Pastor who is also the  Royal Ranger Commander of this group shared at our leadership the next part of this story. The  Sunday after he asked for testimony from the children about what happened when they wore their Salvation wristbands  to school. Many gave testimony that they were able to share with their friends the plan of Salvation, some even had the opportunity to share with their teacher.

This Pastor is also a teacher at a French School, he shared with us that using the Salvation wristand that he had made  he was able to witness to the teachers at his school. He also used it in his parent teacher interviews, when talking about the students problems, and point the parents to Jesus.

We will be making more of these as we travel around the various groups next year. What a way to empower children to witness.