Friday 12 May 2017

Solomons Stories

Did you miss me? There was a little pause after Easter...

little paws
... and then I went to Honiara and surrounding areas for a week. Here's the report: well, some of it anyway. Enjoy!

Narrative Report on a visit to the Solomon Islands 

Dates:              2-9 May 2017

Purpose:         
  • · to connect with past and current PTCEE SI students of all denominations
  • · to meet and liaise with Fr Anderson Saefoa (ACOM) who offers student co-ordination for PTCEE locally, predominantly through the Anglican network
  • · to hear opinions from those ‘on the ground’ about PTCEE’s relevance – or otherwise - for their circumstances as they exercise contextual discipleship, mission and ministry
  • · to introduce, explain and advocate for PTCEE, as and when appropriate
Tuesday 2nd May

I flew Fiji Airways to Honiara and was met in the afternoon by Fr Anderson Saefoa of the ACOM who has particular responsibility for its Liturgical Commission. PTCEE has reason to be very grateful to Fr Anderson as he has for some years now acted as a co-ordinator for PTCEE students in ACOM and other Churches in SI. His role is not easy because some students ‘slip through the net’ or choose to communicate directly with PTCEE Suva. There is frequent liaison between our offices and we are grateful that, apart from assisting with these practical logistics, Fr Anderson ‘flies the flag’ enthusiastically for ecumenical, extension education and has encouraged many students, also supporting them financially from a small ACOM dedicated budget when available.

With Fr Saefoa and Br Jonathan


I stayed at the Chester Rest House, up a hill in central Honiara, which is run by the Melanesian Brotherhood. Brother Jonathan Lokumana who serves as the Rest House Receptionist is a PTCEE student so it was good to encounter him on arrival. Like so many, he has a full daily load in life and it is hard to find time for study. I joined in the prayer and worship of All Saints Parish Church very near the Guest house as much as the programme permitted.



Wednesday 3rd May

Having been informed there was a Eucharist at 6 at All Saints Parish Church, just below the Guest House, I arose in the dark and stumbled around negotiating grassy paths and crumbling stone steps to find the Church entrance. After 30 mins of private prayer in an empty church, and as the sun was then up, I concluded that there was probably no morning Eucharist on Wednesdays and indeed discovered later that ‘6’ meant 6.00pm!  However, it was beautiful to pray in the stillness.

I had a morning meeting with Fr Anderson, swapping notes on student details and progress. We talked about the week and planned for a gathering of Honiara students on Friday evening or Saturday morning; a visit to the Sisters of the Church at their ‘Hill of Prayer’ – Tetete ni Kolivuti, where two Sisters are studying PTCEE courses as part of their formational programme, and a visit to Bishop Patteson Theological College, Kohimarama when convenient to the Principal. Fr Anderson kindly agreed to work on these arrangements and we further agreed that travel to other islands would not be attempted in this short visit, though I would like to visit again and be based on that occasion in Munda/Gizo at the United Church HQ. I made contact with the United Church through the offices at Wesley United Church in the city centre, speaking with administrator Pagasa Havea and leaving PTCEE information. 


I also spoke with Pastor Moses Omearo Samo, at the neighbouring South Seas Evangelical Church (SSEC) and left information. 

In the afternoon, I had a longer meeting over tea with Rev Mareta Tabe Tahu, (pictured right) Superintendent minister of the United Church, Honiara Circuit. Originally from Kiribati, she has wide pan-Pacific and ecumenical experience and is a great champion of women’s ministry with many stories to share. She offered enthusiastically to take PTCEE information to the Circuit Meeting and promote.

At 6.00pm I attended the All Saints Parish Eucharist and was glad to meet the Rector Fr Moffat Selo and Assistant Rector Fr Stewart B. Taugenga. They particularly enquired about whether a Master of Theology degree was available by Extension and felt there would be great interest. Fr Stewart may pursue the BD. A particular concern for them was lack of books and theological resources in the SI and I was asked, ‘Can we order books through PTCEE?’ We talked about book purchase being problematic for our office too and talked about the benefits of online resources, if internet is available. Clearly the latter is still patchy and prohibitively costly in SI in 2017. Br Jonathan shared that for Chester Rest House to install WiFi they would need to pay SBD 4000 a month, (FJD 1052). Data for mobiles is considerably cheaper as at May 2017: eg. SBD 20 for 360MB.

At All Saints with its stupendous mural of the Melanesian 'cloud of witnesses'
Thursday 4th May

There is potential for more PTCEE engagement with Religious Orders and so I was glad to share with the indigenous Anglican order Sisters of Melanesia, meeting Sister Glender Hapwava and former Sister Margaret Sade.  Nearby, the RC Daughters of Mary Immaculate (DMI) were keen to share information with their Superior and saw a role for PTCEE Certificate courses within formational studies. I met Sisters Susana Lopoie, Odilia Luhukolo and Nellie Arepuru.


I went to the ANZ bank in Honiora’s new and shiny Hyundai Mall – much publicised – to exchange money and ended up speaking for a while about PTC and PTCEE to the foreign exchange manager: such are God’s ways… He knows Suva from ANZ training courses he has attended there and would be interested to visit PTC if in Suva again. I left course details and Conch Shell as usual. 

Back at Wesley United Church it was great to meet Rev Benjamin Pitakoë who was formerly Chaplain at Helena Goldie hospital in Munda. While there he had developed courses on spiritual development for nurses, and remains keen on training for chaplaincy, even though the United Church has now stationed him back in a Church appointment. Is there a place for a Pacific generated ‘Introduction to Chaplaincy’ module in the PTCEE curriculum, he asked? A good question. Rev Benjamin will send the course material he developed to us to have a look at. He is interested to pursue the BD and I left information. The Youth Coordinator for Honiara Circuit, Mr Philip Lipa also expressed interest in Certificate courses.


 Friday 5th May

I spent most of the morning with catechist Mostyn Manetavua who has just completed his Certificate. I asked his permission to interview him for use in a future Conch Shell.

V: Mostyn it’s a joy to meet you and congratulations on finishing the final hurdle for the Certificate. Tell me a bit about yourself and your family please?

M: Well, I’m a married man and my wife is Annie. We have four children: Ellison Manebosa, Grace Seripa, Wilfred Lewa and Mason Sukulu.

V: Your children’s indigenous names come after their Christian names?

M: We prefer to use our baptismal names.

V: Where’s your Parish?

M: I’m a Catechist at Christ the King, Komulonga, Diocese of Guadacanal. My father was the Catechist before me and ten households came together to build the Christ the King church. It’s about 2 hours away from Honiara and the Parish is actually called Thathibokoighobu meaning ‘the one in the middle’.

V: What’s your ministry as a Catechist?

M: I say morning and evening prayer, assist the Priest and preach, but most of all it is to make sure our people are reminded of the Word of God every day.

V: You say, ‘reminded of the Word of God…’  So, what is it in your opinion that people need to be reminded of particularly?

M: We need to remind them not to do things that spoil themselves: using marijuana, smoking, mixing home brew…

V: …but some people say that’s just what the missionaries imposed: making things that would have been OK in the community forbidden and that people have been indoctrinated in an unhelpful way…

M: …oh but I have seen things: these things that destroy the brain and destroy families. Houses have been burnt down because of these things, and what we call abuse takes place too much. It is necessary to remind people all the time, ‘Don’t spoil yourselves. Live in a good way – God’s way’. We know what we know.

V: Is it OK to ask how you make ends meet? Are you and the family farming?

M: Yes, we grow cabbage, beans and paw paw among other things. We grow crops for our food. Sometimes I find transport and bring produce to market and if it’s a good day we might gain SBD 500.

V: Now that’s interesting for me to hear because a PTCEE course is SBD 570 now – so the price in a cash economy is just a little over one good day at the market! Or two reasonably good days? Are the courses affordable? We’re always trying to survey students and make reasonable decisions about cost. What do you think?

M: Well, it’s not easy, but we can manage if we are committed… and if there are some sponsored courses, that really helps us…

V: …yes, we offer every fourth course free, when someone has completed three successfully. So it’s not individual sponsorship, but a helping hand to everyone who’s committed.

M: Yes, if we are committed God helps us. That is true.

V: Mostyn, I also would love to ask you to speak – from your heart – about whether PTCEE courses are really of practical use to you as a Catechist in the rural Solomon Islands.

M: Well, what I can say is that before doing PTCEE I didn’t know how to talk to people in the right way about the faith and I didn’t have confidence to preach. The courses have really helped to give me that confidence in the community. The way I see it, we are always fighting for the Kingdom of God and in some way I can say PTCEE courses help me fight for the Kingdom and build the Kingdom on earth even as we wait for it in heaven.

V: Amen, Brother Mostyn!

M: Yes, Director (laughs). Amen!


Early Friday afternoon I sorted e-mails and desk work, then at 5.00pm attended a service at Wesley United Church to celebrate the 112th anniversary of the arrival of the Church on Choiseul. It was very humbling to meet Rev Leslie Boseto (aged 84) and Marama Hazel who sang and shared. 


Rev Leslie has been working on new translations of hymns into the language of the Lauru people. We only had a short time to speak over refreshments, but it was good to hear his passion for the unity of God’s people still strong. Rev Leslie was the first indigenous Moderator of the United Church of PNG and the Solomon Islands and President of the Pacific Conference of Churches from 1986-1991. He was also the first Pacific Islander to be elected as one of the World Council of Churches’ Presidents, 1991-98. I remember being aware of his ecumenical significance when in Zambia during the 1990s and was absolutely thrilled to meet him.

It was unusual and thought-provoking for me to witness a Powerpoint presentation on mission history presented as an integral part of the worship service. Mr Donald Kudu recounted the significant moments of Choiseul’s mission past with gratitude and respect, paying particular attention to the costly witness of Fijian and Samoan missionaries.



Saturday 6th May

I joined the All Saints’ Parish Mothers’ Union for a morning Eucharist at 8am, greeted the meeting in the Church Hall afterwards, shared about PTCEE and left information. Predictably, various reactions were, ‘We didn’t know we could do these courses!’ Mothers’ Union again could be a valuable Pacific network for PTCEE.

Thanks to Fr Anderson’s kind organisation, I met with four PTCEE students in the morning: Florence Gau from Christ the King Parish, Gilbert Camp, Honiara. Her ministries involve Mothers’ Union, youth and Sunday School as well as being a companion of the Melanesian Brotherhood. Ivin Ohigita from Vura Parish who is active in Men’s Fellowship work. Sister Noelyn Elisabeth Vuta from the Community of the Sisters of the Church also attended with Sister Catherine Rosa Taherikeni of the same order. Both are doing PTCEE studies nominated by the Order as part of their formational programme. 


We spent a useful morning as they shared challenges and joys which included: inadequate access to reading and resource material beyond what is sent with the course book; that some mentors exist in name only and don’t encourage student progress; that language, grammar and expression in some course materials could be improved to make sure that the English is as accessible as possible; that internet access is a boon when people have it. We looked at StudyLight.org as a key resource.

I was asked for study tips and concentrated on 3 areas: (a) working little by little in bite sized chunks (like a caterpillar chewing a leaf!) doing one exercise each day rather than being overwhelmed by the whole course; (b) breaking the habit of mentally obsessing on ‘Is this right or wrong?’ before writing anything – to have confidence in yourself as an experienced Christian to think and respond; (c) embracing study as a spiritual exercise, to be prayed over and considered part of vocation: believing God has called you to this and will equip. After discussion and morning tea I asked each to offer a word of encouragement to other students in the Pacific.
  
Catherine: Take time and make time to study God’s Word – little by little

Florence: Have a strong determination to move forward in spite of your challenges

Ivan: Do not fail to do your studies regularly

Noelyn: Be fruitful and keep persevering until the end

Fr Anderson: Know that your studies are a vocation: a call.

Sunday 7th May

On Saturday afternoon I was taken for an overnight stay to Tetete ni Kolviti which is the ‘Hill of Prayer’ for the Community of the Sisters of the Church. It is very rural and extremely peaceful. A school retreat was taking place too so it was a joy to have Year 6 of King George VI College in Honiara lead the Mass with their Chaplain Fr Nicholas.


Dogs are welcome at the TNK Eucharist.....


The Provincial Superior for the CSC from earlier this year is Rev Sister Veronica Vasethe who has been serving as an Anglican Priest in London (St Andrew’s Ham Common) since her training at Trinity Bristol and ordination in Southwark Cathedral. The Anglican Church of Melanesia does not ordain women and so Sr Veronica only has permission to exercise a priestly function within her own Order – and in the Church of England. It was fascinating and fruitful to talk with her and PTCEE will hold her in our prayers. She is enthusiastic about the promotion of courses. After Sunday Mass I was able to have one to one tutorials with Sister Catherine and Sister Noelyn and look at their work so far. I returned to central Honiara late afternoon on Sunday and walked by the jetty at sunset.

With the retreatants at TNK - spot the Director...


Monday 8th May
I visited, with Fr Anderson, Bishop Patteson Theological College Kohimarama and had a meeting with the Principal Revd Dr Atkin Zaku. Dr Atkin and I had previously met at a SPATS accreditation worship held in PTC in 2015. We talked about collegial collaboration and how best PTCEE might cooperate with some distance learning provision which now operates out of BPTC. I learned that the ‘distance learning’ operates in reality as a taught programme by the staff of BPTC who travel one and a half hours each way three times a week to St Nicholas’ College, Honiara to teach evening classes for laity and potentially help to fast track ordinands, as residential provision is so limited. It is a huge commitment in terms of staff time, transport and budget that St Nicholas has become a kind of satellite campus three evenings a week but at the same time, offers provision to those who have no residential opportunity. It is an interesting choice that BPTC has made.

I spoke to the Principal about how PTCEE would love to have indigenous, Melanesian generated material for new and developing courses and wondered if BPTC staff might like to write? After all, if PTCEE can help to share ‘good things’ through courses across Oceania so that expertise across the region is shared and different indigenous perspectives celebrated, then it would seem the benefits are for all. That is what ecumenical co-operation is all about. I was encouraged that the Principal felt we had ‘covered a lot of helpful ground’. He also encouraged me to call in at St Nicholas College that evening when the evening classes would be taking place. 

It was lovely to meet up very briefly with Florence Santa and Marion Kapu, ex-PTC. But the fleeting encounter was too short. They had appreciated the longer visit of Director Sefo Tigarea from PTC's Women's programme, some weeks ago.


Having returned to Honiara, I took a cab to St Nicholas college at 5pm and was very glad to have a few minutes conversation with Dr Edward Kolohai about the distance programme and he graciously invited me to say a few words to his class. I was glad to bring greetings and encouragement from PTCEE. I took a sunny, dusty walk back to Chester Rest House, calling in at the Holy Cross Cathedral for prayer and reflection on the events of the day.

Tuesday 9th May

Conversed and left information with Bishop Raymond Aumae who has been called out of retirement to be Assistant Bishop in the Diocese of Malaita for one year. Also Deacon Alistair Rihumana from Ysabel.

I paid a courtesy call on Dr Abraham Hauriasi, General Secretary of ACOM, and he was hugely welcoming and positive about ACOM-PTC collaborations including the ongoing PTCEE programmes. He fondly remembers worshipping in a three-way ecumenical Parish in New Zealand during his time there.

PTCEE Diploma student Jimmy Carter Malefodola came for conversation at Chester House and urged PTCEE to think about different and more affordable delivery forms which offer options to people with varying circumstances: eg. Instalment payments: course materials released on the basis of 50% but no completion certificate unless full payment made; Courses in soft copy: make PDFs available at reduced cost and only post text books. Jimmy’s view is that even those out of town have friends in town with internet access who can facilitate this for them. Not sure whether this is an idealised view but am respectful of local wisdom! Jimmy is keen to complete his Diploma and asked about sponsorships and scholarships. I encouraged him to speak to Fr Anderson about local sponsorship for his next course and then he would be eligible for the fourth ‘free’ course from PTCEE. As an experienced secondary school teacher, I appreciated Jimmy’s advice to PTCEE in a number of areas.


Just before leaving, Pastor Moses from the SSEC followed up by phone on our meeting and is taking PTCEE matters to their Board of Education shortly.

I flew Fiji airways back to Nadi and connected to Suva the following morning.

Selected photographs of the week are available also on our Facebook page at Ptcee Suva. Budget and expenditure details are available on request from the PTCEE office.

There is much to give thanks to God for in this visit and much for PTCEE to follow up. I am deeply grateful to all involved.


Revd Dr Val Ogden
Director PTCEE
10 May 2017

Cross in the Chapel of Tetete ni Kolviti

May the words of our mouths

and the meditations of all our hearts

be acceptable in your sight

O Lord, our strength and our redeemer



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