Does it add up?

It could be put off no longer. I did the 2016 Education by Extension Departmental budget this week. On paper we've got 2000 FJ$ (about £600) excess income over expenditure. However, the two major items in the income column have yet to be confirmed: grants from the World Mission Fund of the Methodist Church in Britain (optimistic) and another from a German mission agency (trying to be optimistic). The rest of the income will be locally generated from student fees and coursebook sales, plus extra Pacific Church support if we can drum it up, and I've carried over the contingency sum that's already banked in a high interest account. So, no wiggle room at all, sadly. We can also create income by selling our materials and services - like textbooks that we happen to have on the shelf, or my teaching and marking stints - to the residential school or other internal programmes within PTC. But I really feel uncomfortable about that 'buying from Peter to pay Paul' approach in an ecumenical Christian College when we're all in the same business. Cross-charging seems unethical and self-defeating to me. Not least when some departments doing that add 10% for good measure. (Meditate upon Deuteronomy 23.19-20 and discuss!) However, the reality is that as the year rolls on, with the prospect of Graduation second week in November, belts get tightened and it can be a real struggle to pay the Xmas salaries. An e-mail came around this week saying all new library orders were on hold until the new year. And yet, the ground is being tentatively marked out for the building of new and improved housing on campus, so we sure are people of faith. 

The World Mission Fund of the Methodist Church in Britain has a Just Giving page by the way. And our name's 'Pacific Theological College Education by Extension'. (Just thought I'd slip that by you). 

Yesterday, 9th October, was Fiji Day marking 45 years of independence from Britain. The Fijian ethnic group here at College generously put on a wonderful morning tea for the whole community and sang to us. We prayed for this great nation's future, especially for the wise choice, shortly, of a new President. God Bless Fiji.

The Fiji Times chose to mark Independence Day with this lead story which I reproduce with grateful thanks to and acknowledgement of Sikeli Qounadovu. Here's how getting to school looks for some of Fiji's children.

Students of Tubarua Village in the interior of Naitasiri during their four-hour trek covering 10km to get to their school after Sunday lunch, crossing the Wainimala River more than 20 times. Picture: JOVESA NAISUA

Tough walk        Sikeli Qounadovu

Saturday, October 10, 2015

EDUCATION is a luxury and to some extent life threatening for the children of Tubarua Village who have to cross the Wainimala River 32 times to reach the nearest school to them, Nakurukuruvakatini Primary School. In the past five years, at least 10 students have lost their lives along the treacherous route.

Noemalu District representative Kaliova Tivulu said villagers of Tubarua had to watch in vain when a Year 3 student on horseback was swept by strong currents of the raging Wainimala River early this year. "Keimami qai cici yani me keimami saga me vueti koya sa bera (When we ran to try and save her, we were too late)."

The children - starting from kindergarten, who are all boarders have to cross the Wainimala River 32 times to reach the school. They leave their homes on Sunday afternoon and return on Friday afternoons, which Mr Tivulu said was a normal routine.The Fiji Times accompanied the school children as they journeyed down the Wainimala River on Sunday October 4 - from ankle deep to knee deep and waist deep, the children sang songs and shared jokes.Despite the challenges they faced, they were in high spirits. They formed a line and held each other's hands while crossing the river - just to ensure that no one was swept by the strong currents.

"The good thing about these students is despite their geographical location, they have the urgency to come to school and their attendance is 100 per cent," headteacher Sekonaia Ledua said. Mr Ledua added so far this year, they had had to take four children to the health centre because of sickness associated from walking bare feet and crossing the river.

Nakurukuruvakatini Primary School has a school roll of 162 student - 72 of which are borders.Tubarua Village is the last village in the district of Noemalu, Naitasiri. To reach that village, one has to cross the raging Wainimala River for four and a half hours.

Meanwhile Divisional Education Officer Central, Serupepeli Udre said they had already approved the construction of an infant school for villagers in the upreach of the Wainimala River. He said they were asked to hold the construction of the school as the road needed to be constructed first.

"The infant school was to cater for children in Nasava, Nasauvere and Tubarua villages - to look after those in kindergaten and from Year One to Year Three. Depending on the number of students we could have one to two teachers."

As we celebrate Fiji Day today, we should spare a thought for those who are less fortunate and be grateful for things we have. The Fiji Roads Authority says they will first need to upgrade the road leading to Sawanikula village before a road is constructed for villages within the district of Noemalu.

Fiji Roads Authority Manager Rory Garland said their next phase would be the construction of the road from Sawanikula to Korovou Village which should be completed in 2017. "We will then look at the next phase and how we can continue the road to reach the other villages," he said last night.

On a change of subject, and possibly a question to British Methodists mostly - recognise the guy in the picture?

It looks awfully like Rev Eden Fletcher, doesn't it? Well spotted. Former minister at Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. And what's he doing in Suva, one might ask? Well, he's on his way to Vietnam (it's sort of on the way...) as the British Methodist Church's latest mission partner. Eden descended as a blessing among us for a week, to have a bit of retreat and reflection time, and to meet and talk with others who've 'moved in mission'. So he's spent his time meeting Julia Edwards and myself in Suva, the Neals up at the Methodist College, Davuilevu, and had few nights at the Catholic's Pacific Regional Seminary with 'the boys' as Rector Fr Mick always calls his priests in formation! He also joined in the Wednesday evening Bible study at Nanuku (having only flown in from the UK that day, God love him), much to the group's delight.

And hey, guess what? We only found Vietnamese Sisters Lucia and MyHanh, from the 'Daughters of Charity' religious order, in Nausori - not far from Suva. (That was Sister MyHanh in the earlier photo). How good is that? They've been in the US for a number of years, and are now on mission here, so a beautiful exchange of life histories, Vietnam experiences and prayers of encouragement were enjoyed by Eden and myself over afternoon tea in their peaceful home. How God connects his global people is as marvellous as it is mysterious. Go well Eden. Fiji won't forget you.

Beat the lali - let us praise God!

for journeys and meetings

for mission in humility

for giving and receiving

for openness to one another

Screen printing by the Pacific Theological College Women's Fellowship