I wondered if you might have wondered where I'd gone? But the answer is, nowhere: happily. It's been the long Summer holiday of course here: schools have only just gone back this week. And at PTC, loads of colleagues have been away from campus for quite a long stretch including the Principal, Academic Dean, Finance Director, Finance Team Leader and assorted Faculty members. When so many senior staff are all away at the same time, I'm not entirely sure how that works. But far be it from a mere overseas mission partner to express an opinion on local arrangements. We were given turns at being Acting Principal. My week was uneventful apart from needing to sign big cheques to deal with asbestos removal and attempt to persuade a couple of colleagues to kiss and make up. Not literally. Senior staff may be away but support and maintenance staff have been slogging it out to get all the logistics and practicalities sorted for another academic year. They requested cream buns with morning tea the other day. I more than happily obliged. They deserve 100 cream buns each, and more.
We've had about 10 new local student enrolments in the Extension Dept. during the 'holiday' and it really is wonderfully encouraging the way people drop by, share their testimonies and are so keen to embark, for example, on some Biblical studies or a more in depth look at Christian Ethics or Worship and Preaching or Pacific Church History. It helps that our office: double fronted, bright and sunny is the first one you come to after the main College gate. The kettle's usually on, there are never ending supplies of breakfast crackers in a big plastic box, and we bought ourselves a fridge as a Christmas present.
People call in all the time, and conversations which start in a fairly formal and business-like manner on the topic of 'doing a course' become rich sharings about life and faith. Pastoral opportunities too. Many times, feelings of failure and rejection are spoken of emotionally. 'I flunked my school certificate and it devastated me'. 'I'm sure the Lord is calling me to some form of ministry but I'm so discouraged by my Church's systems and it takes so long'. Then the questions come about admission and enrolment with us. What are the hoops to jump through for Extension studies? It's going to be another experience of rejection here, right?
'Well, if you're starting on the Certificate programme', I say, 'you just need to be able to read and write in reasonable English. We want to be an open door not a closed shop'.
'And when can I start?'
'Anytime. Now even, if you've got the course fee'.
(Which turns out to be less than they'd anticipated usually, and we SO want to keep it that way, local income and funding streams permitting).
'And when do the classes start?'
'Well, you don't come to classes as such. You get on with it at your own pace and in your own time. Team up with other local students if you can - it's good to work in small groups. Local PTCEE students get together on a Friday for support and some input from me, so do come to that if you can. But if you can't, just come and have a chat whenever you've got a problem - we're always here'
We smile at each other. I always offer a prayer and it's always accepted with sincerity. Salome - ever encouraging - does the 'admin' bit at her desk and computer with efficiency and grace. And then they're all signed up.
When V, an early retired, professional women signed up the other day, she took my hand with tears welling up in her eyes. 'I've been saying to God for so long that I want to study, I want to study. And now he's made a way. This is my new start.'
New Year - new sign-ups. It's all very encouraging.
New preaching plans roll around too and I continue to be included at Wesley City Mission and Dudley which I'm humbled by and appreciate. At Wesley, we've just said goodbye to assistant minister Rev Viliame Fatiaki who was one of the friendliest and most welcoming ministers to me when I came here in August 2014. Instantly a brother in the Lord, along with his lovely family. It was sad, of course, but very uplifting to go to his farewell service and lunch. He's off to be a secondary school chaplain not far away in Nabua. That school's blessed, I can tell you.
I didn't know until the farewell service that Rev Vili had been in the youth group at Wesley many moons ago, and it was there he felt his call to ministry and was formed and shaped. Ex-youth group members got together at the lunch to sing a song that had meant a lot to them at that time. Click below to hear it. Rev Fatiaki's in the purple shirt on guitar.
In nutritional news, you'll be delighted to hear that I discovered, purchased and consumed All Bran for the first time in 15 months. 
Except it's appeared here all of a sudden in a different guise....
Not to worry
Twiglets are us...
Those on campus from Vanuatu have been keeping an eye on their country's elections today. It all happened a bit by surprise. Pacific Beat reports:
Key points:
- Snap election called after half the government jailed for corruption
- A total of 264 candidates standing in 52 seats
- With 36 political parties involved, new government likely to be a complex coalition
A total of 264 candidates, standing in 52 seats, have had little more than seven weeks to campaign, so the reports say. Most are members of 36 political parties, many of which have formed in the lead-up to the election. There are still more than 50 independents in the mix. Observers have said one of the issues with the snap poll was that there were thousands of dead people still eligible to vote — some reports claiming as many as 55,000 registered voters were no longer alive.
As ever, our companions from Vanuatu here ask us to pray. 'We just need the prayers'.
And back in the office, and so that the new fridge wouldn't feel over conspicuous, we got new curtains to keep it company. This is where your Fund for World Mission money goes, friends... A machinist in town ran them up for us in a jiffy. They're kind of a bark cloth pattern - tapa it's called. Sort of more authentic than the last lot which were rapidly disintegrating. Salome organised a splendid office Summer-clean up too, and while the furniture was out drying in the sun....
...she persuaded the faithful Josese, one of our Certificate students, to ascend to great heights inside and faff around with curtain poles.
'How much do we have to pay you Jojo?' I enquired.
'I'll do it for a free course,' came the answer. He didn't even blink.
They're smart these budding theologians.
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