Mission partnership: an ongoing tale...

How absolutely great it is to have the company on campus of Rev Taniela Balenaikorodawa, his wife Kasanita and boys Nacanieli and Apisai. We've shared campus life before, in 2008-2009, at the former Selly Oak Centre for Mission Studies (SOCMS) at the Queen's Foundation in Birmingham. I was just finishing up as SOCMS Director that year before moving to Dorking, and Rev Taniela came over to do a Masters degree. 'Over the years, a lot of us have moved your way', my colleague in global mission reflected as we caught up with each other in the PTCEE office, 'but very few of you have come over here'. I'd never thought about that sort of statistic, to be honest, and was interested to hear it voiced. PhD studies now beckon for the good Rev at PTC. He's been serving as a lecturer in mission at Davuilevu (Methodist) Theological College up the road and most recently was Academic Registrar. Do keep him in your prayers as he starts the PhD journey. Fewer air-miles called for this time but plenty of brain-miles required. With you all the way, brother Dan!

Global mission memories at Pacific Theological College, Fiji, 2016...



...and at the Queen's Foundation, Birmingham, UK 2008. (Val wasn't as clean-shaven then).

In much the same spirit of partnership, it's good to express gratitude for the Methodist Church in Britain's grant in real time, specifically for our work here at PTCEE - the Education by Extension Department. It came in on 28th Jan 2015 and the evidence is below.

-------- Forwarded Message --------

Subject:	Inwards into PTCEE
Date:	Thu, 28 Jan 2016 09:05:59 +1200
From:	Sanjeet <Sanjeet.Singh@ptc.ac.fj>
To:	PTCEE Director <director.ptcee@ptc.ac.fj>

Dear Rev Val

Good Morning

Please kindly be advised that $34,743.67 has been received into PTCEE account yesterday. This is from:
METHODIST CHURCH FND FOR WORLD MSSN        
31 AVON CRESCENT
BICESTER OX26 2LZ                          
LONDON NW1 5JR  
GBP 11,250.00        @0.3238        FJD 34,743.67

Have a blessed day.

---

Thanks & Best Regards

From the desk of:

Mr. Sanjeet Pratap Singh

Team Leader - Finance

Pacific Theological College

78 Vuya Rd, Nasese, Suva, Fiji.

Ph:  679 3311100 / Fax: 679 3301728

Email: Sanjeet.Singh@ptc.ac.fj

Including that confirmation here is just a small way of saying once again to those in UK Methodist Churches who faithfully and often sacrificially support the Fund for World Mission - thank you SO much. It would be incredibly difficult to develop and progress Education by Extension work in this part of the world without you. We never take your support for granted. 

Click the link for more information about the Methodist World Mission Fund.

-------

On a different note...

Rosie in the pink T-shirt and Avishek in the yellow walked me to the bus stop through Nanuku settlement after Church this morning. We stopped to chat with neighbours on the way who were heading to the family for lunch...

 I didn't notice at first glance that lunch was alive and flapping in the bottom of the buggy...

Then back home to the campus, ever enchanted by how God's majesty and might blossom and bloom all around us

This next one is right outside my front door. It's a noticeboard all of its own...



Consider the lilies, how they grow:

they neither toil nor spin;

yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory

was not clothed like one of these.

But if God so clothes the grass of the field,

which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven,

how much more will he clothe you — you of little faith!

And do not keep striving

for what you are to eat and what you are to drink,

and do not keep worrying.

For it is the nations of the world

that strive after all these things,

and your Father knows that you need them.

Instead, strive for his kingdom,

and these things will be given to you as well.

 

Luke 12:27-31 (NRSV)