May 20, 2010

Dear Friends

Time has a habit of speeding by and I'm just realising that my last
update was before classes began.

We have a total enrolment at present of 24, 17 of whom are first
years, and the rest are 2nd, 3rd or 4th years. There are still four
students away building a clinic on Ambae.

We had to begin - the boys had had two years out of classes, so
although the roof is still not covering the workshop and office, we
have begun classes. There are two classrooms, one of which doubles as
sleeping room for half of the boys. The library (to be) is our 'home'
for the present - enough space for a mattress, a filing cabinet and
office desk.

The machine shop is roofed and a lot of activity happens there from
day to day. We have the blessing of some single phase machinery which
operates from an extension lead - we hope to find some time soon to
get some wiring done, then we'll have lights in the workshop at night
and lots more activity and production. Currently the boys are making
some pews for a local Presbyterian church group, plus there are doors
being built to lock up the machine shop and tool room, plus other
furniture as orders come in.

Yesterday one of the lads was out knifing the grass - I was quite
impressed at his initiative, so sent him to buy six more knives this
afternoon and he will take responsibility for looking after them and
seeing that they get used - we might have a nice tidy campus soon.
This morning I enjoyed a couple of hours of outdoor activity - just
weeding around edges of buildings etc - it's surprising how much
neater things look when a few weeds are pulled, plus I felt the
benefit of the fresh air and sunshine.

The problems with milling may be at an end for the time being - the
customs of the land are such that problems can arise at the blink of
an eye or less, but we've had a couple of cubic metres of timber
delivered here to start drying - nice rosewood which will make good
furniture, and we're hopeful of receiving plenty more in the next
weeks in order to complete the workshop and office area. It's fairly
likely that we will make this section a double storey, since we have
just recently found out that the adjacent land is not available to us
to expand. So the extra storey would give room for accommodation and
an extra classroom or two.

However there is a fairly certain offer of land, about 11 hectares, a
little inland from the township on Santo, which may be ideal to build
another branch of the school, especially to include agriculture as a
course of study. We have a competent Agriculture teacher lined up -
he is the deputy principal at the Vanuatu Agriculture College this
year, but will join us next year. If anyone knows of a tractor that
would like to do some missionary work here, we'd be glad to hear about
it. The boys could not only provide all their own food, but extra to
sell to help keep the school running, just as the furniture boys will
be able to make furniture to keep their department running (once the
timber is dry to use). In the meantime our school is well-known
here, being so close to town. It's likely that we'll have a good
enrolment next year as more and more people find out about our school.

I'm finding that lots of women are coming to see my sewing machines
and other second hand goods such as clothing. I don't have time to be
lonely or bored.

It's really special to see the progress around the campus, and the
boys are proud of the work they are able to do to improve things.
Some boys are building a block house adjacent to the machine shop, to
house the new generator. Other boys have been making concrete blocks
for a church or house project of a local member. I can hear the new
knives being used - hurrah - the grass grows quickly with all the rain
we've had, but we have a small campus, so not worth while to buy a
mower or grass snipper. Mmmm, love the smell of fresh cut grass!
They are working just outside my door.

The supply of sewing machines continues to provide for the women -
Alastair is keeping abreast of the demand, putting hand winders on as
many as possible.

It's quite a challenge to keep the boys fed - they are used to a
simple diet which includes taro, manioc, kumala and the never-ending
supply of island cabbage. Yesterday I found nice ripe bananas and
some oranges in the market and one of the boys actually came and
specially thanked me for the nice food - that was an unexpected
surprise. The boys have been busy planting taro and other vegies
across the creek.

For now, we are enjoying the challenges and day to day association
with these young lads - some of the parents are noticing changes for
the good already, and we see progress in their lives too. We are
learning to enjoy eating the same food as they have, though we are
glad for a change sometimes.

Some of the lads come for bible studies two or three nights a week -
they look up to Alastair as a father and he enjoys working with them
and talking with them and encouraging them. He always has interesting
ways of presenting things to the boys. He suggested that if they
could go into the supermarket in town and fill up a bag for 1,000
vatu, would they get one or two items, or would they cram the bag
full. Of course their answer was a crammed full bag, and Alastair
used that analogy to encourage them to fill their bag (head) with all
the skills and knowledge and ideas that they can cram in while they
are here.

Next week the boys are planning a second trip into the interior of
Santo Island. They went there over the Easter weekend and took
clothing to share with village people who have been forgotten by
civilisation. They own no clothes, use no kerosene - they really are
very basic and use bush material for scanty covering of themselves.
It can be quite cold and wet, and the boys were glad to share the
clothing, and emptied their own backpacks of any spare clothing, and
gave the bed sheets they'd taken as well. Their faces were shining as
they shared their experience and of course they are keen to return and
take more clothing and bedding. They enjoyed singing to the village
people and sharing Jesus and His plan of salvation. The village
people appreciated their visit and there are other villages who would
also appreciate some clothes etc. The boys visited three villages
last time, this time they want to visit three new ones as well as the
other three again. It was a very long walk for them but this time
they will possibly get transport to take them closer. So it's a
chance for me to make use of some of the clothing and bedding that we
brought in the container. The boys who choose not to go will remain
at school and do some practical work - fitting up a tool room with
shadow boards and a framework with door to lock them safely, plus
putting rafters and roof on the generator house and maybe some
plumbing so that the new toilet/shower block can be put to use. We
are making do with one shower for us all, plus a pit toilet across the
creek and a flush toilet in the main building.

Well dear friends, on that note I'll sign off, and go and see what's
happening in the kitchen. The other night I went and sat and chatted
with the cooks while they cracked namumbe nuts to cook for their
meal. It was a slow and tedious process so I chatted about food and
eating and health habits and etc, and then decided I was talking to
much and rose to go but they wanted me to stay and keep talking so
they could keep learning new things. They are really a nice bunch of
boys - all different - all with potential and promise. We are
enjoying our time with them.

Bye for now and blessings on each and all,

Alastair and Jill

Listair Advent Training Institute