Monday, January 19, 2009

End of Year 2008





Rogers refelctions on our last month in Vanuatu for 2008...






November was a month of finishing off tasks that had been started earlier in the year. We were very busy and got quite tired by the end of the month, but I Roger felt that I had achieved little. We were helping Jonathon, involved with the wind up of Preschool, doing photos for students and classes, fare welling students, getting things from town and trying to finish of some admin, like talking to the Police man about the conviction of the former manager. Maybe I was wrong to try but it just seemed like it was wrong to just let him get away with the 2006 theft of all valuable school (and fellow staff) property, and then for him to turn around and seek damages from the school for unpaid salary! Some possible donors feel the same as me and are not so interested in helping Ebule “again” unless things like this are followed up. Yet the more we look into the situation facing young people on Efate, the more essential it appears that there should be a Rural Training Centre like Ebule that can take in semi educated teenagers and give them the beginnings of a trade. Efate is the Island young people drift to in search of opportunities and there is no where else like Ebule for size and wealth of facilities.

My November focus was to be the Onesua carpentry classroom/workshop renovation. We received materials for the work in Mid November along with a large shipment of things for a school Manioc Drying Shed project. Various mistakes were made in the ordering and loading of materials for both projects including damage in transit, so time was spent sorting this out. I helped with some tiling in the Manioc shed which will make flour for the school kitchen and be used for processing freshly picked coffee beans from the Onesua plantation next year.

My two nephews, Cameron and Jackson came to Vanuatu for a holiday, and came out our way for a weekend in late November. While they were there they helped me with a large cabinet I am building for the preschool classroom. On the Saturday we launched an outrigger canoe that a local man built for me, complete with an outboard bracket for a tiny 2 horse out board I had brought over. I had had a dream all year to go out to the “Sand Island” for a picnic. It is a true desert island on its own reef two kilometre offshore from Onesua. We built a shelter and all the local kids came out for a day of swimming, canoeing and snorkelling. At midday the waves washed right over our gear under the shelter but we clung on and had a good day, the nephews getting very sunburnt but having a great time. A week later we met them again in Vila after they had come back from a wild old time in Tanna doing the live volcano tour and “chief for a day” tour, plus eating lobster and drinking kava, (interesting effect shame about the taste).

Campus got down to our vehicle being the only one going. I was about to do some work one day when I noticed a big crack in the chassis. This began about a week of vehicle work, stripping off the tray and welding that. And then doing it again the next week to fix and fuel leak and another big chassis hole, plus fun with oil changes and steering components that are cracking up, as well as the alternator over charging things. By mid December I had the chassis problems fixed but some others still to be worked on. We also had to get our next years permits sorted out, handing over about $1400 cash for the privilege of living and working here next year. It seems a little annoying but everyone confronts these barriers in doing volunteer/mission work and we thank God that at least we serve in a country that welcomes what we do and we can talk openly about the work we do and the gospel if we want to.

We started preparing the kids for the return home, trying to spark their memories of people and places before hand. Gracie worked out what to wear when she got off the plane-a thick pink sweat shirt that she called a Jersey. And Davie wanted to eat some strawberries and apples. Dad was looking forward to bacon, Mum to chocolate covered strawberries.

I had a week left. I decided to spend half a day reassembling my generator so we would have power when the school ran out of diesel (fast approaching) so got it going with the new parts supplied by the Osbornes. It ran well. I then packed it into its rather complicated casing with various wires and tubes. It ran terribly and stopped. I took it apart and tried various things to coax it to life. It came to life and I tested in with a drill. Fine. I tested it with a belt sander, fine for five minutes then things went pear shaped and it would not run despite have a good carb and a healthy spark??? What’s going on?? I emailed the supplier and he said something almost unrepeatable-it needs a $350 part!! I stopped working on the generator on the fourth day feelng depressed, and fixed the village pastors cheap nasty two stroke generator in two hours flat and it ran beautifully. What!!!! Such is life in the tropics, you spend a lot of time fixing vehicles and power supply and growing your food, things we take for granted at home and let someone more capable handle for us.

Paulas work at the library came to an end in November when the students left and she was more able to work on preschool and photos. She hosted a lunch for the Preschool association from Vila and Mum’s that may be willing to assist the teacher next year.

We had a lot to do with our neighbours at times, taking them in our truck with us to Vila when they had a bike to fix and inviting them and a handful (as in about 15) of their relatives over for dinner one night, in the aftermath of a wedding. Later in the month we also farewelled them at the beach. We had just loaded the deep freeze full of ice-cream into the bow of the boat, followed by their truck/motorbike followed by about ten bags and fuel cans and ten of them, it was a both wonderful and scary, but apparently they have since survived the 40km of open ocean voyage back to their home island. I am exaggerating of course, they could island hop as they went getting some shelter from the 1-2m swell as they journeyed North, but I wouldn’t be game to do it.








And that was the day I was putting the finishing touches to our shutters, to make our house hurricane proof while we are away. I repaired some, and put new hinges on others. Then through all of them I drilled and 250mm long hole, right through the stud and wall linings inside. Then they each got secured down with a 300mm long bolt and large square washer. You wouldn’t do to your house, but it does give us a great sense of security knowing that its safe till we get back, probably. We are waiting for the big one, as North Efate hasn’t had a cyclone at all for 4 or five years.
Enough about cyclones. We loaded up the truck one last time and headed to town on Dec 16th, this time to stay at the famed Sutherland House for our last night. Our friends Ginnie and John had us for dinner and we played with their kids doing puzzles and singing Christmas carols. Next morning at 6am Ginnie picked us up in the truck and took us to the airport. Goodbye V

Thursday, October 9, 2008

Onesua Preschol







The Onesua Preschool caters for about 14 3-5 year olds, mostly the children of school staff. There is one teacher, Leanne Roberts but Mums stay sometimes to help.

At the start of the year they met at Leannes house but now have moved to a spare classroom. Leanne has managed with very few resources: a few toys, cuisonaire rods, chalk and blackbaord and a few books.

Throughout the year we have had visits from several NZ groups ( St Andrews College, St Orans, Rangiruru, Turakina Maori Girls College and St Andrews Church Otahuhu) - many of who have helped out for a morning or two at preschool and donated to a range of things - so now there is a casette player with childrens songs, jigsaw puzzles, a box of books, paints, balls and a wider range of toys.

In addition we have been making contact with the preschool Association, with the hope that we can get the preschool registered. This would mean Leanne and prehaps others would be eligible to take part in a training programme. We also have put Leanne in contact with a retired preschool teacher trainer who has given her lots of new ideas of simple toys and activities that can be done with local material.

The Preschool associated with St Andrews Presbyterian Church in Otahuhu has made a generous donation which has contributed towards a lockable storage cabinet (currently being built), storage boxes, paint, blocks , puzzles and even small things like towels for the children to dry their hands.

We are hoping we can get some training for a few local ladies and that next year the preschool could expand as there is no preschool at the two closest local villages . Davey and Grace are a key part of the preschool and bounce off there about 7:30 each week day morning. It runs just to 10am but by then Leanne is ready for a rest.

Hope you enjoy the pictures and thank to everyone who has contributed to the preschool :-) It is making to difference to all the pikininis at Onesua.






Guest House Repairs - September






The Focus of Septmber was the maintenance and repair work of the Onesua Guest House. This was greatly assisted by the visit of John Wright, a builder from Rolleston, who escaped the Christchurch winter to serve for a month here in Vanuatu.



After 10 days working at Talua Bible College , on Santo, working on the toilets and showers for the married students, John joined us at Onesua. For two and half weeks Roger and John with Kalsary (the Plumber) and Mark (the Onesua carpenter) worked hard on the guest house. In this time they completely renovated the bathroom. In the past the toilet has frequently blocked, the shower had broken and the bath was rusting. ... so after a good look and plan everything was pulled out. New drains and toilet were installed, the bath repaired, a larger shower area build and a second shower installed over the bath. A small bathrrom cabinet was put in, shelf built, new hooks and curtains but up and everything given a coat of paint. Transformation!



In addition the kitchen windows which were rotting out were repalced and the wood repaired. This was all finished approximately 1 hour before the arrival of 10 visdators from Rangiruru Girls College in Christchurch - Just in time!



Thanks to John, The Global Mission Office in NZ, Rolleston Community Church and the guys hard work.

Wednesday, July 30, 2008





Children’s Day – July 27

This Sunday we celebrated Children’s Day. This is a public holiday in Vanuatu. The kids had been preparing for a couple of weeks with Paula and Mrs Katrina and all the Mamas busy making new shirts and dresses for all the children (matching blue and pink!) We then all met together to paint them.

The children all gathered in the morning dressed up in their new clothes and marched to the chapel with a banner and balloons. As we got close a string band was playing and they sang songs until the children arrived outside the chapel. The parents then put salu salu around each of their children’s necks as well as sprinkling perfume and powder.

Roger gave the children’s talk during church – mostly in BislamaJ - three stories about lions.
After church we went home briefly to bring our food back to share – and then enjoyed a small feast together - including a roast pig – the children being the honoured guests.

After this the children dressed up to present their book characters. Each child had been given a new story book a few weeks prior. Their task was to prepare a book review then make a costume representing their favourite character. They bravely took turns standing in front of the audience, in costume, talking about their character.

A small gift was then presented to each child and the Celebratory Cake cut. Roger had been commissioned to do the cake but spoke sweetly to Paula for “a little” assistance J

All in all a fun Celebratory day and a neat way to bless all the pikinini here

Monday, July 7, 2008

June Update






Ebule News




Getting Water in and Keeping Water Out

Focus at Ebule this month has been water. The good news is that after digging up the water line, the main break was discovered and repaired and now water can be pumped up to the tank and then can be distributed to the students staff and garden. Previously everyone was using rain water from some small tanks but when the rain stopped, the water was used up and this project became urgent. Now all the houses have water and the garden can be watered without carrying buckets. It has unearthed lots of small plumbing issues with taps etc,,, but at least its progress.

A group from the Presbyterian Church at Takara (a village about 4km from Ebule) have been re-roofing one of the staff houses for us also – this time to keep water out. The old roof was removed, new roof poles cut and then the roof replaced with Natangora. The major section of the roof is now complete and they will return next week to complete the small section over the bathroom/laundry area.

Also made good progress in the garden. The plants initially struggled, largely from lack of water, but now the first Chinese cabbage and beans are almost ready and potatoes, cabbage, carrots and lettuces all coming along.



Currently Rogers main teaching focus is working with the students on small motors – repairing generators, lawn mowers, weed eaters etc. Ebule really needs a good lawn mow – so yesterday they did a deal – and fixed up a lawnmower for an Australian down the road in exchange for using it to get the grass down. The students are particularly motivated if it will mean mowing enough ground to play soccer J
Well that’s Ebule over the last few weeks

Thanks for your support and interest




Roger and Paula

Sunday, May 25, 2008

Refrigeration Course


Refrigeration Workshop.

During the 2 week May holiday Ebule RTC Hosted a workshop on repairing refrigerators and air conditioners. Becos of the run down state of Ebule we were worried it would ever get off the ground – but sure enough on the day the course was due to begin 10 students arrived from around the Island.

The tutor, Sam, has worked for a refrigeration company in Vila for several years. After a small amount of theory it was in to some practical. Several fridges and freezers “turned up “ from the local community and the process began of regassing, hunting for leaks and diagnosing faults. As you can imagine in a climate such as this fridges / freezers are incredibly useful but get a bit of a hard time on limited power / power surges / generators and continually being turned on and off. Roger gave a morning session on understanding basic concepts behind refrigeration – and on some basic maths.

According to Sam there is no formal training available in this area at all and his training has simply been on the job. So this was really a first. On a couple of afternoons the students helped in clearing ground for the Ebule gardens. Elder Naura and his wife worked had at keeping the students fed well on rice, fish, bananas, manioc and stew.

In the second week the students had a one day field trip to Vila to look at different air conditioning systems. This involved turning up to various organisations and asking to look through there buildings - or climb on their roofs!! – to look at how their systems worked.

The final night was dinner at Bamboo Beach and presentation of certificates. So despite the odds the course was a relative success and we hope the students return with useful skills

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

End of Term One

May 7 2008

Well it’s supposed to be the dry season now – and we did have a pretty good week last week – but we have just had 40 hours of continuous rain and it is still thundering! In the middle of the night it felt a bit like the start of Noah’s flood. This morning while walking around the school Paula heard big crash and saw a huge branch of a tree crash down. But there seems to be no major flooding as yet and we are grateful for a warm and dry house. Speaking of warm – we must be adapting as yesterday we woke up to a rainy day the kids put jerseys on. Over we breakfast we checked the temperature out of interest and it was 26 degrees c!!! Many of our local friends are wearing jersey.

Ebule RTC
It is holiday time for the students this week and next week. But Ebule is hosting a short course in Refrigeration.. So10 students have come and had their first day of classes yesterday. Roger is enjoying a break from teaching but is still present to make sure they have power and food and so can sit in on some classes. We’re hoping they might have a look at our fridge later in the week and see if it is at all fixable. The freezer works but not the fridge. There are still huge maintenance issues at Ebule so Roger is working at getting wider community support to help and perhaps a team from NZ.

The term finished well for the students. They have finished fixing up a chicken house for the 14(?) that are now laying, have fixed up a pit to look at and repair vehicles and have prepared ground and planted a garden. After the holiday there will be many seedlings ready to be planted out. In addition they get regular teaching in mechanics, electronics maths and some carpentry.

Family
Its holiday time from preschool too and all the students at Onesua have headed home so its lots of playing with local kids. When it fine its off to the beach for a swim or walk on the reef – or gathering nuts – or kicking a soccer ball. We are working at improving our Bislama and are making progress – but because many people at Onesua speak English it’s easy to revert. David probably gets the most frustrated when he can’t understand We have tomatoes, cucumbers, watermelons and Island Cabbage coming on well in our garden as well as corn, beans and lettuce seeds germinating. Paula is helping out with cataloguing the 700 books in the school library and also with Sunday School.