The Anchor Church

Hey guys!

Well some of us have just arrived back at the camp from an awesome Church down the road.

Josh’s input-All the people there were so loving they welcome you so sweetly and are all ways going to be welcome at this place

Me again- So today was a day of rest (being Sunday and all), we woke up late to the most stunningly blue skies; looking out across the coconut trees to see the soft rolling waves lapping at the shore is a sight which I don’t think I will ever get over. It’s an incredible thing to experience the islands in this way, being surrounded by beautiful land, locals and dogs and roosters. We had late devotionals and breakfast and then headed down the road to Sam’s Church which is Petecostal, and boy from the moment you walk in you know it! Everybody greeted us with a handshake and there was a lot of shouting Hallelujah and Amen during the preaching as well. This service was AMAZING! We were singing and dancing and clapping and cheering and even though some of the service was in Bislama and we couldn’t understand it all it just felt like a family. It was absolutely BOILING but that’s ok because the people, the music and the feeling of God’s presence more than made up for it! Brad had to take Jeremy out though because he was sick and a few of our number are still feeling under the weather so we would really appreciate you keeping us all in your prayers.

After Church we all went to Sam’s house for lunch, all 17 of us were invited to have lunch in a house which only just fitted us all sitting down to eat-Sam’s generosity is truly overhwelming and we were treated like royalty with jiuce being brought around, a FEAST prepared, and leaves and flowers laid out on the floor for us to put our plates on (we ate sitting on the ground). We presented Sam and his family with a small gift when we left but please keep him and his family in your prayers, they have such a heart for the people in this area and are really seeking to show God’s love in practical ways but lack the funds to do as much as they would like. Continue reading Sunday in Vanuatu

Yo yo yo!

The J-dog here (magic man). This morning I woke up, well everyone did and we all did our personal devotion which was awesome! We wake up so early here, for teenagers anyway. Today Meg and John helped out in the kindergarten at Eratap Village, while Jess, Karla, Faye, Polly, And I. Alex was supposed to but unfortunately he was sick and decided to stay at Eratap. Blacksand is a slum area made up of villages of people from all over the different islands of Vanuatu. Not many people there have a job and there church is made out of bamboo! There church is about the size of our kitchen at church. Small? I think so! I did some cards tricks for the kids in the church and they just crowded around and loved it! The children there are so happy and really appreciated us white fala (white men) there! We had  bag full of bouncy balls. We got all the children together and released all the balls near them and they went crazy! Continue reading Blacksand much? (Day 5)

Alo, olsem wanem? (that means hello, how are you in Bislama)

Today our team split up to cover more ground and touch more lives. Meg and Jess woke up really early to catch a van (‘buses’ in Vanuatu) so that they could get to Eratap village in time to start pre-school at 7:30am. They we helping one teacher control and look after 30 plus balls of energy. By lunch time they looked exhausted but after dinner they were raving about the experience – Meg is going back tomorrow.

At 8am the rest of us set off for the day. In Port Villa four of us jumped off to go and run a kids programme in a slum community (Blacksands) for the morning. The team was Laura, Jordan, Antony and me (Brad). It’s hard to discribe the environment, let me just say it was not pleasant. However the people are still so friendly and content. Truly remarkable, it’s hard to understand how they can be living in such poor conditions.  Continue reading Blacksands – Day 4

Hey Church Family!

Today was busy and fantastic! We got up early and went down to Eratap (The Village we’re working in) bright and early at 9ish oclock.

About half the team got to work on the water tank project, working alongside niVans and getting to know them at the same time, and it’s really starting to take shape.

The other half split into groups and went around the village, into peoples homes to pray for them. We were amazed by their openess, hospitality and generosity as they shared their lives. We left the houses with bags of fruit, a woven bag and even a bracelet. A humbling experience when we compare to our own standards of generosity! Some of us even met a national Vanuatu Football player. We went to his house. He gave us fruit. Continue reading We’re just going to confuse people- Vanuatu Day 3

It was yesterday that the Vanuatu team arrived in Vanuatu, welcomed by a humid heat. We had been travelling for a while and were quite excited to finally get to Vanuatu. After going through customs and declaring a few objects we got to ride on the back of a truck, which is probably one of the coolest  forms of transport especially when the roads are bumpy and there are a lot of branches. On the first day we really just got adjusted and saw the YWAM base and met some locals and the staff. We went for a swim and had a refreshing swim then had a lesson in the basics of Bislama, praised the Lord on a mountain top (or hill, near a radio tower),  and in the evening we had a hangi, vanuatu styles.

Today we went to the village (Eratap) to see get a feel of the place and see their needs. We had lots of fun playing with the children, making new friends and discovering new fruit. Jordan got a good amount of leaves put down his back while he slept in the shade, and we left with only a few sunburns. So we are doing great and looking forward to the next 12 days!

Check out the awesme photos when they are uploaded which will be in a few days. God bless,

Vanuatu Team

This is our first post of hopefully many, this afternoon we are HEADING TO THE AIRPORT to fly off to Auckland before we make the journey to PORT VILA =)

The excitement is setting in as the last of the packing is done and we are almost ready to go!!

We fly out of Welly at 5.30 and are being meet by Wade, Erica and Dave (the YWAMers who are coming with us) and are staying the night at the YWAM base in Auckland before our early (7.30) flight tomorrow morning.

By the time your service starts on Sunday we should have ARRIVED =)

The Girls at Welly Airport

Thank you for all your support and prayers!

Karla and Jordan on behalf of The Vanuatu Team