Londua Entrance

For those who have visited, worked or had a holiday at Londua this picture should be familar.

Solar Power

We have been talking to some people who have some BIG second hand solar batteries that we would like to use for the office solar system. It needs to run the fax, computer, email and lights at night. At the moment we do not have the money to purchase these items so will have to wait a while until the school finances are in better order with more students at the school. In Vanuatu the cost of rice has gone up 50% in the last 6 months so the cost of rations for the school has gone up likewise. This is not helping with the school budget. We are trying to get a bulk deal of 20 tonne of rice in 25 kg bags from Australia for the second half of this year. It would be used to supply both Londua and Ranwadi schools. 1 tonne per week is needed for each week of school for the remainder of this year.

New Technical Modules

If anyone has some experience writing TAFE modules for carpentry, joinery, mechanical, electrical, tourism, agriculture or business studies I might have a job for you! Over the next year or so there will be some upgrading and modifying of existing modules.

More Teams

There are plans for a team from Tasmania going to Londua in early September and another from Queensland in late September. If you have a group from your church interested in getting a work team together contact the GMP office. http://www.gmp.org.au/ If you are interested in supporting and praying for Londua Technical College students and staff, thank you. Please forward this blog on to friends who may also like to pray and keep in touch with the work. The plans for the new curiciulum are being discussed at the moment so please pray for God's plan to unfold. Pray for the students as they come back to second term. Pray that the student fees will be paid early. Pray for discussions about the future of Londua Technical College with the Government departments and for the payment of teachers salaries. Pray that plans work out for the telephone to be connected to the school in the coming weeks. Pray for the Chaplain as she ministers to the students and staff.

Work Teams

The team from Toowoomba will be heading off in just over 1 months time. We need to get all of the materials sorted and delivered. The home care building needs to be finished as well as the double class rooms.

Progress

Have had 5 emails from Vanuatu with the Londua support group moving forwards. Great. Need to get a paper done on the proposed plan for Londua in the next 2 years. Keep my typing skills up. Had some time in church this morning to promote Londua which went ok.

Forward planing

There are many emails that need to be sent to follow up on the discussions from the Conference. Need to keep on top of it all. Have to get the technical course infomation sorted for next years classes. Feel a bit tired like this old girl.

Time to get back to work.

There are a lot of emails that need to be sent to push the full technical change over through. So tonight I am getting some of those done. My new good friends from Vila are eager to assist and and I need all the assistance that I can get. Forgot to take my malaria medication for a day or 2. I met Sarah the GAP student in Santo for 1 hour before I left. She was eating ice cream. I bought 2 "Jaws of Death" steel rat traps for her to take back to Londua. Ok time to send some emails.

Conference

What a week!! Very early rise, late to bed in the early morning. Lots of late night disscussions. Lots of sitting and concentrating on the Bislama discussions. The Conference is in full support of the direction that Londua is heading. Some financial issues were discussed and prayer is needed. I am sure of that support from the members of the Vanuatu Churches of Christ. What about you! The Vila support group are investigating curriculum and modules that will fit in with the Government policy for Londua to become the Penama Provincial Technical College. The Vila support group are 100% behind Londua Technical College and will be an invaluable help. Londua will receive students from Year 8, Year 10 and the Rural Training Centers and after training will feed them into the Vanuatu Institute of Technology in Vila and the Vanuatu Agriculture College in Santo. Londua has a good reputation with the VIT. 14 students from 2007 and the 11 students from 2006 were all accepted into the Institute and have impressed the teachers. Had 3 meetings with the principal and some school council representatives and have some positive outcomes at the school. A motion was put to the Conference by the School Council Chairman and passed unanimously that the School Council should be an equal representation from all Island Conference regions. Nomination forms to go out soon for Londua Technical College principal starting 2009. Was stuck on Maewo for 3 days and nearly missed the flight back to Brisbane. No boat, found another boat, no petrol, drive 2 hours, still no boat, found another small boat, to rough, large freighter coming sometime???, arrived 10pm, get on boat and sleep on deck till 4am, motor to North Ambae, get transport to airport, exchange ticket, arrive Santo with 3 hours to spare. Thank you God, What a really great week! And Lyn picked me up at the airport.

Conference

What a week,

Tonight we are packing and packing and packing. Tomorrow 6-30am Brisbane to Sydney. Sunday for Allen is to Meawo on Vanuatu for Annual Conference. See if we can raise the support for Londua. Lyn has been recounting the story of the prowler that was caught at Londua while she was there. Sarah and her were burning the midnight oil ( solar) and he was sitting on their front steps. He got away from Stewart the first time, but running full tilt into a shed soon slowed him down. Then with 6 boys sitting on top of him he was not going anywhere. All is well with the shed after some panel beating. The rats have heard that Londua is the place to be so they are immigrating at a steady rate. The girl students enjoyed a breakfast entree of the bread and butter plate sized crab that Lyn caught at 2am in the morning. Thought it was a persistent rat that wanted to take over her accommodation but then found this crab who may have been on the band wagon with the rats. The school will probably be down 12 students next term for misdemeanours. The Government have not come forward with the promised salaries for 4 teachers which is another strain on the budget. God knows the situation so we will seek his lead and keep on keeping on. Please pray for the Chaplain and the staff and the follow up of the students.