Teaching salaries

Hi all. The discussions with the education people went well although I can not say that we have secured any money for teachers salaries yet. The discussions were very positive so please keep praying and we will keep knocking on doors. We have a group of 10 from Tasmania going to Londua in early September and a group of 5 from Kingaroy going a little later. The paper work my end is still being processed and there are little miricales happening every week. It is exciting to see where God is leading. Thanks to the 2 churches that are supporting the chaplain. There is a lot of maintainence work and paper work to process and it is all getting done, slowly.

Went to visit the Doulos today. Met Aaron from Australia and James from Vanuatu. Good to see them and give them some encouragement.
http://www.doulos.org/

Work team

The following pictures are of the students learning rendering on the new home care building and a concrete top that was poured on one of the ground tanks. The Toowoomba work team had an airless spray gun with them and sprayed 60 litres of light yellow paint on the inside of the girls dorm and the new home care building. Does anyone have contact with a paint supplier that will sell us paint at a very reasonable price? Please let me know. Thanks.

God is good

Had a good time in Vanuatu last trip. Met with some TVET (technical, vocational education and training) Strengthening Program people in Vila and again at Londua where there was a regional meeting of Rural Training Centre representatives. Very interesting to learn about the future direction that the Government is moving with technical training in Vanuatu. I believe that the next Government pay day will see 4 of Londua teachers being payed by the government. YAHOOOO!!! We are in serious discussions at the moment trying to secure government salaries for Londua teachers for next year. It is looking promising but we will see what God has in plan. There were 4 blokes from Toowoomba working at Londua while I was there and they made a good impression on the work and the staff and students. Job advertisements for all Londua staff have been mailed out and we are praying that God will bring the right people for the right positions for next year. The advertisement for the principal has also been sent out. Philemon is the acting principal this year and the position has to go through the official process as per the Vanuatu Conference policy. I heard this week that Londua has been selected to trial a new satellite internet connection. Apart from the obvious advantage of having this service supplied free for 2 years we now need to purchase laptop computers so we can put it to good use. Student, staff and community computer classes are on the way. There are 2 new Gap teachers living at Londua. One is teaching at Londua the other is teaching down the road at Lo-One. We are yet to meet these teachers but the house will be put to good use. Please pray for the discussions with the Ministry of Education in regard to funding and salaries for Londua from next year forward. Thanks heaps.

Time to go

Lyn has a bad back and the doctor said that she has to stay home. She is not happy! Through some intervention from above I have a meeting on Saturday morning with a person who is heavily involved in technical training in Vanuatu. It will be good to get some information on the future direction of technical training in Vanuatu. AusAid are assisting in the development and upgrading of Vanuatu's technical training program and it helpful to know where it is heading so that Londua can aim in a similar direction. Please pray that the meetings will be fruitful and thank God for his guidance. Pray for the Conference office staff and the Londua Technical College School Council in their partnership of moving Londua forward. There is a group of 4 men from Toowoomba heading to Londua this Friday for 2 weeks. They will continue the work on from where the last Toowoomba group finished. It is very supportive to have many willing hands to share the work. With all the effort that people are putting into Londua it is great that God has a plan for next year and beyond. Thanks for your support.

Off again

It has been a while since my last post. Londua has a draft proposal / business plan for the next 3 years. It is in draft form and when it is modified and approved by all I will give you a look. We are heading to Vila on Friday and to Londua on Monday. We will have a bloke from a Sydney church coming to have a look in preparation for their work trip to Londua at Christmas. Met the ED of GMP for a brief time yesterday and we had some good discussion.
IMPORTANT
Please pray for the discussions and decisions that will be made about Londua Technical College over the next few weeks in regard to staff positions for next year, securing of salaries from the government for Londua teachers and for the recognition by the government of the value of Londua Technical College as it continues to provide high quality technical training to the rural students and community. Thank you.

Back in town

Hi all. Have been in NSW for a joinery conference and it was information overload. Took our Ni-Vanuatu daughter to the snow for half a day. She is still thawing out! Am finishing the written proposal for Londua Technical College for next year. It is a bit time consuming to get all the words in the correct order. The Toowoomba team will be back home by now. Will be interesting to hear what went wrong or didn't turn up. There is always something. That's what makes it so much fun. Talked to the electrician and he was challenged in many ways but came through with flying colours. We are booking our next trip for early next month and then for mid Sept. I need to get back to work on the proposal. Welcome home Sarah.