Easter Weekend

Flowers 066Easter week in Vanuatu is a time for church camps, week-long night outreaches and finally sunrise Easter Sunday services. This special focus starts on Palm Sunday and goes full swing until Easter Sunday.

The first term of classes are out at JBI and school will resume on May 10th. During this break we have JBI students going many places for ministry. Four students have gone to Saama, on the north side of Efate, to speak at a youth camp and three of our female students are currently running a kid’s camp in a poor neighborhood of the city. Other students have gone to other communities to assist churches and pastors in a variety of ways. Pastor Kiel, one of the JBI teachers is speaking at a youth camp on the island of Malekula over this long weekend and then will fly to the island of Tanna for a pastor’s seminar.

We, on the other hand, will be having a family weekend attending services. We have had a very busy term at JBI and need to catch up on some family time, submit grades and reports, and finalize the details for our classroom construction project. I am also translating a 48 page booklet in Bislama which will be printed and handed out at a women’s conference on May 15th.

The crates which we sent from the US months ago have yet to arrive and all of our homeschool materials are inside them. This delay has put our kids months behind in school. We have reordered some books and have borrowed books from SIL missionaries so we can continue working on some subjects. Needless to say, homeschooling will be a priority over the next few months also. Pray that our crates will eventually make it to Vanuatu!

We wish you all a blessed Easter! He is Risen!

JBI First Term Ends

First term JBI 2011The first term of classes at JBI is coming to a close with final exams starting tomorrow. We have had a great term, good classes, great chapel services and a committed group of students. The four teachers are definitely worn out and looking forward to the 2 week break! We usually have six teachers so it has been a heavy load academically and administratively for four people to carry.  Two students dropped out due to illness and we hope they will be well enough to return after the break. Quite a few students have also had difficulties paying their school fees this term. Thank you for praying for the students that the funds will come in for their school fees and that we will all have a productive break!

Palm Sunday

Evangel TempleBeautiful sunny day here in Vanuatu after days of rain! Wonderful Palm Sunday service this morning at Evangel Temple! Palm Sunday services in Vanuatu are energetic and joyful as Christians sing “Hosanna” and wave palm branches!

Palm Sunday

Evangel temple

Shefa District Women Visit JBI

Saturday morning, the school was blessed by the visit of women from many different churches around the island of Efate. They came bearing gifts of food, yams, sweet potatoes, cabbages and various fruits from their gardens. The WM ladies met in the school cafeteria and had a time of worship with the Bible school students. Marie Paule, pastor’s wife from the village of Pango shared a very timely word. The various WM groups also blessed us with a cash offering for the school cafeteria. The JBI school cafeteria has no budget and functions solely on donations. A time of fellowship followed with the JBI students serving the ladies tea and baked goods. Thank you to all the churches and WM groups who so generously donated food and money to feed the Bible school students! You have blessed us so much!

WM ladies visiting JBI

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