Month: November 2012

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Married Students Housing Under Construction

2011

A few years ago this unfinished building foundation was full of cabbages, peanuts and tomato plants. The guesthouse project started by our predecessor has remained unfinished for quite some time. We have desired to slightly alter the plans and make three studio apartments for married couples with it. Married couples’ accommodation is really what the school needs. Renting a room in town is rarely an option for our married students because they come to JBI without guaranteed funds. So often, wives have to remain back on home islands while husbands come to Bible school for three years of study.

Nov 5, 2012

This past Monday, November 5th, we hired a work crew and they cleaned out the weeds and cut down the papaya tree growing in the middle of the floor (photo above). Since then, the guys have continued working and I have been purchasing cement blocks, bags of cement, sand, coral and rebar. An unexpected offering has allowed us to begin the completion of this building but we have a long way to go.

Nov 9, 2012

As of today, Friday, November 9th, this photo shows our progress, plumbing pipes set, and additional foundation footings. Everything is ready for the floor to be poured on Monday! We are so excited to be on our way to providing rooms next year for three married couples. If you would like to help us with this building, please send all gifts to our account, labeled project 5619.

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WM Ladies Meet on Ifira Island

In November each year, Women’s Ministries ladies from the 23 AG churches on this island (Efate) meet for an end-of-the-year closing service.

Off to IfiraLast night we all gathered at the Port Vila harbor to catch small  taxi speedboats out to Ifira Island. Ifira is one of two islands sitting in the Port Vila bay. Over 1000 people live on the island and many of them commute by boat to Port Vila to work.

With 15 to 18 people snuggly fit in, the boats ferried us safely across the beautiful bay to the sandy shores of Ifira Island. The photo (above left) Robyn, Roz & Lorishows the passengers sitting at the front of the boat I was in. Total of 18 people

I was very happy to have Robyn, a visiting friend from Australia, with me. Robyn and her husband lived at JBI for three years and helped us so much. We were so sad to see them leave in 2010 for ministry back in Australia. They have been visiting with us this past week for graduation and it has Gift exchangebeen so good to be together again.

The first WM meeting that we attended together in 2008 was also at Ifira Island with Roz and Kay. So we took a souvenir photo last night (sadly Kay is no longer in Vanuatu either).

Gift exchange is a happy Widowspart of the WM closing service. Ladies line up in rows facing each other and exchange flower leis and gifts. Then someone passes around behind spraying cologne and sprinkling baby powder on heads and necks.

Widows are always honored too. They do not bring gifts to exchange but are given gifts and powdered.

Speedboat taxisAfter service, a lovely curry meal was served by the host church. The hot sweet tea was particularly nice as the evening had turned breezy and cool.

By 10 p.m. the visiting ladies were heading back to the beach where several speedboat taxis were waiting to take us back to the main island.

We will not meet again until 2013!

New Beginnings Assembly of God Ifira

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Sailing to Santo

Twenty JBI students have headed to Santo today for a two week mission trip. Yesterday, they were all ready to set sail but a severe weather front kept the ship at port. This morning it was still very stormy but by afternoon the sun was shining as the “Santo Queen” left port with 18 happy students, spouses, six puppets, boxes of literature, and a whole lot of baggage!

roll call for boarding

Gino, David and DonaldThe students have been preparing all year for this trip. They raised all the money to cover their costs, fasted once a week as a student body, prepared a children’s program, and so much more. As graduation approached, the teary graduates have been happy to prolong their time with classmates by a couple more weeks of joint ministry and adventure…this kind of endeavor in Vanuatu is always a bit of an adventure. They are on the high seas tonight, 24 hours of travel time, stopping to unload passengers at several islands and then arriving on Santo later tomorrow afternoon. Once on the island of Santo they will start trekking to churches and villages in bush areas.

Santo Queen

Pastor Philip and ourselves will be flying to Santo shortly to join the students. Please pray for us all as we go, taking the Gospel to those who have yet to hear or understand that this Good News is for them.

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2012 JBI Graduation

Sunday, November 4th, was a very special day for the JBI family as we celebrated the graduation of seven students.

2012 grads

2012 Graduates (left to right): Jack Jessie from Solomon Islands, Hosea Katipa from Tanna, Micknie Natu from Maewo, Maturine Kaltakel from Efate, Abel Rete from Santo, Gino Bule from Santo and Freddie Bani from Santo. The five students wearing red sashes were awarded diplomas and the two others received certificates.

some JBI students

JBI Graduation was held at Evangel Temple in the afternoon as the campus chapel is too small for such an event. Hundreds of people, friends and family, gathered for the service. AOG Vanuatu General Superintendent Rev. Youen Atnelo is the senior pastor at Evangel Temple and a long time supporter and former teacher of the school.

We were so blessed to have Pastor Russell and Robyn Harbour from Australia with us. The Harbours spent 3 years as AOG Australia missionaries in Vanuatu assisting with Royal Rangers and then teaching at JBI. We have missed them since they left in 2010 and enjoyed having them visit. The students were so excited to have “mom & dad” back on campus! Pastor Russell was our graduation speaker.

Rev. Mamali, Rev. Atnelo, Rev. HarbourHosea Katipa, class speaker

Another overseas guest was Rev. Kenneth Mamali, from Honiara, Solomon Islands, who came to witness Jack Jessie’s graduation. We have been privileged to have a small part in training students from the Solomon Islands in recent years. Jack was also surprised to have his sponsor, Norm, from Australia arrive in time for graduation weekend.

Hosea Katipa, (photo above left) was the class speaker. He served as Student Body President this year. Hosea is married with five children and is from SW Tanna.

GinoPB043669

What a special moment for Gary (Rev. J. Gary Ellison, JBI Principal), to present the graduates with their diplomas and certificates. We thank the Lord for a wonderful school year and the commitment of these young men and women. Pray for them as they return to their home islands for ministry.

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JBI 2012 Banquet

It was a lovely moonlit evening as friends and family of the JBI graduates gathered for an outside banquet on campus. First and second year students are responsible for organizing the whole evening, from decorating to cooking the meal. All I can say is, they really did a wonderful job and it was a fun and delightful evening!

We had lots of laughs, a few tears, much gift giving and baby powder sprinkling…no Vanuatu party is complete without the special guests being generously sprinkled with baby powder which of course, glows nicely in the dark!

Here are some photo highlights:

Nicole & Vaily greeting grads with leisGrads Hosea & Freddie powdered

Students Nicole and Vaily greeting and giving flower leis to the graduates as they arrive. Grads Hosea and Freddie already sprinkled with baby powder for the occasion!

Cake cutting

2012 Graduates: Micknie Natu, Hosea Katipa, Maturine Kaltakel, Freddie Bani, Abel Rete, Jask Jessie, Gino Bule, cutting the graduation cakes.

Banquet

Photo above: Friends and family enjoying the evening’s food and program.

Jonah and Michel helping to serve with Faith MaimaiSerah Naias

Left photo above: 2nd year student, Jonah Ravo; Mrs. Faith Maimai, faculty spouse; and Michel Moli, first year student serving food. Right photo above: Mrs. Serah Naias, faculty spouse.

Kiel, Philip and RussellGino with Roger and Cindy Sutter

Left to right above: Kiel Maimai, JBI Dean of Students; Philip Naias, JBI faculty and Russell Harbour, former JBI faculty member. Decked out with gifts of shirts, material, baskets, mats and leis. Photo above right: Graduate Gino Bule presenting gifts of thanks to Roger and Cindy Sutter for their generous support to him while at JBI.

Rev. Kenneth Mamali, Solomon IslandsPastor Russell and RobynHosea & Pastor WD Saul

Left to right: Rev. Kenneth Mamali from Solomon Islands; former JBI faculty, Pastor Russell and Robyn Harbour from Australia; Hosea and his sponsor, Pastor Willie David Saul, (the rooster is alive).

Family from Sara, SantoClosing remarks

Three of our graduates are from the village of Sara, on the northern island of Espiritu Santo. Abel, Freddie and Gino posing with family.

And a wonderful time was had by all!

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School Year Ending…

This week has been a flurry of activity…the students have been sitting final exams and teachers have been grading stacks of papers and exams. The school year at JBI is coming to an end. It has been a wonderful year and now we are ready to graduate seven students.

2012 grads

Front left to right: Gino, Jack, Maturine. Back row left to right: Abel, Hosea, Micknie and Freddie.