storian smol

door knocking

noreply@blogger.com (Rachael) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 05:47:00 +0000

Here's a post first written on this day last year when we were in Australia. Lachlan was almost two months old and we were getting ready to return to Vanuatu.

Today my eight year old daughter wanted to go door-knocking.

She was sitting quietly outside making crosses by tying two sticks together with string. She was doing a good job, they looked cute and rustic. I will keep mine. I asked what they were for. She said for giving to people. I was surprised by how many there were. She gave one to me, one to the baby and then ran out of people at home to give them to.

So she asked if she could sit outside the house and give them to people. I said yes. So she sat. And she waited. No-one came.

She asked if she could knock on doors and give them to people. I said no, she was too young.

So she asked if she could make a poster. Yes. She did. It said "Wooden crosses for free" and then she put our address and started out for the end of the street to put it up.

I explained that it was unlikely that people would walk a long way to come and get a cross. She looked heart-broken.

We decided to print out John 3:16 on coloured paper and attach it to the cross. Then she put them in people's letter-boxes.

I was amused by her naivety.... to think that people would want a cross or that they'd be happy to be given one.

I was ashamed by my cowardice. Why didn't I volunteer to go door-knocking with her? Well I told myself it was because people would think I was using her to proselytise and they'd probably put me onto DOCS! But was it just that I wasn't willing to go out of my comfort zone? Was it just that I am gutless... that I don't spend as much time thinking about how to tell people about Jesus? Was I put to shame by one who is only trying to do what she hears me talk about, to tell people about Jesus?

Talua's Bible Reading Plan

noreply@blogger.com (Rachael) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 09:05:00 +0000

I mentioned in an earlier post that this year at Talua we are following a bible reading plan (download it here) that will guide us through the bible in a year and that is arranged a little thematically.

We used last's years plan. Smaller passages were chosen for community devotions each day. Calendars were made up (adjusted for this year), as well as bookmarks showing the readings for the month and with nifty boxes to check.

People are really excited about the idea of reading through the whole bible in a year! We have been so encouraged. Some students have asked for extra calendars to send back to their villages. Someone passed on a request today from someone in the bush for a calendar to be sent out to them. How did they even know?

It is still January. It is difficult to keep up momentum in our own strength. Pray that God's word would produce much fruit this year!

its deeds are evil

noreply@blogger.com (Rachael) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 10:05:00 +0000

Here's a piece from the Telegraph, 'Why being a christian gets you crucified'. Its an interesting article about the furore surrounding Melinda Tankard Reist at the moment. But I don't really think it answers the question "why?". Jesus did.

Jesus said,

"The world cannot hate you, but it does hate me because I testify about it- that its deeds are evil" John 7:7 (HSCB; see ESV)

how to stop the boats

noreply@blogger.com (Rachael) — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 09:08:00 +0000

The Australian newspaper reports (here) that Tony Abbott has announced that if elected, he will introduce tough measures in order to prevent asylum seekers coming to Australia by boat.

Let me recommend a very interesting talk given by Dr. Khalid Koser, an international expert on migration, at the Lowy Institute. The talk, which was given on 14th December last year, is entitled "How to Stop the Boats". It deals with the subject of asylum seekers in a very balanced manner; with both compassion and concern for border protection. Let it stimulate your thinking on an important issue.

You can listen to it on this page. It is currently the first on the list.

The Lowy Institute is...

"an independent international policy think tank. Its objective is to generate new ideas and dialogue on international developments and Australia’s role in the world. Its mandate is broad. It ranges across all the dimensions of international policy debate in Australia - economic, political and strategic – and it is not limited to a particular geographic region." (from their webpage)

I'm going to marry you, Mummy!

noreply@blogger.com (Rachael) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 09:24:00 +0000

My third child said this to me recently.

The elder two said something similar when they were around the same age.

They also have wanted to marry each other.

I like that they love each other. I like that they love me. I really like that they express this love for each other in terms of marriage. While they obviously don't understand what marriage involves, we must be doing something right if it still has such a positive feel for them.

treatment of women in Vanuatu

noreply@blogger.com (Rachael) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 08:57:00 +0000

I have been shocked at the attitude to women that I have witnessed here in Vanuatu.

Women have exactly the same rights as men according to law. But in day to day life, women are treated very differently. This is manifested in all sorts of different ways.

Statistics show that there are high rates of domestic violence and teenage pregnancy. Rape and incest are more common than they ought to be, although there are no accurate statistics.

I can give personal testimony to the following sorts of behaviour which together testify that women are considered to have a lower status: If there are chairs available, men sit on the chairs and women sit on the floor. Any problem in the home is considered the woman’s fault (and therefore she deserves what she gets). In public meeting there is more likely to be chatter if a woman is speaking than a man. If there is a crowd waiting for a transport to go somewhere and when one arrives in which there is not enough room for everyone, the men get on and leave the women behind. In any sort of queue, the men go first. Even young boys treat their mothers and sisters harshly with little correction. If a family does not yet have any sons, baby girls are not welcomed. Wives walk an appropriate distance behind their husbands.

In my seven years here, five friends have been seriously beaten by their husbands. Of them, one was knocked out and one was hospitalised.

There are moves to tighten legislation about domestic violence. There is resistance to this... how else will we control our wives?

It is an issue I have not said much about. I haven't wanted to offend my friends or to cause them shame. I know many good ni-Vanuatu men who care deeply for their wives and who are gentle and respectful in their treatment of them. But, I have come to the conclusion that this issue is serious enough that I need to speak out about it.

These attitudes to women in Vanuatu need to change.

Are you a women in Vanuatu? What do you think? What is your experience? Have I been fair?

back into the swing of things at Talua

noreply@blogger.com (Rachael) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 21:29:00 +0000

Although officially term doesn't start for a few weeks, we are well and truly back into the swing of things at Talua.

Last week the January short course began. There are about 15 students for about four weeks who make use of empty accommodation and classrooms before term 'proper' begins. They are studying christian leadership, bible study, preaching, development and church discipline (among other things) and have some excellent lecturers.

This week pre-term intensive courses began for the BMin students. Third year students are doing an intensive on exegesis. The first year students are doing Greek. Both years are doing further training in computers.

No school yet for us, so we are still feeling quite relaxed in our house. Matthew begins this year, so once that starts we'll really have our hands full.

a four year old's concept of time

noreply@blogger.com (Rachael) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 05:10:00 +0000

Last week....

Matthew: Mum, how long is it 'til my birthday?
Mum: um... about sixty days.
Matthew: (in complete shock) Sixty? Sixty days? But I'll be dead by then!

Let's hope it is just his (lack of) concept of time and not a prophecy. Today he asked me to make invitations for his birthday party and insisted that I put on them "Come to my birthday party which will be in about fifty years time".

thumbs up for the HCSB

noreply@blogger.com (Rachael) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 20:00:00 +0000

I don't like changing bible translations. I've never had a copy of the ESV. I like my NIV (1984 edition). However, I am, for the moment, using the Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB).

Holman (under LifeWay Christian Resources) is the publishing arm of the Southern Baptists Convention who apparently became fed up with having to pay so much to use NIV text in all their teaching resources so made their own translation (see here for more info). It is supposed to be more readable than the ESV but to have more formal equivalence (that sort of means you can match English words with Greek words) than the NIV. If that is the case, that's pretty remarkable.

I have decided to try it. Glen began using it a while ago to try it out. The Principal heard him reading it aloud while in class and came and asked what translation it was. He said he found it easy to follow and wanted one. Our children also find it easy to follow when it is read aloud. To my mind, if children, and ESL speakers find it easy to follow, then that is a pretty high recommendation.

I am appreciating the difference a new translation makes to bible reading. Different aspects of the story stand out. There are different emphases. I see things afresh or see new things.

There are things I don't like. I don't particularly like the type setting nor the great big bullet points that mark out something or other (if, like me, you don't read the preface to find out about what they mean, they get pretty annoying) and I find some of the expression clumsy. But on the whole, no big complaints from me, but I am not really qualified to assess a translation!

he can walk!

noreply@blogger.com (Rachael) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 04:34:00 +0000

It's been two months since his first steps but finally he has mastered it. He is so excited.

Here is some video.

Try this (double-click on the picture):

or follow this link (this one definitely works).

two great books to read aloud

noreply@blogger.com (Rachael) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 23:49:00 +0000

The Moorchild by Eloise McGraw was a fantastic read for our family.

Imagine you have a beautiful baby, healthy, happy and peaceful. Imagine one day it starts screaming and screaming and screaming and doesn't stop and none of the usual remedies will work. And imagine having to put up with the sort of superstitious nonsense people sprout about fairy folk changing your child for one of theirs that they've rejected. And then imagine that it is not nonsense. And then imagine that you are that changeling. "Neither one thing nor yet quite t'other".

The dedication in this book reads,

"To all children who have ever felt different."

and it is a wonderful gift from this author to those children. She uses the world of fantasy to powerfully and sensitively explore themes of prejudice, difference and acceptance. It is well written and had some beautiful heart-wrenching father-daughter moments. I thoroughly recommend it.

My daughters really enjoyed it and were able to see parallels in their own situation. We're not ni-Vanuatu and we're not quite Australian either.

Heartbeat by Sharon Creech is written in free-form verse and reading silently is not allowed.

Annie is eleven and everything is changing. Her mother is pregnant and her Grandfather is growing old. Her best friend, Max, wants her to join the track-team. Annie just wants to run for fun.

Annie loves to run and run and run. Her bare-feet thump in rhythm and set the rhythm of the novel, a novel of life and of change.

Heartbeat is heart-warming and affirming of friendship and family relationships across generations. Recommended.

bush kitchen

noreply@blogger.com (Rachael) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 20:30:00 +0000

Many moons ago I promised photos of our completed bush kitchen. Well it was finished the day afterward so long ago that now it has a beautiful garden all around. Elizabeth has done a wonderful job of the garden.

Here are some photos.

Can you recognise...

island cabbage
manioc
taro
yam
capsicum
paw-paw
beans
banana

help with oiling a sewing machine

noreply@blogger.com (Rachael) — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 22:50:00 +0000

I've put a new belt into a singer 1507 sewing machine.

It works but it makes a big noise.

The noise seems to be come from somewhere along the shaft that is turned by the large cog that the belt rotates. We think that some oil would probably fix it but are unsure about where to put the oil and don't want to wreck anything by putting oil where it shouldn't go. The manual is no help.

Can you help?

read the bible in a year

noreply@blogger.com (Rachael) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 08:24:00 +0000

Faith Presbyterian Church Bible Reading Calendar 2011

Faith Presbyterian Church Bible Reading Calendar 2012

Designed by Craig DesJardins, these calendars guide you to through the whole bible in a year. But wait, there's more! There are two or three readings a day. You read through each book from beginning to end, one or two and sometimes three chapters at a time. But the old and new testament books are placed together in such a way as to help you to make thematic connections between them. And the Psalms are scattered throughout the year, sometimes emphasising themes in the readings, or sometimes expressing the emotions or thoughts therein.

Examples from the designer's introduction (2011):

January 1: Genesis 1 & John 1: in the beginning
January 10: John 10 & Psalm 23: the Lord (Jesus Christ) is my shepherd
March 5: Leviticus 11 & Mark 7: clean foods
June 8: Joshua 2 & James 2: Rahab hiding the spies
June 29: 1 Samuel 2:1-10 & Luke 1:46-55: Hannah’s song of praise and Mary’s magnificat
July 26: 2 Samuel 11-12 & Psalm 51: David’s fall into sin and his confession of that sin
August 8: Proverbs 7 & 1 Kings 11: Solomon’s warning against involvement with foreign women, and his failure to follow his own counsel
August 24: Proverbs 30:7-9 & 1 Timothy 6:6-10, 17-19: the Christian attitude toward wealth
October 30: Habakkuk 2:4 & Romans 1:17 on Reformation Sunday: the just shall live by faith.

We tried the 2011 plan for a couple of months last year as a family. I was amazed at what can be learnt inductively and the questions that can be answered when reading a couple of bible passages together like that. It allows scripture to interpret scripture.

We are also using the 2011 plan at Talua this year. It will mean that the readings specific for specific days won't work so well (i.e. Reformation Sunday, Easter Day etc) but apart from that, we are hoping that it will encourage students in their personal bible reading and that they will grow to know God better and better as a result.

I'm going to give it a try too, with the back-up of just the New Testament reading if it gets too much for me. So far, I have been struck by the contrast of spiritual birth that gives life in John 3 and the birth that leads to death that is typified in the genealogies in Genesis 5. I also learnt a lot from reading Psalm 8 with Genesis 1 and was forced to think about things I usually skip over.

Why don't you give it a go too? Jump in and start now, don't worry about what you've missed so far. Click on the above links to download the calendars.

which flower is this???

noreply@blogger.com (Rachael) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 23:54:00 +0000

more on fungi

noreply@blogger.com (Rachael) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 21:02:00 +0000

This gets more interesting every year.

In 2009, it looked like this.

Last year, 2010, it looked like this.

And now, 2011, it looks like this (thanks Mum for sending the photographs):

how do I find Australia

noreply@blogger.com (Rachael) — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 20:00:00 +0000

I've recently returned from a short trip to Australia. People often ask me how I find being in Australia after so many years in Vanuatu. It's a good question and one I find difficult to answer. Here are some comments.

I have so much more energy in Australia and feel, physically, so much better.

I see so much more skin that I don't know where to look. Faces and hair are so "done" I wonder where the real people have gone.

I am bewildered by choice. This is a problem not just when shopping but also when paying bills. Under the guise of "helping you better", I suspect I am just being ripped off more.

I used to really love singing in English when I went to church in Australia. Now I don't know the songs. And when I think I do know the song, it has a new tune and I don't know how it goes.

Sometimes I feel like I don't know how anything goes. It wasn't relevant this time, but on previous visits we have enrolled our children in school. My children are not in kindergarten, and it's the end of the year, but I am like a first-time kindergarten Mum in her first week of school. I don't know anything. I don't know where not to park or where to turn the car around. I don't know about canteen, about the end-of-year festivities, when the traditional (but unofficial) mufti-day is, or isn't, how to pay for anything, where to stand, where not to stand, what to give the teacher for a present... all I am thinking about is reminding the girls to keep their shoes and their T-shirts on even when they get hot.

I enjoy seeing my old friends again and to talk without fear of misunderstanding (at least, not too much). I enjoy visiting churches that support and help and care for us. I am very thankful to be able to visit my doctor for sound medical advice.

I love to see my Mum and Dad, my brother and my sister and her family. I miss my other brother who is in Africa. I enjoyed catching up with extended family and especially all my nowallgrownup cousins.

on breast-feeding

noreply@blogger.com (Rachael) — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 20:00:00 +0000

Here's a post I wrote a few weeks after Lachlan was born. Breastfeeding him continued to be painful (though not as intense as first and not for the same reasons) for about nine months. It's been better since then.

Best for mother, best for baby. Breast-feeding is a wonderful bonding experience between a mother and her newborn, cultivating a close, loving, harmonious relationship. There are numerous benefits to the health of baby and mother, not to mention the health of the planet and the hip-pocket. In fact these days, to bottle-feed is to be a social pariah.

If I could go through labour again not to have to breast-feed for the first week, I would.

Breast-feeding my fourth child in his first week, especially his first day, was the most painful experience I have ever had, and that includes labour, without drugs. If there were 50 good reasons to have a fifth child, the memory of this week alone would be sufficient to stop me.

After-birth pains. After my second child (when they were a surprise to me) someone told be they got worse with every child. I didn't believe them. At that time every feed would leave me in tears... it couldn't get worse. But it did.

And why did no-one prepare me for this? Why does no one in the post-natal wards seem to take it seriously or offer helpful suggestions in terms of pain relief? Pandeine Fort? Are you kidding?

ministry workers boost knowledge

noreply@blogger.com (Rachael) — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 22:46:00 +0000

Published in the Daily Post, 5th November, 2011, here is the edited (and translated) version of the article I sent to the Daily Post. You can find the original version, in Bislama, here.

Selling uranium to India

noreply@blogger.com (Rachael) — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 22:34:00 +0000

Should we do this?

What do you think?

a world newspaper for children

noreply@blogger.com (Rachael) — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 22:12:00 +0000

If you are keen for your children to learn and understand what is happening around the world today, here is a great resource:

newsademic

If you subscribe, they send a printable newspaper called "newsademic". It is easy to read and provides enough background information to understand the issues surrounding current events.

We enjoy reading it ourselves and our nine year old enjoys it. It has also led to us doing research together on the internet to find out more.

I highly recommend it.

I love this photo

noreply@blogger.com (Rachael) — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 09:59:00 +0000

Though you might have to crook your neck to see it. It's not like that on my computer so I don't know why it's gone sideways.

My brother took it. Can you guess where he was when he did so?

30 pipol oli graduet long sot kos long Talua

noreply@blogger.com (Rachael) — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 19:59:00 +0000

Here's an article I wrote and sent to the Vanuatu Daily Post a few weeks ago. I didn't hear back from them so thought they weren't interested. However, on a recent visit to a friend's house I found the article in the November 5 edition of the Daily Post, in the Santo News section, only it had been translated into English. Mostly a good translation only some of the nuances were different. Unfortunately it doesn't seem to be on their online archives so I can't link to the English version. So, see how you go with this one....

30 man oli stap gobak long ol aelan blong olgeta afta long fo wikis “in-sevis” trening long Talua Ministry Training Centre.

Long Fraedei 28 Oktoba, 30 pipol oli bin graduet long wan sot kos long Talua Ministry Training Centre long Saot Santo. Olgeta ya oli kamaot long ol difren jyos mo oli kamaot long ol difren aelan long Vanuatu mo oli kam wanples blong karem ‘in-sevis-trening’ long wan sot kos.

Sot kos ya i stat long 3 Oktoba mo i gat fo wikis evriwan. Oli tekem trening long komuniti bes edukesen, prijing, misen, jyos disaplen, pasifik histori mo lidasip & develpmen. Ol lekura we oli tijim olgeta, oli tijim olgeta long ol spesel eria blong olgeta.

‘In-sevis-trening’ hemi blong givhan long olgeta we oli karem wok finis insaed long jyos. Long olgeta ya we oli bin graduet, i gat ol pasta, ol pris, ol dikon, ol sandei skul tija, ol yut, wan we i wok long PWMU mo narafala we oli no karem wok yet. Principal Ps. Fiama Rakau hem i talem se in-sevis-trening hemi impoten tumas. Hemi talem se, “Jenis i kam oltaem mo trening we samfala oli karem bifo i aot-of-deit. Yumi ol man mo woman we yumi folem Jisas Kraes, oltaem yumi stap lan mo yumi mas kam ap-to-deit.” Mo, “Hem i veri veri importen blong lei pipol blong i siftem olgeta long save long wok we oli mekem”.

Ps. George Manses we hemi wok longtaem finis i talem se, “Sot kos ya i olsem wan niufala journey. Mi mi wokbaot i go, gogo mi nomoa save go, be kos ya i helpem mi blong mi lukluk moa i go. Hem i helpem mi bigwan, i bildemap mi, i leftemap tingting blong mi long kristin laef mo long prea.” Mr. Brian Vanuaroro, wan yangfala man, hem i talem se, “Kos ya i stret long ol yangfala tu. Hem i givhan plante long mi blong luksave plante samting blong givhan long komuniti, long jyos, long gavman mo long kantri.”

Talua Ministry Training centre hem i wan institusen blong Presbyterian Church of Vanuatu (PCV) be long sot kos ya i gat 17 man we oli kam long Church of Melanesia (COM) oli kam. Principal Rakau i talem se, “Mi mi glad tumas long kos ya from we i gat fulap COM oli kam mo i balans wetem olgeta blong PCV”. Mo hem i talem se doa i open long pipol blong eni jyos we i joen long VCC oli kam.

I gat tri sot kos long evri yia, long Januari, Septemba mo Oktoba. Samfala sot kos we i go finis oli bin fokas long yut o sandae skul o eldasip. Mo samtaem ol lektura oli goaot long narafala ples blong mekem ol sot kos ya, olsem long Efate (Januari 2011), Tanna (Mei 2011) mo Malekula (Mei 2010).

Back Row (from left): Lesley Rongo, Ps. George Manse, Joseph Vagaha, Sam Yonah, Morris Tari, Stephen Sigi, Fr. Seth Karae, Brian Vanuaroro, Jimmy Olo Middle (from left): Ps. Valu Toukone, Wilkins Tari, Godringdon Tari, Fox Mele, Fr Pedro Tamsel, Moli Luke, Fr. Christopher Tavoa, Dikon Stanley Aru, Dikon Daniel Tini, Fr. Eddison Mala, Jairo Iatipu. Seated (from left): Johnny Roy, Ps. Willie Yanick, Rodney Lulu, Daniel Soul, Fr. Robertson Aru, Fr. Arthur Segere, Votangi Aru, Alexine Moses. Front: Fr. Namson Pattison Absent: Ernest Naual

carols

noreply@blogger.com (Rachael) — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 08:00:00 +0000

And then on Sunday, there was carols night. It was a lovely, Christ-honouring night. Dramas were well performed and the birth of Jesus was linked both with promise in the OT and fulfilment in his work of salvation on the cross.

Carols are a little different here. It is more performance than participation. And candles are saved for the end and then swapped as you greet one another. I hold my breath every time waiting for someone's hair to catch on fire!

On Monday and Tuesday exams were held, though most were on Monday. Since exams students have been working on preparing for graduation. Graduation students are away today for their "retreat". Tomorrow, more preparation, and graduation on Friday.

closing (4)

noreply@blogger.com (Rachael) — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 20:00:00 +0000

Then on Saturday it was our presbytery group closing. This year we decided something informal would be in order. So we went down to the river, made a fire and roasted freshly caught fish and chicken wings (not so freshly caught but marinated in soy sauce, honey and ginger). We also ate cinnamon bread (which Sophie made), rice, sausages, paw-paw, cucumber and simboro.

I have chosen this photo because it say something about the unity we share in Christ. Our "presbytery" group is connected to the "Ambrym" presbytery. Ambrym is one of the islands of Vanuatu. Two of the students in the background are from Ambrym. Another is from Tanna and another from Epi (but who worked on Ambrym as a Pastor for years before returning to Talua to do his degree). That won't mean much to many of you but to ni-Vanuatu it means a lot.

Tanna, Ambrym and Epi are the places were "kastom" or traditional beliefs and practises, especially black magic, are strongest. Furthermore, there is strong rivalry and tension between these places, especially Tanna and Ambrym. A few years ago there was a riot involving the Tannese and Ambrym communities in Port Vila in which people were killed.

But here, the dividing wall of hostility has broken down, and these men have a deep and lasting fellowship.

"But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility..." Ephesians 2:13-14