Solomon Islands Ministries Newsletter (Volume 1, Issue 11)

Solomon Islands Ministries

NEWSLETTER October 2018 Volume 1, Issue 11

Gou’ulu Mission with him up the Kwai River and across Suafa Bay on a small banana boat to connect with the people of Gou’ulu. Word of their visit spread resulting in neighbours joining in for a time of fellowship and worship with their Salvation Army visitors.

At the beginning of the month Joshua traveled back to North Malaita to follow-up a request by the northern most village of Gou’ulu to join The Salvation Army. Notification of their request was received during

the construction of the DME plant in Kwai as a result of the witness of one of the Gateway Corps members who is from this village. Joshua was joined by a small mission team from Gateway Corps who travelled

Land has now been set aside on the beautiful coastline ready for the commencement of The Salvation Army, such is the enthusiasm of this village! This potential new opening is yet another example of the mission heart and powerful witness of Gateway Corps who are intent on expanding the mission of The Salvation Army across North Malaita.

Inside this issue:

IT Support Visit

2

School Crisis!

2

Reusable Sanitary Kits

2

Neighbourhood Fellowships

3

Still Others Expo

3

Music Workshops

3

A Personal Note

4

Aisalinga Mission For the past couple of years Elijah has been periodically attending The Salvation Army in Honiara when in town. The relationships he has established during this time has recently led him to express his desire for The Salvation Army to commence in his village of Aisalinga, about a half hour out of Auki, Malaita.

Elijah enthusiastically shared his ‘plan’ to commence clearing land upon his return home in readiness for the District Officers to come and visit his village early in the new year.

He is also excited to commence

Soldiership Classes and has stated that he will get his brother, who is the village chief, to join him!

The property being allocated for use by The Salvation Army is shared by a school, which has the potential to open up all sorts of mission opportunities.

Schools Ministries is rapidly emerging as the highest area of need in the Solomon Islands with the population growth compared to available spaces leaving thousands of children every year with a disrupted education. The experience that the PNGSI Territory has in this

space will serve Solomon Islands well into the future.

Aisalinga is the 10th new mission in Malaita this year!

Special points of interest:  2 New Missions  2 New Neighbourhood Fellowships  Advocacy for 1,300+ students  Community Project  Music Tuition  Personal Testimony

I.T. Support Visit remote environment. Added to these challenges in the capital of Honiara is the reality of day to day communication between villages in the Provinces where telecommunications doesn’t exist in many places. As The Salvation Army expands its presence throughout the Solomon Islands creative consideration needs to be given to explore more suitable forms of communication.

One of the many challenges living and working in the Solomon Islands is limited and expensive access to the internet.

With Territorial Headquarters situated in another country and supporters and family scattered around the world, the internet is vital to functioning in this

hardware, connected the District Team with iNotes, and prepared the team for the coming Office365.

Following Dion’s visit, Majors Robert and Vanessa conducted some iNotes training with Wency and Joshua to further develop the District Team.

The recent visit of Dion Boyd, IT Manager for the SPEA Zone, enabled the District Officers to discuss many of their IT needs and explore possibilities to improve their ability to effectively communicate in this context. Dion provided practical support through the donation of some necessary

School Crisis!

In previous newsletters the ministry relationship between The Salvation Army and Honiara Integrated Primary School has been spoken of on a number of occasions. This council registered school is situated on disputed land by several key stakeholders. The politics around land use and ownership in Solomon Islands is often complex with unclear or contested customary and legal titles.

HIPS was temporarily relocated to their current site a couple of years ago by the Honiara City Council after a previous land dispute and now face eviction by the same council who has reallocated the

land for “recreational use”. The issue became public a few weeks ago when the School Board were given three months to disassemble and relocate the school, after the Mayor ordered the demolition of parent run roadside canteens out the front of the school.

The Salvation Army stood alongside the teachers and students of the school this month to advocate for the ongoing education of the 1,300+ children who are now facing an uncertain future. Major Robert attended the City Council meeting with the School Taskforce to provide support as this challenging issue was further debated and Major Vanessa has provided a pastoral presence at the school throughout these difficult weeks to support the teachers who are feeling the stress of this situation.

Please continue to pray for HIPS and their future as a resolution is negotiated.

Reusable Sanitary Kits For many women and adolescent girls in Fiji, Solomon Islands, and Papua New Guinea, having your period means being excluded from many aspects of daily life.

It can mean bullying, isolation, shame and abuse. It can mean using whatever materials you have at your disposal to create makeshift pads, because quality products are not affordable or available.

It can mean burning your sanitary items for fear of putting them in the bin, where they could be seen. This is a staggering reality that a group of expat women are working towards changing in Solomon

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Islands. Major Vanessa attends and takes part in a sewing group that meets weekly where they sew Reusable Sanitary Kits (similar to Days for Girls). This group gathers donations from other expats of used sheets, doona covers, towels and then makes them into shields, pads, and bags that are then packed into kits. Each kits contains 2 shields, 8 pads, 2 pairs of underwear, bar of soap, face washer, instructions, calendar, large zip lock bag (for soiled items and can be used to wash them in) and a material drawstring bag.

These are all put together and taken to

Solomon Islands Ministries

the villages/provinces and given to the girls/women who are shown how to use them. Major Vanessa loves attending this group as it is another way of giving back to the community and the girls and women of the Solomon Islands.

Neighbourhood Fellowships Impact teaching material is having in his neighbourhood. Burns Creek has been a well known place for anti-social behaviour and crime for many years. Since commencing his Neighbourhood Fellowship with the OneArmy resource in August, other community leaders in Burns Creek have commented that there have been tangible changes in this part of their community. The selling of 'Kwaso' (home brew) and public drunkenness has reduced and there is a calmer spirit across the neighbourhood. Another group leader commenting about his neighbourhood, said that "God is pushing back the darkness" in Henderson through the teaching of OneArmy.”

Since the 1st August when Honiara Corps launched four new Neighbourhood Fellowships, the reach and impact of these groups has had a significant impact in their communities. Two new groups commenced this month, extending their reach now to 120+ people a week.

The following report was shared on the OneArmy Facebook Page about the impact of these groups: “We held a leaders meeting tonight after the conclusion of the "In Calling" unit at our Neighbourhood Fellowship groups in Honiara, Solomon Islands. One of our group leaders who leads a group in an outer community of Honiara called Burns Creek shared the enormous impact this

Still Others Expo The Salvation Army Solomon Islands is very pleased to be able to participate in the upcoming Still Others event in Melbourne next month with a stall at the Expo to promote its growing mission and ministry.

Solomon Islands and Kokonut Pacific Solomon Islands, with products made from the coconut oil for sale.

2. Solo Army Lavalavas & She Sells Sea Shells

The Solomon Islands stall will be promoting the following mission and social enterprise initiatives:

This display will have locally handmade products for sale from these two fundraising projects to support the mission of the Honiara Corps.

1. Kokonut Pacific & The Salvation Army DME Coconut Oil Plant

3. School Fees Loan Program & Learning Spaces

This display will contain information about the community development partnership between The Salvation Army

This display will feature two new significant programs to reduce youth vulnerability by 'keeping kids in school

longer' and by providing an alternative learning pathway for young people who have been displaced by the school system. The opportunity to financially support the launch of these two programs next year will be available.

Music Workshops with Dave Hedges A couple of months ago, Major Robert Evans wrote to a musician and music teacher friend in Melbourne with a bold request inviting him to come to Honiara to teach local Salvationists how to read music and to play brass. Dave Hedges didn’t hesitate, writing back immediately, “That's awesome! My response is a big YES! I'd love to!”

Dave’s enthusiastic response, along with a generous donation of eight brass instruments from Wonthaggi Corps, started the ball rolling to plan a weekend

Volume 1, Issue 11

of music workshops for the 2nd—4th November. Dave has been able to obtain donations of additional musical instruments and music books through his networks to contribute to what is sure to be an amazing weekend! While the existing local musicians already

have plenty of natural talent, their desire to learn how to read music and to be a part of the first brass band for the Solomon Islands has everybody very exited about Dave’s visit.

The benefit of these music workshops will extend beyond The Salvation Army with the RSIPF Brass Band invited to participate in the workshops also. The director of the police band has been looking for musical development opportunities for new members and is pleased to partner with The Salvation Army.

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The Salvation Army Solomon Islands District Officers - Majors Robert & Vanessa Evans PO Box 323 Honiara, Solomon Islands Phone: (677) 30344

Officially launched on the 4th November 2011, The Salvation Army Solomon Islands Ministries is a District of the Papua New Guinea & Solomon Islands Territory. With an established presence in the capital Honiara in Guadalcanal and an expanding presence in Malaita, the Holy Spirit is opening up new ministry opportunities for The Salvation Army throughout the Solomon Islands. Building upon the vision of the pioneering Officers and subsequent leaders, we intend to fully explore these new opportunities and will raise up indigenous leaders to advance the kingdom of God in the Solomon Islands.

Fax: (677) 30344 Mobile: (677) 749 4524 Email: solomon.islands@png.salvationarmy.org Website: www.png.salvationarmy.org

Prayer Points:  Completion of DME (Direct Micro Expelling) Plant  Acquisition of land for a Corps/District building  New Mission openings in Malaita  New Neighbourhood Fellowship Groups in Honiara

A Personal Note...

For we may have our plans but the Lord directs our steps (Proverbs 16:9). I believe that God had directed my steps which is why I am here and sharing my testimony with you.

I thank God for my husband Tony, as it was through his journey and dedication to God and to The Salvation Army that I am now a part of it. We had some differences at first but by gradually attending Sunday Fellowships and listening to God’s Word and testimonies I became humbled and allowed the Holy Spirit to do His work in my life. It’s amazing and I love this family.

Yes! I do have doubts and questions about who The Salvation Army was and its presence here in Solomon Islands, however, the Soldiership Classes have answered all the questions through

biblical Scriptures. Not only did it help me to understand the principles, beliefs and values of The Salvation Army but is one way in which requires personal commitment through a spiritual conviction that you express by signing a covenant. It is an honour to learn from Major Robert and support from Major Vanessa. I was even more blessed to hear Major’s personal testimony of how God was in the whole journey.

It’s a blessing and encouragement. Thanks for sharing.

I admire the life of William Booth and his great vision which is why we exist today.

Salvation is our name and it is our mission and we fulfill our mission through our service. For God calls us to do good works in response to His Salvation (Ephesians 2:10). We have been saved to save others.

We have been called to fulfill the Great Commission here on earth (Matthew

28:18-20) which is a big challenge.

Thanks to Major Robert’s advice, to be open and explore the call of God on my life, which is the first initial step I am taking. Just being open and to trust and obey.

Thank you and God bless.

Jennifer Kinikoroa