Solomon Islands District Newsletter (Volume 2, Issue 10)

Solomon Islands District

NEWSLETTER October 2019 Volume 2, Issue 10

Fouele New Opening for 300 people who migrated from nearby Fanalei Island, which has been inundated by rising sea levels wiping out 90% of inhabitable land.

About this time last year Pastor Chris Sukufatu from Fouele Village in Port Adam invited The Salvation Army to commence in his community. Pastor Chris first encountered The Salvation Army in Honiara after hearing Major Malcolm Herring speak on a radio program back in 2017. He responded to Major Malcolm’s on-air invitation to attend a service at the Rock Haven Inn. It was then he discovered two people he knew through previous church networks had already joined The Salvation Army.

After many months of patience and anticipation, Pastor Chris was delighted to welcome Major Robert and Envoy Joshua to Fouele Village this month for a mission trip to follow-up his invitation. Fouele Village is situated on the mangrove lined coastline of Port Adam in South Malaita. Over the past 30 years this village has become a refuge

Pastor Chris is a former leader from the Church of the Living Word and now leads a small independent congregation that he has called ‘Salvation House of Prayer.’ This discouraged and isolated congregation called upon The Salvation Army because they connected with our “Heart to God, Hand to Man” mission philosophy.

When Major Robert preached during his visit about the inseparable nature of the social and spiritual mission of The Salvation Army they were convinced this was the church for them!

An information session was held after the worship service attracting an enthusiastic group of locals who affirmed their desire to join The Salvation Army, resulting in 15 new recruits completing Soldiership Classes.

Church and village leaders then

Inside this issue:

met together to complete the Application for a New Opening Form and to sign the Land Agreement giving The Salvation Army land and handing over their church building. Among the mission and ministry opportunities spoken of during the visit, the ‘Learning Spaces’ proposal for literacy classes was of particular interest to this community, as most of their women are illiterate.

A return trip is planned for November to enrol the first Soldiers for this new church and commence literacy classes in response to this need.

Dedication of David Henry Babalu

2

Re-launch of Junior Miss

2

SAES Catering for BECC

2

City Women Connect

3

Bek’s Visit to Solomon Islands

3

Enrollment of Soldiers

3

A Personal Note

4

Special points of interest:  New Church Opening  New Soldiers Enrolled  Empowering Girls  Engaging Women  Visitor from Australia  Mission Opportunity

Dedication of David Henry Babalu much cause to celebrate this addition to their young family. Major Vanessa was requested to conduct the dedication of David at Honiara Corps on Sunday, 6th October. Over 100 people gathered to celebrate this special occasion for Steven and Sandy and the Aebata family.

Of all the ceremonies performed by The Salvation Army, the dedication of a baby probably brings the most joy as the family and church celebrate the gift of new life. David is the third child of Steven and Sandy Babalu, giving them

and support him/her in the commitment of his/her life to the service of God.”

Three babies have been dedicated this year from three congregations in the District. Every child is a precious gift from God and represents the future potential of The Salvation Army with their parents promising that, “as he/she grows in wisdom and stature, [they] will teach him/her to seek Christ as Saviour,

Re-launch of Junior Miss Junior Miss is a program for girls aged 11 – 25 where they come together and learn basic life skills, discover how God sees them through Bible study and enjoy each other's company in a safe space.

This month Honiara Corps relaunched the Junior Miss program on International

Day of the Girl Child, after a long period of inactivity. Nominee for Officership Jennifer Kinikoroa encouraged the girls to see themselves as Christ sees them.

She used the book of Esther as a role model for each one of the girls.

Esther knew her worth and value despite her circumstances. To know our worth means to have a positive self esteem, and confidence in our abilities. We need to recognize that we are different and can make a difference. We must be clear about our values, know our boundaries, identify all our positive qualities, know what we stand for, and believe that we

are good enough. Esther was beautiful both inside and out, and her character demonstrated this truth:

 She was beautiful, but not prideful or arrogant (like Queen Vashti).

 She was obedient  She paid attention – listened to advisors, especially her mentors

 She possessed a concerned and  

compassionate heart for her people She was content with what she had.

She was courageous and fearless.

After Jennifer’s message 17 local girls responded and signed up for Junior Miss.

SAES Catering for BECC Catering for the Biosecurity Emergency Coordination Centre (BECC) commenced this month to provide lunches Monday to Friday for the Rhinoceros Beetle clean-up teams in Honiara. This catering effort is being coordinated by Corps Officer Envoy Wency Ramo’oroa and SAES Team Leader Joseph Atkin. Each day a team of 3-4 SAES volunteers meet at the District Quarters to prepare lunches for 16 BECC workers. The rotating weekly menu includes: BBQ sausages & rice, roast chicken fried rice, beef curry & rice, tomato mince & rice, soy chicken legs & rice. Participation in this important

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community service is the second major engagement for the newly formed Solomon Islands District SAES Team this year. It is providing the team with a valuable opportunity to build on their previous experiences over the next couple of months. With the cyclone season fast approaching, it also further demonstrates to national authorities the potential capability of the local presence of The Salvation Army to serve in the event of a disaster. So far a total of 12 SAES volunteers have participated in the catering roster over the first three weeks of this activity.

Solomon Islands District

City Women Connect The last weekend in October saw the closing program of City Women Connect.

Fifteen members of the Honiara Corps Home League joined with approximately 200 other women from all different denominations from around Honiara to share in a celebration of what God had done throughout the year. The Home League ladies performed a Fijian fan dance that Jenny from Honiara Integrated Primary School had taught the ladies. This was one of the many items that were performed throughout the afternoon. One of the touching times of the program was when each church got

up and honored the widows that were connected to their congregation.

Martha, who is the Chairperson of City Women Connect, gave a short message

from Mark 12:42-44 and shared that we were to not be left behind for that is when we become vulnerable. God is the One who is there for us and is the One that we need to be looking towards when we are lonely. Next year the Home League will continue to meet with City Women Connect and participate in their new Life Skills Training. This training will teach the women new skills that they can use to earn an income and help provide for their families. City Women Connect continues to be an empowering network with other Christian women for The Salvation Army Home League.

Bek’s Visit to Solomon Islands After the disappointment of missing out on their daughter’s visit in August when Major Vanessa was medevac to Brisbane, Rebekah’s visit to the Solomon Islands this month was received with much excitement by her mum and dad. This is now the second time Bek and Adam have visited their parents in the Solomon Islands (Adam in July).

Parangiju Mountain Lodge, a swim at Mbonege Beach with a roadside lunch at Kakabona, visits to the Central and Craft Markets, Art Gallery, cultural dancing, plenty of coffee and a lovely farewell dinner at Tenkai Sushi Café. Bek loved interacting with Honiara Corps again during her visit where she is so warmly embraced by the members.

While the week went way too fast, Majors Robert and Vanessa took advantage of every moment with their daughter. This included a hike to the spectacular Tenaru Falls with lunch at

Parenting from a distance is one of the challenges of serving overseas but moments like these make it a little easier, especially when the kids get to see up close what mum and dad are doing.

Enrollment of Soldiers Soldier enrolments in the Solomon Islands are becoming a frequent occurrence with the opening of new congregations and the growth of Honiara Corps this year.

During the NGE in April where the SAES team served meals to the RSIPF, a police officer named Festus made himself known to the District Officers. He was impressed by the outreach of The Salvation Army and brought his whole family to church the following Sunday.

From that moment on the Ganiomea family have been regular and enthusiastic worshippers at Honiara

Volume 2, Issue 10

Corps. Two of Festus’ children are a part of the youth group and his wife Frida participates in the weekly literacy classes.

When the opportunity came to attend Soldiership Classes, Festus and his family

didn’t hesitate to sign-up.

Envoy Wency Ramo’oroa took this family on a journey of discovery that led to five of them being enrolled as Soldiers on Sunday, 27th October.

Festus has recently retired from the RSIPF and is looking forward to accompanying Major Robert on a mission trip to Buala in the Isabel Province next month This mission opportunity came about as a direct result of Festus speaking to the Premier about the mission of his new church during a work trip a couple of months ago.

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Support Needs:  Mission Travel Budget You can support the follow-up of 12 mission requests for The Salvation Army to commence in other villages by contributing to travel costs between the Provinces.  Building Funds for Gateway Corps and Ramah Fellowship: You can support by donating funds to support the reconstruction of these village church buildings.

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

 Additional School Fees Loan Funds: You can support by donating funds to distribute to parents applying for a loan to pay School Fees for next term.

Please contact Major Robert Evans at robert.evans@png.salvationarmy.org for more information if you are able to help with any of these needs.

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

Prayer Points:  Larger venue for Honiara Corps for Sunday worship  Acquisition of land for Honiara Corps  Mission Trip to Buala, Santa Isabel  Commencement of Literacy Classes in Fouele Village  Peace and stability after switch in diplomatic relations from Taiwan to China by the SI Government

A Personal Note...

First of all I would like to take this opportunity to thank Major Robert Evans and Envoy Joshua Henry Aebata for giving themselves to come over to visit my local church at Fouele Village, Small Malaita. I believe the visit was not from these two godly men, but it was from God, because I saw it myself that the training course was successful.

On Sunday morning we had the church service. Major Robert took the pulpit and started to tell us or to introduce to us the whole set-up of The Salvation Army throughout the whole world. In the evening on the same day Major Robert continued with the same topic until we complete it.

Monday morning the 14/10/2019 we started lesson one and it took us to finish the half of the Soldier’s manual book. On Tuesday 15/10/2019 we continued with the teaching until we finish the Soldiership Training Course in the afternoon of the same day. And we were given the forms to be filled by each Soldier to prove that he or she is the member of The Salvation Army.

Thank you. God bless.

Pastor Chris Sukufatu