2020 Semaine 27 (30 juin-5 juillet)


I love councils in the Church, especially in the mission field.
What a wonderful training it is for the young mission leaders and the missionaries to counsel together.
Tuesday we attended the district council meeting of Erakor Bridge South District.  It was uplifting as they were sharing how to be better instruments in the hand of the Lord using the scriptures.  
The story of Ammon with king Lamoni in Alma 18.  What did Ammon do while king Lamoni was struggling to speak to him, remaining silent "for the space of an hour" we read in verse 14?
Ammon did not check out, thinking of the next chore or something, he respected the silence and observed.  Maybe he prayed.  We learn in verse 16 that "Ammon, being filled with the Spirit of God, therefore he perceived the thoughts of the king."  The training was about welcoming the silences and listening to the Spirit to discern how to answer the questions and understand the person.  Teach the person not just a lesson.  
If we could always seek to better understand each other take the time to observe, listen to understand and follow the guidance of the Spirit, not just in a teaching situation but in everyday life.  I would like to master this.  It is not easy to listen more than to speak.  I know I have to keep working at it.

 We had another council this week, the MLC. The mission leaders (mission president and his wife) and  young mission leaders (assistants, zone leaders, sister training leaders) are members of the Mission Leadership Council.  We now have one zone in Efate and one zone/district in Solomon Islands.   They "counsel about meeting the needs of the missionaries and make plans to help the mission progress and to move the work forward."  (Missionary Standards for Disciples of Jesus Christ p.11-12)
We are so thankful for these valiant young mission leaders.


At Church today.

We went to Port Vila First Ward today.  Members call it Nambawan.
It is a new building and it is very nice.  Two wards meet there, Nambawan and Nambatri.  The ward we attend is Nambatu.  After the meeting, grand-papa received a phone call.  We did not expect that news.

 
The district president in Tanna, told him that the three trucks left in Tanna, because the missionaries left for the USA in April, are dinner to the rats.
He found a piece of rubber the rats had chewed on underneath the motor. The garbage left in the trucks was the invitation.  😮




Coming back from Church

We were following this truck and I was happy a bus was slowing down the traffic up front.  I am always a little nervous when I see children in the cab of a truck.  



It is dry season now and it is weird to see earth where we use to see water.



Life in Vanuatu:

On the left you see the bags we are asked to use when buying fruits and vegetables (as shown on the right picture)   We do not keep those bags.  They are put back in the bins for the next person to use.  There is one good improvement with these particular bags.  They are now blue.  They use to be white, until they looked pretty nasty.  We do not see the nastiness as much now.  😳



The month of July is very special in Vanuatu.  On July 30th 1980, Vanuatu became an independent nation.  This year is the 40th anniversary!  I took a few pictures of the signs we see around the city.


Au Bon Marché 



In the streets





We had a bithday boy this week (Denis)!  Next Sunday is a big one for our Melanie.😘😘


I saw this last Monday at the entrance of the mission office.  I had to take a picture because I thought:
"Imagine the size of the sewing machine that goes with this" 😜

I took a picture of the counters in one of the bathrooms because it should be removed this coming week with new ones installed.  This is the master bathroom.  I hope this is finally the week.  The faucets have been leaking for so long the interior of the cupboards are black with mold.


.  Another great week has passed. Allé tata from Vanuatu



Mifala lavem yufala tumas

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