Viv wearing mother hub 

Some photos

If you would like to see some photos of our first couple of months at Talua, click on the following link:

http://homepages.slingshot.co.nz/~jvp/Talua/tp1/index.html

God Bless

Jon

U2 still to perform their Vertical Concert in Vanuatu

 

Even though U2 have had to postpone their tour to NZ and Aussie, it is reported they will be still performing at the Talua Ministry Training Centre, Santo Island, Vanuatu on Friday 17^th March and Saturday 18^th March. (Even if it is on a small TV – a DVD of their Vertical Concert in Chicago.) All Talua and Navota Farm staff and students are welcome.

blog blong jon -power problems, voltmeters, motorbike, bush people, don't leave home till you've seen the country, pubic hair, 365, an error

Its Monday night 9:30pm and the generator has been off for the past ½ hour. During the week it runs from around 6-6:30pm to 9PM. In the weekends it runs to around 8:30pm. Tonight the generator started up and then stopped within a minute. About 10 minutes later we heard a different engine start up - the backup generator - it didn’t work and so stopped within a few minutes. Several dark minutes later the deputy principal said thru the window there would be no power tonight. He mentioned that the person starting the generator had forgotten to turn on the diesel. So the engine needed bleeding and no one knew how to do it - Trevor the fix-it guy was away. So the old rusty gears began to slowly turn somewhere in my head. Sometime way back in a former life I bled a few diesel engines on the farm.

Now at this stage here is some information for those cerebrally challenged on matters pertaining to diesel engines. All farm kids have drummed into them never, never, whatever you do, never run a diesel tractor out of diesel. Why? Cos you have to bleed it and that’s a pain. I still find it amusing hearing stories of people on lifestyle blocks whose diesel tractors run out of fuel and they refuel them, and then run the battery flat cranking the engine over wondering why it never starts. A petrol motor that does not need to be bled but a diesel engine does – hence you never run a tractor out of diesel.

In fact I can still remember the day dad purchased a new tractor that had a special self-bleeding system, it was bleeding good. 

To bleed, starting from the manual fuel pump, one cracks different nuts, slowly pumping diesel back through the fuel lines to the injector. Then crank over the engine letting diesel fly out the injectors for a second or two while quickly tightening the last few nuts.

So it was off to the shed to try and bleed the generator. We got fuel to the filter, to the start of the injector but not out of the next section. We cranked it over and still no luck. Then we spotted a small nut hidden - cracked it open - pumped and we had diesel, and hence we soon had power. Nothing like a bit of fun. Although this week has had other electricity problems. 

One night Viv started getting shocks from various appliances. That same night, when we had some students around for a meal, the inverter blew up! An inverter is a box that takes power from deep cycle batteries (or a car battery) and turns it into mains power (240 volts). So the next day I set up the brand new inverter we had brought with us from NZ. We were going to use it when we moved into our permanent house (we move out of this house when the new Dean of Studies arrives). So the next night our brand new inverter blew up. That was a shame as it had been working well, even giving enough power to use our desktop pc during the day.

So at the moment we don’t have any 240volt power during the day. Tonight (while typing with the generator off) I am using a 12-volt light and the laptop it powered using a 12-volt DC adaptor. Around the house I have set up a few cords in various places taking 12 volts from the battery to some temporary 12-volt fluorescent tube lights I have hung up. Viv is sitting under one reading up agriculture information in preparation for teaching it at the local secondary school (Tata School). 

As to what blew up the inverters and is causing us to get shocks (only Philip and Simon have yet to have an unpleasant buzz). Well current thinking is a rat has chewed through an earth wire and perhaps the active wire and when the generator is going it plays havoc with invertors in our house. We will get up in the roof and have a look soon.

So again - this is an example of a lot of energy is used just to get by let alone be productive. And by the way - I am getting quite acquainted with my new digital voltmeter.

On the upside, yesterday Viv and I went exploring on our motorbike. (I brought one on TradeMe the day we left Tauranga). We drove up a road for around 40 minutes. It was interesting noticing the difference of culture even within that short distance. As soon as we left the main road (its only a track), we felt like we went back in time. Even the people dress is less influenced by the west - one guy we talked to was wearing just a loincloth and a weird hat. We went up quite high getting some good views. It was good to get out of Talua to have a look around.

Going around on the bike and looking at the villages we are pleased we live at Talua. Living at Talua is not like living in a village at all - in fact living in a village would be too hard. We have a nice house (compared to others - our is old NZ Bach quality I guess).

You know the old TV advert don’t leave home till you’ve seen the country. Well, in C1 class today some of the students shared about their bush people visit last Saturday. A team from Talua drove to the end of the road (about 1hr drive) and then walked 3 hours to a village to share the Good News of Jesus (if I had heard about the trip I would have joined in). It sounded fascinating as the bush people live very primitively. But I guess the thing that surprised me was the reaction of one C1 student. He really enjoyed the trip because for him it was the first time he had ever seen bush people. That is a weird concept cos even a normal village is kind of primitive! It was one of those moments that make you go uumm.

Sitting around the table one night, all of us (apart from Viv) with no shirts on cos it was hot, started talking about hairs on chests and then hairs under arms and at what age do they start to grow etc. Near the end of this conversation I mentioned pubic hair begins to grow at a similar time - at that moment Simon was having a drink and at the mention of pubic hair he coughed and spluttered his drink. We all laughed including Simon. Connie & William laughing at the mess and not at why, the rest at why and the mess. The simple life style here is sweet, yep it’s hard to live in the sense there are always itchy bites, one is often sweaty and clammy, rats in the roof and power problems. But other pressures one has in the west are not here. No traffic jams (although Port Vila can get congested), no advertising billboards putting pressure to have this that and the other thing. And there is a chance to sit around the table and laugh. I like the laidbackness of the place, being able to walk bare feet to classroom or around campus and not having to dress tidy. Even things like sweets from a shop are special. A packet of chips is like heaven. We received some jellybeans (and other stuff) from NZ yesterday (thanks Neil and Paula). They tasted like heaven.

For our family devotions we are using the book 365 Ways to make a difference: Daily Bible Readings. The book is put out by Christian Aid, written by Peter Graystone, published by Canterbury Press, Norwich. I really like the Christian Aid logo on the back of the book.

Christian Aid
We believe in life before death

The more I ponder Jesus – the more I think he was not only into life after death deliverance (his sacrificial death for us) but he was also into life before death - John 10:10 “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full”. 365 is a little heavy for the kids to comprehend at times so often we need to explain and unpack things. Back in Tauranga I would daily go online to www.surefish.co.uk and visit the faith section clicking on the daily reading section. http://www.surefish.co.uk/faith/daily_readings/index.htm It is the same stuff as the 365 book - it’s good most of the time. There is something to read (a bible reading), something to think about (a reflection around that bible reading), something practical to do and something to pray. Give it a go - it might be just right for you.

I made a rather bad error in my February 26^th Blog. I mentioned a good book but got the name of the author wrong. The book A Generous Orthodoxy is written by Brian D. McLaren (sorry about that – when writing the blog the book was still being shipped to Vanuatu from NZ with our gear). Anyway what do you think of this quote from the book (and back cover)

“Here’s why I am a missional + evangelical +post/protestant + liberal/conservative, + mystical/poetic + biblical + charismatic/contemplative + fundamentalist/calvinist + anabaptist/anglican + methodist + catholic + green + incarnational + depressed-yet-hopeful + emergent + unfinished Christian.” (from page 25)

Give you something to ponder? Have a good week

God Bless
Jon

blog blong jon - a distinguishing hope

blog blong jon

“What a wonderful maker, what a wonderful saviour” - just listening to these words sung by Matt Redman.

To my non-Christian friends. This morning's bible reading had the following words "But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15).

You know I don't push Christianity on anyone....but can I share this. The more I read the bible, the more I am impressed with the person of Jesus Christ. This includes the relevance of him in our world (both NZ and 3^rd world). So without trying to sound too religious, please do consider looking into the person of Jesus. Perhaps reread in the bible, says the books of Luke or Mark. Perhaps read a book written about Jesus, i.e. The Jesus I Never Knew by Philip Yancey, (or his book What’s so Amazing about Grace). To read these one probably needs to go into a Christian Bookshop. Another author that helps one think along these lines without being too religious or churchy is Scot Peck, go into Whitcoulls or Paperplus and pick up The Road Less Travelled by Scott Peck.

I would hate you to miss out knowing him (Jesus). This does not mean one has to become all churchy. It means one gets to know the Maker. One ends up with a distinguishing possession of hope, hope that is real and distinctive.

God Bless

Jon

 

blog blong mama vivienne - lawns and stuff

lawns talua style

 

Blog blong mama Vivienne

 

As I stand at the sink to do the dishes, I am very pleased to look out the window at my back lawn and see that the grass has been mown.

 

That is a simple enough statement isn’t it – but one that is loaded with layers of meaning that you will have absolutely no understanding of.

 

Let me fill you in:

Firstly, we live on a campus, therefore my backyard is in fact a communal backyard, part of a large open green space dotted with trees.

 

So, we are not directly responsible for our ‘own’ backyard, nor do we have the equipment to do the work if we had to. (We are responsible for our own ‘garden’ but that’s a story for another day).

 

Mostly students do the outdoor maintenance work around the place along with some Jack-of-all Trades employees.

 

Usually the lawn mowing is done by push mower – bare in mind that this is a large area with various accommodation and ablution bocks spread around and lecture rooms, offices, etc. I understand that they don’t keep the whole area mown with the hand mower but keep various areas such as the most often used paths, trimmed. At present, however, both of the push mowers are out of action – one apparently more or less permanently and one needing some small part or repair work.

 

And so the lawn mowing is currently being done by weed eater! Can you imagine a large area the size of several football fields being done by weed eater? (more commonly known around here as a “whipper snipper” because of Aussie influence!)

 

The day we arrived more than 4 weeks ago - the job had been started. It is done in piece meal fashion, on some days, not on others and in some places not in others but it is never likely to be fully completed. They would also need to start all over again well before it was ever completed.

 

Therefore I was surprised and pleased 2 days ago to observe a guy advancing slowly towards our back lawn area working with the weed eater.

 

Please picture this – after a few wet, grey days the weather has cleared again to brilliant blue skies and temperatures in the low 30’s. This young ni-van fella is wearing dark overalls (and bare feet). I break into a sweat just standing in the relatively cook kitchen area (this where the temp is taken by the way, so it would be much hotter in the full sun) and watching. Sensibly he has a water bottle and takes occasional breaks under the tree hut tree where the kids often play. He knocks off around 11:30am, which is when most work here slows down until at least 1:30.

 

He reappeared the next day and completed our back lawn area. Now add to this picture our house gel, Madelyne, out in this same heat raking up all the mown grass and various fallen leaves, etc. Madelyne, however, rarely takes breaks unless I almost beg her to stop and have a drink and a snack. Madelyne has a cold and isn’t feeling very well and I have said to her that it isn’t so important and can wait, but still she carries on. Amazing. I can hardly do anything more physical than walking outside at that time of the day, let alone mow or rake up grass.

 

Now, to complete this picture you are building of the lawn mowing procedure, I need to describe the lawn to you. The weed eating man isn’t cutting through think swathes of jungle – it’s a fairly low growing grass variety. There is also commonly a weed known locally as “needle grass”.

 

I was fascinated with this plant the first time I saw it, for, as soon as you touch it all the leaves (not blades as in grass but double rows of small round leaves off a central spine) on the whole plant immediately close up. Obviously the first time I noticed the plant I was wearing shoes and didn’t observe the nasty prickles it also has - hence the name.

 

This plant does need to be kept on top of because it can get quite big and is a danger to kids running out in bare feet to get to the nearby mandarin tree.

 

The other issue with the lawn is that the predominant grass is seeding at present and while it is a low growing grass it send up seed heads to just the right height to catch in the hem of your dress. The ‘Mother Hubbard’ style dresses come down to the mid calf length and it is extremely irritating to be pricked by all the tiny seeds. Farmers can imagine heaps of tiny barley grass seeds pricking you.

 

I often sit in devotions or church when the language has become too difficult for me and I ‘ve lost attention, and pick them all out, just to get another lot in my hem as I walk back home after church.

 

Another reason that I’m pleased the grass has been trimmed (that’s probably a better description than mown) is that the large tree near our home is fruiting at present and dropping small berries everywhere. With the longish grass and the wet weather and the dropped berries it was getting rather mucky and disgusting to walk around in some places near the tree. The bats feast on the berries in this tree during the night so perhaps add bat droppings into the mix as well.

 

And, so as you can see, I was very pleased to see the lawn trimmed outside my backdoor for a number of reasons, not just the aesthetic ones. But I’m afraid, under current weather conditions, I wasn’t going to volunteer to do it (and nor was Jon!)

snakes, trucks, potholes, utes, energy, agriculture

snakes, trucks, potholes, utes, energy, agriculture

 

blog blong jon

 

Snakes – at the cruise ship market. A guy was standing there with a snake in a box, and tourists could pay to have a photo with the snake on their shoulder. For us it was the first snake we have seen (apart from last weeks sea snake – we still swim at the reef). We were surprised at its strength and warmth. We didn’t take photos cos we didn’t have the camera with us, and also we felt a reluctance to be part of the tourist scene. I wonder what we will feel when we become tourists in a 3^rd world country at a later date? The cruise ship came in, the passengers disembarked to come and see the markets, markets that sprang up that morning, not to be seen again until the next cruise ship. We wondered if the tourists, when looking at the items for sale, assume this is how the ‘locals’ live? Is what they wear. The boys called it a sham, “all the stuff they are selling, the ni-van’s don’t use or wear!” It’s a bit like Crocodile Dundee offering the Yankee reporter an Aussie equivalent Huhu bug for a meal one night in the Outback, explaining how nice they are to eat. When she asks him what’s he going to eat, he’s opening a can and with a huge grin explains that beans are much better.

 

I drove the truck into town this week. The bus goes into town each morning and arvo, the truck sometimes twice per day, sometimes not at all. Last Friday when walking over to where the bus is meant to leave from, one of the students asked me if the bus was going, I replied I hope so. He was taking his wife (1^st baby due in 5 days) to town to the hospital. Well after enquiring we were told the bus wasn’t going cos of the Talua Council meeting. Then it was suggested I take the truck (double cab, around 6 tonne I guess). The principal of Talua gave his permission.

 

So off we headed, in the wrong direction for a few minutes to get some fuel from Navota Farm. 8 litres of diesel in two 4 litre plastic containers….it brought back memories of North Iraq in 1992, with the filling of our ute from plastic containers on the side of the road, and the person pouring petrol smoking on a cigarette, often I would go for a short walk while the ute was filled….Anyway then we were off, the five us in the double cab and 10 or so on the back of the truck….including the kids. People laughing and chatting. We stopped on the way back past Talua picking up more students and staff, and me explaining they need to pray I don’t drive on the wrong side of the road.

 

The road is filled with potholes, so in true Ni-Van fashion, I was all over the road, sidestepping potholes for other ones. The truck has 5 gears. I only got out of 3^rd a few times. After about 40 minutes we left the gravel road, hitting the bitumen and I finally got to 5^th gear. Comments from the passengers went along the lines that I drove to slow. But hey, I said, ‘we had a pregnant lady on board’, everyone nodded that it was good to drive slow. Coming back that evening I was quicker, possibly taking about the same time the other drivers take. But the extra five or ten minutes a trip if driving slower might actually give the Talua vehicles a lot a longer lifespan! It’s a bumpy road and some ruts are quite deep. At times one has to slow right down cos no part of the road is free from holes.

 

Driving the truck there and back was tiring. Conversely we enjoyed the independence of being “the driver”. As a family it saved the usual “town walking” of up and down, up and down, looking for things. We extended out passports visa’s, looked around the Cruise Ship market, did the usual supply shopping, even had a look at a 2^nd hand Jeep that is for sale – took it for a spin. Then out to the airport for one student to pick up some mail coming from another island. After a substantial wait it was back to Talua (waiting is common thing).

 

Yesterday, the Talua truck headed of to Tangoa Head to the weekly Saturday market. Locals from different villages sell food. It’s a Talua tradition. Glen (Aussie lecturer) took a small Ute owned by the new Dean of Studies (he is still in Aussie completing his PHD). We got five minutes down the road and it stopped. So we waited knowing the Talua truck would turn up sooner or later coming back. It ended being the bus that actually turned up. So we headed off to the market, we brought fresh supplies, William took them back on the bus and Viv and I walked along the beautiful beach back to Navota farm and then along the road to Talua. Lovely walk, time to chat and think……yet very hot. Just a walk seems to wallop any spare resources of energy. I guess we have to learn to walk slower and earlier or very late in the day. Even at 8:00AM the Sun packs a punch.

 

On the matter of energy. Last Thursday I took morning devotions, more like a 30-minute church service. (I taught the song “Oh the Mercy of God” by Geff Bullock. I chose it cos of the many words that contain important Christian concepts (grace, mercy). It’s a good song to use during English lessons - unpacking the meanings of the words – the aim being to expand the students’ theological vocabulary). Anyway, after devos, cos Thursday is my day off for teaching (class time), I walked to Navota farm to meet with the manager about my role as Agriculture teacher at the Navota Rural Training Centre (but Ure - the manager was in town). The walk, in the 8:30AM morning sun absolutely drained me. If you are the praying kind of person - pray for our energy. I am more and more impressed with previous missionaries to these kind of hot places……cos work is very draining. When I got back from Navota, it was a battle to do any further work. Even after a meal the energy levels remained low.

 

It seems a lot of effort goes into just living (surviving) and productivity takes a hammering because of this. Take for example the ute mentioned above. To fix it will take a trip into town, and even then it might not get fixed as the mechanic was meant to fix it last time yet the problem persists. Apparently when the ute  (2^nd hand) was first purchased a couple of years ago it broke down at least once every 2^nd week for the first few months until the various problems were ironed out, each time a trip or two to town was necessary to fix the problem. So a lot of time and energy used up for just getting-by.

 

We have been here at Talua for over one month now. How time has flown.

 

God Bless

Jon