Dear Friends,
We are greatly encouraged by the response to our tractor freight appeal. Our total is now $4,000, enough to get it to Brisbane. There are no ships that come direct so it will be a two stage procedure. Thank you so much to you who have given to make our tractor a possibility. We are confident the Lord will continue to provide to get it right to Santo.
Our sawmill is back on campus after a lengthy stay on the island of Aore. With it came several cubic metres of hardwood timber, which will be ideal for furniture making in about three months' time. Some can be used 'green' for building. We are about to commence a staff house to make living accommodation more comfortable.
We are learning that we must train the boys especially in maintenance, so that the job runs smoothly. Because the millers had sheered off the generator pins, the battery was not charging, necessitating a tedious carrying of the battery down from the bush and charging it on a small home generator every night, and carrying the battery back through the jungle to the log each morning. A broken pin on the kangaroo jack made the setting up of the log a much more difficult process. We are working on the communication skills too - it's easy for a mobile phone to 'drown' in excessive rain or in a puddle. Often there is no means to charge the battery, and so communication comes to a stand still.
The upstairs apartment above the office is coming along - the boys work at it during their practical building classes.
For the time being we two are 'camping' in the generator room which is large enough for our bed, a food safe and a couple of fuel drums which improvise as a space to pile our workclothes. It is sheltered from the rain and our mosquito net is mostly very good at keeping those pests away while sleeping (we've had one or two disturbed nights when they find their way inside with us). We don't have a light in there, so share one of the classrooms at night with the boys in study period - writing up reports, fixing machines, keeping up with the office work.
With the arrival of the timber we look forward to getting work benches made up and the vices that came last year, in place. The wiring for the workshop area is progressing as time permits, with one of our teachers taking a great interest in learning all he can about wiring.
Another student is keen to learn mechanics so he helps Alastair with maintenance of machines. Some boys gather around while we are fixing sewing machines, keen to learn all they can.
Alastair and I have each been requested to produce a manual of competency standards and a trainee workbook - he in small motors maintenace, and I will do one on repair and minor maintenance of sewing machines, making a range of quality garments, use of patterns, and designing original garments.
How did we get ourselves into that? As it happens, we would like to conduct evening classes in these areas, so by helping the govt in producing these Competence Based Training Plans, we'll have our modules all ready for when we start our courses. We have a deadline so our time is pretty much taken up right now.
Also we've had a spate of sewing machines and overlockers coming our way for repair. A lady brought her Chinese overlocker for no apparent reason, but another one brought her new one with a 'dead' motor. When Alastair compared the wiring in the two plugs, he noticed the new one was different, so he copied the old one and the new machine came to life again. Some problems are small, some take longer. We are always glad to see the machines in use, rather than sitting gathering dust.
We have 25 students this year - stretched across three levels - twelve new boys this year, two of whom moved straight into the second level. There are twelve in the second year and three who should complete their studies this year.
There are three student teachers, two workshop foremen, a dean, an Agriculture teacher and an English teacher all on the payroll. Making furniture and some building work is helping to keep up with this expense.
We receive a range of requests - one chap asked for us to make a crutch for his relative, then he asked for a mate for it, once he was satisfied that we'd done a suitable job.
We are anticipating an audit of our facilities, teaching standards, and student care quality systems in August. If we are compliant, we will receive a renewal of our Registration as a Training Provider for another two years.
Considering that the boys don't have workbenches yet, and that our big machinery from Aore days has not been installed yet, we are accomplishing quite a lot in terms of skills training and furniture and building work completed.
The Building students - six of them, are currently making and laying blocks for the new shower/toilet/laundry facility. We could use a large undercover drying area for the weekly wash - we've had such a lot of rain lately, and getting clothes and bedding dry for 33 people takes some juggling. Sometimes it looks like a Chinese laundry with things hanging in the workshop and along the verandah as well as out in the yard. We do not spend before we have funds - we do not wish to be in debt, but a donation that came in last month has meant that we can at least begin the ablution block.
We have visitors to the school every day - yesterday a very gracious Presbyterian pastor called in to see if I might be able to supply him with a treadle machine for his wife. They are about to take up a new appointment in a remote area of the Banks group of islands and he was saying He believed God had led him to find me.
We are constantly amazed to see the changes that take place in 'our' boys. James came to us in December - he had nowhere to go and his brother was willing to pay his fees, so he worked with us over the year end until classes began. He had been schooled in French schools, and spoke his own dialect in Tanna, but knew some of the national Bislama language and very little English. He was painfully shy and just couldn't look anyone in the face. Before school started, he had pretty much decided not to stay. However we encouraged him to give it a go, which he did, and he's blossoming. He has a winning smile and is much less shy and showing quite good ability in his practical work.
John was given the job last year of coordinating the purchase of food several times each week. He has made up a roster for the boys to take their turns cooking the food two days each week and he makes sure there is enough food in the kitchen. He seems to be thriving on the responsibility. It's a challenge to find ways and means to make the boys feel needed, while encouraging them to try difficult challenges. Many of them take their turn in sharing a small thought for worship morning and evening, or leading in song services. I like to think the neighbours enjoy the singing too, for they surely must be heard outside of this campus - they are lusty singers.
Santo Hardware has been having a clearance sale of old stock this week and last. The manager is very helpful and we came away with some bargain prices for things most useful for the school. Brass hinges just right for the remaining doors yet to be hung - $1 each instead of $12, also some plumbing fittings, screws and other items.
Our avocado season is about over. Found a nice out-of-season pineapple in the market the other day - a welcome change. We've had some nice oranges (they could easily be called 'greens' but are sweet and juicy despite the colour). Ripe bananas (the real flavour) are usually available and reasonably priced at $1 for a hand. The mandarines are coming in now, and grapefruit are plentiful. We rarely see vegies other than the roots, but our supply of sweet potato leaves around the campus ensures that we get our greens each day.
We are well and trust that this finds each and all of you well and happy too.
Bye for now and God bless,
Alastair and Jill