May 4, 2011

Dear Friends of LATI

It's time you heard from us here in Santo, Vanuatu. Last time we wrote, we (Alastair and Jill) were in Australia for a break. We've been back three weeks now and there's progress in a number of areas.

While home we found good King Gee overalls for the boys at a reasonable price, and the boys are happy to wear them in the workshop for practical sessions. They look good too. I've been making khaki shirts to go with navy shorts for classroom atire - still a few more to cut out and sew.

We've had a few hiccups with the sawmill, but it seems we will shortly have enough timber to finish the upstairs section and to dry for furniture making. Furniture production has slowed right down as there is no dry timber.

I was at the Finance Department today to pay a bill and noticed the bench that the boys made - even sat on it - but one part of it had shrunk and the glue had come off so it needs redoing. They also want us to make a partition for the office. I told them they'll need to get their own timber.

Some of the boys are busy making kitchen cupboards for the Aore Academy - that will bring in much needed income.

Yesterday being a holiday, the boys were excused from classes, and they got busy tearing down their old bush kitchen and making a new one. I was able to get some offcuts and seconds of roofing iron to cover it - about $400 worth.

Some good news is that we've received a gift of $20,000 for a tractor. A friend has sourced a good one for about that price, in USA of all places. But it's a much better buy than any we could find in Australia. Now we are just looking for funds for the freight, which will possibly be up to $7,000, but still a good buy for a 60 hp 4WD Kubota which is a 2009 model with only 1143 hours clocked up.

So we've decided to go ahead and pay for it, and as God provides for the freight, we'll be able to get it here to give our SALT programme a boost. The boys have been going inland to the farm where the Agriculture teacher lives, and planting and weeding the food gardens. This happens every second Sunday so that will be a help to their diet in the future. It takes a few months for the root crops to mature.

Alastair is moving along with 'upstairs' with his building boys - the floor is going down, the outside lining is on, the window frames are coming together, roof is on - just a major timber to put in place as soon as it is available. He says we should be able to move in in another month - I guess there's plumbing to do and lining on the walls. We have the louvres and frames ready to go in. The stairs are bolted in place now and usable.

We recently provided bunks, plus a double and a single bed, table and 6 chairs to the mission for their transit flat. There's not a lot more furniture happening until we have some dry timber - it's been a battle for a couple of years to get hold of timber and keep ahead with a supply, but I think we are beginning to see some progress.

Please pray for our miller who is currently in PNG to bring his wife and children here to live. He has been separated from them for three years, and then the cost of air fares has been prohibitive, however it looks like we have found a boat from Honiara for him to come on, in two weeks' time, as long as he can get from Bougainville to Honiara in time without any immigration hassles.

A number of boys are struggling with fees - a couple are still behind with last year's fees, but they are coming in slowly.

Last week an Australian visitor representing the Lions Club made contact with us. He showed an interest in what we are doing and has offered to look for a suitable truck for our needs. So that has been encouraging.

Also this same friend, while staying at the Beachfront Resort, was rubbing shoulders with the American Navy Officers, who have been here a week or so. He talked to the Commander in Chief and was planning for Alastair and Moli to talk to him, but he had quite a full agenda, so our friend spoke to him and showed him what we are doing, and he also showed an interest which may bear fruit in the future.

For now, we are looking for a way to get the tractor to Vanuatu. I don't know if the American Navy might have room in the next supply ship that comes this way, or how long until it will come. But we are confident that God will impress whom He will, and provide the necessary for our needs.

With building still happening, and fees coming in slowly, we don't have much of a budget to work with, and there are staff to pay each month but we are of good courage. I've been sitting at a long table in the second year classroom tonight, while typing this, and there are 5 building students all busy with homework and study, while their teacher is busy re-learning some drawing techniques with Alastair's help. The other boys are in the next room with their teacher - all is quiet. There seems to be quite a good attitude among students this year.

I hoped to add some pictures with this report, but my media card reader is still on its way from Australia - the technician removed it when fixing my computer and forgot to put it back, so has promised to send it - hope it doesn't take too much longer.

God bless and keep you all and we trust you are all well as we are here.

Alastair and Jill