January 23, 2012. The New Year promises to rich in blessings
Greetings to one and all for this not-so-new year. The big news for us this week is that the tractor is due to arrive on Monday. It's been on its way for quite a while now - purchased last May from Pennsylvania in the US of A and arrived in Brisbane mid November. Some very useful implements have been procured and polished up and prepared for use and added to the shipment, along with some useful text books, sewing machines, lockers, and various other practical items. Many people have worked hard and given generously to make it all happen and we are just waiting for the documents to arrive from the shipper, so that we can proceed with clearance and receipt of the goods.
Just here I would like to make mention of our good friends Will and Sarah and their little family. This lovely Christian family came to visit us two or three years ago, interested in what we are doing, and keen to lend a hand. In fact Will was here to help the boys put the trusses together and roof the buildings. Just this past week, we have learned that Will has suffered a stroke and is currently unable to walk on his left leg or move his left arm. Thankfully he has suffered no cognitive impairment, but it could be a long process in rehabilitation before he is able to return to work and care for his family. This is just to ask that each and all of you will pray for our dear friends Will and Sarah, their two little boys Amos and Lewis, and the expected new arrival. Thank you!
Some of our boys went on a singing tour last year for a week before Christmas, but with shipping problems and delays they arrived back just last week. Now two of the five have left for the Middle Bush area of Santo, where a clinic is operated for the people in the hill country. The materials to refurbish it have gone before them, and they've taken tools and hopefully enough experience (they've worked on other clinics before this) to complete the job in hand. Might have some pics when they return.
Beginning on Monday, one of our trainers will be helping run a course for two weeks in block laying for the community - that will be down the road at another training location. He helped with a similar course in September and was given a good report.
Also on Monday I will at last begin a two week sewing machine maintenance and sewing-from-a-pattern course. This has been planned for a long time, but it just happened to coincide with the arrival of the container which makes things awkward. The ladies have been ringing and coming to ask if they've been accepted for the course. I think there are over sixty names in hand so far, but TVET suggested we start with 15, so I have downstairs set up with two tables each 2400 x 1200, plus 15 benches with seats and we'll see what a merry time we'll have. I'll see if Alastair can take some pics to put on the website.
One of our teachers from last year has moved to Tanna, his home island, and will commence a new training school there. He will teach his students furniture making. So that leaves a gap here, but hopefully some of our past students will take up the challenge and fill the breach. One of the young lads interested in boat building is attending the train-the-trainer course - found it hard going the first few days, but we've encouraged him to keep trying and do his best, and he seems to have changed to a very definite positive attitude. I can understand how he feels, as he's only done year 10 and there's a lot of reading and writing and preparation of lessons to do. It's heavy enough going for me.
Another of our staff has a sick mother and has gone to his home village to be with her. So we will be short staffed this year - Alastair has dropped a hint that he would have a lot less worry if he wasn't teaching the maths and english, so I'll see if I can lend a hand in that direction - hopefully my sewing and courses will not take over my whole time. After all I came here to support him, not so much to do my own thing.
So we are a little way from commencing the new school year. March 1 is set down as our first day of classes, but we'll endeavour to have the students here a few days before to be registered and oriented and organised ready to get right into the work. How nice it will be to have textbooks for all - that will be such a blessing.
The customs manager was much interested in the fact that we have a tractor coming and wanted to know if it was being used solely for gardening, or as a teaching tool. So I had our teacher bring his curriculum and his plans for the tractor which include classes in tractor maintenance and crop rotation planting and he said it looks like we will lead the way for other schools to try using implements to produce their food instead of the old ways of hand planting and growing. He said he's realising that food is important - everyone has to eat. So it was good that he met our ag teacher and discussed it all with him and approved exemption from duty on the tractor and implements and textbooks.
We are hopeful of getting our generator up and running again soon. It's had a holiday for more than three months, but a part has arrived and we are just waiting on word as to how to connect it, since it's different to the part it replaces.
The maritime college gave Alastair their old metalwork lathe recently. It needs wiring properly and hopefully he can find a few accessories that belong to it. It will be useful once it's in working order.
Always plenty to do and so few to do all that could be done. Thank you for your prayers and thank you to the many who have found it in their hearts to help with the unexpected extra calls for funds for the freight on the tractor. We have been encouraged to see amounts deposited just when we've needed to pay the accounts. Thank you to those who have deposited anonymously - a couple of amounts come to mind - $200, also $1420, and another in June for $3220. I don't know your name, but God sees your kind and willing gift and we pray His blessing on each and everyone for encouraging us with your funds and with your prayers and emails. I am glad to report that since my last update a month ago, a way was made for us to pay the extra freight. Little did we realise that a third call would come for more freight and charges for the tractor, but that too has been paid and we should have the documents on Monday so that we don't incur the extra charges that will be incurred if we don't clear the goods from the wharf within one week. Pray with us that the Lord will make the road smooth and help all the people involved in the clearance process to be efficient and cooperative in their particular fields.
God bless and keep you each one, next update we should be able to tell you that the tractor is here and busy at work!
Love from the LATI family, including
Alastair and Jill