Day Three

This morning we left for Tanna Island. As the plane took off from Port Vila I looked out at amazement at this paradise that we had experienced for our first two days – I couldn’t help but wonder about what Tanna was going to be like?

I honestly didn’t know what to expect! People kept talking to us about Tanna; warning us; giving us advice and to be honest, I was a little nervous. I thought I was going to the end of the earth!

My first impression of Tanna Island as we drove in 4 wheel drive Utes along a bumpy dirt road was that we were now in Island Paradise! There is such a contrast between Port Vila and Tanna. Port Vila is a tourist Paradise whereas Tanna is a different kind of Paradise – not only is it beautiful in nature but the people are so friendly and amazing – it is a natural Paradise with people living more in tune with nature and not as dependent on the technology that we have become so saturated in in New Zealand.

Coming from a world that is always on the go; where people are rushing from one job to the next; it is such a sharp contrast to be in a place where people are so relaxed; they are going with the flow and to them relationships with each other are so very important! As they drive down the road they will even slow down to talk to people walking on the side. As I observed this I couldn’t help but wonder if the Island people understand something of God’s intent for life in a way that we might have lost back home with all our distractions.  

We arrived at the school and were quickly taken into a hall where the entire school was singing and we were taken to the very front to the seats of honour. Although we hadn’t really had time to settle or think about ‘what next’ it didn’t really matter because the children’s singing was so beautiful and perfect that we really couldn’t ask for a better welcome! The school Chaplin gave a short devotion from Genesis where the three men visit Abraham and he brought it into the way that God visits us and how God will be visiting the school through our visit in the upcoming week.

Then it was time to introduce ourselves however because everything had happened so fast the team was not prepared. We had spent a lot of time the day before coming up with our introductions in the native Bislama however our introductions were in our bags. Thankfully Carlton had his with him so we could read his introduction and change the details to fit each of us (i.e. change Carlton’s name for our own name and so forth).

After a warm welcome from the Principal we had lunch before heading straight for the class rooms to teach English. This again, took us by surprise as we were planning on doing sports, games and music with the students and all of a sudden we are teaching English. Fortunately, the team things very well on the spot and we were able to take two different hour long English classes.

The students were very giggly and shy of us at first but after breaking them into smaller groups they were interacting with us and having conversations with us in English – it was so much fun and we are learning so much about the students and their culture here on Tanna Island.

After class we went down to the beach (literally a minute walk down the drive from the school) for a much needed swim. Some of the students came down with us and it was great to have them show us their local beach and the best places to swim.

Soon it was getting dark so we decided to get out of the water and prepare some kids worship songs on the beach for our English classes tomorrow. I was teaching our team ‘move a little bit closer’ and we had some of the local girls from the school singing along with us (and learning the actions). It ended up being a real time of community and worship and it was one of my favourite parts of the trip so far – it really was an un-expected God moment. We continued and sung; ‘He’s got the whole world in his hands’ and ‘I believe in Jesus’ and once we had stopped singing I looked up and a whole heap of the local community had gathered and were sitting on the top of the beach listening to us sing and watching us dance. I realised at this moment that we really were ‘dwelling among’. We were a group of people that looked out of place because we were not at the normal tourist spot – just a local beach – and we were living among the people and being noticed by the local people. I honestly can’t thank God enough for this experience on our very first day at Tanna.

We then headed back to school for some amazing dinner and then we did our night time training and reflected on the day. The team is unified in our thought that Tanna is an amazing place and we are excited about what God is going to do this week. We have no doubts that both the school and our team will be blessed this week! After the training we headed to the school hall where they do night time devotions and we were met by the children’s singing again! It is so powerful when the children sing – like a chorus of angels voices flooding the heavens – you just get lost in the moment and time seems to stand still.

Again, I couldn’t help but look at the lives these children live and be challenged! At 8.30pm most nights I’m lying on a couch in Auckland watching TV but here in Vanuatu the children are in a brick building that is falling apart and they are singing to their Lord and God and they do this every night! I also must note that the singing was initiated by the children as the teachers hadn’t arrived yet. My life back in Auckland has so many distractions (a lot to do with technology) but with the more simplified life in Vanuatu you can’t help but see God’s hand in everything around you!

Then, once devotions have finished it is time for bed because the school day starts here at 5.30am. On that note, I better go to bed because my day starts then as well! Day three; over and out!

Day Two

I forgot that my Sunday alarm was set for 6.30am and because my phone hadn’t adjusted to Vanuatu time the alarm went off at 5.30am local time! Of course; Carlton and Trevor (my roommates) are determined to remind me of this 5.30am mistake for the rest of the trip. Apparently I’m now on dishes for the rest of the week and Carlton and Trevor like to end every conversations saying; “well, we did have a lack of sleep because Jeremy’s alarm went off at 5.30am!”

Finally at a reasonable hour we surfaced and I tried to upload some photos and after an hour of photos downloading the internet crashed and I lost everything. I am realising the internet in Vanuatu is not quite as good as in NZ (and we complain about the internet speeds in NZ).

Our host’s at ‘the traveller’s budget motel’, Jack and Janelle prepared us an amazing breakfast and I must say they are really quite amusing to be around. The best way to describe Jack is he talks and sounds exactly like the Dad in the Australian movie ‘the Castle’ – everything is “beautiful mate.”

After breakfast we walked to the Presbyterian Church in Port Vila and attended their Sunday morning worship service.  Before the service begun there was a couple of men singing familiar worship songs like ‘be still and know that I am God’ and ‘This is my desire’ and as we sat in an unfamiliar place with nerves about the upcoming week it was great to sit and reflect on the presence of God to some familiar songs.  

The church service is conducted in English so we were able to follow quite comfortably and the few hymns that were sung in the native Bislama we were able to read and sing along as best as we could. It was a great service and it was such a great way to start a mission trip – to worship with our brothers and sisters in Christ in Vanuatu.  We were amazed at how familiar the structure of the service was to church services we experienced back home. However, there were some slight differences, one being that all visitors have to stand up and introduce themselves during the service and then at the end of the service the visitors had to go outside and everyone in the church comes and shakes your hand. It was a truly amazing experience and the entire team enjoyed worshiping in Port Vila.

In the afternoon we headed to the resort known as ‘Hideaway Island’ – home to the underwater post office. However, it wasn’t all fun and games! We began our time at Hideaway Island by doing some training with Jonathon and Katrina as they helped prepare us for our time on Tanner Island.  

Katrina introduced us more to understanding Bislama (which will be the language of the children we will be working with in Tanna) and we learnt how to introduce ourselves in Bislama for when we go to the school tomorrow. It was great having the local wisdom of Jonathon and Katrina to help prepare us more for our cross-cultural experience and I think Jonathon and Katrina enjoyed being with us at Hideaway Island as they had never been there before.

After the team had each introduced ourselves to each other in Bislama we had some free time so it was off to the ‘hire shop’ to get some snorkel gear and very quickly heading for the warm water. Words cannot express what we witnessed under the water! Beautiful coral; thousands of beautiful fish; it was just an underwater paradise and I couldn’t help but stare in amazement at this creation of God’s that is hidden under the water.   

As we were having a beautiful dinner at Hideaway Island with laughter erupting from the tables I realised that the last couple of days have served their purpose – we have grown together as a team and for an ‘unknown team’ at the beginning of this trip we have become quite close and are ready to now face the upcoming week together! This, along with the training we do each evening is helping us to understand the cultural differences we will face in Tanna so that we will be able to adapt to the culture we will be living in and not offend so that we can really ‘dwell among’ and have the greatest impact for our week.  

It is time to get some sleep; we go to Tanna Island first thing tomorrow morning. Internet will be limited in Tanna so I’m not sure when the next report will be. Keep praying because we really head into the unknown tomorrow! 

Some photos - day one

Auckland International Airport

Port Vila

Our first dinner as a team

Day One:

I’m walking around the proposed meeting place at Auckland International Airport wondering how on earth I’m going to recognise anyone from the team I’m meant to be going to Vanuatu with; I have never met them before – how on earth will I be able to find them? Fortunately; I had my Mum with me who thinks ‘out loud’ and she has quite a loud voice meaning the team actually found us because they could hear everything my Mum was saying and knew that I was going to Vanuatu and that I was looking for my team!

I must say the trip started less than smoothly! Carlton (the team leader) was late because they had lost one of his bags (it turns out for some reason the bag never left Wellington); the check-in team seemed flustered with our slightly larger group; I picked the wrong time to joke with the flight staff about big “bangs” on airplanes (it was to do with the sports balls we were taking expanding at high altitude and causing a “bang” so we had to deflate the balls and then realise the ball pump is in Carlton’s bag that NEVER left Wellington); then my stomach decided it would be a great time to be unsettled!

We finally arrived at the gate in a slightly unsettled way and we thought this would be a great time to do official introductions so we introduced ourselves to each other; committed our trip into God’s hands and finally we were on the plane heading to Vanuatu! Even though it probably wasn't the smooth start we were probably hoping for we did have to trust God more than if everything did go smoothly and it did bring the team together a lot quicker!

With a three hour flight ahead of me I was hoping my stomach would give me a nice flight – I was wrong! For a good hour and a half of the flight I was in my own little world as I struggled with a paralysing sick feeling!

I was desperate; stuck in an airplane feeling sick and knowing that if I was sick there was absolutely no-where for me to go. I did the only thing I could think of; I prayed! I prayed and I prayed and I prayed! It was in this prayer that I realised something; “My grace is sufficient; for my power is made perfect in weakness.” I was weak, but my weakness led me to pray and depend on God in a way I have never done before! It was a miserable flight but I spent most of the flight praying and as I thought about that I realised there really could be no better way to begin a mission trip than dedicating everything in pray to the Lord realising it is by His strength that I will get through!

Thankfully my stomach settled enough for me to enjoy the last 30 minutes of the flight and our first day at Port Vila, Vanuatu (it is still not quite right so prayers would be appreciated).

We were picked up from the airport by Jonathon and Katrina (workers for the Presbyterian church and education in Vanuatu) and were taken to the ‘traveller’s budget motel’ where we will spend our first 2 nights which is owned and operated by a very nice couple and it is actually (unlike the name would suggest) a really nice place to stay. Then, after getting changed into some shorts, t-shirts and jandles we started to explore Port Vila.   

It is a beautiful place with beautiful people. I’m reminded once again of the ‘friendliness’ of the Islands. As you walk down the streets people will smile and say “hello”, something that is becoming less and less common in Auckland. There is a warmth and genuiness about the local people and even a simple walk down the street can be fun and exciting! I’m realising very quickly that it will be the people that are going to help make this trip AMAZING - because already, after an afternoon in Port Vila the team just loves being here with the people!

After some exploring in Port Vila, Trevor (the only other male on the team apart from Carlton and myself) cooked us an amazing feed and it was a great meal where the team was able to continue to get to know each other and really begin to laugh and enjoy each other’s company! After clean-up we had our first team debrief and were able to share about how we were going at the end of day one. Although there are still uncertainties and nerves about the upcoming week we are all extremely excited to be here and Carlton once again reminded us that a lot of our work will be “showing up” and “dwelling among” the people!

   

Day one is over and it definitely wasn't as expected; however, since when has God been a God of the expected – bring on day two I say and I can't wait to see what else God has planned for us! 

Changing my mind-set!

I currently have a group of 7 students and a team leader from Capernwray Bible School serving alongside our church for the week helping us with ministry.

When I’m asked to give these students advice about serving in a church in NZ, I find that I don’t start with the “do’s” and “don’ts.” Instead, I tell them to make every effort to simply “be” in the church community. I challenge them to not get distracted by the many jobs and tasks that they have to do over the week and miss opportunities to establish genuine relationships with the people at the church. The greatest impact you can have on a life will not be in what you “do” rather, it will be in the “relationships” you form.

This is ultimately the model of God himself; he took on flesh and came and dwelt among those he came to save to build a relationship with them and through the way he lived he then showed them another way (John 1:14).

It is no surprise then that much of the online training for Vanuatu has focussed on this point; on the importance of showing up on a mission trip and being with the local community sharing life with them! In fact, in one of the training sessions it was mentioned that often on a mission trip you are so focused on what you will be “doing” that you can easily forget how important it is to dwell among the local community – share the good times, share the bad times and experience life together working for the common goal of the community! This model becomes known as establishing a partnership.

 I look up to my office wall and see a quote stuck there: “Real ministry is not what you do, but who you are” (Mike Yaconelli). I am then reminded of what my minister once said to me on my very first day: “90% of ministry is just showing up.” However, it is easier said than done isn’t it?

As I find myself mentally preparing for the trip that is almost only a week a way I find myself thinking of all the jobs and tasks that I might have to do during my week in Vanuatu! I’ve gone over job after job but I have given very little thought to the people of Vanuatu that I will be living with and dwelling among for that week!  Why is it easier to “do” a job rather than simply “be” with people?

I think it is because as we form relationships we become vulnerable. We have to open areas of who we are to others and in a society where we find ourselves staring at computer screens and televisions more and more, being open and showing people who we are can be extremely scary. What if the other person doesn’t like me? What if the other person laughs at me? What if the other person doesn’t accept me? It is a lot easier to do a job than face potential rejection!

At this point I couldn’t help but think about Jesus Christ; the God of all creation becoming a baby; becoming a servant; exposing himself to all forms of rejection and ultimately a painful death. Why did he do this? Because he wanted a relationship with us! At the end of the day a TRUE genuine relationship is worth all the possible dangers that could potentially come!

Thanks to the training and personal reflection my mental preparation for Vanuatu has taken a new turn. I’m now trying to move from thinking about what I will be doing and instead thinking about the people I will be living with! Yes, they may laugh at me; yes, they may think I’m a little weird; yes, there is potential for rejection BUT if I want to make a lasting impact on the community that will go way beyond the week I am there then I know it starts with the vulnerability of opening myself up and simply “dwelling among.”

I'm going to Vanuatu - really?

God has an interesting way of making me ‘eat my words!’ As I reflect back on some of the things I have said it is interesting how sometimes the complete opposite has happened.

I once said: “I could never be a youth pastor!” and I have now been a full time youth pastor for over 5 years!

I once said: “I could never live in Papakura” (after living most of my life on the North Shore) And a couple of months later I was living in Papakura.

I once said: “I will never be interested in off-shore missions” and I now find myself signed up for an off-shore mission trip to Vanuatu with the hope of taking my own youth group/young adults group there within the next couple of years.

I sometimes wonder if God hears our words, smiles to himself and says; “Yea right!”

My disinterest in off-shore missions was not because I didn’t see its value or importance; it was simply because my own heart was being led towards pastoral ministry and mission within the local community! Knowing that we have all been created with different gifts, which combined form the body of Christ, I was not worried that I was not interested in off-shore missions because I knew it was an area that excited other people – just not me!

Many of my youth and young adults often floated the idea of an off-shore mission trip past me but my disinterest, combined with a paralysing fear at the thought of taking a group under my care into an unknown country, prevented me from pursuing the idea any further. 

In a recent job review, Geoff (minister of Papakura East Presbyterian Church) challenged me in this area and reaffirmed a point he had already tried to make with me over the years; “You should seriously consider an off-shore missions trip with our youth and young adults!”

In a similar way to a child kicking and screaming when they don’t get their own way I decided there was nothing left for me but to pursue an off-shore mission trip – little did I realise  this was all part of God preparing me for what the future was going to hold!

Once I conceded I was left with the problem of where do I start? I knew nothing about off-shore missions.

After meeting with an Elder, who is our ‘mission’s guy’, I contacted ‘Global Missions’ with the hope that they would be able to provide me with the tools, materials and contacts to transform our idea of an off-short mission trip into reality.

The Very Rev. Pamela Tankersley (Global Missions coordinator) emailed me shortly after with some information about ‘Going Global’, a short term mission trip to Tanna Island, Vanuatu for young adults. She suggested it may be beneficial for me to experience a mission’s trip before leading one.

Geoff and I decided that because it was only 8 weeks away time was not on our side. There was also the added complication that I was scheduled for preaching and worship leading during the dates of the Vanuatu trip which compounded our decision that this trip would not be possible.

However, I think God had different ideas.

A few days later Dr. Carlton Johnstone (co leader of the Vanuatu trip and National Youth Ministry Development Leader) phoned me asking me to reconsider attending Vanuatu and all I can say is that he was very persistent and wouldn’t take ‘no’ for an answer. All the reasons I gave for not attending Vanuatu, Carlton, seemed to come up with a solution – including that if needed, he would find someone to preach in my absence.

Finally we agreed to take it to the church Eldership but I warned Carlton that we hadn’t given the Elders much time to think about this venture that he wanted me to embark on.

I don’t think I have ever seen the Elders make a decision so quickly – I almost thought they were going to pack my bags for me!

So, in a typical Tui billboard fashion Jeremy said; “I will never be interested in off-shore missions” and God replied “Yea Right”!

I guess all I can say now is; “Vanuatu, here I come!”

Training has commenced and we are now beginning week three. It is extremely interesting because I am still yet to meet anyone from the group (except for Carlton who I already knew). Training is fully on-line which works well as our group is scattered around New Zealand.

Week one consisted of introductions and developing an understanding of what we personally understood missions to be – it was great being able to start to interact with each other and see who else we will be serving alongside with in Vanuatu.

Week two began with the introduction of our team leaders and a summary of the training weeks ahead via video. We were given a couple of articles which introduced us to the concept of “Misso Dei” (mission originates from God) and how mission fits into the overall theme of the Bible. These were discussed alongside some of the history of Presbyterian mission and we were challenged with the concept of partnering with the people in Vanuatu and realising that through the relationships we establish we are all going to be helping each other.

Although it is interesting training on-line with people that we have never met before (the first week definitely felt a little weird) as the weeks progress the group is starting to open up and interact more with each other and I have no doubts that it is going to be an amazing trip.

I am excited at how everything is working together and although so much has already happened I know so much more is about to take place!   

I can't help but thank God that he keeps challenging me to step out of the boat.