PDF Pirini Ponders - February 2019

Happy New Year and greetings to you all.

We had a great break in NZ for Christmas and loved being able to catch up with many of you again.

We returned to the SWIM base early January which had been badly hit by flooding over the New Year period. We are thankful that no major damage occurred on the base, however the roads are horrendous, so back to 45 min bumpy trips to town.

We had a bad start to the year with our Canter truck ending up at the mechanic’s workshop after taking in water and needing major repairs to a damaged motor. It will be another 6 weeks off the base waiting for parts from Australia to arrive and then the labour. The truck is the SWIM lifeline for many everyday tasks and as many of you would acknowledge the use for visiting teams.

We started the year with a visit from a representative from CRCA Australia who was undertaking a review of the SWIM base and meeting with locals.

It’s been full swing into the school sponsorship programme for 2019. This is always a busy but exciting time to see the eagerness of students wanting to learn. Sadly there is never enough financial support to provide funds for all the children needing school fees paid, but thanks to regular donors 

We had the privilege of our Crossroads Prison Ministry Coordinator visit and spend time with our prison ministry worker last week. This was a great opportunity for him to get a better understanding of the work we do here in the Solomon Islands and put some new practices in place to improve the quality of teaching they receive and for opportunities on their release into the community. We are excited and look forward to working more closely with Crossroads going forward.we have been able to cover almost all the fees. If this is something you would consider getting involved with please let me know. This could be a simple one-off donation through a collection in your work place to support a child at university who wishes to study the line of work you are involved with for example.

Ron has been and visited a village to look at potential projects we can get involved with. This village is still very much a traditional village where there are no water tanks or communal bathroom facilities. The classroom roof leaks and all the teacher’s resources are damaged when it rains. Email me if you have a team from your church that is considering a mission trip, this could be something you can get involved with.

The general topic of conversation around town is elections and campaigning. Its interesting how politics works in another culture, we are praying for peace and harmony in the Nation as the voting and elections draw closer, it could become a very tense time. NZ and Australian extra police have been called in, just in case.

We have started attending a new church closer to the base and within our community here so look forward to being able to help out with them and their school both personally and as part of SWIM.

Our daughter Elise is doing really well and has been offered some part-time work, we are thankful to God and all our friends and family for your prayers in seeing such a great recovery.

So we are excited for the new possibilities this year and look forward to catching up with the regular visiting teams in the near future.

All our love and Gods blessings to you

Ron and Tanya

Prayer support

1. For SWIM base and staff as we begin a new year together, for growth and openness in their work and lives.

2. For our families at home, for good health and safety in their daily activities

3. For the CRCA church, the board and the committees that meet to determine the future direction of the SWIM base and mission in general4. The elections here in the Solomon Islands that the right person will be appointed to lead the Nation

.