statistics on violence against women in Vanuatu

Last year I wrote a little (here) about my observations of how women are treated in Vanuatu.  Over the years, I have heard of quite shocking statistics but have never been sure of their validity or their source. Now research has been carried out and published that confirms that abuse of women is definitely a BIG problem here in Vanuatu.  It is one all of us here need to work on.

Here are some statistics.

The percentage of "ever-partnered women" who reported violence from their partners...

physical violence in the last 12 months	33%
physical violence in their life	51%*
sexual violence in the last 12 months	33%
sexual violence in their life	44%

* Out of those that report violence; 90% report severe violence defined as punched, kicked, dragged or beaten repeatedly, choking and burning, or hit with a weapon such as a piece of wood, iron bar, knife or axe.


The percentage of...

women who reported experiencing physical domestic violence while pregnant	15%
girls reporting experience of sexual abuse before 15 years of age	30%

The statistics come from research by the Vanuatu Women’s Centre in partnership with the National Statistics Office and AusAid and NZAid. You can see more details here.

Yumi stadi long buk ya Mak - 6

King ya i save mekem ol man oli klin
Mak 7:1-8:22

6.1 Toktok ya ‘klin’ mo ‘doti’ long Oltesteman

God ya blong ol man Isrel hem i God we hem i tabu we i tabu. From samting ya, ol man blong hem oli mas tabu olsem hem:

Mi mi Hae God, mi God blong yufala, mo oltaem yufala i mas klin long fes blong mi, yufala i mas tabu, from we mi mi tabu, mi klin olgeta.
(Lev 11:44)

From samting ya, olgeta oli gat ol rul we i tekem tingting ya ‘tabu’ o ‘klin’ mo i putum long evri haf long laef blong olgeta. Oli gat ol rul we oli mas folem blong oltaem oli stap klin long fes blong God (luk long Lev japta 11 - 15). Oli gat ol rul blong kakae (Lev 11). Sam kakae oli klin we olgeta oli save kakae. Mo sam kakae oli doti, mo oli no save kakae olgeta. Be sapos oli kakae ol kakae we i doti, bae oli kam doti long fes blong God. Mo tu, oli gat ol rul blong wasem ol samting, olsem ol plet, mo ol han. Sapos oli folem ol rul blong was, bae oli klin long fes blong God, be sapos oli no folem ol rul ya, bae olgeta oli kam doti long fes blong God.

Mo tu, oli gat ol rul long saed blong ol rabis samting, olsem ol rabis sik blong skin (Lev 13) no ol samting we oli ded (Lev 11:24-25). Sapos wan man i gat wan sik olsemia, no hem i tajem wan dedman (Nam 19:11-19), hem i minim se hem i doti long fes blong God. Ol man we oli doti, ol no save tekem ples blong olgeta long wosip blong ol man Isrel. Be i gat ol rod blong folem blong olgeta oli klin bakegen. Sapos oli klin bakegen, oli save tekem ples blong olgeta long wosip bakegen (Eks 19:10-15, Nam 19:20-22).

Ol rul ya oli no blong folem rul nomo. Eim blong ol rul ya i blong tijim mo soemaot se sin hem i wan samting we i hevi mo i nogud we i nogud. Sin i spolem olgeta samting, sin ya i mekem evrisamting i nogud. Mo, hem i spolem releisensip blong olgeta wetem God. Mo, i no isi blong fiksimap ol trabol we sin i mekem. Tingting ya se sin i spolem releisensip blong olgeta wetem God, hem i no wan isi samting blong yumi save lukluk, from yumi no save lukluk God. Be ol rul ya oli olsem wan parabol no pija blong mekem hem i isi blong ol man Isrel oli save luksave mo andastanem se sin i nogud mo se hem i spolem releisensip blong olgeta wetem God.

Nao, afta we Moses hem i raetem ol loa ya go kasem taem blong Jisas, ol lida blong ol man Isrel, oli ademap plante moa rul bakegen, ol rul ya oli kam kastom blong olgeta. Ol Farisi oli gat fulap fulap rul blong mekem sua oltaem oli no mas mekem wan samting blong olgeta oli kam doti. Be ol rul ya oli no blong God, oli fasin blong man nomo.



6.2 ?Wanem nao bae i mekem ol man oli doti?
Mak 7:1-23

Taem Jisas hem i stap wokbaot long ples blong olgeta oli luk se Jisas i no folem ol rul ya, hem i no folem ol kastom blong olgeta. ?Olsem wanem?

Ridim Mak 7:1-5  ?Ol Farisi oli askem wanem long Jisas? Ridim Mak 7:6-8  ?Jisas i talem wanem long olgeta?

Long Mak 7:9-13 Jisas i givim wan eksampol long hao nao olgeta oli livim loa blong God mo oli mekem ol loa blong olgeta nomo. Hem i talem se God i talem long olgeta se oli i mas lukaotem Mama mo Papa blong olgeta. Hemia nao loa blong God. Be oli mekem wan loa blong olgeta we i talem se oli save makem sam samting blong olgeta i blong God. Olgeta oli putum nem blong loa ya ‘Koban’. Hemia nao wan loa blong olgeta nomo. Nao oli talem olsem se, “Mifala i no save lukaotem mama mo papa blong mifala from mifala i nogat ol samting. Ol samting ya blong mifala we maet mifala i save yusum blong lukaotem olgeta, ol samting ya mifala i makem se i blong God. Mifala i no save yusum ol samting ya blong lukaotem olgeta.” Tok blong olgeta i olsem we oli ona long God, from oli makem wan samting blong olgeta i blong God. Be olgeta oli no folem tok blong God. God i wantem se olgeta oli lukaotem gud mama mo papa blong olgeta. Samting ya i soemaot se olgeta oli no ona long God tru, oli giaman nomo.

Ridim Mak 7:14-23  ?Wanem nao i save mekem yumi doti long fes blong God?  ?Tingting ya i difren long tingting blong olgeta olsem wanem?

6.3 ?Wanem nao bae i mekem ol man oli klin?

Ansa blong kwestin ya, hem i 'Jisas'. Jisas i save mekem ol man oli klin.

Jisas i stap mekem ol man Isrel oli klin bakegen. Yumi luk finis se Jisas i stap mekem ol man oli klin bakegen. Man ya we hem i gat ol rabis sik long bodi blong hem, Jisas i mekem hem i gud bakegen. Taswe Jisas i talem long hem se hem i go mekem wosip long God (Mak 1:40-45). Woman ya we blad blong hem i stap ron, Jisas i mekem hem i gud bakegen (Mak 5:25-34).

Jisas i stap mekem ol man Jentael ol klin bakegen. Mo tu, yumi bin ridim finis se Jisas i mekem wan man Jentael we hem i doti we i doti i klin bakegen (Mak 5:1-20). Be naoia, Jisas i go aot long Isrel, hem i go long ples blong ol man Jentael. Mo bigfala stori long ples ya hem i se ol man Jentael oli save klin.


6.4 Ol man Jentael oli save kam klin
Mak 7:24-8:10

Long haf blong buk ya i gat trifala stori we oligeta oli stap long ples blong ol man Jentael. Long Mak 7:24-30 Jisas i ronemaot wan devel long wan gel; long Mak 7:31-37 Jisas i mekem wan man i gud bakegen we bifo, sora blong hem i fas mo hem i no save toktok gud; mo long Mak 8:1-10 we Jisas i givim kakae long fo taosen man. Samting ya we Jisas i mekem long ol man Jentael, hem i mekem finis long ol man Isrel. Hem i save mekem ol man Jentael oli klin, olsem we hem i bin mekem ol man Isrel oli klin. Ol man Jentael oli save kam ol man blong God. Jisas i King long olgeta tu.

Ridim Mak 7:24-30. Woman ya hem i blong Fonisia long Siria. Hem i no blong Isrel.  ?Huia ol pikinini mo huia ol dog long ves 27-28?  ?Wanem mining blong ol tok long tufala ves ya 27-28?  ?Tok ya blong woman long ves 28, i talem se woman ya i ting wanem abaot Jisas?

Ridim Mak 7:31-37. Ples ya we i gat ten taon i stap long hem, i no long Isrel. Man ya hem i man Jentael.  ?Jisas i mekem wanem long man ya? Ridim Aesea 35:4-6.  ?Wanem bambae i kamtru? Ridim Aesea 49:6.  ?Wanem bambae i kamtru?  ?Samting ya we Jisas i mekem, hem i stap talem wanem long yumi?

Ridim Mak 8:1-10. Oli stap yet long ples ya we i gat ten taon i stap long hem.  ?Jisas i mekem wanem long ol man ya?  ?Hemia olsem wanem we yumi luk finis?  ?Samting ya i talemaot wanem long saed blong ol man Jentael?

6.5 Ol man Farisi we oli no klin
Mak 8:11-20

Nao Jisas i gobak long Isrel mo i no long taem sam Farisi oli kam, mo oli soemaot se oli stap agensem hem yet. Oli askem blong hem i mekem wan saen, blong soemaot we paoa blong hem i kamaot long God. Jisas i harem nogud long toktok blong olgeta. Hem i bin mekem plante samting finis we oli soemaot se paoa blong hem i kamaot long God. Sapos oli no bilif long olgeta samting ya, hem i no save mekem wan narafala saen we bambae oli bilif long hem. Tingting blong olgeta i nogud finis. Oli no bilif se Jisas i kamaot long God, mo oli no bilif we hem i King ya we God i sanem i kam.

Nao, long 8:14, Jisas i talem long ol man blong hem blong wonem olgeta, blong oli mas lukaot long is blong ol Farisi mo blong Herod. Hem i min se oli no mas folem tingting blong olgeta. Be ol man blong hem oli no kasem mining blong hem (8:17-18). Hem i tokbaot bakegen tufala taem ya we hem i givim kakae long plante man. Hem i askem se ‘yufala i no save samting ya yet? Oli no kasemgud yet huia Jisas. ?Be wanem nao tingting blong yu? ?Bambae oli folem tingting blong ol Farisi, o bambae oli save se Jisas hem i hu?

the supernumerary tooth

Matthew travelled down to Vila yesterday for some dental surgery.

He needs his extra tooth pulled out.

Here's a photo of before he left.  The expression on his face tells you exactly how I was feeling about the whole thing, but actually he was just having trouble keeping his eyes open in the sunshine.

This is the extra tooth that is causing all the trouble:

He was very surprised when he saw the photo. It's not as big as he thought!

hint #1: cheat on the interview

Here is my first hint on "how to host a missionary at your church".  Your questions and suggestions are welcome!

Interviews are tricky beasts.  They can be a quick and powerful way to get to know someone and to get an idea of the work they do.  Or they can be boring, irrelevant and uninformative.  While masquerading as "informal" and "impromptu" they work best with good preparation.  In other words, cheat!

Here are some hints to make the interview work.

1. Get to know the missionary first.  If you can meet and talk with them prior to the interview that is really helpful. Have a long talk about them and the work they do.  This helps you to know what they do and why they think it is important.

2. Plan and discuss the interview questions together.  If the missionary has served a while already they will have some idea of the questions that get to the important, central issues.  You will know the sorts of things your congregation will find interesting.  Work out the questions together.  Although the interview format is supposed to be casual, this sort of preparation helps rather than hinders.  Unless of course, the missionary proceeds to read their answers.  That sort of gives the game away!  Preparation like this also allows you to work out together who (if there is more than one) will answer each question.  There are times when both can answer and times when one is too exhausted to think straight and just wants to stand there and smile.

3. If it is during church, plan for the interview to take 5-10 minutes.  It is difficult to say much in less than 5 minutes but more than 10 minutes will (usually) have people on edge about how long the service is going to be.  If there is to be a presentation at some other time and the interview is just a "taste" then shorter will work fine.  If this is the only contact the missionary will have with the congregation, then longer is preferable.

4. Don't try to kill two birds with one stone.  i.e. Don't use the missionary interview as a chance to have a gospel presentation for the non-believing visitors who are there for the baptism to be held later in the service.

5. Be flexible about any children in the missionary family.  Some children are capable of standing still and quiet for the whole of an interview.  Some like to race around and others like to pick their noses.  If the parents look like they are leaving the children in the pew, don't pressure them to bring them up the front.  No matter how much the congregation would like to see them, there is probably a reason for it.  It might be helpful to have someone on hand who could sit with the children (especially if young) while their parents are being interviewed.  On the other hand, don't assume their children won't come up; some may even be involved in the interview.  The key is to be flexible and to ask them beforehand what will be most helpful for them.

6. Don't answer your own questions.  Enough said.

7. Pray for them at the end of the interview.  Ask how you can be praying for them as part of the interview (it works well at the end) and then proceed to pray for them.  This is encouraging for them and a model to others.  Perhaps ask someone else to pray, especially if there is someone you know who takes an interest in them and prays for them regularly.  If you do this, that person might like to know in advance what the requests for prayer will be. 

There is probably more that would be helpful, but that's all I can think of for now.

Any questions?

Any suggestions?

Easy Self-Portraits

Here’s a great way for your children to produce a self-portrait. It’s easy and it’s effective.

I found the idea here on the site, Spittin Toad.

First you take a photo, then using an editing program change it into a “sketch”. Spittin Toad recommends “Picnik” but that site didn’t load for us so I used Picture to People*. Then you print it out. Spittin Toad recommends lightening it first and then printing onto water colour paper. We didn’t lighten (there wasn't much detail on the faces probably because the background was so textured and colourful; a plain background would probably be better) and just used ordinary A4 paper.

Then the children have to highlight the picture. They choose which lines to draw and how to shade. Then they colour with water colours (works best if printer and pen ink don’t run).

Here are their efforts:





It was a great introduction to portraiture. They didn’t have to worry about shape or proportion but could concentrate on line, light and shadow.

Thanks Spittin Toad!

---

* Note that you will need to save your picture as a jpeg file and crop it so that it is less than 1200 x 1200 and smaller than 200kb.

Yumi stadi long buk ya Mak - 7

Yumi folem King ya
Mak 8:22-10:52

7.1 ?Huia man ya Jisas?
Mak 8:22-30

Long fasfala haf blong buk ya we yumi bin lukluk long hem, stat long 1:16 i kam kasem 8:21, yumi bin faenem se i gat wan kwestin we oltaem kwestin ya i kam antap bakegen. Kwestin ya hem i “?Huia man ya Jisas?” (Luk long 1:27; 2:7; 4:41; 6:14-16). Nao, yumi save ansa long kwestin ya finis from se Mak i talemaot finis long stat blong buk blong hem. Mo from we evrisamting we Jisas i bin mekem i bin soemaot se hem i King ya we God i promes se bambae i kam, mo tu se hem i God we hem i kam, olsem we God i bin promes long Oltesteman. Be long taem ya we Jisas i stap long hem, ol man oli no save samting ya. Nomata we ol man blong hem oli bin wokbaot wetem hem, be olgeta tu oli no save yet. Tingbaot bakegen lasfala stori we yumi bin lukluk long Mak 8:14-21. Jisas i tok strong long ol man blong hem, i talem long olgeta ‘Yufala i no save samting ya yet?’ (8:21) mo hem i talem ‘!Yufala i gat ae! ?Weswe yufala i no save luksave wan samting?’ (8:18). Nomata we olgeta oli gat ae, i olsem we olgeta oli blaenman. Olgeta i no luksave yet se Jisas hem i hu.

Wetem toktok ya yumi kam long fasfala stori long haf ya long Mak we bae yumi luk long hem tede. Long stori ya long Mak 8:22-26 Jisas i hilim wan blaenman. Bakegen, wok blong Jisas long ples ya i soemaot se Jisas hem i man ya we God i promes se bae hem i sanem i kam (Aes 35:4-6). Be stori ya i talem moa samting long yumi. Yumi luk finis se Jisas i gat olgeta paoa. Hem i mekem se yumi mas askem ol kwestin ya, “?From wanem Jisas i no mekem ae blong man ya i gud olgeta wantaem nomo? ?From wanem, hem i mekem we man ya i save luk man olsem tri nomo, mo biaen hem i mekem we man ya i save luk evrisamting i klia gud?”

Nao, stori ya hem i wan tru stori. Be long tingting blong mi, hem i olsem wan parabol o wan pija tok tu. Hem i talemaot se ol man blong Jisas oli olsem wan blaenman nomo. Olgeta oli no luksave se Jisas hem i hu. Be bambae oli luksave, bambae olgeta oli save luk evrisamting i klia gud. Be fastaem, bae i olsem we olgeta oli luk ol man oli wokbaot be oli olsem tri nomo. Bae oli no kasem evrisamting i klia gud. Nao, luk nekisfala stori, long Mak 8:27-30. Pita i talemaot se Jisas hem i Mesaea. Naoia Pita i kasem. Yumi pulum win i gud, naoia hem i save! Be biaen, yumi luk se hem i no kasem i klia gud (eksampol 8:32, 9:10, 9:32). Hem i olsem man ya we hem i save luk be ol man oli luk olsem tri nomo.

Pasej ya long Mak 8:27-30 hem i ansarem wantaem kwestin ya blong yumi, huia man ya, Jisas. Ol man oli bin tokbaot kwestin ya, sam oli talem se Jisas hem i Jon Baptaes, sam se hem i Elaeja mo sam se hem i wan long ol Profet bifo. Be Pita i talem, “yu yu Mesaea1 ya”. Pita i save se Jisas hem i man ya we God i talem long Oltesteman se bae hem i sanem man ya i kam. Jisas hem i man ya we bae i King.

Nao Jisas i talem strong long olgeta blong oli no talemaot tok ya long ol man. Jisas i save se tingting blong man i no olsem tingting blong God. Nomata we oli kasem gud se hem i Mesaea, be oli no savegud yet wanem nao wok blong hem olsem Mesaea.

Kwestin ya blong fasfala haf blong buk blong Mak hem i bin ‘?Huia man ya Jisas?’. Naoia, Pita hem i ansarem kwestin ya. I gat tufala kwestin we nekisfala haf blong buk ya hem i tokbaot. Tufala kwestin ya oli se:

1. ?Wanem nao wok blong Mesaea ya?
2. ?Hao nao bae yumi folem Mesaea ya?

7.2 ?Wanem nao wok blong Mesaea ya?
Mak 8:31-33

Nao wantaem nomo, Jisas hem i stap tokbaot wok blong Mesaea ya. Hem i talem se,

“Mi Pikinini blong Man, bambae mi mas harem nogud long plante samting. Ol elda blong ol laen blong Isrel, wetem ol jif pris, mo ol tija blong Loa bambae oli no wantem mi, bambae oli kilim mi mi ded. Be long namba tri dei blong hem, bambae God i mekem mi mi laef bakegen.”
(Mak 8:31-32)

mo hem i tok olsem bakegen,

“Mi mi Pikinini blong Man, bambae wan man i putum mi long han blong ol enemi blong mi, mo bambae oli kilim mi mi ded. Be long namba tri dei blong hem, bambae God i mekem mi mi laef bakegen.”
(Mak 9:31)

mo bakegen,

“Yufala i lesin, Naoia yumi stap go antap long Jerusalem, mo long ples ya, sam man bambae oli putum mi, mi pikinini blong Man, mi go long han blong ol jif pris mo ol tija blong Loa. Olgeta ya bambae oli jajem mi, se bambae mi mas ded, mo bambae oli putum mi long han blong ol man we oli no laen blong Isrel. Nao olgeta ya bambae oli mekem plei long mi, mo oli spet long mi, mo oli wipim mi, mo bambae oli kilim mi mi ded. Mo biaen long tri dei, bambae mi mi laef bakegen.”
(Mak 10:33-34)

Ridim trifala pasej ya bakegen.  ?Raetemdaon ol samting we trifala pasej ya i talem se bambae i kamtru long Jisas.  ?Wanem nao wok blong Mesaea ya?  ?Samting ya i mekem yumi tingbaot wanem promes long Oltesteman?

Be Pita i no glad from ol tok ya blong Jisas. Hem i stat toktok strong long Jisas blong blokem hem (8:32). Pita i stap tingbaot se Mesaea ya hem i wan King we hem i gat bigfala paoa we bambae hem i sakemaot ol man Rom we oli stap rul ova long olgeta. ?From wanem nao Mesaea ya i mas ded? Be Jisas i tok strong long hem, i talem se, “Setan, yu gowe long mi. Tingting blong yu i no tingting blong God, i tingting blong man nomo.” Setan i no wantem se Jisas i mekem wok blong hem (Mat 4:1-11 mo Luk 4:1-14), from wok blong hem bambae i sevem ol man. Hem i mekem se taem Pita i tok long Jisas blong blokem hem i no mekem wok blong hem blong i ded, Jisas i singaotem hem olsem Setan. Pita i no andastanem wanem nao wok blong Mesaea. Hem i olsem blaenman ya we hem i save luk, be evrisamting i no klia gud.


7.3 ?Hao nao yumi save folem Mesaea ya?
Mak 8:34-10:52

Wokbaot blong Jisas i go long Jerusalem

Ridim Mak 8:27; 9:30, 33; 10:1, 17, 32, 46.  ?Jisas mo ol man blong hem oli stap long weaples insaed long ol ves ya?  8:27  9:30  9:33  10:1  10:17  10:32  10:46  Traem faenem olgeta ples ya long wan map.

Bifo, Jisas mo ol man blong hem oli bin wokbaot long distrik ya Galili. Nao olgeta oli wokbaot i go aot long Galili oli go long Jerusalem. Jisas hem i go long Jerusalem from wok blong hem. Long Jerusalem, bambae ol samting i kamtru we hem i bin tokbaot, mo olgeta oli fraet (10:32).


Wokbaot ya hem i taem blong Jisas i stap tijim ol man blong hem long disaepolsip

Long wokbaot ya blong Jisas, hem i stap tijim ol twelf man blong hem (8:31, 34; 9:31, 35; 10:23, 32, 42). Mo bigfala tingting long ol tijing blong Jisas long ples ya hem i disaepolsip. Jisas i tokbaot fasin ya blong ol man we oli folem hem. Mo bae yumi luk sam eksampol blong ol man we oli folem Jisas no oli no folem hem.

Stret afta long taem we Jisas i tok strong long Pita, hem i tokbaot fasin blong ol man we oli wantem kam biaen long hem. Hem i talem se,

Man we i wantem kam biaen long mi, hem i mas blokem ol samting we hem nomo i wantem, nao i mas karem kros blong hem, i mas biaen long mi.
(Mak 8:34)

Long toktok ya, yumi save lanem trifala samting long saed blong man we i wantem kam biaen long Jisas.

1. Hem i mas blokem ol samting we hem nomo i wantem. Hem i nomo mekem ol samting we hem i wantem. Hem i mekem ol samting we God i wantem. Tingting ya i mas biaen long ol samting long laef. Mane blong yumi, ol samting blong yumi, wok blong yumi, spel blong yumi, famle blong yumi.


2. Hem i mas karem kros blong hem. Long taem blong Jisas, man we hem i karem kros, hem i wokbaot i go long ded blong hem. Hem i nomo gat laef nating. Hem i talem tufala samting long yumi. Faswan, hem i taem yumi folem Jisas, yumi nomo gat laef blong yumi. Laef blong yumi hem i laef blong Jisas. Mo sekenwan, yumi mas rere blong yumi ded.


3. Hem i mas biaen long Jisas. Hem i mas wokbaot olsem Jisas. Hemia i no min se hem i mas go long Jerusalem olsem Jisas. Hem i min se hem i mas folem ol tok blong Jisas, mo tingting blong hem i mas semak long tingting blong Jisas. Olsem Jisas, hem i mas obei long God nomata we hem i harem nogud long bodi blong hem o hem i mas ded.

Blong folem Jisas, hem i wan bigfala samting. I no wan samting we yumi save mekem hafhaf nomo. Sapos yumi wantem sevem laef blong yumi long wol ya (yumi wantem kasem ol samting blong wol ya, yumi no wantem se yumi karem kros o yumi blokem ol samting we yumi wantem) bambae yumi lusum laef blong yumi. I no gat wan samting we yumi save givim blong sevem laef blong yumi long taem ya we bambae Jisas i jajem yumi long hem. Be sapos yumi lusum laef blong yumi, yumi folem Jisas, bambae yumi kasem laef we i nogat en blong hem, mo bambae Jisas i nogat sem blong singaotem yumi olsem ol sista mo ol brata blong hem.

Ridim Mak 9:33-10:52  ?Ol stori ya oli tijim wanem long yumi long saed blong disaepolsip?  9:33-37 Man we i hae moa  9:38-41 Man we i no agensem yumi, hem i fren blong yumi  9:42-50 Ol samting we i save mekem man i foldaon long sin  10:1-12 Jisas i tokbaot divos  10:13-16 Jisas i blesem ol pikinini  10:17-22 Wan rijman i wantem kasem laef we i no save finis  10:23-31 Bambae i strong long wan rijman blong hem i kam we God i King blong hem  10:35-45 Jemes mo Jon i askem wan samting long Jisas  10:46-52 Jisas i mekem ae blong Batimeas i open

7.4 Bodi blong Jisas i jenis, i kam narafala
Mak 9:2-13

Bifo yumi lukluk gud long stori ya, hemia sam samting we i kamaot long Oltesteman we bambae i givhan long yumi blong yumi save andastanem gud stori ya we Jisas i jenis.

Wan klaod i kam kavremap olgeta. Long Eksodas, taem olgeta man Isrel oli aot long Ijip, God i go fastaem long olgeta long wan bigfala klaod (Eks 13:21) mo taem God i talemaot Loa blong hem, wan bigfala klaod i stap kavremap hil ya (Eks 19:16).

Moses hem i man ya we hem i tekem ol man Isrel oli aot long Ijip i go. Hem i stap lidim olgeta longtaem. Hem i talemaot ol tok blong God long olgeta. Hem i luk bigfala laet we i soemaot se God i stap (Eks 33:19-23) mo fes blong hem i stap saen from we hem i bin toktok wetem God (Eks 34:29). Moses i talemaot ol Loa blong God long olgeta (Eks 20:1-17). God i promes se wan man olsem Moses bae i kamtru bakegen we olgeta i mas lesin long hem (Dut 18:15) mo long lasfala buk blong Oltesteman, God i talem se, ‘Yufala i no fogetem ol loa mo ol tok we Moses, man blong wok blong mi, i tijim yufala long hem’ (Mal 4:4).

Elaeja hem i faswan long olgeta profet we oli tok strong long ol King blong oli kambak long God (1 King 16-19, 2 King 2). Hem i talemaot tok blong God long olgeta. Hem tu i mitim God antap long bigfala hil ya, Sinae (1 King 19:11). Long lasfala buk long Oltesteman, i talem se bambae Elaeja i kambak bakgen (Mal 4:5).

Tok ya, ‘Yu yu pikinini blong mi’ i kamaot long Ol Sam 2:7. Long ples ya God i stap tok long wan man we bambae hem i putumap i kam King. Mo, long King ya hem i talem se, 'Yu yu pikinini blong mi'.

Long taem ya (long Mak 9:2-13), Jisas i tekem trifala ya (Pita, Jemes mo Jon) i go antap long wan bigfala hil. Nao bodi blong Jisas i jenis, i kam narafala, i saen we i saen. Long Oltesteman, bigfala laet olsem ya i soemaot se God i stap. Jisas i kasem bigfala laet ya blong God. Mo i no longtaem, bambae olgeta i holemtaet hem, i mekem i nogud long hem, i wipim hem, i kilim hem i ded. Bambae i luk se hem i nating. Be no. Long ples ya yumi luk se Jisas hem i no nating.

Trifala i luk se Elaeja mo Moses tufala i stap wetem Jisas. Tufala ya i tufala bigfala man blong Oltesteman. Moses i man blong Loa blong God, Elaeja hem i faswan long ol profet. Tufala i tok wetem God, tufala i stap long presens blong hem. Taem ol man Isrel i bin tingbaot ol hae man long ol bubu long olgeta, bae oli tingbaot Moses wetem Elaeja. Nao tufala i stap stori wetem Jisas. Jisas i stap wetem tufala be hem i no fraet olsem Pita, Jemes mo Jon. Hemia i soemaot bakegen se Jisas hem i wan hae man.

Nao wan bigfala klaod i kam kavremap olgeta. Klaod ya hem i soemaot se God i stap. Mo God i talem se,

Hemia pikinini blong mi we mi lavem hem tumas. Yufala i mas lesin gud long hem.

Nao wantaem nomo, Jisas nomo i stap. ?Huia hem i pikinini blong God? Jisas. Moses mo Elaeja tufala i wokman blong God, be tufala i no pikinini blong God. ?Yumi mas lesin long hu? Yumi mas lesin long Jisas, i no Moses, i no Elaeja, be Jisas. Yumi mas lesin long Jisas. Olgeta man Isrel oli lesin gud long loa ya we Moses i givim mo oli ona long Elaeja. Be God i talem se yumi mas lesin gud long pikinini blong hem we hem i man ya, Jisas.

Nao Jisas i talem long trifala se oli no mas talemaot ol samting ya kasem taem ya we bambae hem i laef bakegen long ded. Nao trifala i no kasem gud mining blong tok ya ‘laef bakegen’. Hem i soemaot bakegen se olgeta oli no kasem gud se Mesaea i mas ded. Oli glad from bigfala paoa mo glori blong Jisas, be oli no andastanem wok blong hem. Oli olsem blaenman ya we hem i save luk ol man olsem tri nomo.

Nao trifala i askem Jisas long saed blong Elaeja from oli harem se hem i mas kam fastaem (bifo long Mesaea). Trifala i jes luk Elaeja. ?Hemia i minim se ol samting bae oli kamtru nao? Be olgeta oli no kasem gud se Jon Baptaes hem i Elaeja we hem i kam finis mo hem i stretem ol samting finis.

hints for hosting a missionary at your church

We've recently returned to Vanuatu after six months in Australia.  While in Australia we visited lots of churches.  We were greatly encouraged by these visits especially by the many people who pray so faithfully and tirelessly for us.

Every visit was different.  Mostly we only went for a Sunday.  On some occasions we also visit mid-week and sometimes overnight on the weekend.  Sometimes Glen preached, sometimes we did an interview, sometimes we gave a presentation in addition.  Sometimes we attended multiple services sometimes just one.  Sometimes we were overwhelmed by people talking to us and sometimes we were left quietly on our own.

I've given some thought to what worked well and what didn't.  I'm going to share some of these ideas over the next little while.  I'd love for your comments as well.  I'm particularly keen to hear what you think makes a good missionary visit to your church.  What is really helpful and what isn't?

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As I write the posts, I'd add links here.

Hint #1: cheat on the interview

Matthew's news

This was the sentence Matthew wrote for school this morning:

 

Well we went to the dental clinic, then to radiology at the hospital and then back to the dental clinic. Fortunately they are very close.

It turns out that Matthew has an extra tooth!

It is coming down where one of his adult front teeth at the top should be. It is conical and pointy, quite a bit narrower than the space left by his baby tooth, and is only just emerging. Both his adult teeth (front, top) are present.

But you can see from his picture than it has taken on enormous proportions in his mind.

A lesson there for me to be more careful how I talk about things.

B.H.Harwood 1.7.1918-19.3.2013

Today my Grandad passed away.

He was a quiet man, happy to let everyone else do the talking.

He worked with his hands, strong hands with thick fingers.  He crafted beautiful things from wood.  Here, holding out his gift in his hands, see this?  This is how much I love you.

He was a faithful man; faithful to his wife whom he loved dearly.  Theirs was a marriage that survived much sadness; one in which 'for better and worse' was not romantic platitude.

He was faithful to God whom he served humbly.  He started going to Chatswood South Methodist Church when he was only six years old.  He attended meetings there for over seventy-five years and sung in their choir for almost as many.  He was methodist through and through and loved to sing.  One of my last, and most precious, memories will be of singing carols together this last Christmas.

In August 2009 he found and showed me this hymn, copied out in his own hand.  I know not who wrote the first verse or when.  Grandad wrote the second.

The heavens proclaim Him with ceaseless devotion
The eternal's name o'er all is heard.
Its praise is echoed by earth and by ocean.
Receive O man their godlike word.
He holds the stars in the firmament glowing.
He bids the sun in splendour rise.
Our God all good, all great, all wise (repeat).

The earth acclaims him Lord of creation
His wondrous works are there to see.
The mighty storms and glowing sunsets
Forth tell His power and majesty.
He clothes the plants with a colourful beauty
He tunes the birds that sing above
All creatures come now and join us to worship
Our glorious God of grace and love.

I need a pattern for "skorts"

'Skorts' is the name used to describe a pair of shorts with a flap across the front so that from the front it looks like a skirt.

I want to make some for my girls.  It's a compromise.  It looks like they are abiding by the local dress code of wearing a skirt (this gets stronger the older they get) but gives them the freedom and modesty that comes with a pair of shorts.

I have looked on spotlight and have looked through the usual catalogues online.  I can't find one.

I have done some experimenting but would like to get a better fit and shape than I have managed by just making it up.

Can you help?

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Here are some helpful links that I was sent in response to this post:

http://www.thefind.com/apparel/info-skort-pattern
http://www.ehow.com/how_4969516_make-skort.html
http://sewing.craftgossip.com/free-pattern-girls-skirt-with-built-in-shorts/2010/09/06/
http://www.thefind.com/crafts/info-skort-sewing-pattern