A bit of a yarn

Vision without action is a dream...a vision with God behind it can became an exciting reality.

A little history...

In 2005 we moved to Fiji to work, it was meant to be for a couple of years but things didn't go according to plan and we were back in NZ 8 months later.

However the experience didn't sour us, rather it was the beginning of a wonderful adventure as we ventured back to Fiji many times to help our friends.

In 2007 we took a hardy bunch of 30 people 7 of them being teenage girls to build an office for friends running a camp. The adults built while the teens ran a kids clubs. An awesome experience for everyone involved and something I really enjoyed organising.

In 2008 Rob and I returned to the camp for a friends wedding then went across to the island of Kadavu to stay with our friend Ili and her sister. We lived local..no power, no running water and cooking over a fire.

I was fantastic and it got me thinking....

In 2009 we took 12 teenagers to 6 different places in Fiji. 80% of our accommodation was local.

We told the teens that they we going to see, taste or smell things they won't like - we never wanted to see it on their faces because our hosts were sacrificing a lot to house and feed them. (we did pay our way). The teens were fantastic, they thrived, they rose to personal challenges and they had an awesome time (as did we the ones leading them).

This got me thinking......

Why not set something up that wasn't under a church, that was non denominational and anyone could feel comfortable to join us....

2010 was the beginning of Lost Hope Restored~South Pacific.

In 2011 we visited Vanuatu for the first time at the invitation of a good friend a young pastor (27 at the time) Joash.

This was to be a recce trip, a time of seeing, checking and getting a feel for the place and it's people.

If I thought Fiji was poor then Vanuatu is poorer but the people were so happy and friendly...always smiling.

We had come laden down with resources for schools and sports gear for soccer clubs. There was only 3 of us but Joash had us going all over the place. Some schools consisted of a few sheets of iron tied to saplings, others had ABC posters that were hand made by the teacher because resources were so scarce. Our small donations were gratefully received - we just wished it was more.

A weekend stay at a village called Tanoliu and we enjoyed lots of warmth and hospitality. Our host teaching us how to cook local style. After church the elders asked if they could talk with me.

They explained that they were really concerned for their young people. It is a generation growing up with the western influences encroaching on their lives at a huge speed. (think smart phones) The parents at that time didn't even have power into their homes and now they had young people with knowledge far beyond their (the parents) understanding. (think pornography and violent movies).

Lisa we have been praying that someone would come along and help us fund raise for a new church and community hall - a place our young people can use and enjoy.

I sat there internally thinking 'mate I am a no one with nothing behind me, I don't even go to church let along a mega one with dollars!'.

I was stumped and said to God...help!... an answer would be helpful in this situation...

What came out of my mouth surprised even me...

'I am a small person with a big God - we must pray and trust'

As we headed back to Vila I was pondering just what we could do to help these lovely genuine people.

This got me thinking...

Kiwispan! Rob and I had a building done by them, the product was great and owners of the Gis office were nice people.

Long story short I rocked up to the Gis Kiwispan office and casually said...I have an idea to toss at you - no pressure but here goes....

The outcome -

In 2013 and lots of fundraising later we were able to build a 20m x 12m steel frame building with the help of the people of Tanoliu village and Jim Deere of Gisborne Kiwispan.

Tanoliu is now our home away from home and its people our people, their chief our chief.

2015 we were planning to return and help build 2 classrooms for the local school but cyclone Pam had other ideas.

Instead we fund raised with the help of our amazing local Gisborne community and filled a container of much needed relief supplies and sent it along with 16 people over a period of a month and we rolled up our sleeves and got alongside a wonderful people group and helped them rebuild...what an incredible privilege it is was.

And dare I say it but I have been doing some more thinking...

Part of our team that went to Vanuatu were nurses. These nurses were amazing individuals. I never ceased to be amazed at how they simply got on with helping people. Nothing seemed to phase them and the people just relaxed in their care.

There was much to contend with and all of it could be preventable. The most common was nits, scabies and white spot (a form of exzcema).

While the islands are full of coconuts the islanders don't utilise its natural health benefits enough. Coconut oil is a wonderful medium for cooking and for health. Combine it with oil made from a local nut tree called Tamanu to make soap and you have the most amazing natural anticeptic, nit killing and white spot clearing item.

Along comes Palm Project, the brain child of an amazing Kiwi lady Liane Farry. For many years she has been working along side a group of mamma's in the village of Ullivu from the island of Matikula. They have established the most incredible soap that has cleaned up the skin of everyone on the island.

I am working closely with her to see how we can get this soap into the hands of every family in Vanuatu.

The health benefits are huge and the fact it is a locally made organic product is great.

Time I did some more thinking....