Solomon Islands District - Easter Campaign (East Are'are & South Malaita)

Reports written by Major Vanessa Evans and Regina Akwasitaloa

Preparing for any trip comes with its challenges and our Easter Campaign was no different. Due to minimal ships going to East Are’are, we were dependent on going on the Pelican Express. This was a great plan until on the day before we were to leave they cancelled the trip due to the ship needing maintenance. We then went through the emotions of the trip not going ahead and then being on again when friends from another church mentioned they had organized with the Taimareho ship to do a short trip to Afio. We were pleased and excited that we would be able to continue with the trip and got word to our villages that we were on our way. Peter and the skipper of our OBM met us at Afio at 3:00 am on the Thursday morning and we then travelled two hours onto Moscom. Travelling through the early hours of the morning on the calm seas was amazing and it was beautiful to see the moon setting and the sun rising on the opposite sides of the boat. It is always a pleasure spending time at Moscom. I love the people, the location and we were extremely blessed by the hospitality of the leaders Peter and Susan and the Moscom congregation. Moscom is growing and God is doing great things within the community through the use of the OBM and church services and programs. Good Friday was an amazing time of fellowship and the feast, which consisted of fish, kasava pudding and veggies, after church was delicious. Each person of the church had a job to do and had fun in the process.

Saturday was another early start out on the water to Fouele with a 2 hour OBM ride. This was my first time at Fouele and it was just as amazing as all of the other villages that I have been blessed to travel to. When we arrived we went through the mangroves, which was like nothing else I have experienced before. We were warmly welcomed by Robinson and Lottie and their family who are the

church leaders, as well as by Chris, who is the chief and also our previous church leader. We were spoilt by having mud crab for lunch and then fish for the rest of our time there. On Saturday afternoon we were able to take a 10 minute ride in the boat to Fanalei Island to see the devastation that climate change has had on the island and the community that lives there. The opportunity to also lead both congregations through the Easter services, as well as taking them through the Gudfala Laef Sunday School material was amazing and to see Regina and Elizabeth rise to the occasion of training was awesome to see.

Like I mentioned earlier, our trips come with challenges. Our next challenge was finding out on the Monday that the boat that we hoped we would take home had been chartered overnight and wasn't going to be near us until Thursday which meant we had to travel on the Victory boat, which is one that Rob had travelled on when we first arrived in Honiara. Let’s just say his trip was not great, however, this trip was fine, other than being sunburnt as we were on the top deck with no shade. We had to sleep on the open deck and we were grateful that the seas were calm. Being able to spend time at Moscom and Fouele and share Easter with these congregations, as well as with our mission team, was just what my soul needed. To be out in the villages is like nothing else and I am privileged to be able to do this for God.

Major Vanessa Evans

During the Easter mission, I was so blessed both spiritually and physically, as I know that because of God I am able to travel into different places that I’ve never been to before. I really enjoyed the environment and how God showed me His goodness through the natural environments. I am so blessed and convicted by the Word of God that was preached by Major Vanessa Evans on Good Friday from the book of Philippians 2:5-8, that spoke about how we should have the same mind like Christ and our attitude should be the same as Christ Jesus. And we should be mindful that servanthood is very important for our Christian life. As well as Easter Sunday, the Word of God preached by Major Robert Evans from Romans 12:1-2, which reminds me as Christ shows His great mercy, we should offer ourselves as a living sacrifice to God. It recaptures my heart and mind to give a strong passion to our God by offering Him true worship: ‘Not to conform to the standards of this world, but transform us inwardly by a complete change of our mind’. I just give honour to our Daddy God in heaven for the great and marvelous things He has done. To God be the glory.

Regina Akwasitaloa