Solomon Islands District
NEWSLETTER September 2022 Volume 5, Issue 9
USNS Mercy Visit to Solomon Islands During September, the US Navy Mercy Hospital Ship visited Honiara as a part of their Pacific Partnership program to provide medical care and humanitarian assistance to the people of Solomon Islands. Prior to its arrival, Ensign Tony Garcia from the US Navy met with the District Officers and Aux Capt Wency Ramo’oroa to discuss possible mission engagement with The Salvation Army. This meeting set up opportunities for the crew from the Mercy Ship to visit The Salvation Army Learning Spaces at Burns Creek and Town Ground, as well as provided a connection with Honiara Integrated Primary School where Honiara Corps is engaged in Schools Ministry. The timing of this program was during the District Officers’ furlough, which elevated Aux Capt Wency to the primary liaison person for The Salvation Army, providing him with a number of new leadership experiences, which included representing Majors Robert and Vanessa at the official opening ceremony and dinner of the Pacific Partnership 2022 program. After the program, Aux Capt Wency and Fostina received an invitation to attend the closing ceremony onboard the USNS
Mercy, which was an extraordinary experience for them both. They were amazed by how big and well-equipped the ship is, housing intensive care wards (80 beds), recovery wards (20 beds), intermediate care wards (280 beds), light care wards (120 beds), limited care wards (500 beds), with a total patient capacity of 1000 beds and 12 operating rooms. Solomon Business Magazine reported the full scope of the mission to Solomon Islands,
“Commander and Director of Surgical Services, Sara Gonzalez said that some of the highlights of accomplishments during their two weeks in Solomon Islands include, conducting more than 6,000 medical occasions, distribution of more than 1,000 pair of eye glasses, examining approximately 80 animals, performing more than 50 surgeries, providing more than 1,500 dental exams, delivering a three day workshop on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief and working on the renovation of the National Referral Hospital. “ Aux Capt Fostina stated that it was a rare privilege for her to be invited to such an event and she is grateful to be part of an international movement that gave her such an opportunity. She said she was very nervous to be among people of high rank and status but enjoyed the interaction. Aux Capt Wency also really enjoyed interacting with the navy personnel and took the opportunity to talk about The Salvation Army mission and ministry in the Solomon Islands, especially its disaster relief and community services. Both Aux Capt Wency and Fostina appreciated being involved in this unique mission to the Solomon Islands.
Inside this issue:
Waverley Temple Corps Home League
2
International Literacy Day
2
16 Days of Activism Planning Workshop
2
IOM Project Launch
3
Gateway Corps 3 Interdenominational Mission Beyond the Dark
3
Personal Reflection
4
Special points of interest: Guest Speaker US Navy Mission Gender-Based Violence Social Justice Local Ecumenism Human Trafficking
Waverley Temple Corps Home League While on furlough in Melbourne, Major Vanessa received an invitation from Home League Secretary Dell Harvey at Waverley Temple Corps to be a guest speaker about The Salvation Army’s mission and ministry in the Solomon Islands. This speaking opportunity also enabled Major Vanessa to promote and sell some of the social enterprise products brought to Melbourne to contribute towards developing financial sustainability in the Solomon Islands. The Waverley Corps Home League members were particularly interested in the recycled rice bag purses made by the Honiara Corps Home League and Junior
Miss programs. They were encouraged by how the Home League in Solomon Islands had returned to the original purpose of this women’s ministry program to equip and empower women and young girls with basic life skills. The
stories Major Vanessa shared about how this ministry was transforming vulnerable families were very inspiring to her enthusiastic audience. Their gratitude for this presentation was expressed through a generous donation towards the growing mission and ministry of The Salvation Army Solomon Islands, as well as through the purchase of a number of the social enterprises products. Majors Robert and Vanessa value these type of speaking opportunities to share about their ministry in their home Territory and to nurture and generate ongoing support for the growth and development of The Salvation Army in the Solomon Islands.
International Literacy Day The many community engagement activities undertaken by the USNS Mercy team included two visits to The Salvation Army Learning Spaces at Burns Creek and Town Ground. The US Navy personnel participated in the literacy classes by playing some word games with the children and leading sessions on phonics. During the second week of their visits the Navy officers highly commended The Salvation Army for their literacy program and offered words of encouragement to the participants. By coincidence, the timing of one of these visits coincided with International Literacy Day on the
8th September. These visits were a huge encouragement for the Honiara Corps team providing literacy classes to the children in Burns Creek and Town Ground who are unable to attend school,
as well as to women who have missed out or have limited education. In acknowledgement and appreciation for the engagement of the US Navy personnel with the Learning Spaces Aux Capt Wency presented the visitors with cultural gifts of shell necklaces and lavalavas on behalf of The Salvation Army Solomon Islands. Aux Capt Wency and Fostina also had the added experience of enjoying a performance by the US Navy Band at Mercy School in Burns Creek, which also performed at the new multipurpose hall next door to Honiara Integrated Primary School.
16 Days of Activism Planning Workshop One of the disturbing statistics in the Solomon Islands is the prevalence of gender-based violence. Two thirds, or approximately 65%, of women aged
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between 15 and 49 reported having experienced physical or sexual violence from an intimate partner at some point in their life. This month, Auxiliary
Captains Wency & Fostina were invited by the Ministry of Women, Youth, Children & Family Affairs to attend the 16 Days of Activism Planning Workshop. The 16 Days of Activism takes place between the 25th November and 10th December. The theme for this year is “Iumi tugeda mekem kandere blo iumi safe for oketa familis blo iumi” (Together we make the country safe for all of our families). This was a great opportunity for Auxiliary Captains Wency & Fostina to network and experience working together with other agencies to plan and prepare for a nation-wide event.
Solomon Islands District
IOM Project Launch The Salvation Army has been networking with the Solomon Islands branch of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in the space of human trafficking in the Pacific. This network relationship has opened up pathways for The Salvation Army to engage with other organisations like Hope Trust, Christian Care Centre, Ministry of Immigration and the National Council of Women. On the 16th September, Envoys Alick and Esther Hagi attended the official launch of the project—”Strengthening the Capacity of Civil Society Organisations in Solomon Islands to Prevent Trafficking in Persons (TIP) and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and to Protect Survivors.” Several participating
organisations gave speeches about the prevalence of human trafficking through logging camps, mining sites and port areas around the Solomon Islands. This was a surprising realization for Envoys Alick and Esther to be confronted with what is
actually happening in their country. They felt privileged to represent The Salvation Army at this launch event and to be in a position to advocate for those vulnerable to trafficking now that they have some knowledge about this injustice.
Gateway Corps Interdenominational Mission Gateway Corps continues to be proactive in pursuing mission opportunities around Suafa Bay in North Malaita. Regina Akwasitaloa posted photos on Facebook recently showing a contingent of youth, under the leadership of her mother Envoy Judith, getting ready to walk along the North Road to Kakara village for an interdenominational mission event. She wrote, “During the interdenominational weekend mission to the AOG church, we were so blessed by the Word of God, both spiritually and physically. It was like God really was working among the six churches that joined together and it
brings joy and happiness as we're one body in Christ Jesus. And we participated in some activities, like giving tributes or gifts for the AOG church just to bless the church work, and also visiting the
homeless people and older people around the Kakara community to share the good news with them and also bring gifts for them. I just recall our church motto— ’Heart to God, Hand to Man.’ We are really excited about the great weekend mission. God is going to do even greater things in our religious mission. To God be the glory for great things He has done!” The energy and passion of the Gateway youth is inspiring and a great encouragement to the other Salvation Army churches in Malaita, as they set a strong example through their mission and ministry to their community.
that “People who traffic or keep slaves are not treating people with the respect and dignity that God gave all of us,” thus
robbing them, like a thief, from the fullness of life that Jesus intended for all people. Major Vanessa concluded her message by asserting to Honiara Corps, “Modern Day Slavery and Human Trafficking (MSHT) takes away people’s freedom, joy, opportunity, hope and so much more. This breaks God’s heart.” And affirming, “God loves us so much that he promises to give back what is lost. But what God wants most of all is for no one to have their full life taken to begin with. God invites us to partner with Him in ensuring people experience the life He wants for them.”
Beyond the Dark The increased involvement of the Solomon Islands District in local networks to combat human trafficking made this year’s International Day of Prayer for Victims of Human Trafficking particularly important for this emerging ministry. The increase in local awareness and participation for Salvation Army leaders enabled them to really connect with this year’s theme ‘Beyond the Dark.’ Major Vanessa spoke into the theme on Sunday, 25th September from John 10:10 —”The thief comes to kill, rob and destroy but I have come so you will have life in all it’s fullness.” She highlighted
Volume 5, Issue 9
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Support Needs: Building funds for new Officer Quarters: You can support by donating funds to contribute to the construction of Officer Quarters at our village churches in the provinces. Purchase of furnishings for Officer Quarters: You can support by donating funds to purchase furniture and appliances for Quarters at each of our village churches.
The Salvation Army Solomon Islands District Officers - Majors Robert & Vanessa Evans PO Box 323 Honiara, Solomon Islands
Purchase of additional equipment for SAES: You can support by donating funds to purchase a deep freezer to store food for Emergency Services and Disaster Relief. Please contact Major Robert Evans at robert.evans@png.salvationarmy.org for more information if you are able to help with any of these needs.
Phone: (677) 30344 Fax: (677) 30344
Mobile: (677) 749 4524 Email: solomon.islands@png.salvationarmy.org
Prayer Points:
Website: www.png.salvationarmy.org
Completion of Mission Support Projects Progress of Nominee/Candidates Applications On-going leadership needs for new mission opportunities Expansion of Learning Spaces into all our village churches Success of Social Enterprises to fund local mission and minsitry
Personal Reflection… Who can believe that I have been back in the Solomon Islands for a week already after 7 weeks of holidays in Melbourne? The 7 weeks went way too fast but they were filled with love, laughter, coffee, family time, study for Rob, coffee, movies, catching up with friends and did I mention coffee? One of the traditions of going home for holidays has been doing a coffee crawl around Melbourne. This time we were able to go to 35 coffee shops, each one of them were ones we had never been to before (except Commonfolk, where Adam works). The main reason for going to Melbourne at the end of winter was because of a major family event. Our son Adam & his beautiful fiancé Tiahly got married. It was a wonderful celebration of two families coming together. It was a joy for Rob and I to be a part of the wedding. Rob was in charge of getting the groom and groomsmen ready, as not one of the boys could tie a tie, so it was a good thing that
Rob was there. Rob also made sure that they got to the church, obviously via a good coffee shop. He was then in charge of making sure the bride and her bridesmaids got to the church on time. The service was beautiful and our sessional mates from college Michael and Christine Wright did an amazing job officiating the wedding. My role along with Gayle, Tiahly’s mum, was to be the witnesses and sign the wedding register. This was such a beautiful honour for both Gayle and I. After the many photos and refreshments at the church, the bridal party had their photos taken at The Briars Historic Homestead, which was just beautiful. Then it was time for the reception and what a time it was. Speeches started the reception with Liam & Emily taking the lead as those who had known Adam & Tiahly the longest; and then it was over to the parents. One of the things that came out in both of the parents speeches was how through Rob being prompted by
the Holy Spirit to ask David and the family to dinner back in 2014 all of our lives changed. I am constantly amazed that when we are in tune with God amazing things happen. I cant wait to see what the future holds for Adam & Tiahly. One thing I know for sure is that God has their future in His hands and that as long as they stay faithful to Him and faithful to each other they will have a long, happy and amazing marriage.
Major Vanessa Evans