VANUATU CHRISTIAN COUCIL LAUNCH CHURCH APPEAL
Last Sunday on the 6 of March at 2pm VCC launched church appeal to support cyclone Winston victims in Fiji. The appeal will closed on the 3 of April with an ecumenical church service to dedicate offerings and donations from the churches at PMC church to send the appropriate relief agencies in Fiji to distribute to areas of need in Fiji. VCC member churches expressed their deepest regret and sympathy to families who are affected and who have lost their loved ones during the disaster. The churches in Vanuatu stand in unity with the government of Vanuatu and prayer for the churches and the government of Fiji for recovery of the lives of the people of Fiji.
Father Dustan who preached the word of God emphasized duty of the churches in times of disaster like cyclone Winston and Pam to stand in Unity in (1) Prayer (2) Give to Support (3) Witness to support our Christian brothers sisters who are in great need now in Fiji. The church is a body of believers who live in unity in supporting each other in times of great challenge of disaster.
During cyclone Pam Vanuatu had received enormous support from a lot governments and relief agencies around the world in terms of food and housing materials physically. The churches expressed their appreciation and thank the United Bible Societies for making this possible to launch Vanuatu’s appeal for Cyclone Pam Bible Replacement project last year 2015 and the response by the Bible Society of New Zealand to provide funding for this project which came to almost US$40,000.00.
The new arrival stock of 3,000 Bislama Bibles and 4,000 Good News Bible have arrived kindly sponsored by the Bible Society of New Zealand as part of Bible Society response to cyclone pam rehabilitation program to help those lost and damaged Bibles can get a new copy to continue to read God Word.
The churches the Bible Society wishes to express our thanks and appreciation to the government of Vanuatu granting Vat and tax exemption to allow free distribution to cyclone Pam affected areas in Vanuatu.
We look forward to working with churches to carry out fair distribution to cyclone Pam affected areas. Please contact and liaise with Bible Society office in Port Vila to get full information about the distribution of these Bibles on Telephone 23286.The churches appeal to churches and business houses take note of this special appeal to support cyclone Winston in Fiji and make all effort to announce this appeal to all churches and members to contribute funds and clothes and cooking utensils, plates, glass, cups, spoons and forks to support those families who lost everything in the disaster.
Please bring all support and join with all the churches combine service at PMC on Sunday 3 April 2016 at 2pm in the afternoon.
Fiji Translation – Ba Dialect “Gospel of Mark
PURPOSE
- To complete the review of Mark chapters 4-16 (whole book)
- To recruit 2 or 3 new translators
- Give out the gospel of Mathew, Luke and John for translation
- Get the translators sign a Translation Contract.
- To pay the Translator and the reviewers team their dues.
On Wednesday at 8.30 am, a team of 7 men and women gathered together at Ba Town Methodist church and carry out a verse by verse checking of Rev. Savenaca’s 1st translation draft. We started from Mark chapter 4 and we finish the day at 5pm reaching chapter 8. It was a slow start due to the majority of the reviewers not trained in the know how.
To help speed up work the next day which was our last day, we distribute the 9 remaining chapters to them to read in the night and mark off any corrections or improvement they suggested. At 6.00 pm we presented our sevusevu to the elders of Ba Town Methodist Church and also they presented theirs to us. We spend 2 hours of talanoa around the bowl discussing and answering questions about Translation work and Ba Translation project to an interested group of men.
On Thursday we started at 8.30 am again beginning at chapter 9 but unfortunately the volunteers still need to learn more. We pushed on to 4.30 pm but only managed to finish chapter 12. Since we need to complete the chapters from 13 – 16 I requested the volunteers if they are willing to continue tomorrow as it will be expensive if I go back to Suva and come back for the remaining chapters. With a little of dicussion the volunteers agreed in which this time the venue will be at Rev. Savenaca Nakeke’s residence in Nasolo.
On Friday the last day we started at 8.30am with just 3 people. By 9.00am everybody was in Rev Nakeke’s house was ideal for the day. It was quiet and away from town, with beautiful scenery and cool breeze throughout the day. They were a few ladies serving us with refreshments and lunch. We worked till 6pm completing the 16th chapter of Mark. Then I had to leave in a hurry at 6.00 pm to catch the last bus from Lautoka to Suva at Ba bus stand.
It was a 3 day of continuous checking of every verse in those chapters. I admired the endurance and the lively participation of those men and women. It was my joy to work with them.
WE LOST EVERYTHING EXCEPT THE BIBLE AND TRANSLATION BOOKS
Story By Apenisa Lewatoro, BSSP Translation Officer, Port Vila, Vanuatu (4/8/15).
After our first day of checking the North Pentecost’s Hano New Testament project yesterday afternoon at the Bible Society office here in Port Vila, the translator Collinette Siba (nee Gaviga) shared her traumatic experience of Cyclone Pam (in March 2015) without hiding her emotions.
“We lost everything during the cyclone. Both our home and guest house were destroyed as we took refuge in the church. It was really a scary experience! After cyclone Pam left, we discovered there was nothing left. Our property had all gone. There was no water as our water tank pipe was broken. It was a very sorry sight! But my husband Robin just thought of the translation books and Bible and attempted to recover them. He had put all the books and Bible inside a plastic container and placed the container under a small table inside the house. Amazingly, the container and its content were all safe, not even wet. That’s why I’m able to bring them to Port Vila with me this week for the translation checking.”
Collinette has worked tirelessly on the translation of God’s Word into her native Hano language for the last 19 years. Her dad, Anglican priest Fr Mark Gaviga, was part of the review team that had worked on the Four Gospels and later translated Paul’s epistles and other NT books. Her younger sister, Annie, now works as a Translation Clerk at the Bible Society in Port Vila. The Hano New Testament project has struggled to reach the finish line since it started in 1979 (Four Gospels launched in 1988) and has been revived lately with the goal to complete the project by 2016. Contributing to the delay in progress was the lack of supporting funds and its history of the translation books gone missing or severely damaged by past cyclones. This often resulted in Collinette being tasked to re-translate whatever is in the missing manuscripts. Now there are only a few missing chapters and verses that she needs to translate again and the financial support from the United Bible Societies amongst other donors is greatly acknowledged. However, there still exists a real need to practically help Collinette and her family in restoring their lives after all that has been lost.
Apart from the importance of receiving project funds to propel the translation work forward, the life of a translator such as Collinette is also very critical in order to achieve the translation goals. As for Collinette, she’s still living with her husband Robin and their four children under a tent in their North Pentecost village. Drinking water is strictly rationed and all washings are done at sea (about 45 mins walk). They’ve only received food rations twice from the government so far. A friend from abroad has helped bought six roofing iron sheets for their new home. But unfortunately it’s not enough to rebuild their livelihood and get their house back. Please pray for Collinette and other people here in Vanuatu who still goes through deep suffering and pain after Cyclone Pam. And do let the Bible Society near you know if you’d love to give a financial donation specifically for Collinette’s family. This will in turn help speed up the Hano New Testament project, too.
Trauma Healing
And whilst in Port Vila since last Monday, my work plan had changed after listening to some translators’ personal stories about their encounter with Cyclone Pam. This was prior to Collinette’s arrival. My set goals for the two weeks in Vanuatu were primarily to check the scripture comic translations in four languages and work on the Hano NT project. However, after my exposure to the deep hurts and suffering faced, I am currently facilitating an impromptu Trauma Healing seminar for all the translators each morning for two hours before the translation checking. This has helped Collinette and the other
translators to share their experiences in our healing group and find comfort in God though our prayers. The team is also prepared to translate into Bislama (common language of Vanuatu) the Trauma Healing book titled, “Healing the Wounds of Trauma: How the Church Can Help” (by Harriet Hill, Margaret Hill, Richard Bagge, & Pat Miersma). I trust and pray that this scripture booklet, once translated, will be a great tool for the Church to use in the near future in terms of ministering to the many lives that are still deeply traumatized.
Trauma Healing
The Bible Society of the South Pacific is privileged to play a pivotal role this year in the establishment and continued development of the Trauma Healing ministry in Fiji and other Pacific countries. This has been made possible through the encouragement of the General Secretary, Mr Solomone Duru, who saw the need for this ministry in the Pacific and particularly the translation of its material into the core languages in Fiji. The three Trauma Healing training workshops that were achieved so far within a span of six weeks (9th July to 13th August) is a testimony of God’s faithfulness and provision. The partnerships with the American Bible Society’s Trauma Healing Institute, the Seed Company, other donors, and those who helped facilitate the seminars are greatly acknowledged as well.
1) Trauma Healing Workshop with Rev Wesley Neal (9/7/15 – 13/8/15)
Reverend Wesley Neal, a Lecturer at the Davuilevu Theological College in Nausori facilitated the first Trauma Healing seminar for the Bible Society Staff. The invitation was extended to other Church leaders and/or counsellors who met every Thursdays between 2-4pm at Yarawa Wesley Church for six consecutive weeks. Assisting Rev Wesley during the first 3 weeks was Rev Saiasi Kawa whose also from the Davuilevu Theological College. The seminar was successfully completed on Thursday 13th August and the challenge given to every participant to conduct a small healing group in their church or community in the near future.
FINAL LIST OF PARTICIPANTS WHO COMPLETED THE TRAINING ON 13/8/15
- Ledua Turaganivalu Bible Society of the South Pacific
- Mere Katonivere BSSP
- Vilomena Dautei BSSP
- Viniana Koroi BSSP
- Marika Waqanivalu BSSP
- Apenisa Lewatoro BSSP
- Tevita Lala Raiwaqa Methodist Church
- 8. Jone Cama Nasinu Wesley Church
- Iva Teilai Nadera Methodist
- Josese Laliqavoka Raiwaqa Methodist
- Tara Qicatabua Yarawa Wesley
- Lydia Veikauyaki Pacific Harbour Wesley Church
- Kesaia Vilsoni NasinuWesley
- Taniela Qeleni Pacific Students for Christ
- Ruth Newton Yarawa Wesley
- Ross RoundsYWCA
- Kinisimere Waqa YWCA
- Deaconess Litiana Dau Deaconess Training Centre
- Titilia Tonawai Samabula
- Fr. Mataiasi Cokanasiga Anglican Church
- Litia Nainoka Methodist
- Ps. Aporosa Rageci Baptist Church/ Horeb Fellowship
- Ps. Sisa Tikoimakogai Baptist Church – Kinoya
- Avisake Tukana Yarawa Wesley Church
- Rev. Maraia Ryland Nasenaivalu MCF Hospital (CWM) Chaplain
- Varea Rika Salvation Army
- Thais Bott Salvation Army
- Asela Naisara Catholic Mission
- Ana Latu Dickson PTC
- Sister Doreen Aiwaia PTC
- Deaconess Lesila Raitiqa Dudley Methodist Church
- Joseva Seru Faith Christian Fellowship
- Kitione Sikivou Mt. Carmel International
- Siteri Tagivetaua Raiwaqa Methodist Church
- Jone Kataiwai Wesley City Mission (Butt Street, Suva)
2) Trauma Healing Translation Workshop
A weeklong of Trauma Healing workshop was facilitated by Pam Daams (and husband Neco Daams) on 20-24 July, 2015. At the end of the healing group sessions each morning, what followed was the translation of the booklet, “Healing the Wounds of Trauma: How can the Church Help” into the three major languages spoken in Fiji (Fiji-Hindi, Rotuman, Fijian itaukei) and a western Fiji dialect (Koronubu – Ba). We thank the Seedfor helping sponsor this event and also taking care of the facilitators travel and accommodation costs.
At the end of the workshop, the translation teams were given two weeks to complete their first draft. To date, we have the Fiji saral Hindi draft translation of the Trauma Healing core studies (5 Lessons) and the itaukei draft with a lesson yet to be completed. The Rotuman translators have asked for extension and will submit their translation draft by next week.
Solomon Islands welcomes first Bible Comics in local languages
May 14, 2014 / Author: Communications
Solomon Islands is a country of great linguistic diversity but with little or no literature available in many of its 70 living languages. That’s why adults and children alike are delighted at the arrival of the first Bible Comics in 14 languages.The comics, which tell the story of Abraham, are available in the lingua franca, Pijin, spoken by around 332,000 Solomon Islanders, as well as in Arosi, Bilua, Bughotu, Cheke Holo, Gela, Gao, Kwaio, Lengo, Roviana, Sa’a, Simbo, Ulawa and Zabana.
“It has been wonderful to see children of different languages enjoying the comics,” notes Ledua Turaganivalu of the Bible Society in the South Pacific. “They told our team that although they thought their language was important, they couldn’t read it very well because they’ve had nothing to practise with. These comics will help them get familiar with the written form of their own languages.
Not just children
“And it’s not just children who are happy with the comics – the adults in the villages are also enjoying them. It is helping them to realise that God loves them and that their language is important.”
The comics are being distributed on various different islands by churches and other partners. SIL has been actively involved in distributing the comics alongside relief materials in the wake ofthe worst flooding in the country’s history in April. Twenty-two people died, and the homes and livelihoods of around 50,000 were destroyed. Thousands of people are still in emergency shelters.
Badly affected
“Arosi was very badly affected, so we sent rice and supplies in the first week after the floods hit,” notes Debbie Conwell of SIL. “We included a batch of Bible Comics in the Arosi language. Many other areas, including Bilua and Gao have also been very badly affected and there is going to be a food shortage for some time.”
Please pray for the people of Solomon Islands as they recover from the flooding, and that these Bible Comics will bless them.
The Bible Comics were translated and published as a joint project by the Bible Society in the South Pacific, the Bible Translation and Literacy Partnership and the Solomon Island Translation Advisory Group.
Aid delivered to Nepal as second quake hits
Author: Grace Smith, 12 May 2015 (Last updated: 14 May 2015)
A second major earthquake recently struck Nepal, killing dozens of people and injuring more than 1,000, though these numbers are likely to rise.
The earthquake, which was 7.3 on the Richter scale, hit the town of Namche Bazaar, near Mount Everest.
It comes just two weeks after a previous earthquake hit the country, killing more than 8,000 people.
With widespread damage to homes and buildings, tremors continue to be felt both in Kathmandu and around the country.
Many temporary shelters have now been cut off and with most communication channels still down, it is hard to evaluate the full scale of destruction.
An early start to the monsoon is hampering relief efforts. The first earthquake destroyed sewers and pipes leaving water supplies contaminated. Whole communities are now homeless and in desperate need of basic supplies.
So far, some £80,000 has been pledged from Bible Societies around the world, including £20,000 from the UK.
The local team has started to put together aid packs that include mosquito nets, medicine, food, blankets and scripture portions.
David Smith, Head of Bible Society’s International Programme, said, ‘When we learned of the first massive earthquake in Nepal a couple of weeks ago, we knew that our Bible Society colleagues in Kathmandu would be looking to help their country, and so that we had to do something to support them.
‘Bible Society is responding to provide physical and spiritual nourishment to the people of Nepal. Now that the second earthquake has hit, we’re waiting to see what we can do to stand in solidarity with them. In the meantime, please pray.’
Nobody in the Bible Society team has been killed in the two earthquakes, but the building is badly damaged and there are fears of a third quake.
General Secretary of the Nepal Bible Society, Tej Jirel, said, ‘Many thanks for your continued efforts to help us and for your prayers. There has been lots of damage.’
Arun Sok Nhep, United Bible Society spokesman for South East Asia added, ‘Following the first earthquake, many International agencies on the ground are bringing emergency relief to Kathmandu and the worst affected locations. However, smaller remote communities remain out of reach.
‘Our response is one of solidarity and compassion. The initial quake hit with such impact, it is impossible to bring help to all affected. However, we aim to supplement and help where we can. Through a big network of churches throughout cities, towns and villages, we aim to reach those unattainable by emergency relief.’
Pray
- for the safety of the Bible Society team in Nepal
- that the relief effort would meet the needs of the people
- that the Bible would play a part in restoring the nation
Prayer for Nepal
April 27, 2015 / Author: Andrea Rhodes
Please join us in praying for the people of Nepal at this time of national tragedy. Nepal’s Prime Minister says that the death toll from the earthquake on 25 April could be as high as 10,000. Our Bible Society there, which works closely with local churches across the country, is planning to assist the relief effort and provide replacement Bibles and New Testaments for Christians who have lost everything. They are also hoping to distribute Scripture leaflets containing Bible verses that can help people affected by trauma.
Pray through the following prayer with us:
Recent Comments