Greetings all

I am back in Honiara. After four months of travelling through the islands this is like being in another country. It seems to be more westernised than I remember although I am appreciating the showers (even with hot water) but I do miss the village life.

I am holding one class in the afternoons and another class in the evenings for the workers (Old Testament). Surprisingly I have found the internet and the phones less reliable here than they were in Gizo, and the radio reception is also not very good...which is pretty distressing with the State of Origin being on tonight. This is the first time I have successfully connected to the net since I arrived on Sunday. I am enjoying travelling around on the buses and it has been really good to have visited some of the villages that people here come from. This has given me a real connection.  This is the second "formal" class I have taught in Honiara and there is a positive response. We have twelve students with half being young adults.

I have not been well since I arrived, just feel like the flu...no not the swine flu...but would appreciate your prayers as my throat is struggling to cope with six hours of teaching a day.

The week in Supato was very special. We had thirty seven students come for the Kids EE course.  We had a lot of fun with the dramas, songs and games but amongst that there were significant times of teaching and the wonderful Holy Spirit touching lives. At the beginning of the week over half said they knew they were going to Heaven because they were trying to be good or they were working for the church. The thought that we all go to Heaven is pretty widespread through the islands. Earth is where you live when you are alive and Heaven is where you go when you die. Most of the participants were under the age of twenty five. It was amazing to see young men with dreadlocks wearing the crowns they had made and thoroughly enjoying all the craft and drama. We had sixty children turn up for On the Job Training. This was a real stretch especially as I had told the students that I would not be saying anything, just observing the program. It was very hard for me not to get up and try to organise the children. The students helped each other and it went very well.

I had the special privilege of conducting my first wedding service on the Wednesday evening. Ambrose and Inety had been together for seven years and have three children. But it was a custom marriage and Ambrose is a ministerial student and felt very strongly that he wanted to be married in the church. He looked resplendent in his suit and Initty had a beautiful pale blue dress and white veil and they each had two attendants. The church was beautifully decorated in flowers. After the ceremony the bride’s family take the groom and carry him to the water. Sometimes they throw him in but they just threw water all over him. Then the groom’s family take the bride and douse her with water. The groom’s mother was also doused. They had pity on me and just threw water on my feet.

The most pleasing thing about Kids EE was the growth in Sarota and Paulyn, who assisted me with the teaching. Next year they will be able to run the clinics and I will largely observe. I am very confident in their ability and plan that they can be accredited with EE International as trainers.

Well, it's only thirteen more sleeps until Dimity comes over. Looking forward to touring around with her.

I really value your prayers and support

Kay

Update from Kay Fulcher - click on the file below to read

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Kay Fulcher Solomons Update		244 Kb

May 22^nd to 31^st - Builders are needed to help renovate a building for a boys dormitory at Zion Boarding House at our Timor Rural Development Project in Indonesia.  Cost $2000

August – Mozambique to assist in building bio sand filters, assisting Sue Allport with basic health education to the community and also some work at the nearby orphanage.  Helping within the home and also some maintenance.  Cost $4000 (TBC)

Sep 28^th to Oct 11^th (TBC) – Build a playground for the children at Rescue Mission Thailand.  Cost $2500

End Nov/beginning Dec – Instead of going to Schoolies, spend a week at Zion Boarding House Alor in Timor Province of Indonesia.  Helping with the Agricultural Project and hanging out with the youth who live in the boarding house.  Helping them with their English Language and also with their chores.  Cost $2000 (TBC)

Please have any one who is interested email me on This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for an application form.

Thank you for your support.

Blessings

Ruth Thomas

Managing Director

World Hope Australia

PO Box 933, Morayfield Qld 4506

Office Ph/Fax: +61 7 3319 0985

Home: +61 7 5428 7447  Mob: 0403 090 209