Important work at Nandiutu School:
Malo's Nandiutu Bilingual College has a role of 156, including 39 year 10 students. Some of these students would normally board here in one of two school dormitories, as well as at least 5 staff live on site. But today, the school is damaged and empty. Without operational classrooms, the management are considering education alternatives such as sending their year 10 students, along with one teacher, to the mainland to complete the school year and ready them for exams. This is how tough the reality of this disaster is on students and their learning. In remote islands like Malo, a school destroyed, means a significant disruption to student learning.
Nandiutu's rebuild list is huge - classrooms, staff houses, a school clinic, the toilet block, dormitories, desks and chairs. And that's why the Mill for Malo team are there now - working tirelessly, shifting incredible sized logs with man power alone, and turning them into useable timber for the rebuild!
Celebrating a heart of service:
After a big weeks work at Avunatari school last week, milling over 2,200 lineal metres of timber to repair classrooms, the schools dining hall and kitchen as well as a staff house, Joe Iautu was given the honor of bringing a message to the community at their Sunday church service. Church is often the center of a communities life in Vanuatu and it is a real privilege and sign of respect to be invited to speak.
Joe chose a passage to read to the congregation; a passage he and his team felt encouraged by before they left their home island of Tanna last month...
Deuteronomy 15:7-8
"If there is a poor man with you, one of your brothers,
in any of your towns in your land which the Lord you God is giving you,
you shall not harden your heart, nor close your hand from your poor brothers;
but you shall freely open your hand to him,
and shall generously lend him sufficient for his need in whatever he lacks."
This passage really highlights Joe and his teams heart to serve their fellow countrymen and women. They recognised their northern brothers and sisters were brought low by TC Harold and left with incredible need.
The Mill for Malo team, both the operations team as well as our donors and supporters, have stepped up with generous hearts and open hands to bring hope... a moving message of service brought to the community of Avunatari!
