Ken and Jenny Williams and family have returned this month from a two-year term as missionaries at Talua Ministry Training Centre on Santo Island, in Vanuatu.
Ken was appointed by Global Mission in January 2009 as English teacher to students preparing for ministry. This position was a three-way partnership between the Council for World Mission, the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand and the Presbyterian Church of Vanuatu.
Ken writes:
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who have made it possible for me and my family to serve at the Talua Ministry Training Centre in Vanuatu over the past two years. As a family we are richer for the experience; we have grown closer and have been positively shaped and affected by living in a very different culture and community. “
Talua is a rapidly growing and developing institution that is part of a small nation that is also experiencing rapid and dramatic change. The Presbyterian Church of Vanuatu has a significant role in the nation as a whole and Talua is held in high regard. Students at Talua come from a range of Christian denominations including: The Presbyterian Church of Vanuatu, The Church of Melanesia, Vanuatu Churches of Christ, and The Protestant Church of Vanuatu.
Talua is now offering the following programmes: Bachelor of Ministry, Diploma of Theology, Diploma of Missiology, Women's Training Programme, and Short Lay Training Courses. The degree and diploma students have English classes throughout their study at Talua. For most students, English is their third or fourth language. As all degree and diploma courses are taught in English, and the library is almost exclusively equipped with books written in English, it is essential that students continue to grow in their competency in English. Should Talua continue to grow at its present rate, which seems highly likely based on current trends, it will be in the position of soon needing a second English teacher.
Ken says,
“It has been personally rewarding to see students enter Talua with limited competency in English and in the space of two years take major steps forward. My having had a background in pastoral ministry has been an advantage, as many of our class discussions revolve around the context of pastoral ministry – which is a natural area of interest for the students.
While my appointment was as an English teacher, I also taught classes in Theology, Mathematics, Finance, Computing and Drama. I have appreciated these opportunities and particularly found that teaching theology courses extended me personally. In a small community there are numerous other opportunities and responsibilities given. I was given the tasks of Secretary of Staff Council, Convener of the Spiritual Life Committee and overseeing the construction of the new chapel at Talua.
I have appreciated the grace, humility and perseverance of the students as they cope with a demanding subject and also with my inadequacies and misunderstandings as a teacher.”
Ken, Jenny and the family found their lives transformed by living at Talua, the expectation being that they are all to be part of the community, participating in worship, providing hospitality and being on call for a number of other roles. (Jenny has a reputation for producing phenomenal cakes for the many community pot luck dinners)) Jenny found herself as acting Bursar for the last months of their appointment – a challenging role.
Jenny writes:
“We came here at the start of 2009 for a two-year appointment, with five of our six children.
Family adventure – well, we have certainly had plenty of that. The kids have listed the following advantages of being a kid in Vanuatu: machetes, huts, jungle, spear guns, riding on the back of trucks, snorkeling, fires, friends, the river, and most important, freedom.
Homeschooling has been a real blessing. We didn’t expect this. It has been the best thing we could have done for our youngest, who struggles with school. Even our teenagers have benefited from the opportunity to deviate from the standard methods of learning and explore new territory. Best of all, God has been included daily in their learning, opening a whole new understanding of who he is and his plan in history. There are truly some great homeschooling materials out there.
Living in community is always something we’ve appreciated. It’s probably the way we are meant to live. And the time here is a chance to critic our own culture. We are lucky enough to have the best house on the campus: two bedrooms and lots of sunlight.
A few other odd things we appreciate are having hardly any evening meetings, losing weight, and funny stories to tell. When you think of going on mission, you think of all the things you have to give up. We want to thank God for all that we have been given.”
As a family they found the level of isolation difficult (though this improved with better Internet access). Factors that have helped in this have been the maintenance of contact back in New Zealand, the regular sending of church publications by the Presbyterian Church’s Communications team, friends sending newspapers and newspaper clippings, and especially a special friend sending a DVD of every All Black Rugby Test Match! Visitors from New Zealand were always very welcome!
The Williams found that good communications from the NZ Presbyterian Church and Global Mission Office have been hugely appreciated and have eased many of the difficulties of living away from home in a foreign environment.
Ken and Jenny warmly thank both the staff and students for their support and patience to them as a family from a different culture and country. In particular, Ken gratefully acknowledges the guidance and encouragement of the Principal, Ps. Fiama Rakau, the Council for World Mission for their generous financial support and behind the scenes work and for the day to day encouragement and assistance offered by the Global Mission Office of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand.
The future? Ken will take up a position in December as the Associate Minister at Calvin Presbyterian Church in Gore. He is open to invitations from churches and other groups to speak about Talua and their ministry in Vanuatu. Paula Levy from Palmerston North will become our new English teacher at Talua – she and Roger and family will begin their time in January 2011.