Thanks for your prayers for our Vanuatu trip!! - Sue Sanders - Team Leader
(As emailed to Whitehill Church of Christ Prayer Chain)

So so so many prayers were answered. We felt covered by prayer the whole time. Our team haven't come home the same people and God really used our team for his glory. We learnt so much from the faith of the ni-Vanuatu people and were inspired by their worship. Thankyou for praying and being a part of this journey with us. Here is some feedback.

Some direct answers to prayer:
There were many issues making me doubt whether the team should go but God proved so faithful in each issue we brought to him. For example Frank had to have urgent surgery prior to leaving to remove a lump they thought might be cancerous. He got into Ipswich Hospital in record time (within two weeks) and had surgery 2.5 weeks before leaving. There have been no infections or complications and the lump was benign! Another issue was the minimal contact with Vanuatu I had prior to leaving and I even wondered if they still wanted us to come (found out the phones had been down at Ranwadi for a month) but nothing could have been further from the truth . Principal Silas was so pleased to have the team and gave a beautiful farewell speech in chapel on our last night, thanking us for leaving behind a keyboard and guitar, for the maintenance work and solar lighting we installed at the school, for teaching the students new songs, for praying with students and for preaching in services at the school and in the village. He was also very grateful for Frank coming and sharing about village based industry. He had wanted Frank to come ever since he read about him 3 years ago when he went to Adelaide.

All logistics went extremely smoothly and God really provided for us. We only had to pay for excess baggage on one leg (despite having excess on most of the flights - 9 in all) and Frank managed to stop the custom officials from impounding our solar equipment on the way through Vila. We couldn't get to South Pentecost one day due to high river waters but God provided a boat for us. We had one flight change which meant half the team didn't have a night in Vila on the way home as planned, but it meant we were all there for a farewell service at Ranwadi on the Friday night.

Everybody was well the whole time apart from heat rash and a few mad dashes to the bathroom with diarrhoea. Since coming home one member is in the process of maybe being diagnosed with dengue fever (Julie) but is recovering. Please continue to pray for her.

Frank and I provided complimentary skills in terms of leadership and God taught us lots about leading teams! God showed me how it is really him that is leading the team - despite my weaknesses he's the one giving strength to each person and teaching each one about his love and purposes. The ni-Vanuatu people were amazing hosts and poured out their love upon us as a team, so I didn't have to worry about the team members not coping.

Great friendships did develop between team members and students and pastors. For example, Rachel got a letter from one of the students saying how much her friendship (and having the team there) had meant to her. She was one of the 25 students who gave their lives to God on Easter Sunday.

The team worked as a united group - encouraging each other in their giftings. We felt we were able to build on previous partnerships between our churches and the Vanuatu churches of Christ.

Some of the highlights:
1. Seeing team members being strengthened by God to share their testimonies or preach. Julie was asked on Easter Saturday to preach at the 4am Easter service. God really used her story of being a single Mum (and her two teenagers were with her on the trip) to testify to God's faithfulness in being able to transform a situation of apparent hopelessness (like the disciples were feeling that Easter Sunday morning) into something good. She was the one that wrote beforehand: "We are excited about our trip but also slightly fearful of the unknown. We don't know what we have to offer these people but we offer ourselves and expect that God will really stretch us." Her family was such a positive witness everywhere we went, especially to the woman.

2. Being able to fix some school items that had not been in use in some time. Kim and Ann fixed 4 sewing machines (they had 10 but only 3 in use) and the college keyboard.

3. Taking part in several services in Santo in the lead-up to Easter. The sacrifices pastors make in Vanuatu is tremendous (walking long distances, working late into the night, struggling financially). Many in the team were inspired and convicted by this.

4 . Installing a solar light in the maternity ward at Ranmawot health clinic for Stellyn (midwife) who now won't have to go searching for Kerosene every time a baby arrives at night. Stellyn delivers approx 50 babies a year (more complicated births are sent away) and she was so incredibly grateful to Australian churches for their support. She gave me a Vanuatu bag in her appreciation.

5. Greg and Glorine going to Bunlap, a custom village on the east coast of Pentecost. Being a custom village means their chief doesn't allow any outside influences - children don't go to school, they only wear custom dress, they don't speak Bislama or English (only their traditional language) and they don't accept Christianity. Greg and Glorine walked in to Bunlap with another Pastor and asked if they could pray with any sick people. At first the chief said there were no sick people, but slowly one by one, six people came for prayer. All received a touch from God in whatever area they had asked for prayer. The interpreter emphasised they had been healed in the name of Jesus. One mother brought her little baby who had a raging fever and the heat seemed to drain out with prayer and the laying on of hands. Praise God for this opportunity! (Another miracle occurred when Greg and Glorine turned up in Pangi on their way to Bunlap - the driver's daughter was very sick in hospital with heart trouble. They were just discussing where to evacuate her to when Greg and Glorine arrived. They asked Greg and Glorine to come and pray. Before long she was sitting up and eating - so much better they decided to cancel the medi-vac. A few days later Greg and Glorine visited her again and she was regaining more and more strength and re-committed her life to the Lord).

6. Many other healings were also witnessed through Greg, Ann and Glorine's ministry (eg restored sight, paralysed limbs working, stomach / joint pain going). One night I asked Greg to pray for my wrist that had been painful for 8 days (with tendonitis). That night it got worse and I was disappointed but by the next day the pain had completely gone and never came back.

7. Seeing 12 students baptised on Easter Sunday (6am) in the rain. Afterwards a rainbow appeared. It was so beautiful to see this symbol of hope. That night half the team went to a service at Ranwadi and 25 students give their lives to God or re-commit their lives to God (Julie and Sue had the privilege of praying for some of the girls afterwards). On the same night half the team attended a crusade in a village where Greg preached, and over half of those attending were prayed for, some giving their hearts to God for the first time, some re-committing their lives and others being healed.

8. The science teacher at Ranwadi was so encouraged when Frank arrived with all the soap-making resources because the week before he'd taught his classes about making soap but had no resources to show them how to do it. Frank was able to do several coconut workshops at the school as well as 3 other village-based industry workshops in communities around Ranwadi - all were received favourably, deemed relevant and helpful for their current situation (having huge numbers of coconuts rotting on the ground due to the drop in copra prices).

Now what:
Please pray for the members that they would continue to process their experiences and know how God would have them change and grow here in Australia. We will continue to meet with them for debrief and to continue studying Acts over the next 7 weeks.
Pray for Frank as he helps with follow-up from the soap workshops - regarding how the communities can produce coconut oil products.
Pray for each person who was healed or who gave their lives to Christ - for good follow-up and growth.
Pray for the Vanuatu leadership as they meet this month as they appoint many new people into conference positions. At present they only have about 20 full time pastors for 100 churches - pray for wisdom as they address this issue.
Frank and I would appreciate prayer this weekend as we go away on retreat to pray about our future and where God is leading us.

Thanks again for your commitment in praying for us. Thanks from Frank, Greg, Ann, Glorine, Kim, Julie, Rachel and Matthew and I. God has used your sacrifice for his glory and we are SO grateful.
Sue Sanders (nee Hicks)

Update from Sharon Muller, 13th April 2009

Dear Family, Friends and Vanuatu Team Supporters  

I received a phone call from Dad (Greg Muller) tonight.   They have been having difficulties calling through but finally managed after about an hour of trying.   I know they tried many other phone numbers before mine, but it was such a privilege and pleasure to hear first hand the exciting news!  Dad conveyed the following Prayer and Praise points (my apologies if I have misspelt any of the locations):-

Praise:

• Church service at Randwadi High School Sunday morning -12 people were baptised.
• Randwadi High School had a Crusade on Sunday night.   The crusade was led by another person and half of the team were present. 25 people made commitments to God.
• The other half of the team (Frank, Greg & Ann, and Glorine) held a meeting a Vanvat village with approximately 100 people present from neighbouring villages.   70 people were prayed for with many healed (particularly from blurred vision, pain, sore knees), many re-commitments and many first time commitments.  

Prayer Points:

• Team's overall health
• Matt's foot - he has cut it
• Julie and Ann's swollen ankles
• The team's plans for this week (See below)
• Flights home - The flight from Pentecost Island to Villa has been changed to Saturday.   Pray that this stays the same without further difficulties/changes.

Plans for this week:

Most of the team will stay at Randwadi High School and participate in RE, Coconut Soap Workshop on Wednesday (led by Frank) and Solar Power Installation.   I heard they will also install solar power at Ranwas Village at a clinic/maternity wing - particularly to power a light for them to see at night!

Greg & Ann, and Glorine:

• Meeting at Ranwas on Tuesday to preach and pray for the sick
• They will attempt to gain entry into a Non-christian village, Bunlap, which has been closed to the Gospel.   They will ask if they can pray for people who are sick.
• Meeting in Pangi on Wednesday Night
• Then they return to the High School on Thursday.

Thankyou for keeping the team in your prayers.   Could you please pass this along the usual prayer chains (Whitehill, Fernvale website, anyone I have missed etc).  God bless!

Sharon Muller

(Greg & Ann's daughter)

Update from Lynne,  10th  April 2009

Update from Greg, Ann and Glorine,
7th April 2009

Travel trouble free.
 
Team all well.
 
I have ministered at Services Sunday am, pm, Monday am and will again tonight.
 
One person at each meeting has come back to the Lord. Some after a long time away from Him.
 
People healed at each meeting. Two have had blurred vision restored and many with pain healed.
 
Getting ready today to go to Pentecost Island tomorrow. Some meetings arranged over the 10 days there.
 
Pray re this and opportunity to minister in Villa on the last weekend. Please keep team in prayer as we go to Pentecost Island. Pray that God will open doors to the most needy and that they will have a receptive heart.
 
We are really being blessed by the people here. They are keen to serve God.

Greetings to the church family from Greg, Ann & Glorine

Vanuatu here we come ...

Vanuatu Team:

Kim, Glorine, Ann, Greg, Rachel (back row) Sue, Frank, Matt, Julie (Front row)

(Greg, Ann & Glorine are from Fernvale Community Church with the rest of the Team from Whitehill Church of Christ.)

This is the Team that is making a short term mission trip to Vanuatu from April 3rd to 20th. (Some will be there from 5th to 18th of April) 

Ann & Greg will fly to Santo on Friday 3rd April with Glorine and the rest of the Team arriving on Sunday April 5th. We will be involved in preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom of God and healing the sick around Santo. This time will also be spent buying supplies for the 10 days to be spent on Pentecost Island from Wednesday 8th April. On Wednesday we will fly to Lonoro on Pentecost Island and will stay at Ranwadi High School. Part of the Team will  participate in school life and local church life, do maintenance and solar projects at school, and do village-based industry workshops at school, among other things. Greg, Ann & Glorine focus will be doing outreach into the Villages on Pentecost Island in preaching and healing meetings. Greg is hoping to make it into a remote village which has not yet received the Gospel. Would you pray that God will open doors for this to happen. Also pray for physical strength for Greg as it is 5 1/2 hour hike each way. On Friday, 17th April we fly to Vila for a debrief with some of the Team returning to Australia on Saturday 18th. Greg, Ann, Glorine and Sue will be involved in outreach around the Vila area until Monday evening 20th when they return home.

We are really excited about the trip. For some of the team who have not travelled overseas and been to Vanuatu before, there is the slight fear of the unknown. We anticipate that God has some really exciting things ahead. We simply go offering ourselves and knowing that the Gospel has the power to change lives. I'm sure we will have lots of awesome stories to share with you when we return and will have learnt much.

We would really value your prayers as we prepare and while we are over there. Could you please pray for us? For:

• Good health and s afety in travel

• All logistics to run smoothly

• Unity among our team

• God's anointing for each Team Member and fanning into flame the gifts God   has given us

• An openness to the Gospel of the Kingdom of God - for people to be saved, healed and set free 

We look forward to telling you all about it when we return.