Nguna Independence Outreach, July 2004

Youth from Youth Arise formed two strong teams and planned to take the WHOLE island of Nguna by storm. Team one departed on Thursday 29th at about 2pm, and landed at Utanlang village. Team two departed later at about 7pm to land at Unakap village. A not-so-planned third team got stranded at Emua wharf, but arrived on Friday morning at Tikilasoa. Read more stories below and view the slide show...

This is the second major mission of Youth Arise Vanuatu. After the Makira Easter mission, it was decided that Nguan would be the next one. Ian kalsuak, Patric Aru and Janet Tatagis, youth from Nguna, were given the responsibility of doing the contacts and negotiations with responsible leaders of the island.

The team went to prayer and fasting, more practices of new skits and dances, and Bible study, to equip the young people for this important operation. A map of Nguna was obtained and copies were made for every youth to take home, pray over and spiritually walk the land everyday. On Wednesday 28th July, 41 young people had confirmed their participation in this Nguna mission. 

Two teams were formed. The first team, with 16 members, was to leave early on Thursday at about 2pm and land at Utanlang. This first team was lead by Patrick Aru. They landed at Utanlang at about 5pm and had a devotion at the Presbyterian church at the village. It was already dark and raining, but after the devotion, Patrick and his team strapped their bags onto their backs and walked to Farealapa village spend the night. 

Team two, consisting of 25 members, left Emua wharf at about 7:30pm. Team two split again at the wharf, because it was now raining and some mothers with new-born babies were also wanting to go the the island and their boat had not arrived. Team three, code-named Jubilee Squad, had to spend the whole night at the wharf as their boat did not return until about 5am Friday morning. 

After breakfast at Unakap village, team two and Jubilee Squad walked through low tide for about 2km, then climbed the steepest hill they've ever climbed in their life. The most challenging of all was that Franguy on wheel chair was traveling with the team. Thank God, angels were present to make the task easier than it seemed.

Team one was already at Mere village, the independence celebration grounds, who were easily identified by their bright white "Youth Arise" uniforms. Youth Arise's part in the program was not until about 3pm in the afternoon. While they waited, some of the youth joined up with some of the sports teams, while some eyed the food-stalls and demolished laplaps and fish. Alsina Garae was also entertaining at Mere village. 

At 3pm, the team was called to go up. They went up, opened with a prayer, and sang the song, "Yu we yu God blong Unity" [You are the God of Unity]. After the song, the young people did some dances and dramas on the grass, alternating with testimonies. Fred (vice president) almost busted the sound system (or should I say the devil's ear drums) with his red-hot and bold testimony. Patrick Aru hit the nail on the head with his testimony, as many of the young people on the island know him as a naughty alcoholic. Not anymore! After the skits, the team went one-to-one with young people, mothers and fathers, and children with their colored Wordless Book, and challenged them about their relationships with Jesus. God was already working in people's hearts, and the harvest was already ripe, as mothers, fathers, youth and even children as young as grade 5, were repeating the sinners prayer with team members. At about 9pm, team members were still busy sharing and praying with people. 

The moon was full that night, so the young people took the long walk back to Unakap.  At about 11pm, the team arrived at  Tikilasoa. They stopped for rest and to hear feedback from members. Another 15 minutes walk and they arrived at Unakap for tea, then they retired to bed.

The next morning, Saturday 31st July, saw the baptism of 4 young people in the cool waters at Unakap beach. They then prayer walked Tikilasoa village, before jumping onto the Independence stage of Tiki to present some skits, dances and testimonies. After having lunch at Ian Kalsuak's house, the team walked 30-45 minutes to Nekapa village (also called Black Stone). They had a service with the young people at Nekapa, and again did one-to-one with members of the village. It was really humbling to see the young people leading young people, mother, and even some elders and deacons in the sinners prayer. 

At about 8pm the team left Nekapa and walked back to Tikilasoa to do some more dances, before returning to Unakap at about 11pm. At Unakap, the team did some more prayers, their usual Saturday night prayer program, until about 4am in the morning.

On Sunday morning, the team had a combine service for all at the Survival church at Unakap. Hillar, Roger and Pastor Jack led the worship with theri acoustic guitars. The villagers were slow in catching up with the loud and bold worship of the team, but when the team sang, "Unakap arise and shine for your light has come...", the congregation came alive, leaped to their feet, and started dancing, a sure sign of liberty. The team presented some skits and dances, then Pastor Jacob from SANMA shared the word. At the challenge, about 90% of the people responded to the message and were prayed over. 

After lunch of laplap, yams and fish soup, the team left the island at about 3:30pm on three boats. But God had visited Nguna, and God's goodness and grace and power will continue to be the talk of the island for some time. Praise be to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.