The Solomon Islands with TSSF - Day 7:

La Verna Friary, Hautabu

Monday – it was cold that night. Cold! Andrew Tada told us a cold night (and he thought it as cold) meant a hot day. He was not wrong. WE left Honiara shortly after 8am on the brothers’ truck, with me on the back in a chair. Off we went out west to Hautabu, La Verna and Little Portion Friaries where the novices are trained and where the chicken farm and pig farm are. Andrew Tada had been first order when this was built, and he had been one of 8 brothers who with brother Giles built much of what is there. He told us about how they laid to concrete floor for the dining room and chapel in one 20 hour work session.

The Formatters’ (those involved in Formation in the First Order from each Province) conference had been there the weeks before, in a specially build structure for the event. The only problem was that it had filled up with insects at night with the lights, and frogs had joined to party for the free feed. People were not so keen about that, especially those from Europe and America. Brother Clark Berge, Minister General for SSF told us that they had had trainers from the Quaker non-violence programme "AVP” from Australia come and lead a week of training in non-violence. One of the key parts of Franciscan vocation is building peace, and this workshop was a key part of that. In the second week Brother Christopher John and Sr Joyce (I think) had lead sessions suing both the material from the week before with stories of Francis, and some local people talking about the peace and reconciliation initiatives in the Solomon. Br Martin and Clark and Desmond had been inspired by it all and were very hopeful of how it would affect what would be happening in the formation programmes back “at home”.

Clark also talked to us about a programme he is organising in the Solomon, bringing in Franciscan International trainers in peace and conflict resolution to work for a week with trainers from all four Orders in the Solomon (Melanesian Brothers and Sisters, Sisters of the Church. And SSF brothers) and then holding a second week with all members of each order with the trainers presenting what they had learnt the week before. I am hoping that TSSF might get one or two people there too, maybe.

Then we visited the Melanesian sisters across the ridge, and the old boys’ school Andrew had attended as a boy, and Arthur Brooker had been principle of. It is so run down and in such need of attention. It is so sad to see. The chapel is really in bad way, and they are going to have to build a new one somewhere else. No deep fried banana chips this time. Then we zoomed past Selwyn College because we thought we were late for lunch at Bishop Patteson Theological College at Kohimaramara with the TSSF members there. While they were very kind and showed us around, there was no food. The day by now was super hot, and the back of the truck was hot when the truck was moving and super hot when stopped. I was glad for the sun block I had piled on. We paused briefly at the graves of the 7 Melanesian brothers martyred on the weather coast (Southern Guadalcanal, and of Charles Fox at Tabolia which s next to Kohimarama. It was good to see the development. Apparently they are hoping to move the campus in 10 years near TNK near Honiara.

On the way back we paused at Maravovo, Andrew and Harriet’s village to pick up Harriet and hear some of the story. This was where the Anglican mission had started, where the first Melanesian catechists and missionaries had come from, and where Ini Kopulia, the founder of the Melanesian Brothers had come from. We went down to see his grave site and give thanks for all that the brothers are doing and have done to bring God’s peace.

The trip up and back was marked by frequent river crossings. Last time I went up here these rivers had all had bridges on them, so it as a shock to see the bridge in ruins or gone. There had been a big flood earlier in the year which had swept them all away. Andrew said it was caused by logging up in the hills, which I can believe. Such in the greed of governments, letting this happen even thought they know people will die, as they did here. Ironically I saw an ad on TV that night about keeping safe which talked about not logging land. Pity the government did not follow it s own advice!!!

Monday night was the big farewell at Patteson how with the brothers. Farewell speeches, gifts for us, and we had gifts as well, including scarf and hat for Jimmy and daisy in the hope they get to NZ next year. Sarah and Helen did such a good job of taking stuff with them so we did well too. Next time I will do better. It was all very humbling. As I said, last time I felt like I had begun to know people, but this time I felt I was among friends. I will treasure those friendships for a long time.