August Newsletter – A Season Full of Blessings

Greetings from Vanuatu!

Dear friends, sponsors, and faithful prayer warriors,

While many of you back home in Norway and Europe have been enjoying long summer days and sunshine, there's been so much happening here on the other side of the globe! I'm excited to share a few highlights from the past weeks — from precious family moments, to national celebrations, and powerful testimonies from the work God is doing through the Keep Safe program.

A Very Special Visit 

After a long journey of over two days, my wonderful mom and dad finally arrived in Vanuatu! Once they recovered from the jet lag, we packed their visit full of memorable moments — exploring the island, visiting schools, enjoying beach days, and, of course, baking Norwegian waffles (thanks to the waffle iron they brought with them from home!). We even made homemade passion fruit jam, which was a tropical twist on a taste of Norway.

I can't even express how grateful I was to have them here — to share with them the work we're doing, introduce them to the amazing people I work with, and simply be cared for by my parents for a little while. My dad also blessed me with lots of practical help in and around my apartment — what a gift to have a handyman in the house! It truly was a time of joy, rest, and creating lasting memories.

National Day Celebration

On July 30th, we celebrated Vanuatu's 45th Independence Day — a beautiful reminder of this nation's unique history and identity. The streets were full of national pride with people dressed in vibrant colors, parades, marching bands, traditional dances, and even speeches by both the president and the prime minister. It was such a powerful and joyful celebration of freedom!

Keep Safe School Visits (and Mango Tree Directions!)

During my parents' visit, I also brought them along to some of our Keep Safe school outreaches. One of our more adventurous days included a 45-minute trek along muddy roads to find a remote school — with directions like, "Turn left at the mango tree." (The only problem? There are many mango trees here!)

Somehow we always find our way in the end and we got to do our Keep Safe program at the school. 

God Opens Doors

The next school we had planned to visit was unexpectedly closed for the entire month, but that led us to another opportunity. God always leads us exactly where we need to be, even when it's not as we thought.

We talked to some locals around the school and eventually got a tour of the village we were in. As the tour was coming to an end and we were about to leave, I felt led to ask if anyone needed prayer. That's when we heard about a very sick three-year-old girl who had been diagnosed with kidney cancer. The hospital had sent her home without treatment. We had the chance to visit, pray over her, and encourage her family. It was a heartbreaking but holy moment.

Please continue to lift this precious child and her family in your prayers. I went back to the same community two weeks later to see them, but then it turned out that they had gone to another village to get "local medicine" to try to cure the cancer. What the local medicine entails, however, is hard to say. Please help lift this three-year-old girl up in prayer. We know that full healing comes through the name of Jesus. Let's stand together in faith for her healing and for the family's hearts to turn to Him. 

A Timely Word

When it comes to the Keep Safe Program, we are well underway in visiting all the schools around the Port Vila area. Several of the schools have between 500 and 900 students. It is clear that Jesus is with us and is leading us through his holy spirit. One recent visit to a large school brought a powerful confirmation of God's timing. The principal told us that they had just experienced several cases of sexual abuse among the students that very week. The teachers felt overwhelmed and didn't know how to respond. Then we showed up with the Keep Safe program — bringing tools, hope, and encouragement. What perfect timing! Jesus knew. He led us there. What a privilege it is to be part of His plan. 

Thank You — You Make This Possible!

I want to say a heartfelt THANK YOU to each of you who prays and gives. Your support is making a real difference — in communities, in schools, and in individual lives. In recent weeks, I've especially felt God's protection, including in some near-miss situations on the road. There's no doubt His hand is over this mission.

The Keep Safe message — that Jesus is our true safe place — is reaching the hearts of children, teachers, and entire communities. We're already seeing transformation, and there's more to come. Thank you for being part of this work. I'm praying God blesses you abundantly for your generosity, faith, and prayers.

With love and gratitude from Vanuatu