HF Radio Communication System To Bougainville
The crew of Grace2 sailed to Bougainville in 2001 to install HF Radio communication for the Vision Bible School.
Vision Bible School
This is run by Miss Lydia Moidau
at Isina village in Central Bougainville, situated on the North-Eastern part of
PNG.
Bougainville was once a
beautiful island, now ravaged by war and unrest. Restoration is slowly taking
its shape in the province. All the Christians in PNG and abroad are praying and
believing for total restoration upon the province.
In 1988, Lydia Moidau took a big
step of faith to attend Bethel Bible College in Port Moresby. She graduated with
Diploma of Ministry in 1989. She had the heart to go back to her province to
start a training school for her people. The crisis was so intense that she
stayed on in Bethel until 1992 when she left for her province. All her people
went into hiding when she arrived. How she arrived was a miracle! In August
1992, Lydia and her two Co-workers Sister Salome Noelyne and Brother Andrew
Naveung started a mini- Bible School for four months as a trial. Surprisingly 36
more people enrolled for 1993 intakes but there were only 12 that were selected
because most of them couldn't read and write properly. Lydia then started a
"How to Read & Write" class, so she had two different classes
going on in the midst of heavy fighting, Brother Andrew would teach in the Bible
School while Lydia and Salome would teach in the other class, then they would
exchange to keep up to their program. Despite the intense crisis, Lydia and her
two Co-workers would persevere in the school. Lydia was approached many times to
close down the school due to heavy fighting and bomb blasts everywhere
Lydia never gave up. The
bombs would explode few yards away from the school area but never within the
school area. The Bible School flourished in the midst of all that was happening.
The school was then recognised by other denominations. Students started coming
from all denominations to be trained and return to their churches. It also
brought unity amongst the churches to work together in their crisis land. In
1998, Lydia started "Home Missions" in the Bible School. Students who
have graduated in the past years with heart for missions would stay in the
school and be sent out to needy areas within Bougainville. They only went out
with their Bible, that was their only possession. Lydia says "I never
gave up because the Vision I had was birthed in my spirit and the Lord Himself
will protect that which He has started God will not allow anything to stop His
work here on earth. I have sheltered under the shadow of the Almighty"
Lydia has now completed study at Tabor College in Adelaide. She graduated with two awards: Certificate in Christian Studies and Certificate in Ministry.
With Lydia's return to Vision Bible School there is much to do. The installation of the Communication System will enable Lydia to carry out her work with greater ease.
Miss Lydia Moidau