Solomon Isles blog - “Dean Stephen Smalley“

Melanesia Blog #4

Dean Tim and wife Jen (also Cathedral Education Officer) are away from the Cathedral for three weeks in the Solomon Isles, preaching, teaching, working with the diocese and meeting the locals. Here's todays update.

Thursday 13 June

Once again, Jen and I followed different programmes today...

Tim:
I am aware that today the funeral takes place of former Dean Stephen Smalley. Chester is ten hours behind Melanesia so I will probably be asleep when it begins, but I have visited the foundation stone he laid in the house I am staying at to offer a prayer. My day has otherwise been filled with meetings in the offices of some of the Provincial staff here and with some of the diocesan bishops learning about the challenges of mission and ministry amongst such dispersed communities as the Solomon Islands.

Jen: 
I visited Bishop Norman Palmer school today just outside Honiara. This was a smaller school than yesterday’s but again it is an all through school. They have plans for considerable building work but can only be started when they have the finances. They have the new secondary building completed and in use. The preschool which the photo shows has 140 children aged 3 - 6 with six teachers, it is a very small space for such a number. The frame of this building was originally the old Selwyn College girls dormitory. The children are mostly on a four week break but not the teachers. The teachers only have holiday at Christmas when they are off for six weeks.