Don't Give Up

Land Ceremony - Bougainville

In April 2013, David, Sharene and myself visited Bougainville with a team from Australia and the USA to take part in a special ceremony.  A clan called the Motaha has adopted us, and with that privilege comes the rights of land ownership.  We were welcomed to the village and the clan, given new names and engaged in the ceremony to take ownership of 10 acres of beautiful land with spectacular ocean views!  How good is our God?

We are introduced as new clan members and given our new names.  

David - Kawit - Man from the bush

Royree - Mutawis - Woman of this land on which we stand

Sharene - Muaniu - Woman of the coral rock

Dancing with our new family as we enter the village to being the ceremony.

Royree having some traditional 'paint' applied by the chief women of the village as part of the ceremony.  This took place inside a hut that had been built for this purpose specially.

Mod Cons in B'ville

Only the best will do for washing in the village.  No bashing the clothes down at the river here!

Sometimes it's the simple things in life that bring the most pleasure.  Dave's kitchen in Iro, Bougainville.

Bougainville Trip

A quick snippet about the trip to Bougainville at the end of this week.  Hear about the land to be inherited.  More photos and videos to follow while we are up there......

Sink in His Grace

Dave's Homemade Mercedes

Dave can make anything.  A tractor, a sawmill, a house, a school.... anything.  He is heading off back to Bouganville in less than a week, to finish off the bookshop.  We are excited about looking to stock it with great christian literature.  Something not readily available in Bouganville at this point.  If you have anything you'd like to donate, please drop us a line at royree.jensen@riveroflife.com.au

Its always alright