If you are one of the lucky ones who are part of Naomi’s close friends, you may have already received this update. I typically write our newsletter, whilst Naomi prefers personal messages. But this message was so good that I want to make it into a newsletter. It gives you a raw and unfiltered insight into our first few weeks here in the Solomon Islands.
Update Feb 2026
It feels so right to be here in the Solomon Islands. We had a really inspiring national conference last week with vision casting and prayer for leaders. It was a time with lots of people re-finding their reason for being here in YWAM and understanding the importance of having a God-sized vision. We had some leaders from YWAM in NZ, Australia and Tonga come and share as well.
The day after we arrived, I decided to walk to town with my local friend, which usually isn’t a problem. But usually Eivind and I have more time to acclimatise as we travel to Solomon through Fiji, but this time I hadn’t had time to adapt to the scorching heat yet. So a long walk in the mid day heat wasn’t ideal. Later that day I got a splitting head ache and vomited multiple times – feeling absolutely terrible. Eivind identified my symptoms as heat stroke and moved me from a hot mattress on the floor to the AC classroom and the next day I was well again. Thank you so much for praying🙏
We have been reconnecting with special friends in this last week and a half we’ve been here. It’s so exciting to see half a shipping container filled with 4000 Bibles in Roviana language and 360 audio Bibles arrived today and are all ready for outreach in the Western Province.
I’ve been connecting with a woman here who works with Red Cross and different charitable organisations and I’m trying to get help for a young woman who was awfully abused. I’m going to try and meet with her and see how we can help. Here’s an article about her story. It’s heart-breaking.
Today, I went to a school where they hadn’t had anything but rain water for the last year. The teachers had to close school early so they could go and get water from the other village every day. Our friend Billy, fixed their water pump and the community were so grateful to finally have water so they didn’t have to send the kids home early from school. I connected with the mums, teachers and kids.
Prayerpoints
- The local DTS is starting next week, so please pray for the students as they prepare to come.
- Please pray for Eivind and me as we are going to Munda next week and the living conditions will most likely be very basic (probably no electricity or running water).
- Guidance for the Bibles and audio Bibles – for wisdom as we engage with people around in the Roviana area.
Thank you so much for your prayers and support. We feel so blessed to have family and friends encouraging us and praying for us🙏
PS: there is a young family here at the YWAM base – they are local and have two kids and a third on the way. Richie, the guy, is such a faithful servant leader here in base. He is trusting God for provision for his precious family while he’s faithfully serving here at YWAM. The wife is young, she’s 21, and had to leave school very young as her family couldn’t afford sending her to school, so she didn’t even learn to read or write. I am helping teaching her to read by using the Bible which is very encouraging. Their oldest, Joyce, is now almost 5 and at school-age. She would love to go to school and sometimes cries as she sees the other kids on the community walk to school. Her parents can’t afford to send her to school. It really breaks my heart as they are dear friends to me. If you feel led to give financially and support this precious family, it would be so so much appreciated. School fees are about 1600 kr / 200£ a year. Thank you❤️
Update: We have had an amazing response to the needs for this young family, and we will be able to bless Joyce with her school fees for many years to come.
