Introducing Vanuatu’s first soldiers
Ian and Marion Dooley with Lillyrose and William and six of the newly-enrolled junior soldiers, from left to right middle row: Byron, Kaini, Martin; front row: Moses, Yonnie and Marie Ellen (Credit: Photo courtesy of Ian and Marion Dooley).
Major Darren Elsley, Tweed Heads Corps Officer, conducted the first enrolments on the Pacific Ocean island nation of Vanuatu earlier this year.
In the little village of Tagabe, Major Darren enrolled two senior soldiers – William and Lillyrose Sarilobani – and eight junior soldiers – Byron, Kaiana, Martin, Marie Ellen, Melissa, Moses, Steward and Yonnie.
Another 19 recruits – 11 senior and eight junior soldiers – have already begun soldiership preparation classes.
“It was a powerful moment - witnessing the depth of devotion of Lillyrose and William dedicating themselves to the mission of The Salvation Army to win the world, and in particular Vanuatu, for God,” says Major Elsley.
Ian and Marion Dooley, senior soldiers at the Tweed Head Corps, have been visiting Vanuatu since 2010 and sending school supplies, books and clothing to some of the many poor families along the archipelago from the capital, Port Vila.
During one of their visits they met Lillyrose Sarilobani, from Tagabe village on the outskirts of Port Vila.
Lillyrose and her husband William run a shelter in the village – taking in many disadvantaged children, some abandoned by their parents. They also run a church service in their home each Sunday.
The Dooleys began sending school supplies, clothes and toys to Lillyrose for the children and others in the village. When they visited the country, they also joined in the Sarilobani’s mission to reach out to the people in the community, preach God’s word and host community meals.
For quite some time, Lillyrose had been talking to the Dooleys about The Salvation Army and what it meant to be a soldier.
In August last year, Ian and Marion, with Lucy Powis from the Tweed Heads Corps, Major Elsley, and his father, Kevin Elsley from the Lismore Corps, conducted an evangelical mission that took them into Tagabe village, the market place and a prison.
They also took basic essentials for needy villagers, including footwear and copies of the Bible. The corps had fundraised to build a basic worship centre for the village to use, and locals constructed it, under Ian’s supervision, in front of the home where Lillyrose and William live.
Lillyrose and William began soldiership classes, and Marion led junior soldier preparation classes.
Vanuatu is now an unofficial outpost of the Tweed Heads Corps.
“We never anticipated this – we are just ordinary people going to help other ordinary people who have less than we have, and are hungry for God,” says Ian.
Comments
How wonderful to see the work that God's army is doing. I am going to Vanuatu on my holiday shortly and am wanting to take resources for the children. So glad I found this information about Lillyrose and her husband. I am a soldier of the Merriwa Corp in Perth Wa.
Many blessings
Robyn Mainey
Are the salvation army of Vanuatu independent?