4121(I)_DBVG - Solomon Islands 16th expedition

September 3, 2016

By Fr. Mishima Shin, SDB
YM Delegate GIA

Tokyo, Japan, 31 August 2016 -- 'Thanks to God and to many people for their prayers and support! These three weeks experience with 9 young volunteers was very fruitful' - this is the first thought of the DBVG Assistant and Leader Fr. Mishima Shin after arrival to Narita airport of Tokyo on 31st August 2016.

The first Salesian presence in Solomon Islands was started in 1995 at Tetere Parish of Christ the King, but the DBVG (Don Bosco Volunteer Group) first exposure and action visit was there already in 1994. At that time the youth and SDB stayed and worked at Marist Fathers parish. Then since 1996 our Tetere parish and nearby Don Bosco Rural Training Center became our regular destination. This year was the 16th visit there. Thanks to be God!

The DBVG is among the most consolidated short term missionary volunteer exposure experience in the EAO region. Through the year young people are being prepared through regular formation sessions, then during the month of August the DBVG group composed mainly of young adults - men and women - leaves for the Solomon Islands destination.

Majority of the DBVG members are non Catholics willing to accept the challenge of a Pacific mission frontier.

This year the DBVG group spent mostly in Tetere Don Bosco RTC (Rural Training Center) working on the new fence and interacting with the RTC students in many ways, sharing between the cultures of Solomon Islands and Japan. After return to Japan, they will report about the whole 2016 expedition during the Salesian Mission Day event.