A taste of summer with Dave Parker

I write this from an old timber camp table, indistinguishable from the others around the property. Yet, this one feels special. It anchors the small camp kitchen, where every morning starts with a cuppa, meals are shared, conversations flow—both deep and playful—the communal guitar is strummed, and devices compete for the nearby powerpoint.

We’re in Vanuatu, wrapping up SU Australia’s first national mission since the merger—a resounding success.

Fourteen leaders from across Australia (WA, VIC, NSW, QLD), metro and regional, joined eight remarkable young campers from three states for ten days of culture, service, and adventure. Our home was the SU Vanuatu campsite at Pango Point—basic and a little rustic, yet warmly embraced as a place of community, encouragement, and support.

For our Year 12 graduates, this immersive experience marked the end of their schooling journey. We shared the gospel in schools, coupled with crafts and heartfelt moments. In Pango village, we organised soccer with local kids and visited SIL Bible translators, learning about their vital work. Sundays brought worship at Pango Presbyterian Church.

We also enjoyed snorkelling, ziplining, swimming at Blue Lagoon, an evening fire show, and “The Great Race” in Port Vila, blending tourist fun with cultural immersion and the tropical heat.

Daily devotions grounded us, and the trip inspired future leaders. Some campers are now eager to lead with SU Australia, and younger leaders are prepared to step up.