One of the first teams that Teen Missions Australia sent from the Tewantin base was to the Solomon Islands, the Treasure Islands of Melanesia. Lying just to the east of Papua New Guinea, this nation of over 990 islands and its half a million people suffered greatly in the Second World War. WWII Tours now play a major part in their tourist industry. Over 7000 young men of the allied forces lost their lives liberating this country, and this year will mark the 70th anniversary of the sinking of the HMAS Canberra. Places such as Red Beach and Bloody Ridge on the main island of Guadalcanal are not far from the capital Honiara, where this team will fly to after completing their Boot Camp training on the Sunshine Coast at The Lord’s Boot Camp. Honiara sits on the Matarika River delta. One very interesting fact about this particular island is that women are the landowners; titles for the major part of the 5,300 square km of land in this province are held by women. Your project will be to continue the construction work on the school as well as help with the maintenance and upkeep of the classrooms and dorms that the first Teen Missions team started. Besides touring old war sights you may want to shop at the local markets. Or during your free time visit the beaches set on the foreshore of Iron Bottom Sound, which has many fine swimming and diving beaches as close to the city as Rove, or Rain and Tomb Beaches. As you share God’s love with these wonderfully colourful Melanesian people you will be making memories and friends that will forever change your life. Estimated cost: AU$2159 + Rego fee.