A Few More Things

A few weeks ago, the Roundy's (Humanitarian) received a container loaded down with desks and chairs from some New Zealand schools.  When Australia and New Zealand replace their school desks and chairs, they send their old stuff to the islands all over the Pacific.  It happened to be Port Vila's turn for the much needed furniture.  It was all in pretty good shape, not junky stuff.  Elder and Sister Roundy called around and got the missionaries to take our trucks to the Black Sands ward, where the stash was located.  We drive an SUV, so we couldn't take any desks, but we did load it up with chairs.  There were several little bush schools in dire need of desks, so it was fun to deliver to them.  We got to take one of the loads to sister Veronica's school.  When we drove in to the village where her school was located, the pikininis came runnin!  Soon, another truck drove in loaded down with desks!  The people in the village were right there helping to unload.  They are so appreciative of the help they receive from religious groups, and the different countries that try to help them.  There was a group of little boys that loved having their picture taken.  They ran up to me and said, "photo, photo", and then posed.  So adorable!!  Greg was really cute with them, he was putting them in a head lock and wrestling around with them, they loved it.   I wish we could scoop them up and take them out of their poverty.  We've had such humbling experiences these past months, it's been hard to process some of the things we see, we just have to remember that it will all be fair one day.  That's how we are able to make it through.  We are all children of a loving Father in heaven. 

A few weeks ago, we went to dinner at the Ramada Inn.   In American, it's not one of the swanky hotels, but they've built a really nice one here.  The hotels and resorts here on the island, pretty much cater to the Australians and New Zealanders coming for holiday. There is a couple in our ward, Daniel and Juliette Ringou who regularly take members out for dinner.  They have a travel/tourism business, and do quite well for here.  They don't take people to cheap places either.  Since sister Tucker and Greg and I are about to return home, they invited us to dinner. They also brought a dear couple from the ward, Harry and Fiona Harry.  Yes, Harry's last name is also Harry!  The Nivans don't have money to do anything like this, so it was such a joy to see them enjoy a nice meal.  They seemed to feel comfortable with the surroundings, I think that was because they were among friends who love them.  We also enjoyed a show with Polynesian dancers.  They invited people to join them, and learn how to dance, if they chose to.  We encouraged Harry and Fiona into giving it a go, and they did.  It was fun to see them having a good time.  The meal was okay, but not like the meals in the good ole USA.  They don't use alot of seasoning or sauces in their dishes, so the food can be a little bland.  We also got to take a group picture with the polynesian dancers.  It was a fun evening.

The other night, I walked into the kitchen and saw, out of the corner of my eye, this black thing scrambling to get off the counter.   I about had a heartattack, it startled me!   I thought it was a gecko, and I thought I saw it go out the window, but it was moving too fast for me to tell.  They come in and out of the windows all the time, as a matter of fact, we have a tenant living in our air conditioner.  Greg just laughs, he calls them his "little buddies."  But they are not my little buddies! After a while, I saw it again out of the corner of my eye.  This time it  run under the refrigerator, now that isn't normal behavior for a gecko, they usually just run around on the walls.   There are two reasons I don't get rid of them; "numba 1) because they eat other insects, like mosquitos, and numba 2) Greg wouldn't let me!    All the other couples take their shoe off and smack them, which stuns them, then they throw it outside.   Anyway,  it then ran across the floor into the spare bedroom.  It was a mouse!!  We tried to buy a mouse trap like we use at home, but they use glue traps here.  It's a plastic tray with really sticky glue on it. The critter just walks up on to it and  sticks there.  It's kinda sad, because then it just waits to die.  So, we put  one on the counter and put a piece of apple on it. Within a day, we heard this commotion in the kitchen and here was a RAT (at least 4 inches long), flipping around on the glue trap, trying to get loose.  We just took it out and put it in the garbage.  I felt really bad about it. I wondered if we could do something to help it, but we didn't want to get bit trying to help it out of the trap.

The other day we went to the Vanuatu National Museum with the Lindeman's.   We all decided we needed to make the trip before we go home.  We were quite impressed, it had many interesting displays about their culture and customs such as war masks and all kinds of relics. Our guide was from the island of Pentecost,  he showed us sand art, and how it was used to tell stories.  He had a box with a small amount of sand, and drew in it with his finger, as he told a story.  The picture he drew was so cool, I'll attach a picture.   They also had replicas of instruments that were played at tribal ceremonies in the day, and he could play those too.  They used to beat a "tam tam," a wooden totem pole type drum, to call everyone in the village together, if the Chief wanted to talk with them.  They were also used to send messages to each other on different islands.  These islands were a harsh place to live back then.  Survival of the fittest was the name of the game.  We read a little bit about cannibalism here in the islands, it was pretty widespread. It's enough to give you nightmares, that's for sure! The first two Christian ministers to step on  Malakula were promptly eaten.  EEYikes! There are islands who don't have outside visitors, and still practice alot of the customs except for cannibalism.  I read that the last person eaten was in 1969.  Their ancestors were a little different than ours wouldn't you say?? Okay, enough of that. 

Last Saturday, we went to a sea turtle sanctuary.  There is a protected inlet from the ocean, where they had about 10 large turtles.  Two of them must have been 2X3 feet in diameter.  They were referred to as "big mamas."  We were told that one of them was 260 years old and the other 200, seems hard to believe, but that's what they said. They were so amazing!  There was cut up papaya there for you to feed them.  You had to pay attention, because they really snapped at it.  They got your attention that's for sure! They advertised that you could swim with the turtles, but we didn't, the water was a little too murkey looking.  This place also had two pools with a pretty good size shark (4 feet or so), and several smaller ones, along with all kinds of interesting fish.  It really bothered me, because you could see that the sharks were agitated, it was too small of an area, plus they should be in the ocean, along with the turtles.  We continue to have amazing experiences here in Vanuatu.  Our time here is short, with less than three weeks to go,  we want to get in as many of these experiences as we can.  I'll close for now, we'll be home before you know it!  Yu mi lovem yu ol tumas!  Ale lukim yu, Elda and Sista Robison

Lelepa Island

Last Saturday, 1 Sep, two truck loads of us senior missionaries, along with three visitors of the Roundy's, from China, headed for the island of Lelepa.  Those of you who were fans of the TV program Survivor, may or may not know that this was one of the islands they filmed the series on.  It is a beautiful, secluded, island, off of Efate where we live.  The plan was to drive to the other side of our island, park our vehicles, and catch a little boat over to Lelepa.   Greg and I rode with the Lindeman's, the Roundy's took their guests, and off we went.  On the way, we asked Lindeman's if they wanted to take a little detour and drive out through a rough, bumpy area, to see where alot of the members of our Black Sands ward lives.  They wanted to do that, so we took the ten minute detour.  It's good we did, because as we approached this really steep hill that would take us up and over to the other side of the island, we saw Roundy's truck pulled off to the side of the road.  As we got closer, we could see that the back tire had dropped off into a deep crevice off the side of the road.  We found that Elder Roundy was having a hard time getting up the hill, so he tried to back down, and dropped into the hole.  There was no way you could put it into four wheel drive and drive it out.  Soon, others started to pull over and direct traffic.  Pretty quick, about six, big, nivans (locals) came along, got to the side of the truck and lifted it out of the hole, while Greg drove it out.  We were all cheering and thanking the everyone for helping us! Once you start up what is called snake hill, you must keep the momentum going.  Elder Roundy got in our truck, and Greg got in his truck to drive it on up.  We drove out ahead of Greg, and soon could see that he wasn't behind us.  We turned around and went back to see where he was, he ended up backing the truck about 1/2 mile down the hill, and parking it in the Mele Cascade Falls parking lot.  The clutch was toast, it needed to cool down.  There wasn't anyway that truck would make that hill, so Roundy's just stayed and took their guests to the falls.  The rest of us headed on our way.  When we got in the boat, I noticed there were no life jackets, and about a 20 minute ride across the ocean to Lelepa! EEK!  One of the main reasons we were going to the island was to snorkel out to see some giant clams.  WOW! they were amazing.  They looked to be about three feet in diameter, and yes, they were alive.  They looked like they were pretty old too.  There was probably about fifty of them.  One of them had a  blue star fish stretched on top of it, just incredible.  After we were done snorkeling, the second reason we went there for (at least the sistas), was to walk into their little village, to the handicraft market.  As we walked along the paths through their villages, the people waved and said, "gud moning."  There were also cute little pikininis riding their bikes having fun.  We were soon met by a man that told us that the mother of the Chief of the village, had just past away.  That meant that everyone was now in mourning, and that the village, along with the handicraft shop, was closed.  Soon we saw the women of the village walking up a path, and you could hear their sorrowful mourning, so, we turned around and went back to the beach area where we could catch a boat back.  It was interesting to see that part of their culture. 

When we got back across the ocean, we could see some of the locals waiting on the shore to catch a boat back to Lelepa.  When we got off the boat, there on the shore, was a dead, bloody cow!  We asked what happened?!  One of the girls standing there, may have been the bride, told us that it was part of the bride price.  They were headed to the island for a wedding.  The groom was probably taking over to give her father as part of his payment for her.  Not sure how that was going to work with the funeral service!!???  All I knew, is that they better get that cow on the coals!  After our excursion, we went down the road a little way, to of all places, an Italian restaurant.  The food was pretty good, a little pricey though.  All in all, it was a fun and eventful day.  Like they they always say, "you just had to be there"!

Trip to Malekula

"Halo evriwan," we're back from our last audit in Malekula, and our last traveling audit to the other islands.  Our flight over, was changed at the last minute, no surprise to us.  We ended up flying to Santo and sitting at the airport for two hours before flying fifteen minutes to Malekula.  It was fun though, there's a handicraft shop there at the airport, so I went over to see what they had, and to visit the cute gals that work there.  I was going to buy a shell from them, and they ended up giving me three.  They said, they had plenty at home, all they have to do is pull them out of the ocean!  The people are sooo sweet, you would love them.   It's so hard to say "tata" (goodbye).  We've been going to the different islands in Vanuatu and the country of Solomon, for almost a year and half, so we've formed dear friendships with some of them.

We stayed at a bungalow called Holiday Villas, the same place we stayed our first time to the island.  It has a little kitchette, separate bedroom, living area, bathroom.  Breakfast is provided,  there is a local restaurant that is open, but you have to make arrangements to eat there. We just brought ramen noodles and a few canned goods to make our own meals.  We like to stay there because we can walk to the district office where the audits are done.  You might remember the last time we were in Malekula, we got to ride out cyclone Hola, on the floor of a little restaurant, at the Almeltoro bungalow.  Can you believe that was six months ago?  We decided not to stay by the water this time!   Just kidding, it's not cyclone season, but we just wanted to be able to walk to the district office, and it's close staying at Holiday Villas.   It's so fun to meet with the same district presidents, branch presidents, and their clerks, time after time.  It's like seeing old friends. When we got checked in, we hurried and ate crackers, fruit and some eggs I had boiled and brought with us, then walked to the district office.  When we got there, three of the branch presidents and their clerks, and President Vanu were waiting for us.  Again, it was like greeting old friends.  I decided to go back to the bungalow and hang our clothes up, and set things up.  As I left to go back to the office, the little lady that checked us in told me to make sure we boiled the water before we drank it!!!  TOOO LATE.  I just prayed that I didn't get sick, luckily I haven't had any problems.  We've never had to boil it in the past.   We just bought our drinking water from the little store while we were there.   When I got back to the office,  I was hoping to find my friend, Floret, the district clerks wife, and sure enough here she came.  I all of the sudden heard this high pitch, funny, hollar they do.  We gave each other a big hug, she then put three shell necklaces she had made for me, around my neck, and gave me a bag of shells (nothing for Greg) Wah!   She doesn't know English and I only know "smol" Bislama, but we were able to communicate in our own awkward way.  I wanted to go to the handicraft market, so we  headed down the road.  When I was there six months ago,  I ordered a small, woven, mat (1'x2') with VANUATU woven in the middle.  These particular weavings are done on the island of Ambrym.  I was hoping I had given the weaver enough time, and sure enough it was there.  It is so beautiful, it's woven in natural and colored grasses.  The shop is cute, and has a good little business going.  I think there is a picture of it from the post in March.  They do special orders for people, and businesses around the islands.  I've seen things from Malekula in shops on the different islands.   There are ladies that weave bags, mats, fans, all kinds of things to sell.   It was fun to visit the ladies in the shop, they remembered me from the time before.   We visited for about an hour as they asked questions about America, and my family.  A fair amount of the younger generation know pretty good English, if they've had a chance to go to school.  It was sad to say good bye to them, I doubt we'll ever go back for a visit, it's too expensive, and too hard to get to.  When we got back to the office, all the men were getting ready to go to lunch.  We went to a little local restaurant that was just across the street.  Lunch consisted of a piece of fish, boiled veggies and a big pile of white rice.  It was pretty good, just a little too much rice.  Before we began to eat lunch, President Vanu thanked Greg and I for our service in Malekula.  Everyone knows an auditor is not the most favorite person anyone ever wants to see, but Greg always helped them to feel at ease, as he looked at their books, and gave them training and guidance.   We've grown to love the people so much.   Elder Johannson, an area seventy, here in the Pacific, gave the definition of an assistant area auditor as someone who comes in and shoots the wounded!  So funny!!  As we left the restaurant, I could see some activity a short distance away.  One of the guys told me they were processing kava.  He asked if I wanted to see what they were doing and take some pictures, of course I did!  There was a guy putting the kava root through a meat grinder.  It looked like cement coming through the grinder, all gray and gross looking.  I'm not sure what they do with it after that.  I think they just mix it with water and drink it, soon making them numb and high.  It's a nasty habit there in the islands. 

Floret had to get home, so we said good bye one last time.  She is such a character, I will never forget her.  After the three audits, we went back to the bungalow for the evening.  I'm so glad they have mosquito netting over and around the bed, not only for mosquitos, but for the gecko poop that drops from the roof!  So funny!    We also killed about three cockroaches before going to bed.  Yuck!  I must say,  island life is quite interesting.  Those things don't bother me like they used to.  When we woke up the next morning, a banana that was on the counter, was partially eaten.  We're pretty sure it was a rat because we found rat traps, unfortunately they weren't set. 

Two more audits were done that day, before lunch came.  They all planned to go to lunch again that afternoon at the same little restaurant, but we decided to pass on the rice, so we walked into their little town to look around.  There was this old building with a sign on it that said "nuts and oils."  There were trays of nuts drying in the sun.  We walked over to see what it was all about. There was a man from England there, that owned the business processing the oil from the nangai nut, which grows wild out in the bush.  The oil is used in cosmetics as a carrier (Estee Lauder company buys from him).  Back in the day, it was used to relieve arthritis and also as an antibiotic. It's used as a carrier in cosmetics these days.  He says it's starting to come back into use.  He gave me a good size bottle of it,  it's nice, not greasey.    I just mix a little with my moisturizer.  I'll be "glad tomus" to have it when I get home, and my face dries up!  He produces quite a bit, it was so interesting to learn about.  He pays the mamas and pikininis 395 vatu per kilo (2.3 lbs) for them, about $3.95 American.  The nuts are all over in their villages and out in the bush.  It's nice that the people have a way to get a little money.    When we finished visiting with him, we went back to the audits.   There was only one audit left, so it was done the next morning before we left to go back to Port Vila.  That morning we said good bye to President Vanu.  He speaks so fast, and it's hard to understand him sometimes, but it was a sweet farewell.  Like I say, we've become attached to these dear people. 

I have this little video on my phone that I took the winter before we came here that shows it snowing, with dogs playing in it, and my neighbor showeling it.  I show it to the people that have never seen snow before, and it's hard for them to comprehend.  I showed it to President Vanu, he was so amazed.  He asked me to email it to him.  I told him about our blog, and he wanted to be read it, so I got him all set up.  He is very curious and loves to learn about things.  We will never forget the sweet people on these islands.  We lovem tomus!  

We called Air Vanuatu to see if our flight was on time, of course it wasn't.  It was suppose to leave Malekula at 1:30, they moved it to 2:30.  We got to the airport at 1:00, the plane showed up and we left at 1:45.  Oh boy!  On the way back, we landed on another little island to pick a few more passengers up.  It's fun to land on grass runways!  We soon made it back to Port Vila.  It was nice to be back home in our little apartment.  We hope all is well at home, it won't belong before we're home again.  We lovem yu tomas!  Greg and Ann XO