VANUATU
We recently had the opportunity to return to Vanuatu for a conference for Senior Couples. We had dinner at the Mission Home when we first arrived on our mission and there were 7 other senior missionaries there. This conference there were 18 others. We serve in New Caledonia, two couples came from the Solomon Islands, and the rest serve in the Islands of Vanuatu. Three other couples stayed at the same hotel. We were able to have some fun and productive visits over breakfast. We never get to see other full-time senior couples.
The conference was at the Mission Home all day Monday and ended with dinner for 22 at a restaurant on the beach. During the conference each couple and the two single missionaries made a presentation about what their particular mission entails. Two couples (one German--a pediatrician and a school teacher) are rebuilding houses that were destroyed in the cyclone over a year ago. One couple runs the PATH program to improve further education for Ni-van (born in Vanuatu) youth. Two couples are in the Solomon Islands--one is almost finished and the other just starting. They have known each other for forty years and ended up in the same mission and on the same island totally by chance (inspiration). They will enjoy serving together for a short while. One couple is on another island in Vanuatu. One couple spends a period of time on various islands conducting audits for the church. The others work in the office in Port Vila, Vanuatu. A single woman is the mission nurse and works with housing. A single full-time senior elder (he thinks he is the only modern-day, older, single elder to serve a foreign mission in the whole church) from Australia is in charge of all the cars in the mission and also works with housing. The office couple has financial and visa responsibilities and she teaches some piano lessons to Ni-vans. These missionaries are an adventurous, fascinating, inspirational bunch with a wide variety of experiences and responsibilities. We definitely have the best living conditions because the rest of the mission is third world--especially the Solomon and outer Vanuatu Islands.
We are able to have a "cultural" activity at a conference. Tuesday morning we went on a gorgeous hike with the some of the other couples to a waterfall and swam in a beautiful blue, blue pool at its base. If we held still for very long hundreds of tiny (1-2 inch) fish would nibble on our legs. After the hike we had lunch at a restaurant on the beach.
In the afternoon we got the supplies we needed from the mission office and chocolate from the grocery store. It is expensive, but cheaper than in New Caledonia. We had dinner with three other couples. Elder Glade spoke French to the waitress. (The common language in Vanuatu is Bislama, a pidgin English. Most people also speak either English or French.) She was excited to talk to him in French. In a few minutes she came back to ask about the church. He got her contact information and explained where the closest ward was to where she lived. She knew where the chapel was and wanted to go. Another waiter stood near the table listening and seemed interested as well. I hope sometime we hear what happens with her.
Being with other couples; sharing experiences, challenges, and solutions; was fun, helpful, and inspiring.
ISLE DES PINS
Scott and Meridith came to visit us for a week. We flew to the Isle of Pines and stayed overnight and also visited many places we have been wanting to visit here around Noumea. We had some fun meals out and also that we fixed at home--so many fun things to try. Scott, a sausage lover, ordered andouillette de Troy and got more than he bargained for--pig intestines filled with more (coarsely chopped) pig intestines and it tasted like------intestines. Later reading about them online indicated that many French people love them. Andouille, in France, is a large andouillette; but safe to eat and delicious in Louisiana.
Natural Swimming Pool--amazing snorkeling in the crystal clear water
Our imitation
Lunch on a small deserted island
Chief Ouamambara of the Isle des Pins--a catholic whose convert daughter is now serving an LDS mission
We recently had the opportunity to return to Vanuatu for a conference for Senior Couples. We had dinner at the Mission Home when we first arrived on our mission and there were 7 other senior missionaries there. This conference there were 18 others. We serve in New Caledonia, two couples came from the Solomon Islands, and the rest serve in the Islands of Vanuatu. Three other couples stayed at the same hotel. We were able to have some fun and productive visits over breakfast. We never get to see other full-time senior couples.
The conference was at the Mission Home all day Monday and ended with dinner for 22 at a restaurant on the beach. During the conference each couple and the two single missionaries made a presentation about what their particular mission entails. Two couples (one German--a pediatrician and a school teacher) are rebuilding houses that were destroyed in the cyclone over a year ago. One couple runs the PATH program to improve further education for Ni-van (born in Vanuatu) youth. Two couples are in the Solomon Islands--one is almost finished and the other just starting. They have known each other for forty years and ended up in the same mission and on the same island totally by chance (inspiration). They will enjoy serving together for a short while. One couple is on another island in Vanuatu. One couple spends a period of time on various islands conducting audits for the church. The others work in the office in Port Vila, Vanuatu. A single woman is the mission nurse and works with housing. A single full-time senior elder (he thinks he is the only modern-day, older, single elder to serve a foreign mission in the whole church) from Australia is in charge of all the cars in the mission and also works with housing. The office couple has financial and visa responsibilities and she teaches some piano lessons to Ni-vans. These missionaries are an adventurous, fascinating, inspirational bunch with a wide variety of experiences and responsibilities. We definitely have the best living conditions because the rest of the mission is third world--especially the Solomon and outer Vanuatu Islands.
We are able to have a "cultural" activity at a conference. Tuesday morning we went on a gorgeous hike with the some of the other couples to a waterfall and swam in a beautiful blue, blue pool at its base. If we held still for very long hundreds of tiny (1-2 inch) fish would nibble on our legs. After the hike we had lunch at a restaurant on the beach.
In the afternoon we got the supplies we needed from the mission office and chocolate from the grocery store. It is expensive, but cheaper than in New Caledonia. We had dinner with three other couples. Elder Glade spoke French to the waitress. (The common language in Vanuatu is Bislama, a pidgin English. Most people also speak either English or French.) She was excited to talk to him in French. In a few minutes she came back to ask about the church. He got her contact information and explained where the closest ward was to where she lived. She knew where the chapel was and wanted to go. Another waiter stood near the table listening and seemed interested as well. I hope sometime we hear what happens with her.
Being with other couples; sharing experiences, challenges, and solutions; was fun, helpful, and inspiring.
ISLE DES PINS
Scott and Meridith came to visit us for a week. We flew to the Isle of Pines and stayed overnight and also visited many places we have been wanting to visit here around Noumea. We had some fun meals out and also that we fixed at home--so many fun things to try. Scott, a sausage lover, ordered andouillette de Troy and got more than he bargained for--pig intestines filled with more (coarsely chopped) pig intestines and it tasted like------intestines. Later reading about them online indicated that many French people love them. Andouille, in France, is a large andouillette; but safe to eat and delicious in Louisiana.
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| Queen Hortense's Grotto |
Natural Swimming Pool--amazing snorkeling in the crystal clear water
Our inspiration
Our imitation
Lunch on a small deserted island
Sunset and pines
Chief Ouamambara of the Isle des Pins--a catholic whose convert daughter is now serving an LDS mission
Chief Ouamambara's white sand beach
