Thursday 19th April:
Thanks to some frequent flyers points I was able to save on my trip, unfortunately it meant leaving a day earlier than the rest of team. However, given that most of them were leaving very early Friday morning, I was happy to be leaving at 11 am. Thanks to my parents, John and David for seeing me off. I surprised myself by not balling my eyes out at leaving John and David behind. God has a sense of humour and placed me next to a woman who got bad travel sickness, so between her and myself (pregnant, sick and fearful of flights), we made an interesting travel pair.
The Kaiviti Hotel was a good adjustment prior to heading to Tanna. Not flash, but with a working toilet, kitchenette and fan it was a step down in comfort, but not to the extreme we were about to experience in Tanna. The pool was fantastic! Oh...and the cockroaches were something that I haven't missed since living in Hong Kong, but at least here in Port Vila they weren't coming up out of the toilet you were about to sit on.
Friday 20th April:
The majority of the team arrived today in the late afternoon. I spent the day getting to know the general area, trying to find some shopping bargains. Most of the shops were a short walk down hill from the hotel and sell the usual tourist things, coconut soap, colourful bags, sarongs and loud shirts. After a hot and humid two hours trekking around it was good to have a swim back at the hotel and a siesta before the others arrived.
That night we headed next door to the Melanesian Hotel for tea and were treated to some traditional dancing. Three more team members arrived at about 11:30 that night leaving just our Pastor to arrive on Sunday night after conducting a wedding on the Saturday.
Saturday 21st April:
The team was free in the morning to change money and have a look around, then we all got in a bus and headed to the Cascade waterfalls. It was a little daunting walking through rushing water and slippery mud but thankfully no one got hurt and the waterfall at the end was just stunning. Some of us were adventurous enough to have a swim and enjoy a pounding massage from the waterfall.
Sunday 22nd April:
After a "short" (thanks Val :-) half hour walk the team enjoyed worshipping at the Sarabetu Church in the morning. The worship was uplifting and we enjoyed a great message from our team member Brian "Brain" Hill. And just when you think the 3 hour service is finished.....there's 15 minutes of announcements at the end! Wish I had that inflatable cushion to help with the backless wooden benches.
After another swim in the arvo it was up Hollywood Boulevard (just kidding) to the Beverley Hills Church (not kidding). It took awhile for the kids to warm to us, but after a very funny drama by five of our team members, they were quite happy to interact with us despite the language barrier. The Beverley Hills Church is a daughter Church of Sarabetu and are currently in a temporary open aired structure. They hope to build later.
After a very bumpy ride we made our way to the Sarabulu Church for the evening service. We were escorted past the plastic rounded chairs and lead to the wooden benches at the front. Another 3 hour?? service with an enjoyable time of worship followed by a message from our elder Mark and then another message from a local lady in the Church. And to think some people in Australia complain when a sermon goes for more than 30 minutes! The Ni Vanuatu Churches have a really great way of greeting new people at the end of the service and so we all lined up at the door to shake every ones hand as they left. A long day (especially for our backs and bums!) but always a delight to worship with believers and amazed at the unity despite cultural and language barriers.
