Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
What a Weekend!!
Sat 31st July
It had drizzled all night and the day dawned overcast with occasional light rain.We were up early because Sima (our driver for the day) had arranged to pick us up at 7.00a.m. We were off to meet Matthew and his family.Matthew was in Sarah’s Chinese class for the first half of this year – that is how we came to know of them.We headed out along the East coast road which thankfully had had an upgrade since we were here last. After about ½ an hour of smooth travel we headed off into the bush.Now the road was a two wheel track.At first it wasn’t too bad but the further into the bush we went the worse the road got, the rain had made it slippery and the few 4wds that had travelled that way had chopped it up a bit.In several places, springs on the hills at the side of the road seeped across making huge boggy areas.There were many times I thought we might have to get out and push and wondered what they would think if I arrived covered in mud. Thankfully Sima’s experience driving these roads got us through without mishap and after 1 ½ hours of bouncing on a full bladder we arrived.
Adam and Hester Pike with their four children Hayden, Matthew, Alexa and Joseph have been living in Angoru for the past seven years translating the bible into the language of the bushmen.We were inspired by their commitment to the people and the task.We had a great time getting to know them and a little about their life. In turn we shared what we are doing and a little about us.Sarah had a good time with the kids.They took her around introduced her to various people and their pet kittens, puppies and horses. I think one of the highlights of the day for Sarah was swimming in the Jordain River. (It was beautiful and clean, flowing and deep) We went for a tour of the village and up-p-p-p the hill to the French school/church.The view was beautiful, it overlooked the valley, the river and the village. We met some of their friends the bushmen who live there.The contrast was unreal, here we were talking to people who wore a mal mal (men) or leaves (women) standing outside Adam and Hester’s home with a satellite dish on the roof.
While we were there one of the chiefs had an accident felling a tree and broke his leg.They called for help and we were able to splint his leg and fill him up with pain killers before sending him to hospital in Luganville. (*P.S Because it was a weekend the Doctors couldn’t set his leg and on Monday his family came and took him out of hospital to do custom medicine on him.Haven’t heard the result.)
After afternoon tea we had to drag ourselves away so Sima had a chance to get us over the worst of the road before dark.He took us to Matantas on Big Bay for a quick look just as the sun was setting.The bay was lovely and calm.We had gotten a flat tyre just before Matantas and were lucky enough to have a few local blokes to help change it and hold torches etc because by then it was dark. As soon as we got back on the road Sarah fell asleep. We arrived home at 8.30p.m. Exhausted but happy.
Sunday we went to church.It was a pretty big day there too. The Pastor had been honoured in the Independence Day celebrations and received a medal for ‘services to the community’ for the past 30 years.The politicians from Vila, the Mayoress of Santo and heads of various departments were all there.An American missionary who has been in Vanuatu for eight years preached in Bislama (We actually understood everything he said, our Bislama must be improving) then there was a pretty big lunch put on for all the important people. Its amazing, because we are white we got to go along too, to meet everyone.
- comments