Remember When: Vanuatu
As winter is coming to a close and the sun fills the air with seasonal nostalgia my minds been on a constant loop of fun memories from my 2015 Re-Build Tanna Mission Trip. At school 2016's year 11 students are buzzing around in busy preparation for their mission trip as they sing the same songs that we taught and danced to with the Ni Van's and it's just making my heart fill up with warmth. I can't wait to here their stories and learn how the villagers have been for the past year and I couldn't think of a better way to get excited for spring then to share with you all MORE Vanuatu memories!
This has to be the smallest plane I will ever fly on. 18 paper thin seats, a rattling door that you didn't seal properly, a lot of sunburnt faces and of corse three of my class mates wigging out because they have a fear of flying in anything let alone this baby... It was an experience and a half my favourite part being that you could see everything going on in the front of the plane because there was only an open curtain separating us wild high school students from the pilots.
In case you were worried about the fact that we travelled around on mostly uneven dirt roads in the back of the ute's (trucks) then be at rest in knowing we also sat out the windows. And yes, there were a few close calls where people became air born and everyone grabbed hold of them and pulled them back in before they went splat on the road. BUT IT WAS FUN AND THAT IS ALL THAT MATTERED!
Here Fliss and I decided to try and get comfortable whilst we waited for our delayed flight out.
The camera does not even remotely give this memory justice. When you stand at the top of a volcano at night you will understand. It's an experience that you can't explain.
I'm not sure what he was doing but the kids at this beach front school loved him for it.
I now wan't a tree house!
Every where we went we we're greeted with garlands. This custom was so sweet and filled with love honestly it's a type of love I wish we had here in Australia and other 1st world countries. I think this trip thought us all a little bit on how to appreciate the little things that make up what's important.
We changed resorts and there wasn't enough room for our luggage and the girls so the boys dumped us at this beach while they loaded the ute's and took our stuff to sunset resort.
The boys loved the baseball caps we would give away after we did our skits and other performances.
After spending 10 days with our year group it's not surprising that Mr Williams turned into a teenager again he loved the pastors bike and loved rubbing the fact that he was the only one aloud to ride it in the boys faces even more...
Amongst Isabel nearly dying from some virus and one of our ute's nearly rolling over on the side of the volcano (with me hanging out the window- I thought I was going to dye then and there) Isaac got swept of a rock platform by a freak wave. The rocks worked as a cheese grater him being the cheese. This is a day or so after a trip to the hospital and a few injections.
Yeah... There are countless photos of everyone just being silly. Along with A lot more model shots haha.
And no we didn't only pretend we were Gigi Hadid or dance around like nothing mattered but we also bonded over cards. I learnt how to play card games and remembered for ten days but now you'd have to teach me all over again. If your sitting there going-- "Seriously cards? Where were your phones?" We didn't bring them which yes was scary at first but in the long run it was the best thing for us.
And this is where the ute wanted to do summersaults! Now walking on a volcano looks easy but no one tells you it's like trying to climb up quick sand.
Oh and if you were curious as to where you would go to the toilet on top of a volcano: Well this is it.. Do notice there are no doors.
Even though there was a language barrier we were all able to strip back to basics and we discovered a sought of connection through simplicity. We did learn a little Bislama and most kids knew a little French and/or English and we found that actions spoke louder than words.
Considering the work we were doing it seemed strange to always have to be in a skirt but it was what was culturally excepted and hey I didn't really mind it too much at all. I kinda liked it to be honest.
Overall this trip changed our lives just as much as we impacted theirs. We all learnt new things and developed new ideas and opinions all whilst we deepened our connection with God. If you are even thinking about going on mission, do it! It will change your life for the better all whilst serving others.
Love you all xoxo, Betharina.
