2 August 2006 - Vanuatu

It's nice to see 4 digit number plates on cars and 5 digit phone numbers--no area codes! When I saw an Australian 10 digit phone number, it looked sophisticated! Buses (typically minibuses or vans) have a B at the start of the number plate. You just wave a bus down and say where you want to go.

If there are other people already on the bus, you wait until they are all dropped off, and then the driver takes you to where you requested. Pretty much 100 vt to anywhere in Vila including the airport. Tasix have T at the start of the number plate and cost 1000 or 1500 vt to get to the centre of Vila from the airport, the main difference from a bus, being that you don't drop other people off first.

The city of Pt Vila is not that large. Buildings would be no more than 3 or 4 stories high. The CBD has 2 two-lane one-way streets for a km or so, and then a two lane highway going through the rest of the city.

Near the SDA mission in Number 2 (Number 2 is the name of the suburb), there is a "bon marche" supermarket. Very much like coles in Australia, but higher price (even using exchange rate), and relaxed speed. At the checkout, its "bleep" rather than "blip". Heinz, Sanitarium and major faminiliar western brands are there. Eg. 6 fruity lunch bars are about 450 vt (AU$6). Petrol is about 155vt per litre, with deisel a few cents cheaper than super. Shell and BP are present. The metric system is used, as opposed to miles, inches etc.

I'm looking forward to the sun coming out. Been mostly overcast, cloud with showers, every now and again.

I thank God He has been with us. All things have worked out. Missed appointments. Good accommodation, food and people. Internet used too. No infections or sickness. It's been quite pleasant.

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It's 9am, 2 Aug, and we've just finished breakfast. Remember how my expectations were different from what it was really like here on the first day? Well, this morning when I looked outside, what I saw was what I was expecting. It's very green, grass, palm trees etc. Cloudy still, today. Took a few photos. We're staying at the SDA mission in Sarakata which is a "suburb" of Luganville.

We're staying with Stephanie and Seaghdha in the transit room on the mission. It's like a camping cabin type setup. Has kitchen, bathroom, beds, dining table etc. Normal Australian 240 volts power. Have been told that this type of living is only done by the "well off" people in Luganville. Most people have Haven't had much of a chance to meet the people, but Stephanie and Seaghdha are quite hostpitable. They are volunteers for the Pacific Yacht Ministiry. I'm using their laptop to type this journal!

We get a taxi for 500 vatu from here to the airport at 10am. It's 9am and have Internet and banking to do. Yesterday's flight was about 1 hour, and my first time in a small plane (except for a little flight over 10 years ago). The we flew over Malakula and other islands. It's a lot noiser than larger plans, and more wabbly, but the landing was actually smoother than the Boeing 737-800.

We'll be arriving in Gaua in less than 4 hours! Can't wait to see it there and meet Dr Mark and his family. That's where we do the work. Slowly getting accustomed to things here. Till I write again (via solar powered laptop and satellite internet), hope all goes well for us here and for you who are reading.

I read a chapter from "Keys to Happiness" this morning. The first chapter on "God's Love for Man". God is not far distant or stern like sometimes is thought, but close and caring, and has an interest in each person. It's a privilege to know a God like that, and an honour to serve Him in the work we are doing.