Wednesday, March 18

Last night's trip went so smoothly, thanks for all of the prayers offered up on our behalf!  My friends Kiko and Grace Delight sat visiting with me for almost an hour waiting for the ship to come.  They were both bundled up in long sleeves and wrapped in lavalavas, and when they walked up, Kiko asked me, "Aren't you cold?"  I laughed as I told her that it was the first time all day that I hadn't been hot!  The shipped chugged around the corner of our island just before midnight, and friends helped us load up the two motor canoes to take us out to the Kosco.  The phosphorescence in the water was beautiful!  We soon found places for our things and wedged ourselves into empty spaces to try and get some rest.  By 8:00 this morning, we were up at SITAG!

 

 

Yesterday, the men of Marulaon began working on the covered porch for the church.  This is a project for which they've been raising money for a very long time. 

 



My amazing friend, Gayly, has been raising money to buy books for Fly Harbour Primary School, and our friend Leonard has made a bookshelf to hold some of those books.  He's a great carpenter, and we're excited about being able to support him and his family through buying a sturdy, beautiful bookshelf.

 

 

Sweet Eta decided that we needed to take back a big back of sweet Marulaon oranges to share with our SITAG family. 

 



So Benjamin climbed way up in their tree (all fruit and nut trees are owned and passed down as an inheritance)

 

 

and wielded a bamboo pole to knock the oranges down to the girls waiting below.  I think he may have scared some of his aunties who were watching him swing around on the branches, but he did a great job and made wise choices.



Watching them was almost like participating in a video game.  Can you see the orange that is about to fall into Olivia's hands?

 



Extra points for not letting it hit the ground!

 



Catching oranges was such a fun way to spend an hour or two with friends, especially since we don't know when we will see them next.