Back in Honiara!

Just letting everbody know that we are safely back in Honiara.  I'll catch up on posts soon!  Thanks for all of your prayers.

Monday & Tuesday

Monday, September 5
This morning, Grace Delight (isn't that a great name!?!) knocked on our door to ask if we could help get a bobbin out of a sewing machine.  The ladies in the village were gathering the sewing machines that the SWIM team had provided and making sure they knew how to use them.  One of the machines was an electric one that had been converted to a hand crank.  It had a zig-zag stitch on it, which the ladies were very excited about.  However, the user's manual that came with it matched the other hand cranked machines, so they were having a hard time figuring out the machine.  Naomi came down with me (the village already loves her, as we knew they would!), and quickly stuck her finger underneath the bobbin and popped it out.  That began an hour or so of figuring out the machine together, laughing and enjoying some of the cinnamon rolls we brought down.  I also brought down the last of the reading glasses we brought out to Marulaon, and then I walked around and divvied up the last of our onions.  Better to share them than to leave them in the house for a month. 

This evening after church, I took some material down to the three sisters (Kiko, Daisy, and Grace Delight).  We found a good amount of material in the house, and the ladies here have to go into Honiara to buy material to make clothes.  When I went down, Kiko asked if I had any Panadol (like Tylenol) for baby Jude.  He had been really fussy all day.  When I came back down with the meds, Grace was bathing him with a special branch and hot water.  She explained that it was a custom way to massage babies and it was supposed to make them strong.  I recently brought Kiko a set of measuring cups and measuring spoons, so it was easy to show her the 1/4 tsp measuring spoon to dose Jude.  As I left, Grace (who is Jude's grandmother) told Jude to tell tutua (grandmother) Joanna good night.  Guess that means I'm officially old enough to be a grandmother now!

Tuesday, September 6
This morning, within the space of about thirty minutes, we handed out Panadol for an adult with a cut foot, liquid ibuprofen for a baby with a high fever, band-aids and soap for a child covered in weepy sores and obviously malnourished,  q-tips for a child with weepy ears, and snot/cough meds for a child with a cold.  Prayers for buying the right kind and enough meds to share and for wisdom to use them well would be appreciated.  We want to be a blessing to our neighbors, but I am certainly not trained medically.  Naomi has been helping with her knowledge and experience, but I especially love to see the compassion she has for our neighbors come pouring out as she treats them.

Saturday, September 3
Harris came over this afternoon to learn how to play Uno (in Lavukaleve of course!) and to show me how her grandmother makes lelenga. Instead of our traditional way of making lelenga with thick coconut cream (rumit) and cassava (ubikola), we added a layer of slippery cabbage, green beans, pumpkin, tomatoes, and chili peppers in the middle.

Sunday, September 4
Naomi had a rotten night last night, and we are beginning to think she has malaria.  Her fever is spiking in the evenings, and when it does, she begins to vomit.  So this morning after church, our friend, Julie, who is a nurse, went with Naomi and me to the clinic on the mainland.  Her blood showed up negative for malaria, but she is pumped full of fever meds, and, in our experience, the protozoa doesn't usually show up unless your fever is sky high.  We'll start her on malaria meds today.

Our water situation continues to be a stressor, but we are so thankful for the water still left in the tank.  We are planning to return to Honiara this week and just switch our "to-do" lists from Marulaon's list to Honiara's list.  This will give us an extra week to accomplish things before Aaron leaves for Bangokok.

The lelenga was delicious!  The neighbors with whom we shared had mixed reactions, but we thought it was a yummy way to eat more veggies.

Store Opening Pictures and Changed Plans

The Choates are adjusting their schedule a bit and leaving Marulaon early. They will be taking the Kosko to Honiara on Wednesday. Here are pictures from the grand store opening celebration last Friday, and Joanna said she will write up a post about it after they get settled back in Honiara.

This one is of our friend, Martin, from Karumolun.

This is one of my best friends, Ofain, and her sister, Amy.

I love this picture of Ezekiel and his wife, Janet.  He started waaayyy behind her, since touching in public is prohibited.  I had to request him to scoot up a couple of times!

Bananas, T, and Aaron’s Trip

Tuesday, August 30

This morning, my kids, Naomi and I paddled over to Karumolun with a couple friends to take some ubikola (cassava) for the workshop. The kids worked hard to get most of their school work done ahead of time, so as soon as the morning chores were done, we slathered on the sunscreen and headed out the door. Several of our Karumolun friends met us on the beach after our paddle. Our kids played with the kids from Karumolun, and I visited while we waited for Aaron and the translator candidates to finish their morning session.

I especially enjoyed visiting with Janet, Ezekiel's wife, and playing with some of their grandkids. It was nice to see Aaron again and to visit with the five translator candidates that attended this workshop. Thanks for your prayers for him as he trains these leaders who are fast becoming friends.

Wednesday, August 31
We have no bananas today...but soon we will!  Our first bunch of bananas, over by my kitchen, is almost ripe.  I'm depending on my friends to help me know when the bananas are ready to pick.

Thursday, September 1
Our family has been enjoying celebrating letter T this week with Katherine.  Sarah made tarts and had a tea party with Katherine.  They both thoroughly enjoyed it.

Aaron returned home this afternoon from teaching a Translation Principles workshop in Karumolun.  We are so thankful to have him back home again.  A big thank you to everyone who has been praying for him as he taught this week!

Marulaon Daybook

For Today...Monday, August 29

Outside my window...leaves all over the ground from the huge storm we had last night, a papaya tree that just fell down a few minutes ago, bell pepper and Chinese cabbage sprouting in their pots on the porch

I am thinking...about my husband who is teaching a Translation Principles workshop in another village this week.

From the learning rooms...early Britain, Augustine, Anglo-Saxon England; light energy, light & vision; Sarah - writing a newspaper article, measuring length; Benjamin - writing a comparison/contrast essay, ratios; Olivia - writing a persuasive letter; Katherine - letter T

I am thankful for...the soaking rain we got last night!  Our tank went up four inches.  Please keep praying for a good balance of sun and rain.

From the kitchen...this morning, banana papaya smoothies and Everyone's Favorite Muffins from "Laurel's Kitchen", sloppy joes for lunch, and leftovers for supper

I am wearing...a white t-shirt and a blue cotton skirt, barefooted except when I'm carrying buckets of water from the well, then I wear flipflops to help me navigate up the slippery hill

I am reading..."Trusting in His Goodness" by Marilyn Wilson and Shelly Cook Volkhardt

I am hoping...and praying that Naomi's sinus infection finally succumbs to this round of antibiotics so she will feel better again soon.

I am hearing...music from Abbess Hildegard of Bingen, "A Feather on the Breath of God" (we're not quite to her in history yet, but I was so excited to get the CD in the mail that we're listening a little bit early), the wind blowing through the huge mango tree outside and causing the chimes to sing like crazy

Around the house...a lavender candle burning, a floor about to be mopped since we have some more water now, kids beginning schoolwork

One of my favorite things...being a part of the Marulaon community.  Yesterday, I made lots of banana cake, some to send with Aaron for the workshop and some to donate to the Mother's Union "Bring and Buy".  We had fun after church last night hanging out and buying some yummy food that the other ladies brought.

Pondering these words..."We have to learn to make the least of all that goes and the most of all that come."  --Ruth Bell Graham

A few plans for the rest of the week...planting seeds and some slippery cabbage now that we've had a little bit of rain, paddling over to Karumolun tomorrow to take some more ubikola for the workshop and to see Aaron, a big communion service on Wednesday morning as the District Priest makes his rounds through the church district, & Friday, a new store opens in Marulaon so our community will have lots of feasting and celebrating all day and we'll bring some food to share with our neighbors

Last Weekend

Friday, August 26
We have 11 inches total left in our rain tank, so Aaron and I decided that we will begin to bathe in well water.  We had already gone to washing clothes in well water and not washing sheets or any clothes that weren't standing up and walking on their own.  We've also asked our neighbors to bring lots of green coconuts to drink to market tomorrow.

 

Saturday, August 27
I think all of us but Naomi are feeling back to normal again - yay!

This morning, I went with a couple of friends and Benjamin, Olivia, and Katherine to the garden to dig up some ubikola and umalau for Aaron to take with him to Karumolun tomorrow for his workshop.  Please keep praying for rain, Karumolun also has no fresh water supply other than rain, and they will be hosting up to fifteen extra people for this workshop.  Aaron will take a couple of buckets of water with him tomorrow, too.

Sunday, August 28

Rain!!

Yesterday, Aaron was asked to preach, so he donned his albs (he looks so handsome) and preached this morning.  Usually when he preaches, we get a downpour of rain, but not this morning.  The downpour waited until the afternoon!  Aaron was able to gather everything he needed for the Translation Principles workshop and leave in between bursts of rain.  Please don't stop praying for rain, though.  Aaron will be in Karumolun until Thursday evening teaching the translator candidates.

Wednesday, August 24

Yay for tomatoes at market this morning!  They adorned a lovely pizza for lunch today.

Last Week–Sun & Mon

Sunday, August 21
Most of us are beginning to feel better now, but we are still staying close to home for the "facilities".  Aaron went to a community meeting after church which lasted for several hours, and I went down and practiced asking people things like, "Kosora lalumun, man avolorine ngongoa?" (What did you do this morning?)and "Daine, man ngovolorirem?" (Tomorrow, what are you going to do?) and recording their answers.  I'm trying to get a handle on verbs and how to use the correct tenses in everyday visiting.  Slowly but surely, my vocabulary is growing, tiny word by tiny word.

Monday, August 22
This week is set aside for the community to try and finish up the church building, so Aaron went to work on laying the ceiling in the church today. Marulaon is hoping to dedicate the church building sometime early next year.

Nobody is physically back to 100% yet, but we are seeing signs of improvement.

Our rain tank measured fourteen inches of water today. The tap is a few inches above the bottom, so we actually have less available water, but we're thankful for what still remains in the tank!

Saturday, August 20

This morning when we woke up, we found a huge bundle of flowers on the front porch!  What a delightful surprise considering that most of us feel rotten.  I found out at market that Isabella brought them early last night but found all of our lights off, so she just left them on the porch. 

We had a tiny bit of rain overnight, so the tank now sits at 15 inches.  Since all of the grownups in our family are running a fever, we are taking turns hauling buckets up the hill.

Grace came by late this morning while I was making banana cake.  She had also come by last night and found our lights off, but she had caught and cleaned some squid, havigo, to share with us.  I cut them into thin slices and sauteed them with onion and a little bit of coconut oil.  It was delicious!

Friday, August 19

This morning, my good friend Ofain came up the hill to tell me that a woman had come from another village to sell mud crabs, kafol.  So, I followed her back down the hill to find three of the HUGEST crabs I have ever seen!  Their claws were as big as Benjamin's hand!  I bought two and we enjoyed trying to dump them from the flour sack into the pot of water.

Later, Ofain's husband, David, came up and asked if we had any fish hooks and if he could borrow Aaron's canoe.  Sure enough, later in the day, he came back with two beautiful fish for our family.

When we arrived in Marulaon earlier this week, we were surprised to find our big rain tank more empty than full.  With not enough rain, we have begun to haul buckets of water from the wells around us to wash clothes and flush the toilet.  Aaron measured the rain tank yesterday, and it measured 18 inches of water.  Today it measured 16 inches.

Now several of us are feeling rather yucky with fever, more of the belly run, and some aches and pains.  I think we will all crash early tonight.

Thursday, August 18

The kids started back to school today, and I began my language learning sessions as well.  Naomi still hasn't totally recovered from her ear infection during SITAG's conference, and Aaron has picked up some village bug commonly known as "belly run", so we're moving a little slowly around here.

We were happy to catch the end of havu season.  It's our favorite nut in the Solomon Islands, but it is only available in June, July, and August in the Russells.  We hear the click, click of the nut being banged in between two stones, and we recognize that somebody is "havu atane" (banging havu).  Katherine recognizes the sound, too, and this afternoon she begged to go down and shell the nuts with Auntie Naris.

Wednesday, August 17

This morning, I bought several green coconuts at market.  We enjoy both the liquid and the meat, but today we enjoyed a couple of recipes from Naomi's mom using both!

Simple Coconut Custard
4 young coconut meats
1/2-3/4 cup green coconut water
1/2 vanilla bean or 1 tsp. vanilla extract
Blend until creamy.
2 Tbsp. pure maple syrup or to taste
Coconut Fruit Custard
4 young coconut meats
1/2 cup dates
1 cup fresh fruit (bananas, mangoes, berries, etc.)
maple syrup to taste (we don't use any)
Place fruit in blender first to create liquid.  Add the rest of ingredients and blend until creamy.