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| Some teammates on the boat |
First of all, if you think Clove Island is remote you are right, but little Vanilla Island is truly about as remote as one might go. Inhabited by only about 30,000, the island seems nearly deserted. So different from our own island with its 350,000 people where town spills into town. You notice the difference when you travel. Flying over Clove island, you notice village after village. Flying into Vanilla Island we saw only the village where the airport was located. On Clove Island, driving in a taxi, the spaces between towns are short or even non-existent. In Vanilla Island you drive through jungle for long stretches of time before passing through a village consisting of a handful of mud huts. (Our son complained on the ride, “Where are all the houses??”) We also took a boat trip from nearly one end of the island t the other and saw only one town in between our starting point and our destination! However, being remote has it’s perks. The people are friendly, the island is mostly clean and much of it looks untouched. Marine and land wildlife still abounds and the snorkeling is wonderful.
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| Tom on a boat |
Did I mention that we went snorkeling? There is something truly amazing in experiencing the underwater world of a coral reef. It is an amazing world of light and color and yet hidden under the ocean waters.
Vanilla Island is also known for its turtles. We arrived just in time one day to see about 30 tiny sea turtles emerge from their nest and make their frenetic dash for the sea. We stood over them and protected them from the crows as they left their little tracks in the sand and found safety and rest in the crashing waves.
In this far off place we had a chance to relax and reflect as a team and just enjoy one another. We also had the chance to enjoy our colleagues who work there on Vanilla Island. On Monday morning we went for a walk around the village where one of our colleagues live, talking with their friends and neighbors. It was clear that our colleagues are well loved and accepted into the community. The people we met were very friendly and kind, and we realize that the sorts of hopes and dreams we have for Clove Island mirror the hopes and dreams of our friends on Vanilla island and beyond. So many people who long for a better life, who are looking for so much more, a hope that will not disappoint. There are many places in the world like this, and what a privilege it is to be in one of these places. I love Clove Island and feel blessed to serve there, and I am thankful for my friends who love Vanilla Island and are blessed to serve there. So many in need. So many without a real sense of hope. We have been called to serve them and it is a blessing.
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| Back home celebrating Tom's birthday |
We are very thankful that we got to have our retreat (at the last minute it looked like our flight there might be cancelled, so we were very thankful when we all arrived). Tom celebrated his 37th birthday! We are very thankful for him and the ways he is being used to bless others as a father, husband, team leader, friend, neighbor and teacher here on the islands! The survey trip last week went well and will be followed by another. Continue to pray!
PRAYERS REQUESTED
We’ve been having some big talks on the islands about strategy and what the next 5 years of work on all the islands could look like. We are very excited to say that there is wonderful cooperation between organizations and we are looking to coordinate for best efficacy. These talks come just as our team was hoping to figure out the next 5 years on Clove Island. Now we’re realizing that this is a much bigger conversation. Pray for us as we try to find our way forward as a team while at the same time we participate in this bigger conversation. Pray for great unity of purpose and vision.
