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Cruising on Destiny: Port Vila

Posted 3 months, 14 days ago

Cruising on Destiny: Port Vila
Well, I did say we'd leave Sunday weather permitting - it didn't! But that was OK, since we had a bit longer with all our new friends at Port Resolution - those on yachts and those ashore. Sunday, we were told, was Church day. 09:00, we were told - and like good Western stressballs we were there at precisely 09:00. But nobody else was. We asked a woman what time church started - she said "Oh, 9 o'clock....or something...." A bell rang and we thought this would get things rollling - but no, it was just a warning bell to get everyone out and in their best ragged clothes for church. At 09:30, another bell - at last..... but no, that just got them all out of their huts chatting to each other and comparing babies. About 10:15 things got underway with a dozen or two hymns sung in Bislama - the local pidgin-type language. Then one of the elders of the church said a few words and read from the Gospel. He kindly translated it for us as he went; then he asked me to tell the group a "story": this was a tough request but I told them all about Sydney and our lives, about TVs, DVDs, three car families and refrigeration in every house, and every house not blowing down in a strong wind. There was a general wide-eyed envious or maybe disbelieving look from the teenagers and kids. But I told them that, on the whole, they seemed happier than most kids their age in Australia. This filled David the elder with righteous pride and he sternly told them later in Bislama that this is why they don't have beer, movies and the like in their village. Full Story »

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