Unexpected blessings [8.9.11]

[Originally intended to be uploaded on 8.9.11]

Isn’t it great when God does something in your life that makes it better?  We’ve experienced two such “somethings” in regard to our work in Malekula, and wanted to share them with you in an effort to encourage you to think about all the little ways God works in your own life.

Our first story actually starts with another unexpected blessing: up until the last year or so, the internet has not been available outside of the two main cities in Vanuatu - Port Vila and Luganville.  Would you believe that Telecom Vanuatu decided to place the country’s first two outer island internet cafes in Malekula and Tanna (where are co-workers, the Baker family, are now living and working)?  One day during our first trip to Malekula as “island residents,” I went to the internet cafe in Lakatoro (about an hour’s drive from our village) with Titus and met a man named Howard.  [There’s a running joke that if you want to meet a westerner that’s in Malekula, chances are you’ll run into him in the internet cafe.]  We exchanged the normal pleasantries, and then Howard invited us to lunch at his house.  We certainly didn’t have anything better to do, so I accepted his offer.  We set up to meet at his house at 12:00 (even though I had never met or even seen him before, I already knew which house was his - Lakatoro’s a small place!). 

Howard’s wife, Jacqui, fixed us a lunch of beef sandwiches and grapefruit.  It was nice to have some “western conversation” - not to mention it being in English!  I learned that they were from New Zealand, and are in Malekula as volunteers with a group similar to the US Peace Corps.  Howard is on a two year contract with the Malampa Province Tourism Office - trying to promote Malekula and its fellow Malampa islands as tourist destinations.  Jacqui is fluent in New Zealand sign language and has a real heart for the deaf.  As you’ve probably already guessed, they are an extremely hospitable couple.  In fact, they told us that we were welcome to make ourselves at home any time we needed their place - including showers, beds, etc.

The next time our entire family went to town, Shawnda met Jacqui at the market (again, they had never seen each other, but “recognized” each other nonetheless).  In fact, Shawnda even had to borrow 20vatu (20 cents) from Jacqui so Lexi could use the public toilet - talk about fast friends.  Though we didn’t know if they’d be able to handle all four Brandells at once (we’re a pretty boisterous crew!), we went ahead and took them up on their offer to come and “hang out” at their house until the transport was ready to return to the village... and have been once a week since we’ve been in Malekula.

This all may not sound like a big deal to you, but to us it is HUGE!  You see, weekly “town day” means that we wake up at 5:30am, get everything together and walk out to the road to catch a truck.  There are usually about 3-4 trucks that go to town each day from our area.  We ride in the back of the truck, holding on for dear life, along with 20 of our closet friends :o).  We arrive in town by 7am or so.  All said, we have only about an hour’s worth of things we need to do in town (internet and groceries).  Problem is, the trucks only make one round trip per day, and they usually head back to the village at 3pm at the earliest (sometimes as late as 5:30).  That means we have to find something to do for 6 to 8 hours.  Before using Howard and Jacqui’s, we would just hang around the market (sitting on the cement floor, with everyone staring at the white people).  Obviously, this quickly got very boring for Titus and Lexi, and thus no-fun for mom and dad.  Thus, being able to be at the house gives us the opportunity to enjoy great company, a toilet and shower, and even a bed for Lexi to get her afternoon nap in.  What a difference these simple pleasures make!  We now feel that our town visits are more enjoyable and less stressful.  We are glad that we’ve been able to return the favor by hosting Howard and Jacqui in Vila a few times.

Second, we are blessed to have come into contact with Brad and Amber (and their three beautiful daughters).  We actually first got to know them when they sought adoption advice from Shawnda and me a few years back.  They are in the country as Bible translators, and subsequently found themselves in Malekula.  As part of their plan, they are spending a year in the United States, and were kind enough to allow us to “babysit” their gas-refrigerator.  And let me just tell you... what a difference refrigeration makes!  We’ve only had it for a week now, but we’ve already fallen in love.  We can now have fresh meat a majority of the time, instead tinned meat (e.g. “SPAM” and corned beef).  What’s more, fresh meat is actually cheaper than the processed stuff.  We also appreciate being able to save leftovers instead of having to throw them out for the dogs.  And I won’t lie - a cold Coke every few days certainly doesn’t hurt my feelings!

And so, as you can see, our lives are getting easier in the village.  And believe it or not, those conveniences actually make us that more effective as missionaries - sort of like a lumberjack sharpening his axe.  Thanks to Howard & Jacqui and Brad & Amber!

Howard, Jacqui, Eric, Shawnda, Nancy, Mike (Shawnda's parents) enjoy dinner together in Vila

Us with the Jones clan - Brad, Amber, Zoe, Piper & Lola