Four weeks in!!!

Wow!!!! I cannot believe I have been gone for four weeks. It has been a great and emotional four weeks. We have done so much yet there is still so much more to learn. As of now, I have two host families. One family is in Lelapa where I spent week 2 and 3. I have a host mama and papa and 1 sister Rebecca and 2 brothers Mikey and Simon. There I learned how to make laplap and simboro. I also took my very first bucket shower. We also started our language classes. Bislama is so close to English that it is very confusing. I still have a lot to learn. My favorite day in Lelapa was when most of us volunteers went on the Lelapa boat tour. It was just beautiful. We got to snorkel a little (which I suck at). Then we went into a cave where we saw bats. It was also the cave where some of survivor was. Then we went to a spot where they shot survivor. It was neat. Then our last stop was on a gorgeous beach. We were there for about half an hour. It was amazing to just relax and enjoy this beautiful place. Finally as we were on our way back we saw a double rainbow on the water. It was the prettiest rainbows I have ever seen. One of them we could see completely. Both ends were on the water. I think someone took a picture but the picture does not do it justice. It was the best day so far.

My next host family is my host family for two years. I have a mama and a papa. All of their children are grown so I have not met them yet. My house is great. I have a running toilet and shower. My mama is a chef so I don't think I will loose any weight. My papa is a retired educator. He does a lot in the village and in Vila. They also have a house in Vila which I will see Saturday. So I am excited. Plus there is a lot of room for guests. They said I can have anyone stay here. (Any takers????) Both of my parents are involved with church. We have a morning devotion and an evening devotion. It has been truly amazing to see and be apart of their devotion this week. They want me to do devotion whenever I want. Their devotion has been a blessing to me. It just reminds me that God knows what I need when I need it.

I spent a week at my school. My school has classes (grades) 1-8. Class 1 is all in Bislama. So I will go there for help. All the other classes are in English. Classes 7-8 also have a French teacher. I worked with class 2. I helped the students write a letter. I was in heaven. Everytime they did something right, I gave them a high five and thought it was the funniest thing. They are all so stinkin cute and are afraid of me. The school should be getting their computer lab in the next couple of weeks and they want me to run the computer lab. (Help us all!!) All of the members in the village are excited to learn too so I will be able to help both children and adults. I cannot wait to get started at my school but it will be another 6 weeks before I can.

After a much needed break in Vila, I will go to my last host family for three more weeks of training. I will still be on my Island Nguna but I will be on top of the mountain.

Thank you for the prayers. Please keep them coming!!! I need them more than ever. It is way harder than I ever expected it to be.