New Friends

In this first pic, Chris,a very nice young man innocently handed over the phone number to the resort he was headed to while we chatted at the airport.  Little did any of us know that we would end up being roommates!  We really enjoyed getting to know him and hearing about his diving adventures.  He had a knack for getting to know folks and always came back with  a new story on the interesting character he'd spent the afternoon chatting with.   Thanks for taking us in!  Remember, be careful who you talk to in the airport!


Pic number 2 is from left to right, Madison, Sadie, Julie and Jordan.  Julie is with the Peace Corp.  These are some of the family she was hosting during her break/vacation.  Her job as the only Peace Corp worker on her island is daunting but you can tell by her countenance that the sacrifice and challenge of it has it's reward.  It was great to get to know these guys a little bit.  Hope your travels continued safely and well.  Our best to Madison and Jordan in their studies and to Sadie and Grace (not shown) with those tough adolescent years!  

Number 3  is Maurine.  We got her as a birthday present for both boys!  They seemed very pleased and vied constantly for her attention.  She is a French foreign exchange student with a feisty personality that won these boys' hearts from the first time she warned them during the night games, "You scare.  I FIGHT!"  You can tell she comes from having two brothers!

Thank you Maurine for making the Vanuatu trip one they'll remember forever.  Or at least they'll remember YOU forever!  We hope you enjoy you last few weeks in Australia and that somewhere down the line we'll see you again.  

In the 5th pic you'll find the lady that forged the friendships in the very begining with all her raucous rounds of cards.  Elizabeth broke the ice for Maurine and the boys and then integrated everybody into the huge Scouting activity she had part in planning over the last 18 months.  Our guys felt part of the gang and made so many friends.  It was a spectacular time for them.  I am still not sure how she and the other scout leaders (she's pictured with key leader of the Vanuatu scouts, Calva (sp?) kept up the pace of it all.  There were activities daily including many of the local scouts.  They even built a flying fox!  My favorite memory will be the one of the scouts silhouetted against a huge bonfire next to the ocean at the Lonnoc bungalows and listening to them singing in the night.

This last photo looks all sweetsie but what the pic doesn't show is that moments before she purposely whacked him right on his sunburned back.  He's protecting himself and getting ready for the next attack!  Don't get me wrong.  Inspite of the pain he 's loving EVERY minute of it!  Hee, hee