Thursday, March 9, 2017

Closing Ceremony Shelter Project- feeding 300 -Vanuatu style

The Shelter Project finished with 336 homes built or repaired in Vanuatu. Elder and Sister Leben started the project and did all of the hard work getting it all up and running. We got to build houses and get to know and love the people.

Let the shopping begin, we headed in to town to buy meat, groceries and go to the out door market for veggies.

All done!

Gattleyano, one of my favorite Nevans, a bag of jelly beans and he was happy.

The community cooked and prepared food for HOURS! The men were on meat detail.

This is how they cook everyday, but nor for 300. They started cooking the rice in the morning.

the women cut and peeled veggies

Then we decorated our rented tent, flowers, flowers and more flowers. We purchased some but they just took their bush knives and went through the neighborhood gathering.

People around the neighborhood had prepared different things so then they went and gathered it all


Fresh Lemonade, lots and lots of it!


They threw together this little diddy!

Peter and his translator sharing about the project.

Honored Guests

The Chief spoke

The DG of Shefa province spoke

The community seemed to enjoy themselves

The Stake President spoke


Some of the Foreman, could not have done it without them

One of our foreman that is on a mission now got to come for dinner.

We brought in ice cream for dessert, a real treat when no one owns a fridge yet alone a freezer. These were the "ice cream police" and they were needed!


YEAH!!, we all survived

Chief Day


This is our friend John Pierre, we were going to deliver an invitation to him for something else and stumbled upon a community celebration for Chief Day. They invited us to stay, so we did!!!!

The Chiefs and other important people.


Food prep, they were feeding everyone lunch.

Honoring the Chiefs

Community watching





Lunch is ready


These girls helped us to try their dance.

Cute Faces

When they dance they stomp so hard the ground vibrates






This is how you get to this area, it is called End of Airport,yes it is located at the end of the runway, this is an upgraded bridge from the last one!

The School has over 60 students


The school is built and received a few books and supplies from Read Pacific, we are still trying to get them some desks and chairs.






School can be difficult in Vanuatu. there are not schools in every community and they sometimes cannot afford the bus cost to get there. They have an exam at the end of year 8, if you pass you can go on but no second chances, the same thing at the end of year 10.


She has 70 children registered now with 3 teachers.

No cup, no problem! Drinking from the 10,000 litre tank we attached to the school.