Winter in Vanuatu

The truth is Vanuatu is in a perpetual state of “summer”. Technically they call this time of year the “dry season” or winter which means it doesn’t rain as much and is a lot less humid. It has been quite beautiful with a nice breeze which is such a welcomed change from the intense heat and humidity.

The senior missionary sisters
dressed for Independence Day.

It was Independence Day in Vanuatu July 30th. This country is only 45 years old, which is about the time that cannibalism completely stoped.(EEK!) It is quite the celebration with parades, flag ceremonies, lots of local food, hundreds of people everywhere. They dress in the Vanuatu colors of yellow, green, red, and black. Families wear matching dresses and shirts. We wanted to see what all the festivities were about so we went down into the main area and it was fun to see their traditions.

Food booth at the Independence Day celebration.

In the little branch we attend, we had a baptism today in the ocean with six people. Baptisms are always a wonderful thing to be a part of, but something about witnessing it in the beautiful waters of Vanuatu is a whole different experience.

In Bislama: “Drownem in wata, make big falla promise blong Papa God”… (Being baptized in the water, we make big promises or covenants with our Heavenly Father.) Thirty people are on date to be baptized just in our little branch. There are 9 wards/branches on the island of Efate where we live.

Group of missionaries and those getting baptised.

Our housing responsibilities are never boring and quite intense most of the time. There are 56 dwellings we manage now on 4 different islands. We have started doing phone inspections because flying all of the time to these different islands is difficult on many different levels.

Branch President

The questions we ask the missionaries are quite interesting….. Do you have rats? Are the cockroaches under control? Are there holes in the walls? Is your toilet outside with a porcelain bowl or just a hole in the ground? Is your outdoor bucket shower just on the dirt, or are you standing on something else? Are the screens and glass louvers working? (So there will be less bugs that bite coming in) How is your power? Is there enough solar or do you run out at night? (They need it to run a fan because it's so hot/humid) How is your water? (Is there enough? Is it rain water in a tank?) How is your water filtration system and do you use it? There is a lot more, but you get the idea!

Poanganisu missionaries - Their house is a 1.5 hour
drive on crazy roads on the other side of the island.

Plumbing, power, and water are the biggest issues…. We had one place that did have a toilet inside and there had been a leak for a while (before our time) and the toilet literally fell through the floor. :) We got four calls this week about missionaries not having water…. Like none at all. We regularly get calls about not having power as well. If they have plumbing, half of the time it is backed up because their plumbing practices in this country are not advanced. It makes for a very interesting, non stop series of events. We have opened 5 new houses just in the last 3 weeks. That means we needed to purchase and furnish all of these places without Amazon, Target, or Walmart. :) It’s amazing how we have found what we have needed in the most obscure little stores.

The group of senior missionaries.

Senior missionaries in our church do not proselytize. There are many different things the older missionaries have an opportunity to do. Humanitarian, run a mission office, finance, attorneys who help make sure the church is following the laws of whatever country it is in, medical, mental health, public affairs, church history sites, and a lot more. Our actual assignment is "member and leader support", which can cover a lot of different things! Depending on ones desire and skill set, there is an opportunity to serve in more capacities than I can count.

President and Sister Kaun... Stake President of the Port Vila Stake.

Our role is very different than the younger missionaries. It’s more about supporting them on the back end with what they need. Our definition of what they “need” has definitely changed since coming here, ha ha… It’s amazing what we really need or not based on culture and honestly, what is available at the time we need something.

Sister Enny... The amazing Relief Society president of our church branch.

As a senior missionary, we also support local church units and leadership with training or whatever the needs may be. Our job is to support leadership in a way so that when we leave they can do it on their own. We use the church handbook a lot which teaches them how things are supposed to be run, as well as teaching them the importance of referring to the handbook on their own as well.

Joes outfit for video meetings. :)

At times it feels like a grind in the mud, but we are getting it done and seeing improvements. One of the things I’m often reminded of is how God loves all of his children no matter where they are at in the process. Whether it is a cultural “traditions of their fathers” kind of thing or other personal struggles, God is there to help us move from where we are to a better place. Some of the “tribal” traditions are utterly flabbergasting and that being said, the culture and people are learning new and better ways. We see second generation members who are stepping up as leaders and understanding their covenants more and more.

God works with us and gives us so much grace and keeps giving us opportunities to choose different, too be better, and live in a higher and holier way. How grateful I am for this divine process and how our Father in Heaven knows us and loves us. I’m grateful for the grace he extends to you and to me as all of us are on the path doing the best we can with what we have been given. May we all extend that grace to each other. :)

Love and miss you all!

The Kwans