My Summer Vacation Part 2: Christmas and Vavua

Christmas in Kimbe

Debbie and I spent Christmas in Kimbe. We walked to all the stores, went to the market, ate at the Apple Mango Cafe and the Llamo as she discovered my home in Kimbe. 

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day we went to the temporary site for the Mass held at a large Government Building while the new cathedral was being built. It unfortunately rained on Christmas Eve, but the choir was beautiful and plenty of people showed up. Christmas Day, Debbie and I helped the Bishop make Steak Diane, mashed potatoes and salad with real lettuce from the Highlands for about 14 or so guests. The Caritas Sisters brought cake and ice cream for dessert. The company was wonderful, the food delicious and it was a nice Christmas Day. 

‘My’ village of Vavua:

Debbie and I along with Sr Bernadette were met by Fr Bernard, an African Priest who resides in the parish of Vavua. We drove past Valoka and continued on the potholed road to the village of Vavua where we were met by a group of children and a few adults who welcomed us with song, a welcome sign, headdresses, warm hearts and smiles. Adorable! 

We attended the evening mass where Fr Bernard told the villagers about my mission. Then he told his village to make us part of them. And they did just that! The village escorted us to a house cry - a woman’s husband died on Christmas Day. For a house cry, they set up a special tent where relatives keep the widow and family company as they go through the grieving process. We were escorted into the tent. I was asked to introduce myself and then one of the village women led everyone in that tent into a song in their village language (not pidgin). I loved her, she kept the people in the tent lively and well entertained. We were offered some leaves made in a special way (delicious) and some tea. We were made to feel right at home during a sad occasion. It’s not something often experienced by outsiders. 

One thing that Fr Bernard wanted was for me (and Maria when she arrived) to adopt his village as my own. When others say “I’m going to my village for break, I can say that I’m going to my village of Vavua too.” It was nice to be so warmly welcomed.  

That night, we should have taken advantage of the calm ocean and beautiful night to go swimming, but we had a big day planned for the next day. We had plans to go on a dingy to an island close by, go swimming and fishing and just have a wonderful lazy day. But the weather had other plans. Due to a volcano eruption in Indonesia and a small tsunami, the waves were too rough and it was raining too hard. Shucks!! So we spent the day inside with warm conversation, good food and rain falling outside from all directions. We traveled back to Kimbe the next day. 

To be continued...