Letter Home

Bula to each of you!

Before I  head to bed I just wanted to write a note to explain what is going on here.  We did arrive Wed. night.  Gratefully we traveled with relatively calm waters and had little squeasiness. For safety, we never ate till we arrived, and dad slipped a dramamine before boarding.  Even played a game with the Elders and had some good conversations rather than having to hang over the side of the boat.  "Stinky Sofie" wasn't all that terrible after all the bad hype.

We want to share some pictures but the problem is the Internet or rather lack there of.  It just isn't working out where we live and today at church we couldn't get it either so we are more than passively bummed!  We drove over to a government complex where hter was a tower and were able to download what had come in but it was hot in the car and not the circumstance to spend time doing more.  Seth showed us how to download so we can read the emails at home and then respond so we can send them when we get to where it is working but that precludes much with pictures, looking at blogs, calling, etc.  We have a couple leads on possibilities but in the meantime we are NOT happy campers.

Yes, it is very beautiful!  Our home reminds me of the NH cabin-very woodsy, open in living area and kitchen, and rather dark once the sun goes down because of poor lighting.  It is a true home although more of a vacation type-not lots of storage like we had in Ba.  It is clean and has tons of windows, glass doors and opens up to allow air to breeze through.  The first night an all out wind storm blew all night and we've had several more windy spells with some rain.  The view off the huge deck is rather spectacular as we look over the Straits of Somosomo to Vanua Levu.  We've about got everything in place and will head out tomorrow with 6 Elders to hike up to some waterfalls.  Church seems to have similar challenges as did Ba and we are working at learning new names and faces.  Dare I admit we are missing  Ba-or at least the people?  Just when we thought Ba had no option to shop, we find here to be even more limited.  Oddly, the market is really small.  We are wondering if it is because people grow what they need.

So, let's hope we'll be connected to you and the rest of the world.

We love you all,
mom and dad