Santo – Hey Becky Boo

Beach July 22, 2017

Visiting the Healing Springs of Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu

Well, the day was perfectly hot and we needed somewhere to cool off. I had heard all about the powerful healing waters of Santo, Vanuatu and thought that this would be a good time to try them out. After all, I was struggling with numerous health condition that were getting worse and worse. “What could it hurt?” I thought to myself as I persuaded the others to join me. I personally had already heard dozens of stories from neighbours and friends that testified to the miraculous power of the healing springs. I thought you guys would like to join me so I inconspicuously made a little video 🙂

Santo was an entire island away so we first had to buy tickets and fly there, but we found an amazing resort for sale called Lope Lope and the three couples were interested in buying it and running a health and wellness resort.

The healing miracle of the Santo Healing Springs is very precise. You must bathe 3 times, you must go fasting and praying. You must pour the water over your head and certain amount of times and then if all of that won’t work you can also try drinking the salty water.

I was too shy to do my healing bathing with all the other island people so instead I went at night when mostly everyone was gone. I did exactly as instructed and went back the required 3x. But in the end the healing waters of Santo DID NOT heal me 🙁

What about you did you ever try to do something to get better but it didn’t work?

Answering Prayers July 11, 2017

Canoeing up a River in Santo, Vanuatu

Hey Guys, I had so many positive responses from my blog post about our trip up the river that I decided to make a movie 🙂 Enjoy!

First off, as a reminder we found someone to take care of the kids and all three adult couples left Port Vila and went to Santo. Santo is well known around the world for it’s stunning white beaches, long wide roads and natural beauty. As we drove from the South part of the island to the North part of the island we saw an old sign advertising a canoe ride up a river to a hidden blue hole for $10 a person.

Immediatley we had our driver pull over and we hopped out of the back of the truck. We found the man who was running the canoe business and he told us all to pile into a rickety little hand carved canoe. We were sure that we’d sink it, but he insisted that we would be just fine.

We began our journey down the river and it was more than we could have ever imagined. Total silence, except the sounds of the lush green jungle the river wound through and the splashing of the the paddles. We canoed and sang hymns and it felt sacred and unreal.

When we finally arrived all that had been promised was displayed in utter magnificence before us. There amongst the various shades of green was a deep sapphire blue pool of water. It was amazing.

After staring at it for a long time we changed into our swimsuits and went swimming. The cool water with the hot sun and the freshly picked tropical snacks that were provided truly made an experience that we will never, ever forget! Today in our world schooling family, I was the one who received all the lessons.

What is the most significant lesson you have learned from a worldschooling experience?

Answering Prayers June 22, 2017

Silencing our Fears

There are not even words to describe the perfect day we had today.

As we flew down the road yesterday bumping along in the back of the truck we saw beautiful canoes all carved in the custom style lining the road. The sign said blue hole and our driver told us that if we paid 1000vt ($10USD) then we could have a ride up the river. It sounded pretty fun and so today when we passed the canoes again we stopped to take a ride.

A rusty chain hung around the gates and nobody was to be seen. Not to be discouraged our driver said he knew where the owners would be. So we went on a bit of drive checking in and out of different village houses until we finally found someone who knew where the owners were. I guess they were napping in the grass. After explaining that we would like to canoe up the river on one of the boats and paying him the advertised fee we all climbed in. It was simply amazing!

Once we got settled and the chatting and laughing subsided, (with our group that rarely happens) Ben (our guide) paddled us up the river. It was like magic. The birds were singing in the trees and the only sound was the paddle hitting the water. The words running through my subconscious brain spilled into my consciousness. Peaceful. Tranquil. Magical. Sacred. If nature could pray it was like witnessing the prayer of the earth to Papa God. It really was a extraordinary.

We got further and further into the jungle and now vines were dangling in seemingly mid air with oversized pods and spiders and other creatures living with them. The white sand of the river bottom was visible the entire time and schools of tiny fish made appearances here and there, dancing around the boat and going on ahead without us.

After probably 20 minutes of paddling, and much sooner that we wanted we turned the corner and there was the blue hole. A glistening pool of deep turquoise blue in the middle of the jungle.

So out of place amongst all the greens and browns that we had been seeing, the blue hole looked like a secret hiding in the forest.

After playing, rope jumping, feeding fish and exploring the surrounding gardens and paths we persuaded Ben to take us all the way down the river and to the open ocean. It was nearly just as beautiful as our trip up the ocean and a few times during the trip Dan or Eric or Lindy burst out in song unable to express the reverence for the surroundings in any other way. Sometimes I wonder what it would do for the soul to be constantly surrounded by so much beauty. It certainly agrees with my soul!

I also considered how lovely we thought the river was and not knowing what was at the end of it, all of us could have happily stayed and played in the shallow pools all day. However, just like God’s plan for us, He knows what is ahead, and He has much greater, and grander plans for us than we could ever imagine.

How could my life be transformed if I would quiet down for while and trust in the Almighty?

Beach June 22, 2017

#Ifoundparadise!

Well the jury is no longer out if this was the right place to come.

The day was spent in water so turquoise and white sand beaches that were so soft and beautiful that you truly didn’t believe your eyes. #nofiltersneeded

Massages on the beach, swinging in hammocks, exploring sunken ships, and eating delicious food at stunning restaurants is what we did all day. It was perfect and truly the most relaxing, fun, day I could have imagined. #mustbeparadise

We spent hours exploring the various beaches on the North end of Santo Island. This world schooling day was all for adults and we enjoyed every minute of it!

We went to Port Olroy, and to champagne beach, a white sand beach that stretched on for miles. The snorkeling was breathtaking and we spent hours swimming with the fish. A few of the adults enjoyed cool lemonade on the beach and others got massages from island girls right there on the shoreline! The water was so still and fresh that I just closed my eyes and floated on top of the water thinking about family, God, worlds schooling homeschooling, my teenagers, my toddlers and all the beautiful world that I was lucky enough to be a part of!

Beach June 21, 2017

Going to Santo!

Well it was a really hard decision but in the end we all decided to leave our kids and take a three day trip to the most coveted neighboring island- Santo!!!

Santo is the largest island in the Vanuatu chain (and the most beautiful too I’m told). Ever since I first heard about it and saw pictures of endless white sand beaches I knew I had to visit while we were here and now was as good a time as any 🙂

Finding proper supervision for our kids at home was stressful (especially with the sudden influx of boys that have started frequenting our beach since we moved in). But we finally settled on leaving the under the care of the house girl (whose older than I am) and my very, very responsible 17.5 year old daughter. At first I thought that I for sure couldn’t go because it’s always so hard as a mother to leave your kids but But THREE days with my husband all to myself was too difficult to resist so I gave them very strict instructions, and left them with two machetes and a dog. Hopefully they won’t be needing to use them but around here you never know. And now here we are on a spur of the moment last minute trip to Santo!

Well here we are. We arrived after nightfall and have already had a bit of an adventure. I made a little video:

IMG_3026

We walked back to the hotel after eating dinner for $5 at the market stalls and happily they had sorted out our room problems. So I am now off to bed and will make more videos and pictures tomorrow when I’ve had a chance to explore!

Bye!