These are the Principals of the PCV Schools from through-out the

Vanuatu group of Islands

They have just completed the Gender training course which 

was funded by Uniting World from Australia

Bronwyn from Uniting World is in the Photo.

We had a traditional lunch at Siviri Village where the training was conducted,

The food was a Laplap with a breadfruit platter

along with white rice and chicken wings and vegetables. 

This is the breadfruit platter covered in creamy coconut milk.

 In the distance is the Island of Nguna 

which has a dormant volcano on the high peak

I have been watching this Siviri church hall being built

over the last 3 years and they are just about too

to put the roof on and are now fund raising 

to buy the NZ pine for the trusses

They have got all the iron sheets 

which are laying in the fore ground 

The hall is 32 meters long and 12 meters wide

thats a lot of cement and sand. 

it is just as well they live buy the sea!!

My driving licence is due to expire on 25 May 2018

In Vanuatu you are required to get a medical at a cost of 1000vt 

and then the licence is 5000vt

A total of NZD $80 whoooo every 3 years !!!!

I will need the licence for driving jobs, as they do arise from 

time to time.

I have an early job at 6.45am tomorrow with this van

One of the neighbour's son "Russel" has broken his arm

for the second time in 3 months.

he is not a happy chappy

We have completed the final part of the hooking up of 

two smart power metres at Jensen house

We will now need to turn our attention to Sutherland house

as the power line was put back temporary on the wall after

Cyclone PAM but it needs to be raised higher

The power line is resting in the trees

in this photo

These ladies are cooking corn over a open fire 

If you're caught driving your vehicle without it being registered.

the police may compound it.

This year the police compound wasn't big enough

so they used the convention centre grounds 

The inside of a container can become very hot here in Vanuatu  

The call went out this summer

to have a window put in this coffee container.

Today the guys put the new window in .

Now with the air flowing thru the container

it feels like the air condition has been turned on .

Thanks to Yowell & Noel

Pastor Jackson from Utas village arrived in

 Port Vila and I got to have a catch up

I had to renew my licence today so I stood in the first line for 

20 minutes so the Invoice could be raised 

then I was shown the next line to wait in,to pay the invoice another 20 minutes

yes all the people in the first line were in the second line

Here are the vans which were used to transport the athletes 

around in mini games in November 2018

these van are now available to be hired at 3000vt a day

Here is a church in the North of Malakula 

which they have built from bamboo after 

cyclone Hula hit in March 2018

The plastic on the roof helps keep the rain out

but it has some holes in it

Here is another church on Malakula which was nearing completion

but the cyclone came and tore off the roof

and the cement board 

When I flew into Port Vila from Malakula 

we flew over the piles of bitumen which 

will be used on the new airport runway

Here are the wind mills on the out skirts of Port Vila 

The RNZAF are here in Port Vila with the

RNZ Navy they are assisting withe the Ambae evacuation.

This van is parked on the New roundabout in

the centre of Port Vila

just out side the Prison 

It happened on Saturday night 

All the traffic are stopping to take a photo's

The making of a local Vanuatu Toilet.

I was able to visit one of the guys place where

he made the village type toilet

He makes 2 halves and puts them together.

He has a mould which is made of fibreglass

After a lot of cement rubbing to cover the joins it looks 

like this, It still needs a seat which can be brought

at the hardware store

The cost is 3500vt equal to NZ $45 

This toilet still stands but the walls have been blown down

with Cyclone Hula in 2018 at Lambubu School

All the roads on the outer Islands are like this one

but every now and then we get to see the 

cold tar roads a Vanuatu terms which means Tar seal roads

Here we are on Makakula Island.

5km length of cold tar road

Here we are following a truck load of copra.

Which is dry coconut fresh ready for crushing to get the

coconut oil out of the flesh 

Many of the local people can make good money from 

collecting copra but its heavy, hard work

I have returned from Malakula !!

Malakula Island was hit with Cyclone Hula on 8 March 2018

Which do you think is stronger Steel or Wind?

look at the photo to decide .

These small stream became like raging rivers with the 

amount of rain that fell

This is the boy's dormitories at Lambubu school

This is the bread oven cookhouse that was blown apart.

The water well at Lambubu and the water becomes

un-drinkable at times thru the year.

I'm at Leviam village, assessing their church building 

on behalf of PCV 

Another of the local community buildings that stood up to

Cyclone Hula in 2018

It's amazing these structures do survive in the strong 165km winds

The community children at Leviam. 

They are on school holidays now 

He I'm catching up with breakfast. 

a green coconut and a cooked banana

More photos to come from Malakula - assessment project