My time is Vanuatu, at least for the foreseeable future has come to an end. After to 3 months of DTS Lecture Phase, 2 months of DTS Outreach Phase and 2 months of serving on the M/V Pacific Hope, I am making my way home.
I arrived in Auckland on the 25th but, did not get to my hotel until after mid-night. I have a total of 5 nights here in Auckland before contenuing on my journy home. The 25th, happened to be the cheapest day to fly back to NZ from Vanuatu... at least prior to my August 30th flight back to the States.
I will have layovers in Melbourne, Sydney and Dallas respectively before arriving back in Orlando. The Sydney to Dallas flight will be my longest yet at just over 15.5 hours of flying time.
So far, I have been having an amazing time back in Auckland. God has blessed me with some really good friends here who have gone out of their way to make me feel at home.
Arrived safely back in Port Vila very early on Friday morning, thanks be to God. Though tiring and very unpredictable, we had another successful medical outreach on the M/V Pacific Hope, the 2nd outreach for the year.
For this outreach, I got placed on the Dental Team doing registration. In total we helped more than 300 people by removing and fixing close to 700 teeth.
I am really eager for the next 2 week outreach. We leave Port Vila this Saturday and will be serving N.E. Malakula... that is the plan at least.
So many things on this adventure have been uncertain. But, over the last 6 months I have become more and more at peace with not knowing what lies ahead or having to have a plan. However, I can be certain of two things: God loves me, God IS good and if I follow Him, there is no telling where I'll end up!
I arrived back in Port Vila, Vauatu at around noontime on the 7th of August (local time). We ended up coming back a day earlier than planned, for multiple reasons, officially ending Outreach #1.
Though we had to leave early and couldn't visit the Island of Meawo, we reached over 1000 people on the Island of Ambae. We offered a number or services such as free doctor's consultations, eye glasses, first aid, prayer and pharmacy.
The ship will do 4 more multi-week outreaches with rest/resupply weeks in Port Vila inbetween. I will be present for 2 more of these outreaches, my last of which will end on August 19th.
These past couple days have been filled with both good and bad realities of life Friday in particular. After meeting up with some friends on Thursday night, we made plans to go see "Finding Dory" on Friday morning. I arrived at the theater much earlier, as planed to get wifi. It was there while waiting for my friends to arrive that I found out that one of my cats had died. The news was hard but, God has helped me through and my friends have been really encouraging.
However, despite the sad news from home and so wishing to be back, I know that God called me here, at this time, for a reason. Of course I have questioned and requestioned Him, and myself multiple times but, I know that I am where I am meant to be.
