Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: North (05/05/16)
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TITLE: Slow Ship to Epi | Previous Challenge Entry
By Robyn Harbour
05/09/16 -
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We were travelling with Alick one of our students as he went home to his wife for the summer holidays. We chose to sit outside on the life jacket box in the fresh air. Some passengers chose to spend the journey perched on the larger cargo that was loaded in the front section of the ship behind the ramp. The captain and crew were local Ni-Vanuatu. The cargo carried this night consisted of a couple of utes (complete with the owners and others sleeping in the tray), cement, masonite, timber, water tanks destined for remote villages, outboard motors, and half a dozen or so pigs in bamboo cages.
Darkness descended as we left the shelter of Vila Bay. It was then that I realised that this night was that of a ‘new moon’. The moon would have risen with the sun early that morning and stayed on the sunny side of the earth all day, setting when the sun set. Leaving the city lights behind, the Brisk trudged across the sea at the slow speed of four knots. Not much more than walking pace.
The further we receded from the lights of Vila the more stars filled the sky. Our universe is spectacular, our earth so small in comparison. Without the moon reflecting the light of the sun even the dimmest stars were visible. We were only able to identify the islands we passed by the black silhouettes blocking out the starlight. The night sky reminded us of how majestic and creative our God is. Our earth is just a small dot in the milky way, a galaxy in a vast universe.
Sleep was hard to come by even with the gentle lapping of the saltwater as our boat trudged forward. Our perch was uncomfortable, the pigs grunted, confined in their small cages, a few people chatted together well into the early hours of the morning, rhythmic snoring and crying babies kept us from sleeping. The trip to the toilet in the dark was hazardous as we had to step over sleeping bodies spread out on the narrow walkways.
At four o’clock the pink light of dawn slowly rose to the east. The small islands were becoming visible and wisps of smoke could be seen rising from the many village scattered on the island fringes. The women are up before first light to start cooking food to sell at the markets. We were handed a cup of tea and five breakfast biscuits, thankfully received but doubtfully consumed when we realised that our cup had just been emptied by another person and refilled. We wondered how many mouths had been on the rim of the mug before our lips touched it? We thanked God for Hep B immunisations.
The Brisk continued trudging along at a snail’s pace. We were joined at various intervals by a whale, a dugong and a couple of dolphins. The sailors caught a large tuna and wahoo for their lunch with a line they were trawling behind the ship. The Brisk stopped at two different bays unloading people and cargo and taking on more of the same. As the sun rose there was nowhere on the ship to shelter from the fierce heat.
At noon we arrived at Epi Island. We sat on the beach watching the men unload the cargo. We were waiting for our cases and boxes of books we had brought for the pastors on the island. We had a full week of ministry scheduled and were looking forward to meeting the locals. Just once small adventure of many while serving in Vanuatu as Missionaries.
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Well written.
Blessings~