T.J. & AMANDA VISIT US

April 2nd we were excited to welcome T.J. and Amanda to Honiara.  T.J. has a degree in history and loves it.  We have been saying for the last 18 months that he would love to see all of the WWII history here in the Solomons. 

T and Mandy coming off the plane in Honiara

 

 

 

We loaded them in the Land Cruiser and began their week long tour

(No, T's not driving)

 

 

We drove to Selwyn College and showed them our favorite beach

 

 



 

We found a "token" pig

 

Old broken dugout canoe

 

We showed them the oil palm plantations

 

 

We made sure they tried the native food

Their first taste of fresh coconut milk from a green coconut

 

 

 

Next day:  The WWII open air museum

 

 

 

Cheryle's favorite Solomon Island plant, the shy bush.

When you touch the leaves of this plant they fold against themselves

as though they are shy.

Cheryle giggled every time she found one.

 

The bird of paradise flower is one of our favorites

 



 

Solomon Island laundromat-washer.....

 

.....and dryer

 

 

We never tire of the beautiful sea

 

 

We stopped at the almost completed White River chapel.  we are so excited for this little branch to be blessed with this beautiful building.  They have met in an old dirty school house for 3 years.

 

 

T chose to visit us this week because it is Ken's 65th birthday.

The celebration began early and lasted 5 days, wow, lots of cake and ice cream.



The first day was with Elder Bacon and Elder Aching.  Elder Aching was leaving the next day

to return home to Samoa for a hernia operation.

 

 

 

To celebrate Ken's birthday, Cheryle booked a day cruise to a private island

 

 

The weather was great-a perfect day

 

 

First stop, Tulagi, the Colonial Capitol of the Solomons until WWII

 



T and Amanda climbing out of a WWII Japanese cave

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cheryle and Ken waited outside the cave

 

A native family returning to their Island after shopping at Tulagi

 

 

They raised a sail to help them home

 

 

 

Back on the boat

 

 

 

 

 

We arrive at the private island of Mbike

 

 Leaving the boat, we walked through the beautiful, warm, clear water to the Island. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cruise ship that ran aground in about 2000 after hitting a reef

 

 

 

 

A beautiful sunset at the end of a once in a lifetime experience

 

 

The American WWII Memorial

 

 

Iron bottom sound in the background

 

The Solomon Island flag

 

 

Shopping at the main market

 

 

Happy 65th Birthday

 

 

Monday evening we invited all of the Elders over to celebrate Elder Mitchell's birthday.

 

rear l to r:  Elder Tuisalega, Elder Potrie, Sister Mitchell, Elder Kingstone, Elder Falevai, Elder Iati.

front l to r:  Elder Sione, Elder Thomas, Elder Mitchell, Elder Bacon, Elder Judge.

 

 

Signing the Solomon Island

Missionary sheet

 

A 65th birthday should be a pretty big deal.  This one definitely was, 5 days of celebration!!!!