Visiting the Island of Santo, a true paradise!!!
Hello Family and Friends,
This week it’s my turn to write. If you haven’t followed us recently, Darleen and I alternate letter writing responsibilities so you can see the different perspectives we each bring. It also gives us both a little break. These letters are fun to look back on and remember what we’ve done, though they do take effort to put together (at least for me). We hope you enjoy this small taste of our weekly adventures here in Vanuatu.
Since Sunday was Mother’s Day, I want to start by saying thank you to all the mothers and women in my life who have shown me the power of a mother’s love. I’ve been blessed with wonderful examples: my own mother, who is the best example of caring and Christlike service (not biased, but I think I got the best one); my grandmother Mabel Fales, who was strong in the gospel; my beautiful wife Darleen, who is an amazing mother to our three children and loves our grandchildren unconditionally; my sisters Cheryl, Laurie, and Becky (the best sisters a brother could have); my Aunt Susan, who never had children but has loved us like a second mother; my mother‑in‑law Gail Kemp, who raised such a wonderful daughter and whom I loved; and my daughter Stephanie along with my daughters‑in‑law Brittani and Kristen, who are raising amazing grandchildren. Thank you mother's for what you all do, both seen and more often unseen, you are truly amazing!
Monday – SIS and Preparations for our trip to Santo
On Monday we had our regular Seminary & Institute (S&I) team meeting. Afterwards we prepared for our upcoming trip to Espiritu Santo (often called Santo). We made calls and emails to confirm visits with seminary and institute classes and gathered needed items. That afternoon we handed off the weekly “Succeed in School” (SIS) intermediate math teaching to Tania, one of our Young Single Adults. We’re grateful she can take that on for the Port Vila 2 and Blacksand Wards while we focus on getting SIS started in the Mele and Erakor Branches. We will miss teaching those students ourselves as we’ve loved their personalities and the excitement they show when they grasp new math concepts. We truly believe SIS is a blessing to the Pacific islands, strengthening reading, writing, and math skills for youth ages 11–18.
Tuesday – Birthday Celebration and More Preparations
Tuesday was spent preparing further for our trip to Santo. We also put together food for the SIS classes on Friday and dropped it off with our boss, Katimal Kaun (the S&I Area Representative), to distribute while we were away. Unfortunately, he had a dentist appointment come up on Friday and forgot to deliver them to the classes before getting taken away. We definitely gave him a hard time this Monday morning at our S&I weekly meeting. Sorry, Katimal I couldn't resist mentioning it. We forgive you. :-)
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| Sister B and I wearing our lovely birthday hats. |
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| My new birthday ties from my girlfriend. |
Wednesday – Arrival in Santo and Institute Class
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| Heading to the plane for our trip to Santo. |
On Wednesday we flew to Santo and were met by Elder and Sister DeYoung, the Member Leadership Service (MLS) Missionaries there. The DeYoung's are so busy every day, so we were grateful for them picking us up. Not only do they serve as MLS, but Elder DeYoung is also serving as a counselor to President Ball in the Mission Presidency. Given Santo is a District (which it has been for over 30 years), and not a Stake, it falls under the Mission President to oversee. So when President Ball is not able to be on the island, Elder DeYoung takes on those responsibilities—temple recommend interviews, attending district conferences, and setting apart new missionaries, to name just a few.
Elder DeYoung picked us up in an extra truck that will ultimately be used by Elder and Sister Palm, a senior missionary couple arriving mid‑June to focus on S&I and education services on Santo. We’re excited for them to come and strengthen the work on Santo, and grateful to have the vehicle to get around while the DeYoung's focused on their many responsibilities that week.
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| View from right outside our room at the hotel |
The DeYoung's drove us to our hotel, the Deco Stop Resort, a lovely 12‑room hotel on a hill overlooking the bay. It was a beautiful setting, and the rooms even had air conditioning—a small blessing we don’t take for granted here.
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| Walkway to check-in to the hotel |
That evening we taught Institute to the Pathway missionaries enrolled in Pathway 101 and 103. It was the start of a new term, but Zoom link for our meeting had been changed from our last term settings and wasn’t working very well. Our meeting was now limited to 45 minutes, and required the host to let all of us in. By the time we all got let in, several minutes had already passed. We rushed through the content so we could finish before being cut off. In the past you could re‑join a meeting that had ended, but this time the system required a 10‑minute wait before rejoining. We ended with a prayer just as the meeting closed. Even with the technical difficulties, the class went well and we enjoyed that we were able to teach the class again, even while in Santo.
Thursday – Champagne Beach and Classes
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| Some of the vegetation on the way to Champagne Beach |
Thursday morning was free, as there were no seminary or institute classes to visit, so we took a trip to Champagne Beach, one of the most beautiful beaches in all of Vanuatu. The water was bright blue, the sand soft, the water warm, and reefs nearby offered views of colorful fish. Living on these islands reminds us that while there are hardships, the beauty here is unmatched. It truly feels like a paradisiacal island. Darleen and I both love it and never tire of it.
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| Champagne Beach from the road above before turning down to it |
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| Champagne Beach view of the ocean |
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| Sister DeYoung teaching the Foundation students math. |
That afternoon we attended two SIS classes (Foundation and Intermediate) and then the Banban Branch seminary class. Darleen joined Sister DeYoung in the Foundation class with two students, while I joined Elder DeYoung and three other students in the Intermediate math class. Since he hadn’t had time to review the chapter, I offered to teach, having recently taught the same lesson in Port Vila. He was happy to accept my offer. It was a good class, and in the end I felt the students caught on well.
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| Banban Seminary Class. Sister Ishmael also attended with us. She is close to the curtain that closes the room off (my left). |
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| Banban Seminary class. |
After SIS, we attended the Banban Branch seminary class in the same building. Ten students were present, taught by a substitute teacher—a young woman who just received her mission call to Australia. She led them through the lesson, in the Old Testament in the Book of Numbers chapter 21, where the Israelites complained and were bitten by fiery serpents until Moses raised a serpent on his staff. Darleen and I helped clarify several verses, which seemed to strengthen their understanding. I’m really starting to enjoy the Old Testament, as I see so many parallels to our own lives.
Friday – Diving the SS President Coolidge
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| Picture of the troops exiting the Coolidge before it sank |
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| Me styling in my dive gear |
Friday morning I treated myself to two birthday dives at the famous WWII wreck, the SS President Coolidge. Originally a luxury passenger liner, it was converted to a troop carrier during the war. In 1942, while carrying over 5,000 troops, it struck friendly mines near Santo harbor. The captain managed to beach the ship, saving nearly everyone before it sank on its side. If you are interested, you can read about more details of the SS President Coolidge at this link:
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| Coolidge on what it looks like sitting under water. The #3 bullet is where I entered the ship and came out near #4 bullet. |
The wreck is considered one of the best wreck dive sites in the world. I swam through cargo hold #2 and even saw the famous porcelain statue known as “The Lady,” which divers traditionally kiss (and yes, I did!). At nearly 140 feet deep, it was a challenging but unforgettable dive. Overall, it was a great couple of deeper divers that allowed me to enjoy seeing a small part of the history from WWII.
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| The piglets taking a little rest in between chasing their mother down to eat. |
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| Mother pig getting some food while Darleen watches. That mother pig needed it!!! |
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| Banban / Luganville Branches Institute class. Sister Chrissy is right next to me. |
That afternoon we prepared refreshments and ordered lunch for Saturday’s in‑service training. I also finalized lesson updates for the Saturday In-Service training. Later, we attended the combined Banban and Luganville Branch Institute class taught by Chrissy, a returned missionary. Attendance was smaller than usual, but the discussion was uplifting, and we appreciated the dedication of those who came.
Saturday – S&I In‑Service Training
Saturday was the main reason for our trip: the S&I in‑service training. Sister Ishmael, the S&I supervisor on Santo, had already rescheduled it twice, so we were glad it finally happened. This was the same type of training we had helped facilitate in early April on Tanna, and we were grateful to now assist in Santo.
She had planned an 8 a.m. start time, which we thought might be too early given the teachers’ reliance on bus and taxi rides. Our concern proved correct—when we arrived at 7:40 to set up, only one teacher was there, and Sister Ishmael was still struggling to get a ride. She finally arrived around 8:45, and we thought we would begin at 9. Unfortunately, several teachers were also delayed by transportation issues. At last, around 10 a.m., we were able to start with 13 teachers present. We had hoped to include teachers from the islands of Ambae and Gaua, but with boat rides of 4 and 12 hours respectively, it was simply too far.
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| Sister Ishmael teaching. She is such a great teacher and leader. |
Brother Kelly, the Santo District High Council S&I representative, conducted the meeting. Sister Ishmael had organized two teachers to share a spiritual thought and ministering moments. After I gave a few training reminders, she taught an excellent lesson from Teaching in the Savior’s Way. Though she went about 15 minutes longer than planned, it was well worth it—the teachers were blessed by her instruction and leadership.
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| Darleen teaching. Brother Kelly is sitting at the opposite side of the table from where she taught. You could see him trying to take notes from her message. |
Darleen then taught a powerful session on “Teaching Like the Savior.” She emphasized two key skills:
Encouraging teachers not to answer every question themselves, but to let students respond to one another. She modeled how teachers can prepare questions in advance that invite student participation.
Finding ways for students to take on responsibilities normally handled by the teacher—such as leading discussions, teaching a concept, conducting music, or assigning prayers.
As always, Darleen provided clear, engaging examples that helped the teachers understand and apply these principles. They loved her presentation.
Because we had started late, the lunch we ordered had been sitting for over an hour. Just before noon we took a break so the teachers could eat before the food grew cold.
After lunch (not a great thing to follow), it was my turn to teach. I used the upcoming lesson in Joshua chapter 1 (Lesson 61) to show how teachers can avoid overwhelming students with too many scriptures, while applying the concepts Darleen had just taught. I wanted to give them a practical example they could use in the coming weeks. We had a great 35‑minute discussion.
I began with Joshua 1:2, asking them to read the verse and then write down how they would have felt if they were Joshua. For the next 10 minutes, they taught me what they had written. We then read Joshua 1:5, where God promises that no man would stand before Joshua and that He would not forsake him. I asked two questions: “What is God telling Joshua He will do for him?” and “How is that like what God does for us today?” The teachers loved answering and shared wonderful insights. They were teaching the lesson for me, I just helped facilitate the discussion.
Finally, we read Joshua 1:6–7 and verse 9, which speak of being strong and courageous. I had planned to break them into teams, but instead we discussed together what Joshua was instructed and how it applies to us today. In the end, the teachers learned a way to teach by not overloading students with scripture, but by taking time to discuss and allowing students to teach themselves what they understand.
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| Picture of the In-Service teachers (minus 2 individuals who left a little before this picture) |
Darleen and I felt the training was excellent. The teachers didn’t seem to want to leave—they came up afterward to thank us for being there and for helping them gain insights that will strengthen their teaching. Many of these teachers are new converts, so this type of training is especially valuable in giving them ideas they can take back to their branches.
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| One of the teachers brought their little boy. I had to snap a picture of him being entertained in one of the boxes our lunch came in. So cute!! |
One thing the Area S&I helps with is paying for the taxi and bus fares when bringing the teachers together for these meeting, since many simply don’t have the funds. At the end of the meeting we handed out between 2,000 and 3,000 Vatu (about 18 to 25 US dollars) to each individual who attended depending the distance they came from. For them, this is a significant amount and highlights one of the challenges they face, as church buildings are often far from where students live. Even if it isn't as far as they had just came to the In-Service meeting, it is still a considerable sacrifice for teachers, students, and parents to ensure attendance at seminary and institute classes. In the U.S., most students may have to get up early, but transportation is rarely a financial burden. Seeing the sacrifices made here has deepened our appreciation for their dedication..
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| Dinner with the DeYoung's |
Sunday – Final Day in Santo
Sunday was our last day on Santo. Before church, my daughter Stephanie called to apologize for missing my birthday. She had looked at her calendar thinking she had the right day, only to realize it was actually her brother Patrick’s birthday and she had missed mine by three days. We had a good laugh and an enjoyable time talking. Of course, I couldn’t resist giving her a little hard time over the miss. 😊
After our conversation, Darleen and I went to the 9 a.m. sacrament meeting of the Banban Branch, held in the same building where we had the Saturday in‑service meeting. As in Port Vila, we noticed there were more women, youth, and children attending than men. The DeYoung's had mentioned the night before that the lack of priesthood leadership is the main reason Santo remains a District. There simply aren’t enough brethren to serve in the many leadership roles, and you could see that reflected in the numbers that morning.
The sacrament meeting was uplifting. After the sacrament ordinance was administered, four individuals bore their testimonies, including a recent convert who had just been baptized the day before. Sister Ishmael (the S&I coordinator on Santo) then spoke on sacrifice and how mothers demonstrate this trait every day. She was there alone with her children because her husband, the Santo District President, was conducting the Turtle Bay Branch Conference with his counselors and Elder DeYoung. It is inspiring to see how strong members on Santo wear so many hats in serving the church.
After the meeting, we returned to the hotel to pack our bags, called Patrick to wish him a Happy Birthday, then call Steve (my mom’s husband) to also wish him a Happy Birthday before wishing my mom a Happy Mother’s Day. It was good to talk to all of them, though it always feels a little strange that when we call, everything is a day behind us in the U.S. Technically, when I wished my mother a Happy Mother’s Day, we were one day early there.
After our calls, we grabbed a bite to eat at the hotel before heading to the airport to fly home to Port Vila. The flight was uneventful, and we arrived safely late that Sunday evening.
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| On the airplane heading back to Vila. |
Darleen and I left Santo loving it. I love Port Vila, but I think I could serve full‑time on Santo. The island has stores, though not as many as Port Vila, but it carries a peaceful vibe. The beaches, trees, vegetation, and overall pace of life are truly the paradise you imagine when you hear about the South Pacific. Even more, we grew to love the people we met. Santo is definitely more “bush”—more rural—than Port Vila. Once you leave the downtown Luganville area, it quickly becomes remote, and that’s where most of the people live. It’s one reason so many of our members travel long distances to reach their branch buildings.
We left looking forward to the opportunity to return in the near future.
Have a super fantastic week and know we are sending our love. Consider yourself hugged!!
Nana & Papa, Mom & Dad, Darleen & Mark, Sista Lovelace & Elda Lovelace
Additional Pictures from the week:
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| My girlfriend at Champagne Beach. |
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| Me too at the same location. |
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| Me and the dive lead for our first dive on the Coolidge |
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| Love this picture of Darleen as she was in the truck from the dive operation getting ready to take us back to the hotel. |
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| The door to the room Darleen and I stayed in at the Deco Stop Resort |
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| The DeYoung's came to say goodbye to us at the airport before we left. We had to get one last picture with them. |
Beautiful pictures and love the ties! ❤️🙏
ReplyDeleteThe island of Santo is a gorgeous island. It is the post card type of island you may see. The ties add to the island feel. All the best.
ReplyDelete