visitors!

For the last two weeks, we've been very happy to have my (Lauretta's) parents over visiting us. Tomorrow they go back, so we'll be sorry to see them go, although we've had a fantastic time with them. I thought I'd put up a few photos to show what we've been up to. Mum and Dad have had all sorts of new or different or just enjoyable experiences - drinking from coconuts, shopping in the market, trying out the local fruit, buying fresh fish from the side of the road, scooting around in a tropical island on a motor bike, swimming in the warm ocean, paying $20 for a coffee(!! - well, Solomon Dollars), lots of reading and snoozing in the hammock for Dad.

We saw the typical tourist sites, of which there are few - like the army landing craft graveyard, the American war memorial, Boneggi Beach (where there is a ship wreck and tropical fish) and the odd cafes around the place.

Last week Thursday, Jair and I had to go to Auki which is on Malaita for a night and two days.

Kevin was running a workshop on prison ministry so we went along for support and also to try initiate CBI there in Auki prison. Auki is a 3hr boat ride away as it's on another island. So Mum and Dad came along too. Neither of them got seasick though the sea was rather rough. We kept joking that they went on a tropical cruise because the views were amazing, especially through the passage of the Florida (Ngella) islands. While we were busy workshopping, my parents rested in the SSEC Transit House where we stayed, or went for a walk in Auki township. It's a very small town, but because of that, it's actually not too bad. They even managed to find an ice cream stall!

Right now, Mum's gone out for coffee with the Director's wife and Dad's scooting out on some tropical road! I think they've had a restful time and we wish them all the best as they head back to cold, wet New Zealand!! I'll let the photos tell the rest of the story!

This is my favourite picture - Dad found his brain!! ;)

Dad drinking a coconut...

and on a tropical cruise

at Boneggi Beach - that's a WW2 ship poking out of the sea. Unfortunately, it was too rough for mum and dad to snorkel there. Mum had a ball though - I even brought her a little tropical fish in a plastic bag to show her what they were like!

buying fish on the side of the road... mmm fresh fish for dinner!