This morning the sisters and I walked down the road (after enjoying sleeping in until 6:30!) for mass at St. Augustine Church. It was Bishop Chris’ first mass at the church since he’s returned and he received a very warm welcome from the parish (most people around Auki know him and smile, wave and shout hello as he drives past in his truck). Before beginning, Bishop Chris introduced me as his ‘wontalk,’ someone of the same language, and afterwards many members came up to shake hands, say hello and introduce themselves.
Bishop Chris spoke (in Pijin, so I had to listen carefully to be able to understand) about the parable of fishes and loaves and how regardless of the location, priests celebrating mass all over the world were reading the same gospel, signifying its importance in Christian living. Since I’ve been here I’m already beginning to understand this importance of sharing a meal within a community. Although each of the sisters works on a different project during the day, mifala (everyone) always comes together to share breakfast, lunch and dinner. Not only that, but there is always an extra chair near the table and a plate to share for anyone who may drop by.
This afternoon we drove along the (very bumpy!) dirt road to Buma for Bishop Chris to visit some of the Croatian sisters who arrived just after he left for his holiday in the states. All four are nurses and are planning to work with the local women’s community on maternal health and try to address the problem of maternal and infant mortality rates. They, too, opened their doors to our large crew and set the table with Croatian rolls and some more of the very special Solomon Island pancakes (they’re delicious when served with sprinkled sugar! mmm) and added more chairs and benches as more members of the community stopped in. The sisters are beginning to learn Solomon Island Pijin, and three of them are tackling English as well, which is a huge feat. While Bishop Chris discussed plans for some of their programs, Loretta took me for a walkabout on the black-sanded beach where we watched a game of beach soccer (I got a loud cheer for saving a runaway ball from the waves –I’m starting to master playing in a skirt and flip flops…)
I also met and talked with Cynthia who is 19 and living with and assisting the nuns. Like the other students in Australia, she was very curious to hear all about New York and in return taught me some Pijin phrases and explained some ones I’ve started to hear:
Staka= many
Lukim = see
Tanggio = Thank you (or thank q, as I saw written on the boat ride over)
Tanggio tumas = thank you very much
Gud tumas = very good
Gu for lukim iu = Good to see/meet you
Lukim iu behind = See you later
Wea nao = where
Nem bloi iu? = What is your name?
Iu blow ea? = Where do you come from?
Iu stap lo wea? = Where do you live?
Wea nao iu go? = Where are you going?
Fo kaikai = to eat/to feast
Iu laea! = You’re lying!
Sore! = oops!/Watch it!/Sorry!
Plis, iu save sidaon = Please, take a seat
Iu hao? = How are you?
Iu nice balla tumas= You are very pretty
Iufala look nice = you all look nice
Turu iu gecko = not quite sure what this means translated, but one of the sisters said it’s a big hit with the kids, so I’ll have to give it a shot
After daily evening prayer, the sisters and I joined Agatha, Father Moses, and Brother Malcolm, who is preparing to be ordained deacon next Sunday, at Bishop Chris’ house for weekly Sunday dinner. There was staka kaikai including fried fish and chips, onion and ginger chicken, and fresh cabbage, cucumbers, green peppers, corn and pineapples, all grown in the garden or from the market. Even Corporal, the neighborhood dog, enjoyed the leftovers of the meal, crunching happily on the chicken bones (“We could run energy for the whole compound with his tail right now!” said Bishop Chris.) Sharing this meal together, I learned more about Auki from Bishop Chris, discussed some of the programs I will be working in this week, and enjoyed everyone’s company.
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