Aneityum, Vanuatu 20 14’.38S 169 46’.66E

The kind people of the villages surrounding Anelcauhat Bay have captured our hearts. We arrived two weeks ago, at this southernmost island of Vanuatu, with an album filled with pictures of children we took last year. The lady in the bank said to give it to Seralyne as the little girl on the cover was her granddaughter. Seralyne was thrilled. A friendship was born.

July 30 is Independence Day. The first prime minister said, "Small is beautiful. Peace is powerful. Respect is honourable and our traditional sense of community life is both wise and practical.€" Among other rights, their constitution guarantees freedom of religion and on the shores of this large bay are five different churches. The people live in harmony with nature and each other. Their lives are simple. Each family has a garden, chickens and pigs. They eat what they grow. Their homes are built of woven pandanus leaves and have earthen floors covered in coconut and pandanus mats. Some cook over an open fire, others have gas burners and propane tanks. Most people have mobile phones and a few have televisions that run on solar power or generators. The school has a computer and the bank has a big satellite dish which allows them online access.

The Independence Day celebration began on Friday with football games for the men and volleyball games for the women all weekend long. People from all over the island came to Anelcauhat to watch and participate. Jim took more than 4000 photos. Each night we cleaned up the best in Lightroom and printed them out on the little Epson 4x6 printer we carry on board.

Each day a crowd would gather around our freshly distributed prints. Hardly anyone has pictures of themselves or their loved ones so these were a big deal. We were so happy to give something back to the people who welcomed us so kindly.