The Solomon Islands with TSSF - Day One
Crazy stuff. We had to be at the airport by 5am (that was a shock in itself really) but Helene decided she needed a shower first, so we had our wakeup call at 4am. 4am!!!! The only thing you should do at 4am is go back to sleep. Fat chance. So I got up and had porridge for breakfast.
The flight over was good. I slept most of the way over to Brisbane, and after quick two coffees in Brisbane, read all the commentary stuff I had copied for the two sermons I thought I was delivering.
We were greeted warmly by TSSF brothers, John Ama and Andrew Tada and by some First Order brothers (Desmond and Martin) who were here for a formation conference at Hautabu. We missed Christopher John by a gnat’s whisker. He was boarding the plane we had just arrived on.
The Bishop of Chester was also on our plane to open a new wing of Chester house, the Melanesian Brothers rest house above Patteson House Friary (where Dorothy stayed last time) His daughter was flying out and was allowed through by customs to say a very quick hi to her dad. It was lovely.
We were driven by the brothers to St. Agnes House where we are staying. And then taken to the friary for refreshments. We then came through town to get money and came back up to the rest house to rest before the welcome dinner that night. That was a very low key thing compared to last time with very few TSSF brothers and sisters present. Quite a few are involved in the election next week and are busy, but Jimmy has been feeling quite deserted in trying to organise both our visit and the upcoming chapter. But it was a nice low key welcome which allowed us to meet some new people. The companions entertained us really well, and there was room for speeches etc… after we had eaten and listed.
The flight over was good. I slept most of the way over to Brisbane, and after quick two coffees in Brisbane, read all the commentary stuff I had copied for the two sermons I thought I was delivering.
We were greeted warmly by TSSF brothers, John Ama and Andrew Tada and by some First Order brothers (Desmond and Martin) who were here for a formation conference at Hautabu. We missed Christopher John by a gnat’s whisker. He was boarding the plane we had just arrived on.
The Bishop of Chester was also on our plane to open a new wing of Chester house, the Melanesian Brothers rest house above Patteson House Friary (where Dorothy stayed last time) His daughter was flying out and was allowed through by customs to say a very quick hi to her dad. It was lovely.
We were driven by the brothers to St. Agnes House where we are staying. And then taken to the friary for refreshments. We then came through town to get money and came back up to the rest house to rest before the welcome dinner that night. That was a very low key thing compared to last time with very few TSSF brothers and sisters present. Quite a few are involved in the election next week and are busy, but Jimmy has been feeling quite deserted in trying to organise both our visit and the upcoming chapter. But it was a nice low key welcome which allowed us to meet some new people. The companions entertained us really well, and there was room for speeches etc… after we had eaten and listed.
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