We were hopeful in what this trip would teach us, what encounters we may have along the road, and what friends may be placed in our way. After two weeks we have been blessed and rewarded with many truly amazing friendships and acquaintances.
First, we have had lunch with Martha Enu (Leader of YWAM ministries in the Cook Islands). The day involved meeting her family, having lunch, and touring their new YWAM facility and building project. They are in the process of building and awesome conference and lodging facility that will support around 100 missionaries at a time with a bookshop and café for the local community to hang out at on a daily basis. The land lease, given to them by a Rarotongan Resident (truly a blessing/miracle), is on prime Rarotongan realestate - a beautiful beach on the south the side of the island. Eddie and Martha are incredible people, and have a passion for people.
Next, we met the “Swedes”, Per and Katarina Andersson, and their three kids. They invited us to a beautiful dinner at their rental home, where we had a wonderful evening talking about travel, relationships, kids and our respective home countries. They just happen to be on a very similar trip venturing to the Cook Islands then on to New Zealand. It’s amazing the similarities we had as families. In addition, their two girls 10 & 13 years old got along wonderfully with our 10 & 13 year old girls. Huh, who would have known? We are so happy to be able to reciprocate their hospitality by throwing a B-day bash for Katarina on the Island of Aitutaki December 23rd. It should be a blast as we have fresh Yellow Fin Tuna (Ahi) to serve that Curt caught, and we found a local islander to make a Coconut Lime Cake.
Finally, we have had a great time getting to know Fred and Kristine, our host and hostess at our current accommodations on Aitutaki. Fred has taken Curt out to catch his first Yellow Fin Tuna. Fred and Kristine were nice enough to prepare some of the fish, “Sushi Style” for us that evening. We had a wonderful time in their home listening to their stories and getting to know them. They are quite the adventurous couple, having met doing stunt work for movies and TV. They’ve lived all over the world, are full of life, great stories and fun. Kristine is an award winning writer and is currently working on a fantasy adventure novel that has all of us expectant for its release. Fred, well Fred has done just about everything Curt wants to do.
But that is not all, we have had time to get to know “Simon the photographer,” from England, he is the type of person that you like instantly and would only like better and better the more you got to know him. Such a fun and interesting guy! “Frank the engineer,” from Germany, he looks 22 but is really 35 and is enthusiastic about everything he sees and does. He is as well travelled as anybody we know. “Jan and Peter,” from Sydney Australia, they are the “Grandparent figures” of our crew here on Aitutaki. They are currently staying in a hut on the beach next to our girls hut. They have big hearts and a thirst for adventure and are always teaching useful and healthy tips about life and travel. “Adrianne,” our proprietor at Tiare Village, was very accommodating and gracious. “Christian the Doctor,” from Austria, was quite a nice young man. He was travelling for 3 months before he starts a 3 year residency to practice Oncology. “Dave the Crane Operator,” from England, turned us on to the island dance competition and island night on Rarotonga as well as lots of general information regarding the Cook Islands. Dave knows the Cooks well after returning here year-after-year in his travels. There are many other friendly people and faces that have not been mentioned, but have added richly to our experience.
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