7-5 The French Invaded Melsisi!
Light two lamps, the invasion is coming by sea! *
The French army is doing some good-will building stuff with the Vanuatu government. The Ministry of Health selected the Melsisi Health Center for an upgrade to a mini-Hospital. I’m not totally sure what that means, I’m not sure anyone outside of the Ministry is sure what that means, but it sounds pretty good.

We walked over to see it because we have become man bush smol. What else did you think I had to do today? (Actually, I had scheduled a workshop for this morning but it got canceled on account of the Big Ship coming, so I had something better to do but it was canceled.) They were scheduled to debark at 0600. Of course, this is still Vanuatu, even if it is the French army. The Brisk, one of our cargo ships, came at about the same time. The smaller and more nimble cargo ship slipped into shore and unloaded while the French Big Ship was still dancing around. They didn’t actually debark until around 7:30 or 8.


While the speeches were going on, the grunts got the job of modifying the beach for landing. The beach is pretty sharply angled, which wouldn’t do. They got to dig gravel for an hour or so. Poor guys. Before the boat could come in, they had to check to see if the reef had space for them to beach. They sent down two scuba divers. (Badass moment of the day – diving knife strapped to the calf. I want one.) The scuba divers gave the all clear, the diggers made the beach the right grade and the ship came to shore.

We left when they were still unloading. I guess I’m not that much of a man bushyet.
*For all the non-American readers (and the Americans who don’t read enough American classics): During the American Revolution, Paul Revere and about 4 other guys were sent to warn the people of New England that the British forces were on the move. Along with the verbal message that was passed, they were to light lamps in a lighthouse: one if by land, two if by sea.