Happy 1 Year Anniversary – Coming to PNG!!!

After 40+ hours of travel, being sleep deprived and sweaty – here is a picture of us after we stepped off the plane in Madang – one year ago today. We’ve come a long way, baby!

To Kainantu and Beyond!

The Usarufa translators have once again come to Ukarumpa to continue their work on Old Testament portions. Pray that we can get a lot accomplished in their week and a half here.

One thing that I forget is that one of our translators for the Usarufa is a former warlord (leading raids, killing people, that sort of thing…) and it is not safe for him to travel through Kainantu (the nearest town). So, today, I spent the better part of the morning waiting for his PMV (like a taxi) to come to a junction outside of town. What is so special about this trip to go and get him, was that today was my first time driving a manual outside of Ukarumpa – and PRAISE THE LORD! I did not even kill the car once today (and somebody kindly put the planks back on the bridge so that we could cross the river to get there)!!

VBS – our week at a glance

Thank you so much for your prayers – VBS this week went extremely well. We really enjoyed our time with the children, although at times, we felt more like bouncers than teachers (which can be explained from the fact that Kara and I alone had around 50 4th grade and up students in our “small” group). The kids enjoyed times of recreation, puppets, did a fabulous job with their memory verses and were fun to be around. Our hope and prayer is that many children were receptive to the gospel and that God will work in their lives to change their communities through the children.
On a completely different note: VBS in another culture and language sure is interesting, as this was the first time we have ever helped out with a VBS were some of the “kids” have facial hair, and the announcements had to explain how to use a toilet… =)

Aaron and Tande – a friend, pastor, and Imbo-Ungu translator

Tok Pisin Vacation Bible School

This morning kicked off a week of VBS for the kids in the surrounding villages to attend. Aaron and I are helping teach the grade 4 and up group - a.k.a. 'the banana group'. :) Each morning for two hours we gather for a bible lesson, games, memory verses, and recreation. They are learning about the fruit of the Spirit in our lives and how Jesus is the vine, so we must remain connected to him in order to grow. Please pray for the kids who come (today there were 500+ total - over 130 in our 4th grade and up group!) - that they would see Jesus in the people who are leading, that they would experience His love, that they would accept His gift of grace, and that they would live changed - growing and bearing fruit for the kingdom in their homes and villages. Pray we would be a blessing. We'll be sure to post more pictures at the end of the week and let you know how it all went. :)

Titus’ First ‘Real’ Party

Titus was VERY excited to be attending his first ‘real’ party this morning (where we drop him off and don’t have to stay!) – a birthday party for an Australian friend of his who is turning 5. It was so funny to hear him say ‘par-tee!’ ‘par-tee!’ with each step that he took up to their front door . They played games, ate cake and I heard lots of giggling went on. J He is such a social bug and didn’t seem to care one bit that he was about 2 to 7 years younger than any of the other birthday guests… J
(pictures of coloring wrapping paper and party…)

Young Woman Burnt at the Stake in the Eastern Highlands Province

Some of you may have already heard reports of this on the national news. A young woman (they say between 16-20?) was burnt to death this week most likely because of suspicions of her involvement in sorcery/witchcraft here in the Eastern Highlands where we live. Sadly, this is not some astonishingly uncommon occurance. (If you’d like us to email you a copy of the news article, email and let us know.) Please be praying for the highlands people here, many of whom are very spiritually oppressed. Pray that they might know the Truth which sets free from all bondage and fear of darkness. Pray that the WORD would get out and deeply impact the hearts of so many who are still lost.

Swimming... in January

Christmas in January!

Thank you SO much to those of you who’ve sent packages recently – it’s such a treat for us and we feel very loved that you thought of us over the holiday season. We received FOUR packages on the flight that came in on Wednesday this week – it felt like Christmas! (I know there are others of you who said that you’ve mailed things as well….we’ll be sure to let you know personally when they arrive. J)

THANKS AGAIN!

6 to 6

On our way to Lae, I learned about 6 to 6’s for the first time. There are a lot of (what look like abandoned) little shacks along the road-side that are all boarded up during the daytime. Apparently, they open up at 6 p.m. and are basically like brothels that also serve alcohol. It was sad to see (as we were on our way home) there were already lots of trucks and even a tour bus parked on the side of the road, waiting for the ‘nightlife’ to begin. As you can imagine, incidences of HIV/AIDs are significantly increasing here due to lack of education and awareness.

LAE in a Day

Some friends and I were invited last minute to join a car of people driving to the port city of Lae to do some shopping. (It’s about a 3 hour drive each way – so they just make a full day trip out of it, leaving before 6 a.m. so you can get back before dark.) It gets kind of claustrophobic sometimes living within the fence of Ukarumpa, especially as a woman since it’s not safe for us to go most anywhere on our own, so we jumped at the chance to go. What did we do there? SHOPPED! What did we shop for, you ask? Well, my best find (and biggest purchase) was 6 huge blocks of cheese dated ‘best by: Nov/Dec 2008’. J I was SO excited to get cheese at about 1/3 of the price that you can get it here (and I have a friend with a freezer who could store it for me) so I bought a LOT. (I think once I finished shredding and bagging it, it ended up being over 100 cups!) I guess you know you’re a missionary when……the thing that excites you most on a shopping excursion is mass quantities of expired cheese….. ;) Here are some pictures of the gorgeous drive as well as the HUGE burgers that we ordered for lunch (what a treat to eat out!).