The Great Adventure

Hello from PNG!! By now, via FB or email, you know we made it over a week ago. The story is too long for this space, but the Lord protected us in our travels...including a cancelled flight that we found out later was due to a huge storm here in Madang. We have heard that many of the people that have lived here for years hadn’t seen a storm like it and are having to try to repair the damage to their homes. All that to say that cancelled flight led to a night in a hotel in a country we had just arrived in!! Like I said, the Lord was so good and we saw His hand every step of the way. Thank you for praying us here!!

We’re settling into life here at POC 1,200 feet up at Nobnob (which means “many noses” in the local language) As expected “doing” life is very different here. We have a roof over our heads and mosquito nets over our beds (for more than just mosquitos!) River water is used for our bucket shower, rain water for drinking (and there is a lot of rain here!) The humidity rivals any August day in Texas!

We have a great kitchen staff who is keeping us very well fed...our kids are even eating for which I am SO thankful!! We’ve been trying all sorts of things that are new. Pit pit (grows in a husk kind of like corn, cooked, mashed, seasonings added...tastes delish!) The variety of bananas is unmatched. Big, little, brown, green...the kids love them. Fruit of all kinds...papaya, pineapple, coconut, mango...yum!

Classes have started and we are learning culture, history and the language, Tok Pisin. The kids have their own classes and school work. They seem to be enjoying their schedule so far. There are maybe 10 school age kids and several little kids around Mal’s age. Mal goes to the nursery while we’re all in class.

We’ve done some hiking and swimming and will continue to do those activities to build physical strength/endurance. The views are amazing so it makes the hiking much more bearable! We should forgo talking about how I fell on my first hike or Mo on her first hike! We’re fine...just a little scratched up. 

So WHY are we doing all of this you ask??? A simple answer...in preparation for what’s to come. Over the course of the next 13 weeks, we will be visiting villages for different time periods...an overnight stay, a 3 day hike and eventually 5 weeks living in a village. 

Looking forward to what God has in store for us the next few weeks. One thing is certain...we will be changed--hopefully for the better--because of our time here.

**Pictures hopefully coming soon as the internet is slow & expensive**