POC Highlights

“For everything there is a season…”

We spent 14 weeks in the coastal city of Madang on Nobnob Hill immersed in language study, learning Melanesian culture and adapting to a completely different country and lifestyle than we are accustomed to. 14 weeks was just enough time to learn just enough to feel prepared to go into PNG, continue the learning process, and begin building relationships with the Papua New Guineans we come in contact with.

I will say it was some of the most challenging 14 weeks we’ve had thus far as a family but probably some of the most beneficial. I’m so proud of our kids, what they’ve learned and how they’ve grown in the language and are adapting to their new surroundings. We have seen God’s grace poured out on them during this season of huge transition in their lives.

Our room…the two older kids had bunk beds on the other side of the wall...

Our language learning group with Tok Pisin teacher, Tisa Bat...

The adults and school age kids had weekly hikes and swims preparing us for the physical aspects of living here. Here D and Jason in the bush...

While at Nobnob we were assigned a local family that we met with for 6 weeks. They took us under their wing and helped us with language and cultural learning. Our two families hit it off right away --we miss Miani, Judy and their kids so much already...

There was haus kuk weekend where we spent 5 weekends learning how to live without refrigeration (there are no such things as leftovers!) and cooking more than just smore's and hotdogs over an open fire! This preparation would be critical for our 5 weeks of village living towards the end of the course.

Here’s Jason putting the final touches on our haus kuk that he built from wood, bamboo, string and a tarp. I think if the pilot thing doesn’t work out for him, he’d make a great engineer!

I made tortillas one afternoon to eat for dinner. A double batch took about 2 hours total time, but the kids will tell you it was worth the wait!

Jason waiting on our bread to bake in the large pot oven…

One low light of our time was Mal and her bout with impetigo. When we first arrived in country, she had a horrible time with heat rash, which turned into impetigo because of all the scratching—with her very dirty hands! The girls and I had to stay behind during the village overnight, so they snuggled underneath our ‘creature net’  (it's just not for mosquitos anymore!) and watched a movie.

We had to take a pair of D’s new socks we brought, cut out the toes and wrap them around her arms so the medicine would stay and so she wouldn’t scratch! Thankfully, Mal is doing better and we’re now trying to keep her out of the dirt, but this is a challenge if you know anything about our MalPal!

Last, but certainly not least, the best highlight of our time at POC…Mo accepting Jesus into her heart on February 13^th! Here she is with her teacher Mrs. M...

A glimpse of our five weeks of village living coming soon!