Two Years

In the village 2 years ago

Today marks two years of living in PNG. Our youngest had turned three just four days before we whisked her away from the world she was learning and plopped her into completely new territory.

As it turns out, from our family, she had the easiest time adapting to this new life.

Last Monday that same girl turned five. This year, she’s had three birthday parties in two different countries. She was blessed to celebrate with her grandparents, cousins, plus friends who love her like family.

 

The idea of going “home” for Christmas was a hard concept to wrap her mind around. For Jason and I we were going home, but for her, America is just the name of her passport country and the place where grandparents and cousins love her from afar.

Her small world here, her home, revolves around her friends and classmates, her dog, her room and a yard full of banana trees and pineapples. Wearing shoes is optional and the below freezing weather we experienced in Texas recently? A foreign concept that required much more than a skirt and flip flops.

As Mal’s world expanded over the last month, she discovered that soda fountains are the most amazing machines...ever! Moving stairs (a.k.a. escalators) can be great if you step on at just the right time. And the variety of toilets between this side of the world and the other can be surprising...and confusing...watch out for the ones that flush automatically! 

First time on the escalator...that she can remember!

Even after all the excitement, “newness”  (and unlimited soda) that America brought, Mal was ready to come "home". Home to perpetual spring and where bedtime prayers petition rain and full water tanks.

This. This is her normal and where her memories are being made.

And I can only think that God has big plans for this little world traveler.