O {Orientation}

A popular question asked is "When will you learn the language?"

A year from now we will head to PNG and the first thing we will do is head straight to a 14 week course on the coast called Pacific Orientation Course (POC).

Things we'll do besides learn Tok Pisin:

-Sleep under mosquito nets. We will initially be on the coast where malaria is more prevelent than when we move into the Highlands after POC.

-Watch 2 out of 3 of my kids play in the mud. Mo will turn her nose up at the idea of getting filthy.

-Learn to adapt to a different culture which will include 5 weeks of living in a village with a family and learning about them and how they live day to day. (note: I am SO excited about this!!)

-There's talk of learning how to start a fire similar to Tom Hanks in "Castaway". We'll be re-watching this movie before we leave the country just to make sure we know what we're doing. Although Wilson will be replaced by D, Mo and Mal. They are cuter and more practical than a volleyball for this part of the journey. Sorry Wilson. J even purchased some kind of "fire starter" on a recent trip. I truly believe this is cheating and his "tool" will probably confiscated if not at the airport, once we arrive. He thinks it's legal...again...let me reinterate: I will watch the movie to ensure we pass this section of the course. I might even practice before we go if the burn ban ever lets up around here!

-At some point during POC, we will have to complete a 3 mile hike...and a 1 mile swim...in the sea. I hike just fine with the right shoes, but swim in the sea?? Can I doggy paddle? Dead man float? Bring goggles? Arm floaties? I foresee some hard core training at the JAARS pool next Spring...

-I have already prepped some of you for this, but we will have very limited communication during those 14 weeks. The internet is slow, expensive and there is apparently very limited time to do anything "extra". As SOON as I have a decent connection and email the grandparents to update them on their grandchildren, I'll make sure to update this dear piece of cyberspace...and hopefully with pics!!

-We've heard several things about POC...kids apparently *love* it, it's challenging, informative and adults either love it or hate it. I would say J and I are pretty adventurous (???), but I'm sure this is going to put that spirit to the test!

-The kids will have their own POC training although I'm pretty sure the swim and hike are out of the question. I'm thankful they'll have some training on a level they can understand and I'm sure they'll be teaching us a thing or two before it's all said and done!

N {Newsletter}

We are trying our best to update what's going on with us through this blog, but also through a quarterly newsletter. We will do our best and keep it informative so you can know how to pray for us, plus see what's coming up for family. And possibly a cute kid pic or funny story...maybe...if they'll cooperate!

If you're interested in receiving our newsletter, we can mail it to you or send it conveniently to your inbox.
Send me you info and we'll be happy to add you to our list! And we promise not to sell you information to an outside third party...haha!

**The latest edition is being sent out this week!!**

M {Map}

We're at the half way mark with the "Wycliffe ABC's"!!! Thanks for hanging with me to this point!

Today we're going to look at a map since there has been some confusion on where it is we're actually going. Several people thought PNG was in Africa or somewhere in China. And trust me, until recently, I don't know if I could point out exactly where this small island the size of California was located.

I know the map is small, but due to size restrictions on the blog, this is as good as we can get...

So find the U.S. then go to the far right side of the map. See the pink blob, more than half way down the page, surrounded by blue? That's Australia. Go north to the teeny tiny island right above Australia and that's Papua New Guinea. Almost exactly on the other side of the world where I sit today. 

If you get a chance, take google earth for a spin and see what's nearby!

L {Language}

We will have many transitions once we get to PNG and a major one will be learning a new language. Jason and I are very excited about this while D is still warming to the idea. At first he thought we would never speak English again! We reassured him that we would still speak English, but he would also know a "secret language" that he could speak when we visit the US. He wasn't sold on that idea ("Mom, you're crazy!"), but he's slowly realizing he'll need to communicate in something other than English!

There are over 800 languages in PNG and several hundred of those languages still have translation needs! We will be learning Melanesian Pidgin, or Tok Pisin, which means "Talk Pidgin", and it's one of the official languages of PNG and most widely used. (We'll talk later about our language training!)

I'll leave you today with the Lord's Prayer in Tok Pisin:

Papa bilong mipela

Yu stap long heven.

Nem bilong yu i mas i stap holi.

Kingdom bilong yu i mas i kam.

Strongim mipela long bihainim laik bilong yu long graun,

olsem ol i bihainim long heven.

Givim mipela kaikai inap long tude.

Pogivim rong bilong mipela,

olsem mipela i pogivim ol arapela i mekim rong long mipela.

Sambai long mipela long taim bilong traim.

Na rausim olgeta samting nogut long mipela.

Kingdom na strong na glori, em i bilong yu tasol oltaim oltaim.

Tru.

K {Kina}

*Kina is the currency of PNG.

*One hundred Toea make one Kina.

*The bank notes used in PNG are made of polymer not paper like the U.S.

*You can see pictures of the Kina and Toea and read more about the currency of PNG at the Bank of Papua New Guinea website.

*Yes, the tooth fairy plans to visit PNG regardless of the currency used :)



***Thanks to everyone who has commented and encouraged me about this series of posts! If you're just joining me and wondering why it looks like I'm doing something with the alphabet...you can start here to get up to date!***

J {JAARS}

A little history about JAARS. Back when Cameron Townsend first founded the organizaiton in 1948,  JAARS stood for "Jungle Aviation And Radio Services". He realized how important aviation could be in reaching people who live in inaccessible terrains. More than 60 years later, JAARS has done away with the acronym because its services now include computers, maritime services, media and so much more.

This time last year, I had a full page list (or two!) of things I was anticipating packing for our 2 1/2 week trip, bound for Waxhaw, NC and the JAARS facility. Jason had been invited back in April for a TE (technical evaluation) to test his maintenance and pilot skills. This would be the first step, of what would be many, in our application process with Wycliffe.

So many things were uncertain this time last year...what would be involved in the TE? Would he pass? If he did pass, what would be next for us? Some things we already knew...the Lord had already provided us with the funds to pay for the TE, the time off work for Jason, portable DVD players for the kids (yes, priorities :)). We had a peace that we were doing exactly what we were supposed to be doing, in the midst of the unknowns.

Those two weeks at JAARS turned out to be some of the best, most stressful times for us. Jason was tested, tried and challenged almost every single day for two weeks straight. This was no cake walk for him and there was nothing I could do but encourage and pray for the Lord's will to be done.

We met people who were in the same position as us...unsure of the future, but so certain this is what God had called them to do. We met families who had been on the field for years and heard their stories about how God was using His people, with their variety of skills, to get the Bible into the hands of so many that don't have it.

The last Thursday we were there, Jason had finished his last major flight, the TE was "officially" over...I remember saying to him, "I'm going to be really sad if we don't get to do this." My heart had been changed. I wanted to be a part of Bible Translation.

We knew he had done his best, the end result was in God's hands. Friday morning rolled around and we anticipated (understatement of the year!) our "results meeting" early that afternoon. When they gave him his acceptance letter, we were surprised and excited. With that excitement, more questions...and even more questions came up on our 16 hour drive back to Texas! (Nothing like a good long car ride to make you question everything!)

But here we are, a year later, making plans to head back to JAARS in January for more training and to complete another step to get us ready for PNG. The Lord continues to show His faithfulness and we continue to be amazed at His goodness and grace.

A verse I was reminded of last year still has truth for us today as we plan and make preparations...

"The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory belongs to the Lord." Prov. 21:31

I {Initiative}

One thing I'm looking forward to, when we move to PNG, is the opportunity we will have to meet people of different cultures, races, backgrounds, life circumstances. I want to hear what moms on the other side of the world deal with, the issues they face in raising their children in an environment completely and totally opposite of what I'm used to or comfortable with. I want to hear and see with my own eyes another glimpse of how big our God really is.

We have been told that where we will live is mostly with other missionaries, so the time we have with nationals will be limited unless we make the effort to build relationships. We will have to take the initiative to meet other people. Good to know that even though things will be different there, some things, like building relationships, stay the same. Think about your closest friends...your spouse...those relationships didn't happen over night. Both of you had to make the effort, take the time, to get to know each other. If neither one had taken the initiative to know the other person, what blessings would you miss out on by not having that person in your life!?

I don't know what the scenarios will be for us...the open air market that I'll have to go to (early in the morning) 3 or 4 times a week to pick up fresh veggies and fruits? At a local church? I don't know how it will happen, but I know that I want the Lord to use me, even if it's at the market!

So if you think about me, will you pray that the Lord will open up a ways for me to build relationships with the nationals while we're in PNG? You know you'll hear about your answered prayers here :)