Good Afternoon from Ukarumpa
Or should I say Apinun! Apinun is what PNG people say to greet one another in the afternoon here. Meaning “Afternoon” Many people here talk Pisin which is a form of English that is hard to understand.
I am currently sitting at our kitchen table while Steve is off to teach First Aid and CPR to the Senior High School Health class and Gracie is napping. This is some of the first moments that I have had to myself since we left the states. Ahhh…peace and quite! It is about 11 am here on Tuesday making it about 5pm at home on Monday. To figure out the time I tend to add 6 hours and subtract a day.
This morning Gracie and I got up about 6:50 which is perfect since we have been going to bed between 8 and 9 pm here. We were told on our first day here that there is not much to do in the evenings that is why people have some many children here (LOL). It is the truth once the sun goes down everyone hunkers in for the evening. Anyway back to my story, I was able to get up make pancakes, take a shower, make Steve a lunch, play with Gracie on the playground swing, and get two loads of laundry out on the line by 11 here. I guess maybe it should be my nap time too.
We have been so graciously greeted by many of the people living here. In the week we have been here we have had only one dinner at home. We often meet someone new and they say come for dinner tonight! Woo Hoo another day with out cooking. So we have plans through Tomorrow night for dinner with several other invites that we have not accepted a date yet. This too is a blessing because of the cost of food. We packed 385$ Kina so 190$ in to a milk crate yesterday. Wow no wonder many people can’t afford to live here anymore and are forced to move back to the states.
I thought you might find the water system interesting. Our house is plumed to two different sources. First the Hot water comes from a near by river so when drawing a bath it often has a brown color to it due to the rainy season. Our cold water is plumed to the rain water off our roof. Some people drink this directly while others filter it. There is quite a bit of sediment in it, if you were to get a glass from the tap. We have not been able to find a filter here so have been using tap water. I think this is why my stomach has been so iffy lately, well pretty much since we arrived. I often find myself in the bathroom once to twice a day with an upset stomach. I took a picture of Steve and Gracie the other day in a brown bathtub. This portion of living in a third world country will be quite a memory.
There have been several words that have thrown us for a loop lately. Although everyone speaks English its not necessarily the same English. Some examples…
Diapers = Nappies
Stroller = Pram
Pot luck dinner = Bring a plate
There are others that I can’t think of but I find them interesting so I must share as I run across them with you.
Steve has a chance to travel to Madang a town a day and a half by car north of us. People often measure in time here rather than in distance (either how long to drive or walk). So I believe he will be traveling February 6th through the 8th helping transport a car and then flying home. This will allow him to leave the “compound” with two other men and get to see some of the countryside. Please pray for travel mercies for him as he is out, many times people can be held up and robbed while traveling by car (All mom’s disregard that last comment)
We got our email set up through SIL which I believe Summer Institute of Linguistics (The overall umbrella organization here) and we will be able to send pictures for free to those who would like to see. Please leave your email if you would like to be on our Picture list, or perhaps I will send them to a family member and ask them to post them on the blog. We will see how long it takes to send the email today.
Again I hope that this post finds you well. That you are able to keep us in your prayers and that many you are comforted by our redeemer.
~Becky…Steve and Gracie too!
Monday, January 30, 2012
Saturday, January 28, 2012
A new Adventure
A New Adventure in Papua New Guinea!
Well we made it after 5 plane rides to PNG. If I never told you how we were traveling here is an outline
-Seattle to San Fran
-San Fran to Auckland New Zealand
- Auckland to Brisbane Australia
-Australia to Port Moresby New Guinea
-Port Moresby to Ukarumpa!
Whew I tried from just typing it. We left on Sunday the 22 and arrived on Thursday 26 after a day layover and loosing a day with the time change.
Gracie did great with all the flying. On our long trip to Auckland she slept between 8 and 9 hours of the 12 hours which was amazing. We were also blessed with a seat for her on every plane ride. WOOOHOO So very thankful for that ☺
In Brisbane we were short one bag…being Gracie’s which has all the diapers and wipes. I did buy one small pack of wipes when in Australia so we are “making do” and had some extra disposables that have lasted so far as well as many people have donated to our cause while here these few short days. Another blessing.
When we got to Ukarumpa we were greeted at the grass airstrip by approximately 8 people that were there to welcome us and make us feel comfortable. We have been taken well care of and have found the community quite endearing. When a new couple comes to Ukarumpa it is custom to have them over for dinner and lunch for the first 3 days, So today was the first day that I had to cook.
Food here is very EXPENSIVE. I’ll give you an example. The PNG dollar is called a Kina well we get 2 kina for very 1 dollar. Now a carton of eggs is 12$ Kina. Which is still 6 dollars! Everything that is brought in by ship from the USA or Australia is very overpriced a box of cereal is 18 Kina, and yes somehow Steve talked me into a box of cereal. Many of the boxes were close to expiring because no one buys cereal here.
However there is a market here that the locals grow food for on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 6-8am. The vegetables and fruit is very reasonable much cheaper than in the States and we had an amazing salad for dinner tonight with all Organic veggies and home made yogurt. Who knew you could make yogurt so easily, and such a good low cal dressing ☺ I spent 6 USD at the market for all the vegetables we got and Steve bought me lovely flowers for 50 cents!
Our home is very comfortable but plane. No colors on the wall are much decoration, man I would love a few candles to burn for just a little ambiance but I guess I shall wait until I return home for that. We are staying in a duplex that was originally made for translators that would only be in town for less than 5 months and then again back in the village to learn the language so many people have slept in these beds. The homes that people own are almost like the ones at home. Many people have remolded and have this amazing rose wood here that they use for cabinets and floors.
Poor Gracie, or should I say poor Mommy and Daddy, because Gracie’s time clock has still not changed. She has been up between 4 and 5 EVERY night since we left ready for the day to begin. Some of the days I have been able to get her back to sleep and some I have not been so lucky. Please pray for better time adjustment for her so that we can feel rested as well.
She also had a hard time with a fever and rash. She had been running at least a 103 fever and has had a horrible rash all over her body looking like measles, also with diarrhea. Her fever has subsided and the rash is fading slowly, still having some loose stools, so please pray for her health as well that she would return back to her happy self, seeing as she doesn’t feel well she has been quite cranky.
I plan to add some pictures but after trying for 15 minutes for one picture I guess it will have to be another day!
I hope that this note finds you well and that we will be hearing from many of you on here.
Love Becky, Steve and Gracie
Well we made it after 5 plane rides to PNG. If I never told you how we were traveling here is an outline
-Seattle to San Fran
-San Fran to Auckland New Zealand
- Auckland to Brisbane Australia
-Australia to Port Moresby New Guinea
-Port Moresby to Ukarumpa!
Whew I tried from just typing it. We left on Sunday the 22 and arrived on Thursday 26 after a day layover and loosing a day with the time change.
Gracie did great with all the flying. On our long trip to Auckland she slept between 8 and 9 hours of the 12 hours which was amazing. We were also blessed with a seat for her on every plane ride. WOOOHOO So very thankful for that ☺
In Brisbane we were short one bag…being Gracie’s which has all the diapers and wipes. I did buy one small pack of wipes when in Australia so we are “making do” and had some extra disposables that have lasted so far as well as many people have donated to our cause while here these few short days. Another blessing.
When we got to Ukarumpa we were greeted at the grass airstrip by approximately 8 people that were there to welcome us and make us feel comfortable. We have been taken well care of and have found the community quite endearing. When a new couple comes to Ukarumpa it is custom to have them over for dinner and lunch for the first 3 days, So today was the first day that I had to cook.
Food here is very EXPENSIVE. I’ll give you an example. The PNG dollar is called a Kina well we get 2 kina for very 1 dollar. Now a carton of eggs is 12$ Kina. Which is still 6 dollars! Everything that is brought in by ship from the USA or Australia is very overpriced a box of cereal is 18 Kina, and yes somehow Steve talked me into a box of cereal. Many of the boxes were close to expiring because no one buys cereal here.
However there is a market here that the locals grow food for on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 6-8am. The vegetables and fruit is very reasonable much cheaper than in the States and we had an amazing salad for dinner tonight with all Organic veggies and home made yogurt. Who knew you could make yogurt so easily, and such a good low cal dressing ☺ I spent 6 USD at the market for all the vegetables we got and Steve bought me lovely flowers for 50 cents!
Our home is very comfortable but plane. No colors on the wall are much decoration, man I would love a few candles to burn for just a little ambiance but I guess I shall wait until I return home for that. We are staying in a duplex that was originally made for translators that would only be in town for less than 5 months and then again back in the village to learn the language so many people have slept in these beds. The homes that people own are almost like the ones at home. Many people have remolded and have this amazing rose wood here that they use for cabinets and floors.
Poor Gracie, or should I say poor Mommy and Daddy, because Gracie’s time clock has still not changed. She has been up between 4 and 5 EVERY night since we left ready for the day to begin. Some of the days I have been able to get her back to sleep and some I have not been so lucky. Please pray for better time adjustment for her so that we can feel rested as well.
She also had a hard time with a fever and rash. She had been running at least a 103 fever and has had a horrible rash all over her body looking like measles, also with diarrhea. Her fever has subsided and the rash is fading slowly, still having some loose stools, so please pray for her health as well that she would return back to her happy self, seeing as she doesn’t feel well she has been quite cranky.
I plan to add some pictures but after trying for 15 minutes for one picture I guess it will have to be another day!
I hope that this note finds you well and that we will be hearing from many of you on here.
Love Becky, Steve and Gracie
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Starting to say Good-bye
Well I thought I better jump back on the blogging bandwagon since this will be my main source of communication in the up coming months.
Gracie and I had a great lunch today at Rock pizza with our great friends Shannon and Sarah. It really hit home when we were leaving and I realized I wouldn't see those sweet faces until we return from New Guinea in April...Seems so far away.
I also bought cloth diapers today....hmmmm this will be quite the experience. I know the Lord will use it to sanctify and grow me but I'm still nervous and slightly scared. I am so ready for an amazing adventure but I'm not good with change. It is something that I tend to do dragging both feet. I only have 4 more shifts at work before we leave and so may Good-byes to say that my heart is saddened. But perhaps I'll just say "See you later" as it is only 3 months we will be gone and not as thought we will not be back.
I have so much to pack and still to purchase. I really don't have many summer clothes due to the fact that Washington DOESN"T have summers. I am in need of some long skirts if anyone has a few to spare during these cold months here. It should be 80-90 degrees where we are headed but warmer with the humidity.
I did find out that we will have DSL in our room. WOO HOO connection to America. However, we have to pay 12 cents per MB we down/upload...so skyping with family will be limited. I hope to be able to post some videos of GRacie though so all the Grandparents can see her as a one year old changes dramatically in 3 months.
Well these are just my thoughts for the day. Excitement and sadness at the same time. Thanks for listening to my heart and here are a few recent pictures of Gracie our family since it has been a while since I have posted on here.
Gracie and I had a great lunch today at Rock pizza with our great friends Shannon and Sarah. It really hit home when we were leaving and I realized I wouldn't see those sweet faces until we return from New Guinea in April...Seems so far away.
I also bought cloth diapers today....hmmmm this will be quite the experience. I know the Lord will use it to sanctify and grow me but I'm still nervous and slightly scared. I am so ready for an amazing adventure but I'm not good with change. It is something that I tend to do dragging both feet. I only have 4 more shifts at work before we leave and so may Good-byes to say that my heart is saddened. But perhaps I'll just say "See you later" as it is only 3 months we will be gone and not as thought we will not be back.
I have so much to pack and still to purchase. I really don't have many summer clothes due to the fact that Washington DOESN"T have summers. I am in need of some long skirts if anyone has a few to spare during these cold months here. It should be 80-90 degrees where we are headed but warmer with the humidity.
I did find out that we will have DSL in our room. WOO HOO connection to America. However, we have to pay 12 cents per MB we down/upload...so skyping with family will be limited. I hope to be able to post some videos of GRacie though so all the Grandparents can see her as a one year old changes dramatically in 3 months.
Well these are just my thoughts for the day. Excitement and sadness at the same time. Thanks for listening to my heart and here are a few recent pictures of Gracie our family since it has been a while since I have posted on here.
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