Finally a great day in PNG!
Steve and I woke up this morning getting ready for our big move! We packed most of our stuff yesterday and was ready to start the process by 8 am.
Anna our house mary came and cleaned, cleaned, and cleaned our old place so that I didn't have to do anything other then help Steve and take care of Gracie.
After 3.5 hours of moving...(we had to carry everything by hand up a hill to our new house, including all our food) it was time for lunch and it was a good one with our new friend Anna.
Our new house is full of windows that overlook these great green hills. We have a view of a village that is being built and you can watch nationals making huts as we would call them with branches, and mud, like what you would see on Survivor but much more elaborate. We also have tons of bushes that have cherry guavas growing on them and they are so good. We have tons of pineapple bushes (I always thought they grew in trees), and a papaya tree.
I can't help but feel my moral uplifted already. When wondering why I felt so much more comfortable today I started to realize that although clean our Translator lodge was more like a uncomfortable hotel room. Hotel rooms are temporary, you come stay for a week or two and then head home. I was never in the mind set of staying, it just felt like I was waiting to pack back up. Today as I unpacked I though how blessed I was to stay here. We have two comfortable couches and two recliners. You never realize how much one enjoys their furniture until you have some really uncomfortable stuff. I never felt like I could relax in our old place because there was no real place to do so. We have a huge tub...like one at home, and Gracie took a great bath tonight that wasn't in brown water because we have 2 rain tanks so all the water comes from rain water them rather than the river. We also have a hot water heater!! No more COLD showers! WOO HOO!!!
I also did Zumba for the first time today. There is an instructor here, she travels and teaches Zumba at missionary towns around the world. I never thought I could get into it but boy was it fun! I was sweating up a storm by the end (maybe because it was humid today) but never the less it felt great to exercise and not have the baby all day. Just a little time to myself was WONDERFUL :) She teaches the class Tuesday and Saturday through the end of March so I think that I will have to become a regular. I was talking to a lady named Kelly and we decided it was like a bad cheerleading practice. :) Not that I was ever a cheerleader I will never admit to that ;)
Finally tonight we made it down to a Wycliff Associates (all the support staff for the translators) pot luck. It was perfect because I had no plans for dinner so I made a quick batch of snicker-doodle cookies (that everyone loved) and we headed down for a great meal and lots of good conversation.
I expected a fight from Gracie tonight as I thought she would be distraught over her new room but she waved at me as I left and said bye-bye and I haven't heard from her since. She definitely likes all the room here and has been running around getting into everything. Ohhhh and guess what I have a laundry dryer! This is not meant for daily use, however, it is for when the sun goes away at noon and your laundry is still damp you can throw them in and not have to wait a whole day to put them back out and start drying your clothes again.
Thank you for your continued prayers. I have definitely felt the love and support from our Lord leading me through.
Happy Valentines day from PNG :) (Its 3am your time)
PS. We do have valentines plans for Saturday. Steve is taking me "out" to dinner, and we have found a babysitter for Gracie!
Love Becky
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Monday, February 13, 2012
We are Moving!
Let me start by saying that the duplex that we live in does not like me. I have been having major allergy problems which I normally do not get. I constantly want to rip out my right eyeball...thats right, I plan on keeping the left one. I sneeze maybe 20-30 times a day and am stuffed up in the evening (whenever we go into our bedroom). I do believe the culprit is MOLD. PNG is a warm place that is wet all the time. Perfect breeding ground for bacteria. Ewwww
That lead to a conversation Steve had with a family that was leaving for furlough today (Monday). Well they either need to rent out their house or will have to pay their mortgage here and in Korea. Steve was telling them about my allergies and we all decided that a move was in order. The dad Mr. Park said that we were and answer to his prayers. WOW I don't think I have ever been an answer to anyone's prayers. What an amazing feeling to know that God is using me to help others. I am so excited to move into this 4 bedroom house that is so much comfortable for us and the same price rent!!
We got the keys to the house today but not until 5:30 so we will be moving tomorrow. It feels like a house that should be in Arizona. Great big windows overlooking the lush green rolling hills, tile floors throughout. The best part is that it has a water filter so hopefully that will fix my stomach issues.
I had quite the day today. First my allergies were driving me crazy so I took some benadryl and was knocked out for hours, probably slept 2-3 hours this afternoon. Then when I woke up I fed Gracie and we were getting ready to walk to the store when it began to sprinkle. By the time I ran back and got 3 loads of laundry inside it was a down pour. So I was racing back down the steps to get the bucket of close pins and fell backwards. At least Gracie was on my front side in the ergo. Well It knocked the wind out of me and I ended up at the bottom of the stairs with bruises on my leg and back. Then tonight I burned myself on a cookie sheet. Well with all that in mind the most important part was that I still have a good attitude. Yesterday or the day before I would have crawled back in bed and not gotten out. But today I just kept plugging along trying to keep a positive attitude.
I must say that packing up our duplex today was slightly hard. I am ready to come home and it was a reminder that we have 2 more full months left in Uhkarumpa. But that does mean that we have been here for 3 weeks and although I have had many ups and downs the Lord has sustained me through it all. Each morning I wake up and ask for the grace to make it through another day. I keep waiting to wake up and love it here but it has yet to happen.
Steve has made a friend that is a native to PNG. He works for SIL (Summer institute of Linguistics) and his wife died in 2007. He has 4 children ranging from the age of 5th grade, 3rd grade, 1st grade, and preschool. Kevin walks 2 hours from his village to work. He works straight from 8 am to 4pm (not even a lunch break) then walks 2 hours back home to only cook dinner and take care of his family. Steve invited Kevin and his children to dinner so our prayer is that they can come before we leave. Please keep Kevin in your prayers as he struggles to supply for his family. But continues to work hard! It continues to amaze me the work ethic that people of this country have. I don't know very many Americans that would work for $1.25 an hour and be thankful for the opportunity. What an amazing testimony these people have.
Last night Steve and I had tacos for dinner and boy were they good! I made home made flour tortillas for the first time. I remember my mom doing it once or twice as a child but never payed attention. Well they were sooo easy and WAY better then ones you would buy in the states!
In case anyone would like to try here is the recipe.
2 cups flour
1 tsp salt
3 tbs of either oil or shortening
Mix 3 ingredients together
Then add one cup of Hot water and kneed until no dough sticks to the bowl
(I had to add a little more water, then I added too much so had to add more flour)
Next you roll them into egg sized balls and let them sit for 15 minutes
Finally you roll them out with a rolling pin the size of a salad plate and fry them on a dry (no oil needed) frying pan. 2 minutes on the first side 1 minute on the second side.
These are delish I will definitely be making them again! Please let me know if you make them and how they turned out. Your husband will approve guarantee it. The question is, whether you want to do it the first time because you won't want to buy store bought tortillas ever again :)
Well more adventures from PNG to come but I have an antsy one year old in my lap that needs to play so we will talk soon!
Love xoxo,
Becky
That lead to a conversation Steve had with a family that was leaving for furlough today (Monday). Well they either need to rent out their house or will have to pay their mortgage here and in Korea. Steve was telling them about my allergies and we all decided that a move was in order. The dad Mr. Park said that we were and answer to his prayers. WOW I don't think I have ever been an answer to anyone's prayers. What an amazing feeling to know that God is using me to help others. I am so excited to move into this 4 bedroom house that is so much comfortable for us and the same price rent!!
We got the keys to the house today but not until 5:30 so we will be moving tomorrow. It feels like a house that should be in Arizona. Great big windows overlooking the lush green rolling hills, tile floors throughout. The best part is that it has a water filter so hopefully that will fix my stomach issues.
I had quite the day today. First my allergies were driving me crazy so I took some benadryl and was knocked out for hours, probably slept 2-3 hours this afternoon. Then when I woke up I fed Gracie and we were getting ready to walk to the store when it began to sprinkle. By the time I ran back and got 3 loads of laundry inside it was a down pour. So I was racing back down the steps to get the bucket of close pins and fell backwards. At least Gracie was on my front side in the ergo. Well It knocked the wind out of me and I ended up at the bottom of the stairs with bruises on my leg and back. Then tonight I burned myself on a cookie sheet. Well with all that in mind the most important part was that I still have a good attitude. Yesterday or the day before I would have crawled back in bed and not gotten out. But today I just kept plugging along trying to keep a positive attitude.
I must say that packing up our duplex today was slightly hard. I am ready to come home and it was a reminder that we have 2 more full months left in Uhkarumpa. But that does mean that we have been here for 3 weeks and although I have had many ups and downs the Lord has sustained me through it all. Each morning I wake up and ask for the grace to make it through another day. I keep waiting to wake up and love it here but it has yet to happen.
Steve has made a friend that is a native to PNG. He works for SIL (Summer institute of Linguistics) and his wife died in 2007. He has 4 children ranging from the age of 5th grade, 3rd grade, 1st grade, and preschool. Kevin walks 2 hours from his village to work. He works straight from 8 am to 4pm (not even a lunch break) then walks 2 hours back home to only cook dinner and take care of his family. Steve invited Kevin and his children to dinner so our prayer is that they can come before we leave. Please keep Kevin in your prayers as he struggles to supply for his family. But continues to work hard! It continues to amaze me the work ethic that people of this country have. I don't know very many Americans that would work for $1.25 an hour and be thankful for the opportunity. What an amazing testimony these people have.
Last night Steve and I had tacos for dinner and boy were they good! I made home made flour tortillas for the first time. I remember my mom doing it once or twice as a child but never payed attention. Well they were sooo easy and WAY better then ones you would buy in the states!
In case anyone would like to try here is the recipe.
2 cups flour
1 tsp salt
3 tbs of either oil or shortening
Mix 3 ingredients together
Then add one cup of Hot water and kneed until no dough sticks to the bowl
(I had to add a little more water, then I added too much so had to add more flour)
Next you roll them into egg sized balls and let them sit for 15 minutes
Finally you roll them out with a rolling pin the size of a salad plate and fry them on a dry (no oil needed) frying pan. 2 minutes on the first side 1 minute on the second side.
These are delish I will definitely be making them again! Please let me know if you make them and how they turned out. Your husband will approve guarantee it. The question is, whether you want to do it the first time because you won't want to buy store bought tortillas ever again :)
Well more adventures from PNG to come but I have an antsy one year old in my lap that needs to play so we will talk soon!
Love xoxo,
Becky
Friday, February 10, 2012
Good morning PNG!
Mornin to all those back home. Its about 9 am here and Saturday. While its 3pm on Friday your time. Did you want to know how Saturday was going to go? Its going to be a nice relaxing day. Time to sleep in...Pick up the house a little spent time with your family, the normal drill. :) Or maybe thats how our Saturday has gone the hour I have been awake.
I had an interesting experience this week. We recently hired someone that would be called a House Mary this week. She comes in and cleans, does minimal cooking and will take care of your children when you need to leave for any reason. Its amazing how close this comes to resemble the book "The Help". Some of these ladies walk 2 hours to be at work for $1.25 an hour. So for 4 hours of work we pay 10 Kina which is 5 USD. It is expected that you feed them snack and a cup of tea but that seems so minimal for what services they provide you. Our new House Mary's name or Haus Mari in Tok Pisin (the PNG language) is Anna and she is very sweet and lives near by so it only takes her 20 minutes to walk. I can't help feel for these ladies who are so eager to work and not asking for any handouts. If only American's could get the concept that you have to work to get money and food. Go figure.
On other news Steve returned from Madang on Wednesday with a new respect and love for the Nationals are like here. He has some great pictures of the bus getting stuck and maybe a 50-75 nationals watching or helping get the van off a rock. He also got to visit Wycliffe's POC (Pacific Orientation Course). If we were to come for longer than a year to PNG we would spend 3 months learning the language and how to live in a village. They also spend 5 weeks doing village living to better understand how people survive and what it takes. He meet some amazing people there that shared how they ended up in PNG and what they thought the Lord had in store for them.
Steve also got to do some fun things. He went snorkeling and said it was the warmest water he had ever been in. Warmer than Hawaii, and the fish were just as pretty. He also got to go cliff jumping into the ocean with some native boys...I was wondering why he had a sopping pair of wet underwear when he got home, glad it wasn't because he had an accident. :)
All and all I would say that Steve had a great time and learned a lot from the men he traveled with. Thank you for your prayers as he was gone. We were all well taken care of by our heavenly father.
We do have dates for going to Garoka. We will be gone between March 17 and the 21st so please continue to keep us in your prayers as we go to meet the Sisson family that I spoke about in a past blog and see what their mission is all about.
We love you all and will hopefully keep you posted on our blog. More to come in later days. Off to feed the kid and husband breakfast!
xoxo
Becky
Gracie is on my lap and would like to write you all a message: Here is what she has to say..
asdfghjkNJJJJjjmfjhhxxvvbw56 mkklml nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnv x
\gfg
Thanks for listening
I had an interesting experience this week. We recently hired someone that would be called a House Mary this week. She comes in and cleans, does minimal cooking and will take care of your children when you need to leave for any reason. Its amazing how close this comes to resemble the book "The Help". Some of these ladies walk 2 hours to be at work for $1.25 an hour. So for 4 hours of work we pay 10 Kina which is 5 USD. It is expected that you feed them snack and a cup of tea but that seems so minimal for what services they provide you. Our new House Mary's name or Haus Mari in Tok Pisin (the PNG language) is Anna and she is very sweet and lives near by so it only takes her 20 minutes to walk. I can't help feel for these ladies who are so eager to work and not asking for any handouts. If only American's could get the concept that you have to work to get money and food. Go figure.
On other news Steve returned from Madang on Wednesday with a new respect and love for the Nationals are like here. He has some great pictures of the bus getting stuck and maybe a 50-75 nationals watching or helping get the van off a rock. He also got to visit Wycliffe's POC (Pacific Orientation Course). If we were to come for longer than a year to PNG we would spend 3 months learning the language and how to live in a village. They also spend 5 weeks doing village living to better understand how people survive and what it takes. He meet some amazing people there that shared how they ended up in PNG and what they thought the Lord had in store for them.
Steve also got to do some fun things. He went snorkeling and said it was the warmest water he had ever been in. Warmer than Hawaii, and the fish were just as pretty. He also got to go cliff jumping into the ocean with some native boys...I was wondering why he had a sopping pair of wet underwear when he got home, glad it wasn't because he had an accident. :)
All and all I would say that Steve had a great time and learned a lot from the men he traveled with. Thank you for your prayers as he was gone. We were all well taken care of by our heavenly father.
We do have dates for going to Garoka. We will be gone between March 17 and the 21st so please continue to keep us in your prayers as we go to meet the Sisson family that I spoke about in a past blog and see what their mission is all about.
We love you all and will hopefully keep you posted on our blog. More to come in later days. Off to feed the kid and husband breakfast!
xoxo
Becky
Gracie is on my lap and would like to write you all a message: Here is what she has to say..
asdfghjkNJJJJjjmfjhhxxvvbw56 mkklml nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnv x
\gfg
Thanks for listening
Monday, February 6, 2012
Another nap Another blog
It is amazing how strong I have felt the last 24 hours when you have no crutch to stand upon except for God.
Its about 1 pm here and Gracie and I have already had a full day with more to come.
- We began our morning by snuggling in bed and watching Curious George. (My favorite thing to do in the morning SNUGLE)
- We then went for our play date across the center so probably ½ mile and Gracie played with a girl named Chloe who is 2.5 and by the end of our time Gracie had warmed up and was playing
- We went to teatime. I didn’t know I was in England?? haha Tea is very cultural here and there were many new and familiar faces there. This was enjoyable but short lived as 1 year olds only can watch you drink tea and talk for so long
- We then went and had Gracie’s blood re-drawn from when she was sick to ensure you WBC were back to normal. This seemed to take a long time as the lady was a National and slow at the process. Gracie SCREAMED for almost 5 minutes. Which was the hardest part.
- But then we went to the grocery store, and in front of the store there is a place called the Ki Bar. That has some pre made hot food. So Gracie and I had French Fries (Or Chips as they would call them here) for lunch as a treat since her poke was fairly traumatic.
- Tonight we will go to a potluck or as us Church XP members say a Pot Providence because there is no such thing as luck ☺
On my walk home I was contemplating how life would be like without Steve. I know this seems kind of a distressing question but could always be a possibility, as we do not know when we will be taken from this earth. For the first time in my lifetime I felt strong enough that I though that I could carry on with the grace of God if this were to ever happen.
If I had described myself a week ago I would have said that I was a sheltered, timid person that didn’t like change (Unless around friends then I can be loud and obnoxious but not in new situations). Well guess what that does not work in PNG. If your timid you have no friends and change well I don’t think there can be too much more change than this.
I expected to grow and change as we spent time here in PNG but it is amazing how the Lord works in your heart to give you strength and courage that you would have never imagined and strips everything you would consider comforting to bring you closer to Him and be reliant on Him.
~xoxo Becky
Its about 1 pm here and Gracie and I have already had a full day with more to come.
- We began our morning by snuggling in bed and watching Curious George. (My favorite thing to do in the morning SNUGLE)
- We then went for our play date across the center so probably ½ mile and Gracie played with a girl named Chloe who is 2.5 and by the end of our time Gracie had warmed up and was playing
- We went to teatime. I didn’t know I was in England?? haha Tea is very cultural here and there were many new and familiar faces there. This was enjoyable but short lived as 1 year olds only can watch you drink tea and talk for so long
- We then went and had Gracie’s blood re-drawn from when she was sick to ensure you WBC were back to normal. This seemed to take a long time as the lady was a National and slow at the process. Gracie SCREAMED for almost 5 minutes. Which was the hardest part.
- But then we went to the grocery store, and in front of the store there is a place called the Ki Bar. That has some pre made hot food. So Gracie and I had French Fries (Or Chips as they would call them here) for lunch as a treat since her poke was fairly traumatic.
- Tonight we will go to a potluck or as us Church XP members say a Pot Providence because there is no such thing as luck ☺
On my walk home I was contemplating how life would be like without Steve. I know this seems kind of a distressing question but could always be a possibility, as we do not know when we will be taken from this earth. For the first time in my lifetime I felt strong enough that I though that I could carry on with the grace of God if this were to ever happen.
If I had described myself a week ago I would have said that I was a sheltered, timid person that didn’t like change (Unless around friends then I can be loud and obnoxious but not in new situations). Well guess what that does not work in PNG. If your timid you have no friends and change well I don’t think there can be too much more change than this.
I expected to grow and change as we spent time here in PNG but it is amazing how the Lord works in your heart to give you strength and courage that you would have never imagined and strips everything you would consider comforting to bring you closer to Him and be reliant on Him.
~xoxo Becky
Steve's safe and sound
Just a quick note. It is 8:30 am here and I wanted you all to know that Steve made it safely to Madang yesterday and will be flying home tomorrow. Thank you for your prayers and support yesterday as he was traveling.
In other new's my mom has agreed to post some of the pictures on our blog. So please stay tuned for pictures from PNG!
~Becky
In other new's my mom has agreed to post some of the pictures on our blog. So please stay tuned for pictures from PNG!
~Becky
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Amazing Grace
Today I sit and write to all my family and friends while Gracie takes her second nap for the day. I am taking this time because Steve has left for Madang and will not return until Wednesday. I hope that I will hear from him sometime via email or phone but realistically things are not that easy here.
This morning started by getting up and making my favorite husband and favorite daughter German pancakes. This has become a stable here in PNG seeing it takes 2 cup flour, 2 eggs and some milk and a pinch of salt. Making it an inexpensive meal to make and they both love it. As we ate we waited for the guys to drive up and come pick up Steve. With each car passing I got more anxious and thought why did I agree to Steve leaving Gracie and I in a third world country without any friends or family to support us while he’s gone. I can’t believe this is happening. And then they pulled up we waved good-bye and he was gone. My heart was saddened that I was alone, that I had a huge responsibility of taking care of a one year old in this place I’m not accustomed too and that I was alone, oh ya did I say I was left alone?
After putting Gracie down for a morning nap around 10 I decided to take a shower and get ready as we did have a lunch date today, with a lovely older couple named Tom and Marilyn Kelley who have been so gracious to us while we have been her and have really taken good care of us. After showering the phone rang and a young couple our age was calling to invite us to dinner tomorrow. I had to decline explaining that Steve was gone, so instead we will have a play date tomorrow and dinner on Wednesday upon Steve’s return.
We then went for lunch and upon returning Gracie and I played on the swing and then took a walk to the store, which I had yet to do by myself. I have always gone with Steve or sent him with a list while he was in “center” (The middle of town). Walking back home the Lord was with me. I had this amazing sense of peace as if he was walking next to me, that I wasn’t alone, and that he would give me strength to carry on these 3 months while in PNG. I am so thankful for this day he has given me, and the ability to press on and grow in my relationship with my savior as well as a mother and a wife.
Please continue to keep Steve and I in your prayers as things begin to look up in our life in PNG we still will have many obstacles to overcome.
- Please pray for safety for Steve as he travels
- Please pray for our reliance to be our Father and not ourselves
- Please pray that we would be used mightily of God while here
- Please pray that God would guide our hearts to make wise decisions.
We were blessed to meet the Sisson family yesterday. They are a family that lives outside of Garoka that works with a missionary group called “To every tribe” and we had been talking with the director of the group about meeting while in PNG. This providential meeting was great because we got a chance to spend some time having them for lunch yesterday and their 3 children before traveling to Garoka and staying with them in their home. They have traveled between Ukarumpa and Garoka (About a 2 hour car drive) over 70 times in the last year and agreed that they would possibly be able to pick us up and bring us back, which would be huge answered pray to not be traveling by ourselves on the roads of PNG by ourselves. This trip should happen some time in early to mid March. Our lunch with this family was a much-needed encouragement and we were very blessed to spend time with them.
As Steve and I have discussed in the two weeks we have been here, many strangers have had us over for dinner. Who does that in the US? No one? Why is that? Why don’t we as Christians invest in others that we don’t know? Why are we the same as unbelievers? This is something the Lord has placed deeply on my heart. To reach out, out of love to those we live around and those we don’t know and show them the warmth and love of Christ through a meal. Someone having a genuine investment in me has changed my life in amazing ways and I hope to come home and have the same investment in others.
Hope that his blog isn’t too boring and that you were able to read through it and be encouraged. Please remember…
- You have a dishwasher!
- You have a clothes dryer!
- You have a car!
It’s a good day!
PS. I would like to thank Sarah Franklin as I listen to the CD she gave us before we left and enjoy tremendously as it is the only music that we have.
I would also like to congratulate Adam and Kelsey Baydo on the birth of their little girl Aubrey on 1/28/12! Such an amazing blessing and we can’t wait to see and meet her when we return home!
Again love you all
xoxo ~Becky
This morning started by getting up and making my favorite husband and favorite daughter German pancakes. This has become a stable here in PNG seeing it takes 2 cup flour, 2 eggs and some milk and a pinch of salt. Making it an inexpensive meal to make and they both love it. As we ate we waited for the guys to drive up and come pick up Steve. With each car passing I got more anxious and thought why did I agree to Steve leaving Gracie and I in a third world country without any friends or family to support us while he’s gone. I can’t believe this is happening. And then they pulled up we waved good-bye and he was gone. My heart was saddened that I was alone, that I had a huge responsibility of taking care of a one year old in this place I’m not accustomed too and that I was alone, oh ya did I say I was left alone?
After putting Gracie down for a morning nap around 10 I decided to take a shower and get ready as we did have a lunch date today, with a lovely older couple named Tom and Marilyn Kelley who have been so gracious to us while we have been her and have really taken good care of us. After showering the phone rang and a young couple our age was calling to invite us to dinner tomorrow. I had to decline explaining that Steve was gone, so instead we will have a play date tomorrow and dinner on Wednesday upon Steve’s return.
We then went for lunch and upon returning Gracie and I played on the swing and then took a walk to the store, which I had yet to do by myself. I have always gone with Steve or sent him with a list while he was in “center” (The middle of town). Walking back home the Lord was with me. I had this amazing sense of peace as if he was walking next to me, that I wasn’t alone, and that he would give me strength to carry on these 3 months while in PNG. I am so thankful for this day he has given me, and the ability to press on and grow in my relationship with my savior as well as a mother and a wife.
Please continue to keep Steve and I in your prayers as things begin to look up in our life in PNG we still will have many obstacles to overcome.
- Please pray for safety for Steve as he travels
- Please pray for our reliance to be our Father and not ourselves
- Please pray that we would be used mightily of God while here
- Please pray that God would guide our hearts to make wise decisions.
We were blessed to meet the Sisson family yesterday. They are a family that lives outside of Garoka that works with a missionary group called “To every tribe” and we had been talking with the director of the group about meeting while in PNG. This providential meeting was great because we got a chance to spend some time having them for lunch yesterday and their 3 children before traveling to Garoka and staying with them in their home. They have traveled between Ukarumpa and Garoka (About a 2 hour car drive) over 70 times in the last year and agreed that they would possibly be able to pick us up and bring us back, which would be huge answered pray to not be traveling by ourselves on the roads of PNG by ourselves. This trip should happen some time in early to mid March. Our lunch with this family was a much-needed encouragement and we were very blessed to spend time with them.
As Steve and I have discussed in the two weeks we have been here, many strangers have had us over for dinner. Who does that in the US? No one? Why is that? Why don’t we as Christians invest in others that we don’t know? Why are we the same as unbelievers? This is something the Lord has placed deeply on my heart. To reach out, out of love to those we live around and those we don’t know and show them the warmth and love of Christ through a meal. Someone having a genuine investment in me has changed my life in amazing ways and I hope to come home and have the same investment in others.
Hope that his blog isn’t too boring and that you were able to read through it and be encouraged. Please remember…
- You have a dishwasher!
- You have a clothes dryer!
- You have a car!
It’s a good day!
PS. I would like to thank Sarah Franklin as I listen to the CD she gave us before we left and enjoy tremendously as it is the only music that we have.
I would also like to congratulate Adam and Kelsey Baydo on the birth of their little girl Aubrey on 1/28/12! Such an amazing blessing and we can’t wait to see and meet her when we return home!
Again love you all
xoxo ~Becky
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Another day in Ukarumpa
Hi all! I just wanted to thank you for the prayers, we finally received Gracie's bag about an hour ago! With everything in tact!
We have been so blessed to have this answered prayer and ask that you would continue to pray for us as we venture on.
Some highlights of the last few days...
- Chasing a Gecko out of the bathroom with a broom
- Having a small kitten less than a week old find its way into the house
- Bright sun shinning days
- Enjoying my laundry (I know right) It is kind of relaxing to go out and hang it up and smell it and bring it down in the sun.
- A electric tea kettle that is always hot and boils in less than a minute! Who knew?? Us Americans are missing out
- Dreaming of home :)
- Email correspondence with those we love
- Steve keeping busy teaching 9th grade class CPR/First Aid, and doing fire escape plans for all of the major buildings.
- Steve booking his flight back from Madang, He leaves on Monday The 6th-8th. Please keep him in your prays for Travel mercies.
- Having Steve come home for lunch during the day (less than 10 minute walking commute, and 1hr lunch times)
- Amazing Pineapple with homemade yogurt!
- Organic Veggies and Fruits
- Finding a bug named a rhinoceros beetle, go ahead google it after you read this!
- Beating Steve at golf (card game)
- Going to bed around 9pm at night and waking refreshed at 7ish
- Getting Gracie's suitcase back
-Picnics in the front lawn
- Swinging at the park, our side yard
- Gracie learning to walk in grass
- More Bananas then you can eat
~Thinking of you all and praying for you nightly as we continue to live on the other side of this thing we call the world!
We have been so blessed to have this answered prayer and ask that you would continue to pray for us as we venture on.
Some highlights of the last few days...
- Chasing a Gecko out of the bathroom with a broom
- Having a small kitten less than a week old find its way into the house
- Bright sun shinning days
- Enjoying my laundry (I know right) It is kind of relaxing to go out and hang it up and smell it and bring it down in the sun.
- A electric tea kettle that is always hot and boils in less than a minute! Who knew?? Us Americans are missing out
- Dreaming of home :)
- Email correspondence with those we love
- Steve keeping busy teaching 9th grade class CPR/First Aid, and doing fire escape plans for all of the major buildings.
- Steve booking his flight back from Madang, He leaves on Monday The 6th-8th. Please keep him in your prays for Travel mercies.
- Having Steve come home for lunch during the day (less than 10 minute walking commute, and 1hr lunch times)
- Amazing Pineapple with homemade yogurt!
- Organic Veggies and Fruits
- Finding a bug named a rhinoceros beetle, go ahead google it after you read this!
- Beating Steve at golf (card game)
- Going to bed around 9pm at night and waking refreshed at 7ish
- Getting Gracie's suitcase back
-Picnics in the front lawn
- Swinging at the park, our side yard
- Gracie learning to walk in grass
- More Bananas then you can eat
~Thinking of you all and praying for you nightly as we continue to live on the other side of this thing we call the world!
Monday, January 30, 2012
Apinun
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!
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!
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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