Wheels of Ukarumpa (Matt)

Our New Ride! Half Truck. Half Van. All Unique.  Imported from Japan years ago. It maybe the only one in PNG. What is written on the side? I think it probably says "Road Dragon"!

Old Land Cruisers!

Andrew Koen's special! "Ai gris" (Eye Grease) When you want something you don't have.

Vehicle that shouldn't be running, but is. Plenty of these vans.

PMV Public Transportation- This is why our Truck has a window guard!

What is this? I'm told their first vehicle was a 4wd but it was destroyed by the shipping company, or actually may have fallen off the ship and went in the ocean. This is what the company sent them as a replacement. Impractical? Completely, but arguably the sweetest looking ride at Ukarumpa. 0-30(center speed limit) kilometers/hr in under 2 seconds, if the road has no ruts deeper than 4 inches.

 The vehicles of Ukarumpa are as unique as this land. Most are kept running well past their expiration date. This is just a smattering of them.

Toyota Land Cruiser- Best Ride In PNG

Smith's Ride

Love this one!

Honorable mention: Although I've not seen it drive yet, it does run.

Auto shop truck hauling a submarine?  For the story check out http://pngandrew.blogspot.com 

Center Fire Truck.

Change of Seasons (Laura)

Seasons…it should be getting cold, maybe even flurrying outside my window. I should be getting out our warm coats, scarves, hats, and gloves, but instead it’s getting hotter and I’m helping Grayson put on his swimming suit to go run in the hose.  I’m putting sunblock on the kids and smelling freshly cut grass instead of the crisp air of the coming winter. As dry season turns to rainy season here in Papua New Guinea, I’m missing the colors of my favorite time of year. But instead of seeing the vibrant reds, oranges, and yellows of autumn, the colors of purple trees full of blooming new flowers, bright yellow bananas hanging from our porch and brown grass turning a vibrant green, pull at my senses.

Not getting to see the four seasons change and enjoy the approaching holiday season with my family back home is one of the sacrifices I’ve made to be here. I’ve been missing my friends and family and comfort zone. But, the Lord is teaching me that by giving up some things, He blesses me in ways I never knew possible.

I know that this is a “season” of my life that will soon change…a season of busyness with my own young children, teaching school in a new place and culture, never feeling caught up with what needs to be done; of trying to build new relationships while maintaining ones from afar. To many eyes, it seems foolish and against all common sense to leave my home and family, but something worth doing is often hard to do. I know that the work we are here to support is worthwhile – especially when I see the faces of people here receiving the Word of God in their own language.  

Right now, about 316 translators are actively working on projects in 190 different languages in Papua New Guinea, and we have celebrated the completion of New Testaments and other books of the Bible every year! The photos below say it all…even though it’s not always easy, I’m so thankful to be able to be a part of the task of bringing literacy and God’s love to the people of Papua New Guinea.

The following photos were taken this past year during the Maia, Awa, and Marik language groups' Bible dedications and distributions:

This man is listening to an audio Bible...technology is making it easier to give people the chance to hear God's Word in their own language without having to know how to read!

 "After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people, and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb."

Revelation 7:9

Divided, yet United (Laura)

We’ve just experience our first Sports Day at Ukarumpa International School! The entire primary campus is divided into two teams, red and yellow – and our family will forever be on the red team (once the oldest child is assigned a team, all of the other siblings are automatically on that team, too as they grow up). Go red!

(I know you’re probably thinking, what’s the big deal? But trust me, there aren’t a lot of sports teams we can follow around here and we really miss that. So, GO RED!)

The students in my first grade class were really excited to perform in all of the events they had been practicing during P.E. class this term.

Apparently, Brianna’s a speedy runner! She won her first heat in both the sprint and the two-lap race! She says her favorite event is the sack race, though.

Brianna, making her way through the obstacle course.

Grayson spent most of his time finding shade with his friends.

I think my favorite event was the tug-of-war that the ENTIRE student body competes in. It was so cool to see the students, of all ages and nationalities, working together for a common goal. But, the best part was when the red team won and the yellow team came over to congratulate them. I can tell everyone learned a lot; divided into two teams, yet united in love for each other.

I had to include this video of the tug of war - I think Brianna may have run out of gas! :)

Where there is no Bridge (Matt)

In June, Laveryl Voss (an experienced builder here), Kay Hapawo  (a local carpenter), and myself went to Lae to work on a house for Nathalie and Foreting Simonsson. They are both deaf and are working with about 80 deaf people in Lae, a large port city. They said that number should be much higher, but many deaf children are believed to be mentally handicapped and many times pushed out of a village or abandoned.They asked us to help assist in finishing the outside of their house.

   We drove 4 hours and brought in all of our materials, tools and equipment. There is no power there so we brought a generator, too. We forded a river to get there. When we went there, there had been little rain so the water was low.

Almost all the people that we interacted with there were deaf. It was exciting to see a world that I was unfamiliar with. Many wanted to help us build. At times, it was quite a challenge to communicate while building, but we really enjoyed it and made friends too! We were only there one week but we got a lot accomplished. The last three days, there were heavy rains and when the morning came for us to leave, it was pouring. Foreting's father came and told us that the river was impassible. We went to check it out after a larger vehicle came through.  Several people from the village waded across to find the best route for us and then we went for it.

I was really happy to be able to work on a village project. It's fulfilling to help other missionaries on the field.

Sharing is Caring (Laura)

Since the moment we arrived in Papua New Guinea (PNG), I have been struck by the beauty if this place and its people. I was impressed with each village’s sense of community and how they take care of each other as they have needs. When we arrived here in the Highlands, it was encouraging to realize that the other missionaries here really look after each other, too! As our plane landed on the grass runway, we could see a family waiting for us at the hangar. (Click HERE to see our landing video!) They  helped us settle in by making sure we had a ride from the plane to the center, meals for the first few days, and could find our way around. But others purposefully reached out with food, rides, tips, and words to welcome and encourage us as well. 

Sometimes life can be hard here, and we really start to miss the people, things, and familiarity we’ve had to sacrifice coming to PNG. Being with others who have made similar sacrifices and are more than willing to help out, makes it easier. 

The day we met Buddy and Puddle Duck.

We’ve wanted a pet since we got here (we miss you Oreo and Freckles!) but didn’t want to commit to owning a pet. We can’t have pets in the house we’re renting, but a family was leaving for Australia for six months and needed someone to look after their parrots. Matt grew up owning parrots in Peru and has always talked about how fun that was (see photo below). So, we now have two beautiful Ekkies (Eclectus), Buddy and Puddle Duck! They have been so much fun to hold, feed, play with, and listen to – and they stay outdoors! Win, win!

Matt, with one of his pet parrots in Peru.

 We’re quickly finding that we are blessed as we bless others! A family that is on furlough needed someone to look after their vehicle until they get back in November. We were looking for a car to use (Brianna and Grayson are troopers, but the walk up the big hill to our house from the school sure can feel long)! I’ve had fun learning how to maneuver a 1986 diesel Pajero around on the muddy roads. Win, win again!

"All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had." Acts 4:32