No pics today, but had to tell some great PNG stories. 

George Butron, a former missionary to PNG told us that he calls PNG “cowboy town” or the wild west.  You just never know what you will see. 

Here’s an illistration:  Going to the bank is usually about a half hour event.  ATM’s are new here so there is usually a line of 20 people or so (who stare at the funny white skin people).  Yesterday we went to the bank and the line was long so me and Mase and Ezra waited in the car while Paul stood in line then wait inside.  There are 2 guards that stand in line with bush knives to protect the people.  As I sat in the car I “Guard Dog Security” truck pulled up next to mine (double parking) and 6 guards with M-16 machine guns got out and surrounded my car.  Mason thought it was cool but I was scared until I realized they were picking up a deposit from the bank. They have to have machine guns because often times they get shot and robbed while picking up a deposit from the bank.  Just another day in PNG. 

I wanted to thank all of you who prayed for Mason and our family while Mason had malaria.  We’ve only been here 4 months but it feels like I’ve grown up allot with all the different things we’ve been through.  Living on the other side of the world away from home, family, friends, TARGET, I’ve had to ask myself what I put my trust in.  What brings me comfort.  My greatest fear was that one of my kids would get malaria.  In the states I worried and prayed about this terrible disease, but since we have had to face it, I’ve found great grace and peace and protection in my heavenly father.  I tend to worry (especially about my kids) but the thing I’ve learnt is that even during the toughest storms, my God is with me.  That’s enough. My El Shaddai who loves us, is right here.  During the strange battle with the fever and pain Mason had , I was surprise at the joy, the great peace that God gave us. 

  My favorite author Elizabeth Ellitot wrote: “you can’t forecast grace.”  Its easy to think the worst, but that’s not trusting that our BIKPELA PAPA GOD is with us.

   This picture of Mason was taken the day after his fever broke and he started eating again.  As you can see he looks tired and weak, but we took him to the ocean (his favorite place) and watched the waves crash against the shore.  It was such a beautiful afternoon together, like a hug from God who brought us through to the other side, safely, like He said He would. 

           This last weekend our city of Madang had its annual show or festival.  It was UNREAL!!! Definitly a cultural experience.  The closest thing I could relate it to would be a fair, but even then its unlike ANYTHING I’ve ever experienced.  The field is covered with booths of food and clothes people are selling and different tribes from different provinces all come and do a “sing sing” where they dress in their tribal clothes and perform a song from their area.  Usually about 6 groups perform at a time.  The sounds and smells of this event were unforgettable. 

The top picture is a group of young men from Simbu and they we unbelievable drummers.  They paint their faces and they look very scary while they perform.

Below: Paul with Mason and Ezra in sensory overload getting ready to watch another tribe perform. 

 To enter the show you have to wait in a HUGE crowed area with over 1000 people trying to get a ticket, then stand in the entrance line which is guarded and monitored by PNG police.  The police here are scary and intimidating.  I’m talking big thick men with gigantic bush knives and machine guns.  It made me feel scared and safe at the same time.  While coming into the show I see a police man grab a man and start beating him,  on the head.  Then the police started hitting his arms and back with a big cane.  I was later told that the man tried to bring in alcohol to the show and that’s how police here deal with that sort of thing. 

I put these two pictures next to each other so you can get a taste of PNG.  This spider (top) was number 3 we found in our house.  These suckers are FAST.  It took Paul almost 20 min. to kill one of these that was visiting our kitchen.  I’ve NEVER seen my husband scared of an insect.  After he killed it he would randomly mutter that day,  “man that spider was big”.  We foundly refer to her as SHELOG (Lord of the Rings). 

After Paul killed this one he showed the carcus to another Pastor.  He laughed and said, “oh yeah, that what we call HOUSE SPIDER.” 

 The picture on the bottom I took from my patio in my flat.  It was the most beautiful PNG sunset and it lit up the whole sky. (In the picture you can see a “cook house” which is where several woman cook dinner since they don’t have stoves.)  Sometimes I think God gives me these gorgeous lights at dusk to remind me of His faithfulness and how He loves to make me smile. 

Spiders and Beautiful Sunsets, a little bit of PNG.

My mom recently sent me several beach balls for the Bible School pikinini’s (kids).  I gave one to each child and it was like Christmas, a sea of beach balls (no pun intended).  It had been a long few days without water, which means no showers so this was a happy distraction.  Almost all of children have no toys, which is alright for them because they make toys out of twigs, rocks and anything else they can find.  But today they were happy to have a real toy.

So here’s my first video on my blog.  Paul’s trying to teach me to do this so give this a try.  Sorry to anyone who is anti-youtube.  This is me asking the kids to say their names. It was too cute not to post

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfLqQXQ3Ke8

Ezra hasn’t made allot of friends in PNG, mostly because he’s two years old and mommy and daddy are his best friends.  Recently he’s been playing with the grandson or “booboo” of one of the pastors.  This is Dwayne.  He’s so cute and talks allot in tok pisin.  He hasn’t been around allot of white kids so he keeps pinching Ezra’s arm to feel his skin.  Ezra screams and Mason laughs. 

Meet my teachers:  Wena, Anna and her husband Jacob.  Wena is my good friend that is 8 months pregnant.  She is only 22 and speaks excellent English.  She has been teaching me tok pisin since my first day here, and she is also my translator to the other woman at Bible school.  Wena will deliver here baby here, over 8 hours from her family and woman that would normally help her.

     Anna and Jacob are amazing.  They have 3 children but only one of them came with the to Bible School, their son Malachi who has become a great friend of Mason.  Anna and Jacob have sacrificed so much to come to Bible School jobs, family, ministry, all to come and learn.  I love them because they take the time to teach me, tok pisin, passim (culture) of PNG.  Jacob and Anna have been teaching me PNG worship songs (they are worship leaders), and I love spending time with them.  Ezra is hot and tired. 

This is my new purse.  Its called a bilum (bee-loom).  The picture next to it is of my little friend Ishmael.  His mother, Leah, made me my new purse.  Leah is precious.  She doesn’t smile very often but she is one of the kindest women I’ve ever met.  Ishmael doesn’t smile very much either.  I don’t know what’s happened in their life to make a mother and child not smile but over the 3 months we’ve been here God is beginning to give them joy.  Ishmael is 4 years old but smaller than Ezra who is 2.  When we got our shipment I gave Ishmael a bag of old clothes of Ezra’s.  Leah said a simple yet grateful thank you and walked away. 

    Last week Leah came to my door with Ishmael. With tears flowing down her face she handed me this bag. She made it.  It takes about 2 weeks to make a bilum, that’s working all day.  Most woman sell these for 60 or 80 Kina (20-30 dollars).  She could have made allot of money by selling this purse but instead she gave it to me.  We stood there crying together, awkward because she speaks no English, my tok pisin is not great.  After we hug, she smiled and said “thank you”.  I carry it with me everywhere and remeber the great sacrifice she made.  

Me and my best friend.  One thing that I love about serving the Lord is that I get serve with Paul.  Being here with him makes me so grateful for the amazing gift God has given me in him. He is amazing.  He is totally PNG.  Its funny watching people listen to him tok pisin.  So fluent, so clear.  People laugh when he tells them we’ve only been here 3 months.  Then he tells them he grew up here.

  Oh year, superficial thing: did I mention I LOVE not wearing make up.  No one wears make up here.  It definitely shave 5 minutes off my morning routine.  Just think, ladies, never having to wear make up.  Although the humidity does wonders for your skin.