Land of the unexpected

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. 

 

Madang Show

           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.

 

 

New Toys

 

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.

 

Carina and the Bible school Kids

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