A year ago we were saying our last goodbyes and stepping
onto a plane into the unknown. Since that day we have experienced, endured,
loved, been loved and expanded our understanding of God, some of His people,
and parts of His world.
This past year:
· *We spent a few days of restful vacation in Fiji
after the whirlwind of leaving America and before we started the adventure that
has been our life in Papua New Guinea thus far.
· *Landed in Papua New Guinea, the land of the
unexpected, and began to unpack and settle into our roles.
·
We were asked to delay our POC (Pacific
Orientation Course) training from August when we expected to participate, to
the next course in January because of the Auto Shop’s great need for Evan.
· *Evan went on two vehicle rescues, spent a week
of late nights repairing a bridge, flew out to the Western Provence to repair
an airstrip lawn mower and repaired many items that only he had the skill to
repair (as the only welder in the shop) in the first month. In short our family
experienced first-hand how vital our role is here.
· *Experienced giardiasis for the first time (Liz)
· *We had to readjust expectations for what could
be reasonably accomplished in a day when
we are reliant on solar clothes drying, solar water heating, and we must bleach
all produce, make many of our foods from
scratch (including bread and yogurt)
· * We had the fact reiterated that drinkable water
is precious (especially when your only source is a tank collecting rainwater
off the roof).
· *We had to readjust our planning strategies as we
learned that stores (even in town – which we have to hitch a ride to as we have
no car of our own) are closed on weekends and holidays (including the Queen’s
Birthday and 14 days at Christmastime(our store only for the latter of these))
· *Learned to cook things we still only know as
Kumu (greens) and other things we still don’t the name of.
· *We made friends with people from all over the
world
· * Evan participated in a weekly Bible Study in one
of the neighboring villages
· *Liz began work at the Secondary school library
· *We moved again as we purchased a house that now
Liam (and the rest of us too) refers to as his home.
· *We had our first Thanksgiving away from our
family with friends who have become our second family
· *We had our first Christmas via Skype
· * We learned a second language – Melanesian pidgin
(tok pisin) (still a work in progress)
· *Spent 14 weeks at POC (5 of which we spent in a
village) learning to expand our understandings and our limits.
· * Evan returned as a son after 9 years to his host
family in Bagame village where Liz and the boys were welcomed as family as
well.
· *We’ve flown in small aircraft and ridden in PMV’s
(Public Motor Vehicles) that sometimes are just the back of a pickup truck
· *Swam 1 mile (Evan) and ½ mile (Liz) in the ocean
· *Danced with a cockatoo
· *Walked a piglet (Liam and Julien)
· *Washed clothes and dishes in a river
· *Liz carried firewood on her head
· *Liz danced at a sing-sing (traditional
celebration)
· *Julien experienced malaria, ear infections,
giardiasis, severe eye allergies, and pneumonia and nearly being medivaced all
while at our training in Madang.
· *Liz contracted Dengue fever
· *Liam became potty-trained in the village
· *We returned back to Ukarumpa and back to our
home where the boys continue to thrive
· *We have enjoyed eating different foods
(crocodile, fish eyeballs (well, not all of us enjoyed that one), squid,
rambutans, cocoa beans straight from the tree, and cooking bananas to name a
few)
·
*And so many other things that we can’t list
them all…it’s been quite the ride and we are still going!
Things we are looking forward to this year:
* Liam starting preschool
*Liz possibly beginning some part-time work with the literacy department
*Evan training a new welding intern
*Welcoming two new members to the autoshop team (including another welder named Evan!)
*Liz's parents hopefully coming for a visit next May
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