We landed this morning in Seattle at 10:50 a.m., a little later than anticipated, as there was a medical emergency on board which required us to turn around and head back to Norita 45 min. after we left. It was an Alzheimer's patient we learned, who was unable to calm down. All was handled well and everyone was grateful to arrive in Seattle.
In Goroka, some live (or fresh we would say in English) pigs rode in the baggage compartment, to Port Moresby, from whence we made our connecting flight to Narita, Japan. We spent the night in the Crowne Plaza Hotel, which had a very comfortable bed and bathtub where we stayed overnight. The next morning we enjoyed a delicious breakfast buffet before we checked in our baggage to the airport. Then we caught a train and rode a bus out to the Aeon Mall, where we did some shopping and Sheila and Mike had fried octopus dumplings for lunch. It was fun watching them make the round Octopus balls in rows of hot iron pockets; they were tasty, but not something I'll eat too soon again.
It is exhausting to lose a day on the way back home. Please continue to pray for our adjustments to this time zone. As you can see, my body is off and I am having a hard time sleeping. Chuck is still fighting a chest infection and thinks he'll see the dr. to check out what's going on.
Just wanted to let you know that we are HOME and we THANK YOU for all your PRAYERS! We have felt them constantly and give thanks for your faithfulness to pray and God's faithfulness to answer prayer.
We love you and pray for God's peace to fill your hearts as well as ours,
Good night for the team,
Chuck and Sheila, Bernie and Betty (who are in Australia visiting Bernie's brother and family right now), Mike and Bill
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Friday, October 17, 2008
Our Last Full Day in Papua New Guinea
Today we flew out to the Simbari village in the region of Narumbi. Quite an experience flying over the stalks of broccoli that make up the densely populated rainforest here in Papua New Guinea. If there's one color that describes Papua New Guinea, it's GREEN in all shades. Then you have the brown dirt with the round house villages and their gardens where the New Guineans grow kaukau (sweet potatoes), tapioca, taro, kumu (greens in all kinds of varieties), corn, sugar cane. As we came in to land on the airstrip, there were hundreds of people lining the airfield, all with faces of curiosity and anticipation. When I saw them all there, I began to cry. I really, really, love the New Guinean people.
We were greeted by Dave and Shari Ogg, and Lori who work on translating the bible for the Simbari tribe language. They are somewhere in the middle of Acts. We sat in the church on the floor made out of split palm trees that the villagers had built themselves in 1997. It has held up remarkably well.
One of the believers, Mepama, showed me his house on the inside. It was an honor to have him explain what was in his house and just as I had thanked him, he said I could take pictures. So I did, and will have to maybe post them when we get back as we are giving this computer to Scott and Terri tonight.
We enjoyed walking around the village with the people and finished with lunch inside the Oggs' house. When we took off, I cried again. The people are with me in my heart. This afternoon, three meris (women) came by to say goodbye. One had made me a bilum and three little bilums to hang on a Christmas tree. I can't wait to sit down and write a letter telling of all our experiences here.
Thank you for your prayers. Please pray for safe travel and connections and decompression as we head back home tomorrow.
Love fromall of us on the team,
Chuck, Sheila Bernie, Betty, Mike and Bill
We were greeted by Dave and Shari Ogg, and Lori who work on translating the bible for the Simbari tribe language. They are somewhere in the middle of Acts. We sat in the church on the floor made out of split palm trees that the villagers had built themselves in 1997. It has held up remarkably well.
One of the believers, Mepama, showed me his house on the inside. It was an honor to have him explain what was in his house and just as I had thanked him, he said I could take pictures. So I did, and will have to maybe post them when we get back as we are giving this computer to Scott and Terri tonight.
We enjoyed walking around the village with the people and finished with lunch inside the Oggs' house. When we took off, I cried again. The people are with me in my heart. This afternoon, three meris (women) came by to say goodbye. One had made me a bilum and three little bilums to hang on a Christmas tree. I can't wait to sit down and write a letter telling of all our experiences here.
Thank you for your prayers. Please pray for safe travel and connections and decompression as we head back home tomorrow.
Love fromall of us on the team,
Chuck, Sheila Bernie, Betty, Mike and Bill
Thursday, October 16, 2008
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NCA
This is the High School Building at NCA. The Library is located at the far end of the upper floor. That is where we began working.
COFFEE CHERRIES
Some of the world's famous PNG Aribica coffee. These cherries could someday make there was into a cup of your local Starbucks' coffee.
SHORT SHADOW
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The sun in PNG is intense! At 5 Degrees South latitude the sun is almost directly overhead. This picture was taken at 12:00 Noon on 1o/15/08. I was facing south. Note how short my shadow is. On this walk to the local village I forgot to where sunscreen and got burned.
Chuck
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