Papua New Guinea 2009

WE ARE HOME!

2009-10-11T17:35:00.000-07:00

Today we landed in Seattle about 9:07 a.m. All our flights were smooth and we cleared customs with no problems-I really did not want to have our suitcases searched and have to repack them again. I just finished opening my suitcase with some Madang pottery birthday presents for Terri's sister and dad and they are all intact-Praise God who oversees the smallest details and cares about the little things!

It was so GREAT to come home and see our children! Mike is spending the day with his daughter Meghan tomorrow who just happens to have the day off from school. God arranges things in ways we can't even imagine! Please pray for them to have a wonderful day spending time together tomorrow.

Chcuk and I took a nap today and are feeling like flat tires........Chuck will return to work tomorrow and your prayers for his physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being are most appreciated! I have a job for Wed. and have blocked myself out for tomorrow to get settled or caught up on sleep whichever the case may be.

Thank you again for your prayers and financial support to help encourage those who serve at Lapilo to reach the tribal villages with the gospel translated into their own language. Chuck and Mike were able to finish installing turbine ventilation boxes in the elementary school which will greatly improve the learning environment for both staff and students.

We will send out a detailed report in the next few weeks. To God be the glory for what He has done in PNG for the last two weeks!

Giving thanks with a grateful heart to God for all of you,

Sheila, Chuck and Mike

DANUNGET TRIBE VISIT

2009-10-08T05:29:00.000-07:00

Today Chuck, Mike and I flew out east to visit the Danunget tribe and one of the families who is translating the bible into their native language. The people were more reserved and shy than the people here in Goroka. They were holding a meeting today because somebody burned down the school in the village and almost all the curriculum was destroyed. They were trying to figure out who set the school on fire (if it was somebody from their own tribe or from another tribe), and the reason for it. There is now a church there and the believers are wanting to take the bible stories to the next tribe. The closest tribe is not very open but the next closest tribe is wide open and is saying, "Forget the _____ tribe, come to our village. We want to hear the bible!" Praise God for those open hearts and for the joy the new believers are experiencing. They are now in Romans chap.4 and the teaching usually takes place outside on the grass. The New Guinean people prefer sitting on the ground to a chair anyday!

Ralph took us on a hike up a mountain and as we gained elevation, the view was better and better. We could see houses hidden. They are garden houses where people might spend the night after working in their gardens. The people also love to burn their land. On the flight back in to Goroka, we saw fires plente and lots and lots of smoke. Ralph told us about a villager who was burning his land and it kept going up the mountain until the house just on the other side of the mountain went up in flames. The man never thought the fire would travel that far. We also saw a river that came down the mountain and majorly altered the landscape widening the banks, rocks sliding, and yet, no harm came to the village. The people thanked God for protecting their village and they pray to him to bring rain to their gardens and other things. I was so blessed to hear these things....our God is the same in the United States, in Papua New Guinea and all over the world! On our hike back down, I slipped and had significant knee pain. The river was close by and so I knelt in it to let the cold water do some numbing. It hurt more going down. With a walking stick and Ralph and Scott holding my hands, I made it back down. We prayed for my knees and really, they are so much better-I thank the Lord for His healing in my knees.

Tomorrow is our last day here and I am feeling quite sad. I know that my meri friends will stop by to say goodbye and it will be hard knowing that we are leaving on Sat. Please pray for a good last day saying goodbye to the old friends and new friends we have made here at Lapilo. We enjoyed a beautiful meal at a couple's house tonight on their deck overlooking the mountains. With all the smoke in the air from fires burning, it was the prettiest sunset during the time we've been here.

Chuck and Mike will put in a full day of work tomorrow finishing installing the vents. Please pray for safety as they will be up on ladders and even the roof. We thank you for your prayers. You have been a part of team PukPuk (Crocodile) and made a BIG IMPACT in this corner of the world!

Gut nait,

Sheila and the team

YUMMY CROCODILE

2009-10-05T05:49:00.000-07:00

We had two families over for dinner Sunday night. The menu was BBQ chicken, Teriyaki Crocodile shishkebabs, potato salad, cucumber salad, herb bread and grape finger jello. We marinated the crocodile meat overnight and when it came off the grill, it was tender and tasted like a teriyaki pork loin-unbelievable! The kids ate up all the seconds of crocodile and I am ready to look for crocodile meat in the U.S.! Of course, I don't think I'd be able to find it for less than a dollar a pound. So that was quite an eating adventure for us as no one had ever tasted crocodile meat before!

Today the guys worked on building ventilation boxes for the Elementary School. After they are painted, they will install them. God has been renewing their strength and mine as well. It rained all night into the morning. It was so peaceful sitting in the common room listening to the rain after we had devotionals. The Lord refreshed us and all of us had a good day.

Tomorrow morning we are going for a walk through the village we visited last year. We plan to go a little further to see the view from the hill. Also, we plan to go to the village school where the kids were thrilled to get a piece of candy last year. This year we have candy to bring them again but we also have school supplies for them and I can't wait to see their faces:) We are leaving early and will be back for lunch.

We have been invited to so many missionaries' homes. It has been a blessing to break bread with them and learn about their lives here and in the states. It is truly a team effort here where they work behind the scenes to bring the gospel to the unreached tribes in Papua New Guinea.

Time for bed, Gut Nait,

Sheila

LIVING WITH COCKROACHES

2009-10-02T04:09:00.000-07:00

I just came home from the Sasakis and I opened a kitchen drawer where a cockroach is now living. I've seen them on the walls and floors but this is the first time I've seen one in a kitchen drawer! YUCK! I don't like them and the guys are on cockroach duty when they come home. They are playing a Star Wars video game with the Sasaki boys.

Tomorrow we will ride into the town of Goroka and do some shopping and have lunch at the Bird-a hotel that ex-pats like to visit and a place for missionaries here to go swimming and relax.
The guys have been working hard every day this week and this will be a great break for them.

Thank you so much for your prayers for our team. We have truly felt them and are seeing God at work in so many ways. We have a posterboard taped on the kitchen wall where we write down answered prayers-there are so many and we know that our prayer support from you is why there are so many answered prayers!

We thank God for His mercies, New Every Morning! GREAT IS HIS FAITHFULNESS! All we have needed, His hand hath provideth, Great is Thy Faithfulness, Lord unto me!

Gut nait,

Sheila for Team PukPuk

MERI PARTY A BIG HIT!

2009-10-02T00:30:00.000-07:00

This afternoon was the first day it hasn't rained. The weather was perfect for our Meri party. The Meris began arriving soon after 3:00 p.m. Terri and I were ready with cold apple juice and frosted cupcakes. As each Meri arrived, I went over to greet them by saying, "Nem bilong mi Sheila. Nem bilong yu?" Then they would tell me their name and Terri would come over with some juice and I would offer them a cupcake. What amazed me was how I recognized so many of them by their face. Last year they all looked very similiar. This year they all are individuals with very distinct characteristics. At first they were all sitting at the picnic tables but as the sun got hotter, they moved to sit on the ground in the shade and then they took out their bilums to work on them. I am hoping I captured some of their bilum working on the videocamera (I had never used it). I sat with them and asked them in pisin where they lived, how many kids they had and how old their children are. Some of the meris had grandchildren, or booboos, as they are called in pisin. I told them, mama bilong mi gat thirteen booboos. They were impressed by that.

I made a small baggie gift for the meris which had a piece of chocolate, a piece of licorice and a candy with two boxes of matches. I told them that I was taking home matches from PNG and when I light them I will think of my meri friends, and hoped that when they lit their match to start a fire, that they would think of me. They appreciated that.

We laughed together and talked and just enjoyed being with each other. One of the meris calls me wantok now which means local and I thanked her for the compliment.

All the meris thanked me profusely for the juice, cupcake and small gift, before they left. I was touched deeply by the joy in their hearts and the smiles on their faces. Indeed, it was I who was refreshed and renewed by the openness of their hearts and thankfulness. What I am so grateful for is that I will be able to see them another week and call them by name and talk to them about their personal lives.

I thank God for all His provisions and for using me to bring some joy into my meri friends' lives,

Sheila fo Team PukPuk

CUPCAKES, MARKET AND CROCODILE MEAT

2009-10-01T00:04:00.001-07:00

Today Terri and I baked and frosted 72 cupcakes for the party with the Meris tomorrow. I went to market by the gate to the Centre with Scott this afternoon and had fun buying lemons, carrots, lettuce and papaya and a pineapple. On the way out, I saw a basket for sale and bartered the price down from 20 to 16 Kina (approx. $6-16 Kina).
Last year it was hard for me to look at their faces because they all want to sell their food/crafts. They look downwards until you point to something and hand them the money. This year I wanted to find ripe lemons and I was able to engage in a shopping/bartering mode.

On Sunday we are going to have the Sasakis and Snedekers over for a barbecue. We will be serving crocodile meat and chicken. At the store I picked up a kilo of croc meat. When I looked at my receipt later on, I was surprised to find I had only paid $2.05 for a kilo of croc meat. I am not sure how I will prepare it but I plan to talk to the store operator's wife for suggestions because they eat it quite often. Chuck is pretty excited.

Today Chuck and Mike continued to work on replacing some window boxes that had dry rot. They are working to help out in any way the school needs them.

I will write tomorrow to let you know how our Meri party goes!

Sheila for Team PukPuk

FRIDAY THE MERIS ARE COMING!

2009-09-29T21:21:00.000-07:00

As many of you know, I became friends with many meris (word for woman/wife in pisin) last year. It has been on my heart to do something for them, although I wasn't quite sure how and where to do this. When I mentioned it to Terri, she told me to call Meredith who is in charge of all the meris working here at Lapilo. Meredith told me there were approx. 50 meris employed here and then she suggested reserving the gym and setting up chairs. Terri suggested we do it in her backyard and then I knew that something was going to happen.

On Mon. a.m., Terri sent out a Lapilo Notice Board email inviting all work meris to come from 3:30-5:00 to have cake and punch in her backyard and to bring their bilums that they work on. All employers were asked to pass along this invitation and from talking to meris I see, it sounds like many are coming. I brought cake mixes, frosting from the states and we (Terri and I) are going to make 50+ cupcakes tomorrow and make up punch or I just buy juice tomorrow at the store. I am nervous but even more I am EXCITED because I want to bless the meris, even if it is just with a simple cupcake and punch. Please pray for NO RAIN WEATHER for our FRIDAY AFTERNOON from 3:30-5:00 P.M. And pray that LOVE, THE UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE will transcend the language barriers and that all the meris will leave feeling loved and cared for. For those of you I shared this prayer request with before, THANK YOU FOR MAKING THIS POSSIBLE through YOUR PRAYERS. I can't begin to tell you how grateful I am that this is taking place.

TO GOD BE THE GLORY FOR WHAT HE IS GOING TO DO!

Sheila for Team Puk Puk

FRIDAY THE MERIS ARE COMING!

2009-09-29T21:20:00.000-07:00

PEOPLE,PACKAGES, PROJECTS

2009-09-29T20:46:00.000-07:00

Apinun!

The rain is falling sooner than it has the past few days......1:45 and the steady drumbeat of the rain hits the corrugated plastic roof and I am so thankful that Anne-Laure helped me take the laundry off the line when she stopped to say Hi. She is the hairdresser here on the Centre and will leave on Fri. for furlough. She will help send off her son to Aviation School in Michigan and visit some friends in the states before she and her husband head home to Belgium.

On Monday, I went shopping at the base store w/ Terri and learned that one of the missionary women we had met last year had a stroke on Aug. 12 and had been released from the hospital on Sept. 7 to return home. Betty had sent a package for Michelle and so I called to deliver it and Terri and I went over that afternoon to see her. What is so shocking is that Michelle is only 34 years old and the mother of three children ages 10-2. What an INCREDIBLE BLESSING to deliver Betty's package because of course, none of us knew of her stroke. She was so touched by the gift which she said was the perfect size to store her earrings and necklace, the only two pieces of jewelry she wears. We also brought Starbucks coffee, coffee, and candy (lolli in pisin) which delighted her and her children. Her family is packing up to move back to the states and her mom is coming out on Fri. to help her pack up and decide which things to leave and what to take back. Her mom's ticket was bought a long time ago and this is just another one of God's perfect timings.

The guys worked on building forms for the two ramps to the elementary school and yesterday with the help of many hands in the afternoon (following an in-service workday), the concrete was mixed and poured successfully with only a FEW sprinkles of rain in the afternoon. They look great and today we had lunch at the second grade teacher's home. She was very appreciative of the concrete poured so now they won't be so slippery to walk on when it rains. They are blocked off but will be reopened before school is in session again.

Today the guys are reframing a window in a classroom that had dry rot in it. They will begin installing ventilation in the elementary school after this project is done. Their bodies were extremely sore this morning. Please pray for pain free, strong flexible bodies for them-that God equips them to finish each project.

We praise God for your faithful prayers and we FEEL those prayers! Yesterday Sheila was not feeling well and so she slept until 3:00 in the afternoon. Today she is feeling MUCH BETTER!

SAFE AND SOUND IN PNG

2009-09-29T15:57:00.000-07:00

Apinun Everybody! That's Good afternoon in Tok Pisin, the common trade language spoken amongst all the tribes.

Chuck, Mike and I arrived without any glitches in our travel itinerary or our luggage passing through customs. We know why that is. It is in answer to everyone's prayers and God's faithfulness and goodness. Tenkyu, tenkyu, tenkyu! Here is how we know that God was watching over us. Mike went through Customs first. He was asked if he had any electronics with him. Mike answered "Yes, I have a portable DVD player." Next he was asked if he planned to leave it in the country. "No, I'm taking it back with me." When Chuck and I went through, we were asked what we had doubles of ( a question asked on the green card ) and we replied that we had coffee and chocolates and candy to bring as gifts to the missionaries and the lady smiled at us and let us pass through. Had we been asked the electronic question, we would have had to answer "yes" as we were carrying a portable DVD player and new DVDs to leave with a missionary family who had sent the items to our house so they could use them on their trip home for furlough next year. Also. we had absolutely no problems getting our two 50 lb. suitcases each through on the domestic flight from Port Moresby to Goroka.

At Sea-Tac, we had five 49 lb. suitases and one 37 lb. suitcase we checked. We were able to bring back four HS Physical Science textbooks, vitamins and toiletries and Christmas presents previously bought by Terri Sasaki this past summer, a portable DVD player w/DVDs for the Snedeker family, Starbucks coffee, chocolates, candy, pencils, crayons, paper for the village school we visited last year (we haven't gone there yet), and cake mixes, frosting, and other items to be used as blessing to the missionaries and the Meris (local women who serve as housekeepers here at the Centre).

Must go hang the laundry now. Will write more later.

To God be all the Praise for His Goodness and Mercies!

Sheila for TEAM PUK PUK (Team Crocodile)

2009-09-25T09:23:00.000-07:00

ALMOST TAKEOFF!

BIG ANSWER to prayer is Chuck was able to get all of us an exit row seat on the plane-which will give Chuck and Mike some much needed leg room for the flight to Japan. Next it looks like we may be at the maximum weight limit for our suitcases and hopefully, not a pound over.

Sheila did not get much sleep last night-nerves and excitement are running high. So now we await Bernie, a member from last year's team to pick us up and drive us to the airport.

T-shirts came out great-we even made some for the Sasaki family and they came in under budget which was another praise!

Please pray for safe travel and for the light of Christ to shine through us. Also keep Connor and Chantal in prayer to live in harmony and be kindhearted to one another.

Will write when we land!

Blessings to all of you for your prayers and support giving! You are going with us to PNG in spirit and we can't wait to share with you our adventures in faith.

Love, Chuck , sheila and mike

2009-09-08T13:40:00.000-07:00

Apinun ( Pisin for Good Afternoon)!

Today is Tuesday, September 8, 2009. Seventeen days until we leave for PNG! Thank you to everyone who helped us financially to go on this mission trip! Last Monday our funds were sufficient to puchase tickets and Chuck purchased them on Wed. afternoon. We will be traveling the same route as last year.

Seattle-Narita, Japan
Narita-Port Moresby, New Guinea
Port Moresby-Goroka, Papua New Guinea.

We are so thankful for each one of you who are partnering with us through prayer and financial support! We plan to go help make a difference for Numonohi Christian Academy through working on prioritized construction projects and blessing our missionaries with fellowship and small gifts from home. We also plan to renew many friendships with the local villagers and bring school supplies to the local village school. God has been so good to provide wonderful supplies at bargain prices!

At Walmart, we purchased 24 pack crayon boxes for $.20 (that's less than a penny a crayon).
At GoodWill, we purchased 20 pack pencil boxes for $1.69 and bright colorful plastic rulers with multiplication tables imprinted on them for $1.29 for a 4 pack.
Pencil top erasers were purchased at the dollar store and yesterday i purchased a ream of three hole punched paper for $.60. I plan to put it into a binder for the school children.
Last year we brought candy and this year will be candy and more! All of us can't wait to see the children's joyful voices and lit up eyes.

Please pray for us to be diligent about prayer and spending time in the Word.
We haven't packed yet and I know that the school supplies and gifts will add up quickly. We are praying for all items to fit and stay under the maximum suitcase weight.
Please pray for Mike's income to be covered with extra jobs right now before we leave. Mike is a self-employed handyman.

Praises:
Being able to purchase tickets!
Mike having extra jobs to cover lost income.
Finding school supplies and small gifts at bargain prices!

Thank you again for being a vital part of this mission trip-we feel your presence and prayers accompanying us!

I will try to update every few days.

Sheila for TEAM PUK PUK (Puk Puk is crocodile in Pisin)

Home at Last!

2008-10-21T22:54:00.000-07:00

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

Our Last Full Day in Papua New Guinea

2008-10-17T00:34:00.000-07:00

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

Goroka Market

2008-10-16T12:58:00.000-07:00

NCA

2008-10-16T12:53:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-16T12:35:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-16T12:24:00.000-07:00

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

WALK TO LOCAL VILLAGE

2008-10-16T12:11:00.000-07:00

WORKS IN PROGRESS

2008-10-16T06:12:00.000-07:00

What We've been Doing

2008-10-15T00:52:00.000-07:00

Today I received an email from my daughter Chantal who asked what exactly are we doing in PNG.

Chuck, Bill, Bernie and Mike, installed some vents in the High School Library to improve air circulation and lower the temperature. The library was hot and during many a meeting, staff members would be dozing off. They also reconfigured the shelves in the library from a horizontal position to a vertical position which opened the space and made accessing the library books easier. They finished that project the first two days we were here.

Next, they tore down the front of the stage so they could install sliding doors to provide storage space for chairs underneath the stage. At the same time, they extended the stage on both sides to expand the floor area of the stage. This project has been going very slow and of course, the guys discovered that nothing is square or even. This morning they worked in the Joinery (Woodshop) to build the doors. This afternoon they were putting the doors in place and more modifications need to be done to make the doors fit. I'm not sure if the guys will finish this project, and I know they really want to. Please pray for God's grace to help them see this project to completion or at least to a point where somebody else can complete it.

This past weekend, Betty, Terri, and I treated 14 women to facials, mud masques, exfoliating hand scrubs and French manicures. We did this on Sat. night which took 4 hours, and Sunday afternoon, which took 3 1/2 hours. All the women seemed to really enjoy themselves and it was a great time of fellowship and laughter. I shared how to make a facial cleanser that I learned how to make at my friend, Tara's house and the 3 steps to beautiful skin using natural products they can find in their store. The women were excited and I have asked them to continue doing this for other women since the space was so limited, and more women wanted to come. Two women have agreed to do this so I am leaving them my book, Beauty Secrets of the Bible and all the things they'll need to do another spa party. It was great getting to know the women and learning what they do here @ Lapilo Support Centre.

Right now, at 5:00 p.m., the rain is coming down steady and often bursts into a torrential downpour, before it settles down again.

Last Saturday, we went into Goroka and visited the Market where the locals shop. It was quite an experience and at times it felt like we were in a fish bowl as head after head after head would turn and stare at us. One of my favorite parts was the yarn market where balls of brightly colored yarn adorn the tarps. It was like going to a flower field, only it was colorful balls of yarn to make bilums ( the purse that both men and women wear all over PNG ) greeting my eyes.

That's all for now!

Thanks for reading this blog!

Rain's still pouring..............................Sheila

Tuesday, October 14

2008-10-15T00:50:00.000-07:00

We are all doing well and this morning the guys were working in the Joinery, building doors to cover the front of the stage in the Gymnasium where underneath the stage, the chairs are stored.

Betty has been booked for 83 haircuts in addition to perms, colors, and foils. That is not counting the people she squeezes in. Over and over and over again, people are saying how much they like their hair. She won't let anyone leave the shop without styling it for them as well. There is a Translators conference here on the base and many people who have come in for this conference from the Bush are very blessed by her haircutting/coloring expertise. Truly, God's timing for Betty to be here was during these two weeks.

Sheila has been everybody's support person and it has allowed her many opportunities to interact with the locals. She has met many meris (women) who work as house meris, doing laundry, cooking and any other household chores. There is a standard wage set by the government One Kina 30 toya about 50 cents an hour. It is the same wage they would make if they were working in town.

Last night we tasted passion fruit. Betty cut it in half. The juice is delicious but it is 99% seeds and 1% juice and you suck the seeds and then spit them out.

Many, many thanks for your prayers- Sheila

Friday, October 10

2008-10-11T05:55:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone!

I really wish we could get some pictures on here but so far, the computers have been extremely slow or the guys are working on the storage space under the stage in the gymnasium. Hopefully this weekend.

Betty is up to 79 scheduled haircuts with some colors/perms/foils in addition to the haircuts. Her hands have been holding up well and we know that prayers for her have been answered.

A very touching story from Betty last night was a woman who came in for a haircut at the end of the day. She was sitting very quietly in the chair and she had a good two inches of gray hair grown out from her color. Betty prayed and felt the Lord tell her to color the woman's hair. The woman opened up to Betty and shared how her husband and her were packing up to leave PNG in ten days to go home to be there for her 26 year old son who was going to be released from jail. She was going to try to have her husband color her hair ( there is no hair color at the store here on Centre) and she was so thankful that Betty offered to color her hair. I just know that probably meant more to that woman then than someone offering her a million bucks. It is so wonderful to see how God has used these haircut appointments to minister to people of all ages. A little second grade girl told Terri how excited she was that she was going to get her hair cut after school. Betty even colored my hair the first night we were here. Her endurance is AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!

Guys have been working hard on the gym stage storage space. Lack of materials is also a little frustrating but they just keep moving forward just like it says in Philippians 3;13-14 'But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."

I must go now to bring some ice water and snack bars to my four guys..............

Sheila

Wednesday in Papua New Guinea

2008-10-08T06:07:00.000-07:00

Yesterday the men finished up the reconfiguration in the library. Today they tore apart the front of the stage in the gymnasium to rebuild the doors to the storage area. they found that NOTHING IS LEVEL or SQUARE. This will definitely be a challenge for them as the new project requires the stage to be both Level and Square.

Betty has blessed so many missionaries with new haircuts, colors, foils and perms. Everyone has been absolutely delighted with having a professional hairstylist here at Lapilo.

Sheila has been working behind the scenes doing laundry and keeping the house clean and killing sugar ants with the chemical Mortein, very effective I might add. I am probably the one who sees the Nationals ( New Guineans ) and has the opportunity to greet them with Apinoon ( Good Afternoon ). Today I purchased a bilum from Gosalakame, a meri ( woman ), who works here at Lapilo. There are men who keep up the grounds ( 38 acres ) and meri workers who come and do housecleaning and help with other household chores. I love to see them in their brightly colored clothes, wearing the bilums ( a purse/bag woven from string/yarn and worn next to the body off the shoulder or around their head with the bundle hanging down their back ).

Tomorrow we will have a mumu at Scott and Terri's. This is similar to cooking a pig for a luau.
There will be Nationals there who work here at the center. We plan to go over in the morning to help prepare the food that will be cooked on hot rocks. I want to see how they peel the kaukau ( a sweet potato grown and eaten here ) and how they place all the food around. We will be eating chicken, lamb flaps and greens and whatever else they cook in the mumu.

Weather has been very pleasant in the 80's and usually, has some rainfall somewhere during the day. The trick is to do laundry early enough to dry before it starts to rain. I wasn't so lucky on Monday.

God has been so faithful to us throughout our journey. In Port Moresby where we changed planes and weight was different for the suitcase limit, we were not charged any overage fees. The facilities and maintenance man was so thrilled by all the tools we brought that he even forgot about his hair appt. w/ Betty. Each time we go out to have a meal with one of the missionary families here on base, we take a little hostess gift. Marcus, who is from Issaquah, Wa was so thrilled last night by the Starbucks coffee we brought him. He drank coffee at Starbucks before it ever became popular. The package of coffee from Starbucks spoke his love language. He was also excited when he asked me if I knew where Vasa Park was and I told him yes. Turns out he grew up a quarter mile away from Vasa.

Thank you all for your prayers. We have felt them and the unity among the team has been incredible!

Pray for Betty's hand to not go numb or tingly from using it so much. She will not turn anyone away who wants a haircut. Her schedule is full, full, full.

Pray for wisdom and patience for the stage project in the gym.

Pray for our village walk on Saturday.

We praise God for bringing us here and giving each one of us opportunities to serve with our hands and love with our hearts!

Good night everyone. We love you and know that you are a vital part of this mission trip.

We Have Finally Arrived

2008-10-07T03:23:00.000-07:00

On Sunday morning at 10:30 we touched down at the Goroka Airport. Finally at our destination. We were a bit late out of Port Moresby due to the fact that Air Niugini first needed to get a rescheduled flight, from Saturday afternoon, off the ground.

Our entire team was reunite in Tokyo, Japan when the Sheila, bill and I flight from Narita to Port Moresby was uneventful except for a quick bump during at thunderstorm and our landing. We are all a little bit tired but are excited to begin work.

Sheila for the team

Leave today!!!

2008-10-03T08:44:00.001-07:00

We are finally leaving. At 10:00am, 4 of us are heading to SEATAC to check-in for a 2:30 flight. We are off to Tokyo where we will meet up with Bernie and Betty. All six of us will fly, as a group, all the way to Goroka.

September 7,2008

2008-09-07T21:38:00.000-07:00

Today Chuck and I are trying to put together a good blog to keep you updated as we countdown the days until we leave for Papua New Guinea 26 days and counting down..............................

We have two more team meetings before leaving on October 3. We are meeting this Thursday at Bernie and Betty's house for dinner. Our final meeting will be on September 25, and we will finalize our packing that night.

Team Members Update

Our team consists of 6 members.
They are Bill, Mike, Bernie & Betty, and Chuck & Sheila.

Team Travel

Two members are leaving September 30, they will meet us in Port Moresby for the final flight to Goroka. They are flying from Seattle to Honolulu - Guam - Cairns (Australia) - Port Moresby arriving on Oct. 4.

Four of us will be leaving on Friday, October 3 flying from Seattle to Narita, Japan. We arrive in Japan on October 4, losing one day to the International Date Line. We will have a five hour layover at the airport. We take an overnight flight on Air Niugini arriving in Port Moresby at 4:30 a.m. We will meet up with the whole team at the Port Moresby airport. Our final flight to Goroka is 70 minutes long and arrives at 10:20 a.m. on Sunday, October 5.

A Ton of Luggage!

We found out that each of us will be able to take two suitcases weighing 70 pounds each all the way from Seattle to Port Moresby. That is a total of 560 pounds divided by four people. For the flight to Goroka, we may have to pay for the additional weight. We hear that sometimes they charge and sometimes they don't. We pray that Air Niugini will bless the team and not charge us.

Enough for now. We hope to get photos of the projects Scott has for us to do at Lapilo Support Centre asap.

new members

2008-08-08T12:25:00.000-07:00

just today we found out that theire are two more people interested in going PTL!! Please pray as they make their final descicions and tickets , funds

Tickets

2008-08-08T12:24:00.001-07:00

Tooday we purchased our planes tickets