Christmas 2013

 So the Christmas season began November 30 when the Store had it's annual Christmas Sale.  It is known as our "Black Friday" People actually arrive early for the fun of waiting together and chatting.  The workers order things many months in advance so that we can have some uncommon items.They even open up the back store room to have room.

 I am so glad I packed my manger scene.  It is my favorite Christmas decoration.

 I found this artificial Christmas tree as a rummage sale.  I am glad my friend convinced me to buy it. It is the first time we have owned an artificial tree.  Elijah put it together for me.

Christmas Concert presented by the choirs and band.  Elijah is some where in that picture.

 I bought a few of my cookie cutters with so Elijah and I could make our traditional sugar cookies on a Saturday afternoon.

Frosting them happened another day,  Elijah did help frost in the middle of Facebook and emailing.

Christmas Eve Day a play was performed by the kids with some adults.  The play was written by the director.

Jay wanted to give gifts to our friends and so he made some and found some.  The yougest enjoyed a box which Jay made into a play house.  The middle child was given a hand made version of the game "Wake Up Giants." The 10 year old boy had fun with odds and ends from Jay's work including an old radio that did not work.

I made our traditional manicotti for supper.  Thankful that someone sent me noodles to be able to have it.  Of course Elijah was not thrilled.  It is Jay's favorite not his. We did have sparkling juice which he enjoyed.

                         So thankful for the gifts that were sent!

 

Opening gifts close to midnight on Christmas Eve drinking hot chocolate and eating Christmas cookies. ( Even though it is summer time here,)We attempted to call John and Courtney via Skype but the connection did not work well enough.  I also had the privilege of being on call that evening and I ended up going into the clinic for a couple hours with a young national who was having an asthma attack.

Watching movies is a big past time.

Christmas Day we were invited to a friend's.  They had around thirty people including many teenagers. After enjoying a huge potluck meal many people participated in a talent show.  Jay wrote a skit the three of us read.

        

 As you can see we had plenty of desserts to chose from including three types of cheese cake.

 We had good coffee :)

A Weekend Trip

Last month we traveled with 2 other couples to a city on the coast.  We left around  Friday 8am we a vehicle we rented a Toyota Land Cruiser from the auto shop on Center.  

Beautiful landscape along the way.

We drove through a mountain pass

It was a 3-4 hour drive. Only 2 turns and in some area we could drive a normal speed. Marcus did a great job driving around pot holes being aware of people and animals that could cross our paths.

. 

We arrived in time to eat lunch at the Yatch Club. They allow non member to dine there at noon time. Jay ordered his favorite Hawaiian burger.  We assumed it was a hamburger with ham and pineapple.  However there was no hamburger.  Carol Jean had too big of hamburger and shared hers with Jay making his day.

Jay enjoyed observing the boats.

The room we stayed in.at the guest house.

Eljiah did not want to come with.  He stayed with a young couple on Center.

Many people go to the city to buy food because it is less money and more choices. So we did enjoy grocery shopping and just browsing around to see what was available. We were happy to find our favorite barbeque sauce and Jiff peanut butter.

The first night we ate at the International Hotel-a collared shirt were required with no hats We ordered a vegetable pizza-little cheese, no sauce and corn(?) Eating out was part of the fun.  The only chance we get to eat out on Center is "Hamburger Night" that the youth do as a fund raiser. The second night we ate at a Chinese Restaurant.

 

The guest house has a pool. It is usually very warm but it was not that weekend.  When we were not shopping we relaxed and read books.

We left Sunday around noon and were home by 4pm.

There are no stops along the way, no gas stations, rest rooms or restaurants..

We enjoyed the time off center and the time with friends.

We are grateful for safety as we have heard stories of robbers along the road or vehicle problems. They teach us that sometimes the robbers set up road blocks and ask for toll money. Thankfully we have not experienced that.

It is hard to get a picture that demonstrates the reality of the pot holes.  These come close. They were taken by a friend.

Thank you for being part of this adventure with us.

Writing on our Wall

Transition:  movement, passage, or change from one position, state, stage, subject, concept, etc., to another

Change:  to make the form, nature, content, future course, etc., of (something) different from what it is or from what it would be if left alone

Loss: the state of being deprived of or of being without something that one has had

I have thought about these words a lot over the past year.  In our training we were taught about these concepts. Everyone knows what they are and has experienced them in various ways.  Sometimes, they are in wonderful situations such as a marriage or a new baby. Other times they are unpleasant like in a death.  I can remember learning the five stages of grief way back in High school. (Denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance) 

So how do I as a Christian work through these concepts?  I am still pondering it.  A year ago we sold our home.  It was nothing fancy but it was our home.  As part of the letting go process my husband had each of the kids write something on a wall before he covered it with wainscoting.  It was a way we could say good bye.

My husband and I attended a six week orientation when we arrived here.  At the end of the time some of the people stayed there.  We had to say good-bye.  Our instructor pointed out that it is a part of missionary life, saying hello and good-bye.  Many come and go in the community we live in.  Some are here for four years and go home for a year.  Others have homes in villages that they spend a couple months at and then are on Center for a couple months. Some friends go home and never come back.  The people are always changing.  The friends I make come and go. 

However as I read Hebrews 13 I found this:

There should be a consistency that runs through us all.

For Jesus doesn’t change—

yesterday, today, tomorrow,

he’s always totally himself.

So in the midst of transition, change and loss (positive or negative) I can keep my focus on Jesus who is always faithful and good.

August is Birthdays

Sunday August 4th I surprised Jay with a birthday party.  We have some friends who love coffee and even like to roast the beans when possible.  They invested in an espresso maker. So I invited everyone to their house for coffee and sweet treats because my husband loves good coffee. People from POC, work and our prayer group came. We arrived at 2pm-the first ones there. They had a banner up and a sheet to sign and a table of cakes and cookies.  They shared the birthday napkins that someone had sent them in a box and the traditional birthday plate that they brought with- Jay got to use it.  He didn’t quite get it at first-so I said we were celebrating early with them.  They had plans the following weekend. However their 10 year old son walked by and said “more people will be here in a little bit” and they were. Jay was surprised and that was my gift for him.  Thanks to our friends who hosted and the ones who took time out of their day to come. On August 10^th Jay’s birthday, I made him cheese cake bars.  I was grateful the store had creamed cheese.

Starting the celebration

A fun card from a friend

The kids attacking Jay

 

 

 

The presents did not arrive until after Jay's birthday

Excited to open a gift

Thank you Kids

My birthday was Tuesday, August 27^th. They weekend before Jay informed me he was going to fix breakfast for me on Saturday as a birthday gift and invite 2 couples to share it with us. He made pancakes and eggs.  My lady friends did dishes and cleaned up the kitchen before they went home.  It was an enjoyable morning.

 Later on that day Jay informed me that he and Elijah would take care of supper that night. Unsure of what I would be eating I agreed.  When 530pm came Jay suggested I walk to the dvd rental place for a movie.  Not wanting to see what he was going to fix I left.  When I arrived home the door was locked.  I knocked on the door and opened up to my table decorated with a birthday table cloth and someone else’s dishes along with our friends.  Jay arranged to have a high school student fix all the food; bring it over with their dishes and to pick up the dirty dishes later.  Elijah did his part by babysitting for the couple.  So, the four of us enjoyed our delicious peaceful meal.  My friend brought her delectable chocolate cake for dessert and 
we taught them how to play Catan.

On my actual birthday I made taco salad and had a canister of Fritos that I had saved instead of frying my own tortilla chips.

I opened the gifts from my family-part of the time talking to Kristolyn.

More pictures to hang on my walls

Flowers a friend picked from her yard

Elijah celebrated his 17^th birthday on Saturday, August 31^st.  I asked him if he wanted to do anything special and he said no. Fortunately his friend decided to surprise him with a little party.  He made brownies and had 2 other boys spend the night on Friday. However before he went I made him his birthday meal.  It included steak, garlic mashed potatoes, green beans and stuffed jalapenos.  We were able to marinade and cook the steaks over an open fire in a grill..  

Thank you for the gifts.

When Elijah came home on Saturday he could not wait very long.  So that afternoon we opened his gifts and ate homemade chocolate éclairs. He did have a few friends stop by that day to give him birthday greetings.

 
We have wonderful memories of our first birthdays here in PNG.  Thank you for sharing them with us.
Happy Birthday John August 22!