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The Pettygrove family is lives in Papua New Guinea to serve those working in Bible translation
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Tuesday, October 15, 2013

A Weekend Trip

Last month we traveled with 2 other couples to a city on the coastWe 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.

Sunday, September 22, 2013

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.

Thursday, September 5, 2013

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 10th 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 27th. 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 17th birthday on Saturday, August 31st.  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!

Sunday, July 7, 2013

Our Dwelling Place

We live in this half of the duplex. The solar heater on the roof heats our water.  So if it is cloudy one day our water is not hot the next morning.

View up the hill
Front door and living room area.  The couches are just not the same.
Other part of the living room area The doors go to bedrooms
View from living area to kitchen/dining area
Closer view of kitchen
Sink where we wash, rinse, bleach and air dry. The microwave was a gift and Jay made the wood shelf to put it on.



The stove is gas and I have an ignite button to hold down when turning the flame on.  I am thankful for a new stove.  I have a friend who has to light a match because the switch is broke. Ask Jay the matches are not the same here.  It takes several matches before one match actually lights.
Dining room table. Office for Elijah and I. Pictures from home.


I brought the quilt from home.  Jay made the shelve to put a desk light on. Someone leaving was selling the desk light. My night stand is a box with a towel over it.  In order to make the room dark enough we have a blanket over the curtains.
There was not enough room for the night stand and to open the closet door. So we decided to leave the door open and put up a curtain(sheet) to cover the clothes.
Elijah's room.  He wanted bunk beds. He sleeps on the top and sits on the bottom bunk .                         
View down the hallway to the "mud room" "laundry room" "office" Bathroom is the first door on the right.
Bathroom sink. I brought the towels from home.
Cabinets and sink to the right. Toilet and shower to the left
The toilet looks normal but does not smell or clean like the one back home.
There is an option for half flush or full flush.
Jay's desk. Map of Papua New Guinea. Drying rack. Mold is a problem so cleaning bags can be done routinely.

Daily filtering of water to drink.
Washer but no dryer. The bottle of ALL cost around $20. Jay was saving Pringle cans to use as bowling pins when children came over.
Window above Jay's desk.  All the windows are slatted.  The ones on ground level have wire guard over.them.  Our home does not have heat or insulation.
View out mud room door.  When I am not home to get the clothes out of the rain I hang them up here on the small deck.
View of the back of duplex. Water tank that collect rain water off of the roof. Outside Clothes stand to hang clothes on.
They just dug a new hole for us to put our compost in.  It is right under where the clothes hang.
The extra room is the "family room" where Elijah can play his PS2 that he brought with..Jay attempted to make the extra bed into a couch by building a back board. Needless to say, it still takes a lot of blankets and pillows to make it comfortable.
Something to make it "homey." Knick knacks and pictures that I brought with.
And more pictures.

View into the playground and other duplexes

So this is the place we are living in now.  We are renting this home of around 485 square feet and should be able to stay here until our furlough. We had the option of renting or buying a house.  The houses for rent would only be ours for as long as the owners were on furlough(6-12 months) We did not see any house we would like to buy. so we have decided to stay in this duplex. As you can see our home is similar to places we have lived before with a few differences. We are blessed for what we have.and our real prayer is that God maybe our dwelling place.



 Lord, 
you have been our dwelling place 
throughout all generations. 
Psalms 90:1