leaving PNG

We have wrapped up our final day of VBS...hard to believe that it is finished already!  All of our official duties are complete.  We had a jam-packed day today.  We had VBS in the morning, and then took the teenagers who helped with VBS these past three days to Jai Saben, a local resort.  They have all been there before, and they like it.  It was fun for us adults to experience it as well.  One of the girls found a starfish while snorkeling. 

 

We left soon after lunch for the resort, and came back just in time for dinner.  Following dinner, the kids sang a couple of songs for their parents, we heard the last two missionary reports, and then the conference was officially over.  We have spent the last few hours packing and returning the house to a decent state. 

 

We head out tomorrow morning around 9:30 (you can figure out what it would be for you local time...I am too tired to do the math right now). 

 

Dennis, Joey, and Shiloh are already well on their way home, having left this morning after the morning session.  Kevin, Lori, and I are staying in Brisbane for a couple of days, and Kris and Gary are staying in Brisbane for almost a week.  Perhaps while we are in Brisbane (or if we have some time in airports), I can update the blog so you can get a better idea of what has been going on. 

 

 

VBS day 1 is complete!

Wow, do we have a great group of kids (and co-workers!) 

 

We have prepared much for these three days of VBS, and so we were more than ready to get going this morning.  Kris did a great job of leading our song time, and, of course, Kevin was his usual engaging self.  The kids like the theme and are getting into the festive atmosphere. 

 

I was in the nursery this morning, so I didn't get a complete idea of what happened in other places.  As is often the case, there were some hard transitions from being with mom to being with us, especially since some of these children really do not have any other situations where they are gone from their parents...if you live in the bush, chances are, there aren't all that many day care or babysitting options nearby.  But we all worked together and showed love to them.  I certainly know what it is like to have a child go somewhere where he does not want to be.  And it all worked out. 

 

Gary was in charge of the games today.  Lori does water games tomorrow, and I do carnival games Sunday.  Kris does crafts each day, and Kevin does the lesson each day.  Please pray for all of us to be diligent in our areas and love these children well.  Also, please pray for us as we have time in the afternoon with the teenagers, and we are doing ladies' night with the women on Saturday (I am leading that up...we have a mix of teaching and games...sounds weird, but I think it should work!)

 

Also, keep praying for Dennis as he leads the adults.  And, for Joey as he keeps us all sane around here...he has put himself in charge of breakfast, and no one has even thought about arguing with him. 

Thursday in Madang

Good gracious, you guys...it is too hard to send pictures for the posts.  I will need to catch you up later on those. 

 

Today we are suffering for Jesus by going to the beach.  To start off the conference, all of the missionaries head off to a local beach, and we are hanging out with them.  For them, it is a much-deserved fun day with their families and old friends they have not seen for a long time.  For us, it is an opportunity to get to know them better. 

 

Tomorrow we start VBS, and Dennis starts the adult teaching. 

 

A quick side note to Nick: Lori says not to get any ideas about those pretzels unless you are visiting the Board house.  : )

 

 

 

 

Husas' pet

This is Rusty, a tree kangaroo.  The tree kangaroo is a marsupial like an actual kangaroo, but is only found in PNG. 

 

However, we found out, thanks to Geoff, that our buddy Rusty does not have a pouch.  Anyone know why?

mixed up posts

Due to the nature of connectivity and all sort of other happenings, the posts are not remotely chronological.  Hopefully, you can sort them out enough to have them make sense.  I thought that pics would be the most interesting, so I am trying to get as many on as possible, but it is SLOW-going with attachments. 

 

Thanks for being in this with us!!!  We are in the last stages of preparing for the conference, which starts tonight.  We are making homemade pretzels for VBS snacks (think Auntie Anne's style) today, meeting with teenagers who will help with the VBS program, and then kicking the conference off tonight with a casual evening time. 

hot culture

We read a book before we left that discussed different cultures in terms of temperature: hot or cold.  There are various differences, and of course, none fit neatly into a tidy little box.  However, it is good to be aware that there are obvious differences in approaching life.  PNG is designated as a hot culture.  They are people-focused, they are not driven by time... 

 

As I readied myself, I thought I had this concept down, and actually, I tend to be more of a hot culture sort of person, even though I live in a cold culture (and if this doesn't make sense, I can write more about it later or you could probably look it up online).  But really, in the typical day here, everything is slower...it's not just one activity, and then you move on through your list.  It is everything.  When we came to Madang (where we are doing the VBS), we needed to stop in town first for souvenir shopping, lunch, and grocery shopping.  I was great with leisurely souvenir shopping and lunch.  I wasn't even all that bothered by the long stay in the bank waiting to exchange funds (mainly because I had a great conversation with a local man about the differences in currency of our two countries, which led to a longer conversation about the difference of our two governments, and some information about the history of PNG).  Fascinating.  But then it came to grocery shopping.  Those who know me may know that I am not really a huge fan of the grocery store in general.  So, imagine me going to three different grocery stores in the same afternoon after having already been shopping.  It was an exercise in culture study for sure. 

 

For the team, I think it is easy in some ways to adjust because we know mentally that we are here for a short time, and we are here with our friends who know the culture and the trade language (the official language is English, but many are more comfortable with the trade language).  It is hard to imagine moving here.  I think it would be very easy to be overwhelmed.

Dennis makes it to Mibu

Hi, everyone,

 

We have a short break in the action, so I am going to attempt to catch up with you a bit.  Here is a picture of Geoff greeting Dennis when he made it into Mibu. 

 

More pics and posts to come. 

 

Would someone please comment on this post so I can tell if the pic makes it through okay?

 

Thanks!

Dennis made it!

Thanks for the prayers for Dennis, the helicopter, and the weather.  It was clear enough to get him in this morning.  It has been great to have everyone here who planned to be here.  Lots more details to come!

Also, Geoff has a few pictures on his Mibu blog:  http://mibu-ministry.blogspot.com/

(Posted by Perry for Theresa)

Pray for tomorrow!

We will fill you in on details later, but Dennis is not with us in Mibu right now.  He hopes to be able to fly in tomorrow (the best access to Mibu is via helicopter).  An answer to prayer already is that the pilot has agreed to try to come in, even though it is a Saturday, and he has just come back from a labor-intensive assignment.  We would like for you to join us in prayer that the weather would be suitable for flying in...it can be too cloudy/foggy for the helicopter to safely attempt a flight.  Otherwise, Dennis will not be able to visit in Mibu and experience life with Geoff and Shannon here.  He will need to set out early Saturday here (7:30ish).  So, if you are on Phx time, that means around 2:30 on Friday afternoon.  Please pray that he will be able to get out here, interact with the Mibu people, and spend time with Joey and Geoff.  Thank you for all of your love and support!!!  

(Posted by Perry on behalf of Theresa)

We made it!

We wanted to make sure everyone knows that all of us have made it safely through all of the flights, and now most of us are in Mibu with Geoff and Shannon.  We are having quite the adventure, and we will give more details when we make it out to Madang.  The Husas have limited communication options, but we wanted to make sure that all of you know we are doing well.

(posted by Perry on behalf of Theresa)

Psalm 24

 The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it;
 for he founded it on the seas
and established it on the waters.

I woke up this morning with all sorts of emotions.  The first part of this section came to mind, and it helped me to realign my thoughts and responses to what is going on.  It is challenging for me to leave my family, especially the kids. 

Because they need me. 

But they can also do without me for a time. 

The bigger picture is that God has created this world, placed us all in it and he will continue to take care of us as we live in it.  I have been anxious about the kids because I think I know best how to take care of them, but the truth is that I don't.  God loves them more than I do, knows them better than I do, and cares for them better than I do. 

These verses remind me that God is powerful, that he has been around a lot longer than I have and actually does not even need my input about how the next few weeks should operate.  So I will try to live out my part in the process and not take over God's part in the process. 

And when I am in Mibu or Madang or Brisbane, I can look up to the stars or out to the mountains or to the beach or to the ocean and remember that the same God who created the part of the world I can see also created the part of the world I cannot currently see.  And even though I am finite and cannot be in two places at the same time, he can and he is.  So I will trust him to take care of the family he has entrusted me with, even as I trust him to lead the team in PNG and do his work there.

More face paint

the 411, part 3

Once the conference is over, then the team will do the clean up/tear down details that need to be taken care of.  Missionaries will return to their places of service, or stay in town to take care of other business. 

Although our team will travel to PNG together, we will use the divide and conquer method to get home.

Dennis, Joey, and Shiloh will leave immediately after the conference. 

Kris and Gary Husa plan to stay in the Brisbane, Australia, area for about a week, enjoying the sights and sounds of Australia.

Lori, Kevin, and I are also staying in Brisbane for a bit, although we are making it a whirlwind tour, with just a couple of days there.  We are very grateful to be able to stay with parents of Lori's friend, who is an Australian native.

Just a note: all expenses for the Australia stay will be taken care of from our personal accounts.  We are not using any donations for this leg of the journey...just wanted to make sure you know!

Another note: I know I am doing a lot of the writing now, which may change once we get there and people elbow me away from the laptop so they can share their own experiences too.  It is entirely possible that I missed some of the details or included some outdated plans, but I did the very best I could to be accurate.

 Please let us know if there is anything you want to know, questions you have, or pictures you want us to include from our journey.  We will do our best to respond. 

the 411, part 2

On 9/24, we fly out of Mibu for Madang.  Even though the two places seem quite close to us on the map, the climate is quite different.  We expect to be comfortable and perhaps even cool in the evening in Mibu.  We expect to be hot and sweaty in Madang.  We also expect to have plenty of insect friends, which is why we each have malaria meds. 

Please pray for each of us while we are in Madang, that our emotions and reactions would not be controlled by the weather or climate, that as a team, we would show love for one another, especially through patience, even as we continue to spend a lot of time together.  Please also pray for protection from illness and other physical issues.  For example, our malaria meds make us more susceptible to sunburn, but we will be in the elements quite a bit. 

We have a couple of days to get set up for the conference and get the lay of the land.  As families trickle in before the conference, we will have time to get to know them.  The conference begins the evening of 9/26. 

On 9/27, the conference focuses on a day of rest and refreshment for everyone (malolo).  We get to accompany all the attendees to a local beach and enjoy the day with them there.  Hopefully, this will be a day to enjoy one another, and a chance for the missionaries to catch up with each other.

The bulk of the conference takes place 9/28-9/30.  Dennis will teach the adults in the morning, while the rest of the team takes on the kids via VBS.  Shiloh and other teens will help out with the nursery, while Kevin heads up the VBS time.  Kris is in charge of the music and crafts.  Gary, Lori, and I are taking care of games and supervising the nursery.  Joey is doing all sorts of things, including food!  Most of the afternoons are casual times for missionaries to do what they need to do: pursue time on their own, nap, spend time with friends, whatever.  We have time planned for the teenagers in the afternoon, since they are "working" in the morning with us. 

Please pray for each of the children (around 30 of them), that they would feel safe, loved, and challenged, and that they would have fun with their friends.  Pray that each of the leaders would have energy.  Also pray for refreshment and rest for the adults.

Following dinner each evening, the missionaries have a chance to share reports from their ministry.  I look forward to those times, a chance to get to know them better and be able to get a better concept of the overall vision for the area. 

On Saturday evening, the men and kids have a movie night, and the women get to have a ladies night.  The basic concept of the lesson that night is that our time on earth is short.  It's a reminder that keeps popping up for me: I have it tattooed on my foot.  And I know this doesn't seem to fit, but I promise it does: we will spend part of the evening playing board games.

Please pray that the message for the women would be effective and I would not be intimidated by speaking to missionaries.  I know they are "regular people," but I keep getting this little niggling in the back of my mind that tells me that they already realize that time is short, which is why they are doing what they are doing.  However, I believe strongly that this is what I am supposed to discuss. 

Sunday morning, the men have an early breakfast together, and then the conference continues for the remainder of the day. 

the 411, part 1

A lot of people have asked, so I wanted to try to include more details about the trip: what we are doing and when we are doing it.  All dates listed are local time, so most of them will be a day ahead for most of you reading this.  (The time zone is 17 hours ahead of AZ time). 

We don't want to presume on God, so, of course, all of this information is with the caveat of God willing it to be so.

The first few days are essentially travel days.  We leave 9/18 in the evening.  We skip 9/19 because of the International Dateline, and then have a few different connections until we get to Geoff and Shannon's house in Mibu on 9/21. 

Please pray for Kris Husa in particular for the opening part of the trip, as she does not enjoy flying.

Most of us will be in Mibu for 9/22 and 9/23, flying out to prepare for the conference on 9/24.  Gary and Kris Husa have opted not to travel into Mibu (they have been here before, and thought perhaps this would save some finances and energy).  Instead, they will be in Madang earlier to settle in and prepare for the conference. 

Joey and Shiloh Tartaglia will accompany our team to Mibu, and then work alongside us to minister to those attending the conference. 

While we are in Mibu, our main purpose is to encourage Geoff and Shannon and their family, as well as the Mibu people.  As a church, we have been in partnership with the Husas for about a decade.  God willing, we will be able to meet with the Mibu people, perhaps even stay a night in a house in the village, and be part of their church service on Sunday.  Our hope also is to have a better understanding of the Husas' everyday life so we can be more effective at partnering with them in ministry, praying on their behalf, discussing their needs with others more knowledgeably, and just "getting it" more for them when they share something. 

One of the special aspects of this part of the trip is that each one of us is friends with the Husas.  Actually, Dennis has known Geoff for most of Geoff's life.  I think we are all looking forward to doing normal life with them in their house, which just happens to be 1/2 way around the world from us.  I know Dennis has this image of being on the porch with Geoff and Joey enjoying time together.  I wouldn't mind enjoying some cooler weather sipping chai with Shannon. 

Apparently it is quite the hike to the village for those who are not used to it.  We are expected to slip and fall on the way, even as the Mibu people manage it with bare feet and carrying huge loads. 

We hope for some meaningful interaction with the Mibu people, with translators to help (Geoff, Shannon, Joey, and perhaps Shiloh), lots of smiles, some pictures, and perhaps a charade or two. 

measuring

In T.S. Eliot's "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock," there is a line that says, "I have measured out my life with coffee spoons."  While I cannot claim to have measured out my life with coffee spoons (thankfully), I think that our PNG team has reached a point before the trip where it is no longer sufficient to simply say that there are ___ more days.  No, we need to develop a different way of measuring. 

Here are some measurements from the Board house.

three sleeps in my own bed
three walks to the bus stop
one trash day
zero recycling days
eleven meals
one homework check
seven fish feedings
countless hugs and kisses

the times they are a-changing

Just about all packed.  I decided to type out an inventory list so that would help me in case my brain is on overload while traveling, plus to keep things simpler for customs, declaring items. 

SO GLAD I did...as I was checking the checked bag, I realized (TMI alert) I had neglected to pack any underwear.  That is now taken care of.

One adjustment I have had to make in my packing for this trip.  Typically I carry a small carry on and slide it under the seat in front of me.  This was very important when the kids were smaller, since they needed things about every 2 1/2 seconds.  Now I have gotten used to it, and it makes flights a little more comfortable.  However, I packed a small checked bag due to size and weight constraints, which led to taking more in the carry on.  Now it will not fit under the seat in front of me.  Never fear...I have come up with a solution: include an even smaller bag in the carry on to serve as kind of a carry on within a carry on.  Then I can take it out of the duffle bag, put the duffle up top, and then have items to use on the flight close at hand.

This may be a system that some of you have used for years, but it has given me a huge sense of relief and of simplicity. 

Have we mentioned we head out in less than a week?

carnival VBS

We have a carnival theme for the PNG VBS.  That means a couple of us are acquiring new skills so that we can extend the theme.  Gary can now churn out balloon animals, and will be available for kids' parties mid-October.  I am working on face painting.  I don't plan to do anything this scary for the VBS kids, but my model wanted something scary.  My other model only wants a disco diva, but I want to get some butterfly practice in...

Now, that is medication!

We are not messing around on this team when it comes to our health.  We need to be protected against typhoid, as well as a multitude of other diseases.  Some of us have gotten a shot for typhoid, and those on the cutting edge have taken oral meds instead.  After picking them up one day, Lori stopped by with her typhoid meds, which needed to be kept cool.  I so wish I had a pic of her with the medication itself.  Because in this picture it looks like she has to take so much, and really it was tiny.  The medication would have fit into a snack size ziploc.  Apparently, this was the only size cooler they had available. 

special request

Lori and I have been friends for a few years.  She has three kids, and I have two.  Of those five children, the oldest is 8, and the youngest is 6 (well, he would say 6 1/2).  I'm happy to report that the five of them have experienced a lot together.  And now they get to share another experience: having their moms be in PNG for a couple of weeks. 

It's going to be a stretch for all involved: moms, dads, kids, and those special folks who are standing in the gap.  We have never been gone from our kids for that length of time before.  My guess is that it will have some similarities to amputees who experience phantom limbs, where it seems like they still have the limb even though it has been removed.  There may be times where I look around in PNG to see if the kids are following me.  Only they won't be there. 

Thinking about that is somewhat exciting: freedom, different experiences, and for Lori and me, a completely different routine.

But I can also be apprehensive.  What if they need us, and we are not there?  What if we need them, and they are not there?  I can get exhausted caring for them, but I love them.  And there are certain parts of the day I especially cherish: reading with them, hearing them read, peeking in at them at night when they are sound asleep, listening to them sing with the headphones on and their eyes closed...  They are growing up, and because they are still young, they will continue to grow, perhaps significantly in some ways, while we are gone.

While we do not plan for anything like this to happen, we do know that it is possible that something could happen in travel or while we are there, and we would not come back.  To me, that is heart-shattering, not because of the actual death involved (because I am more than ready to be in heaven), but because it would have the potential of negatively impacting the faith of little children, and because it would leave these kids, who take a lot of energy and attention, with one parent, when right now, they have two who love them and are usually still exhausted at the end of the day. 

With all of this in mind and more, I ask those of you who pray to pray for our children.  Each of the five has his/her own unique personality, strengths, areas that need to be worked on, and probably areas that will be challenging when life happens without Mom around.  We trust that these next few weeks will be a time of growth for everyone in our families, and that all of us will emerge better for the experience. 

Thank you so much for walking through this journey with all of us.  We absolutely could not do it without you. 

dimensions and weight

For those keeping track, we are WAY under the two week mark.

We had our first packing meeting this morning.  We will have another where we doublecheck weights and all that the weekend before we leave. 

In the meantime, I have a dream.  I realize it is not as noble or as needed as MLK's dream.  However, it would make travel a whole lot more convenient.  Here it is: that all airlines would have the same luggage restrictions.  We are using four different airlines (I think), and each of them has its own specifications.  And each one lists specifications for weight as well as dimensions.  So, we are all getting out the scales and tape measures. 

Our trusty big suitcase that fit the bill in China (and some other fun travels) did not make the cutoff, so it has to stay home.  I'll have to go with a slightly smaller choice. 

I look forward to having all of these details behind us.