A little of this, a little of that...

Well, so much happens in a week, it’s hard to write it in one entry, but I will try! Tim has been busy with a bit of everything it seems! He has spent almost a week working at the church, putting up screens and metal grates (for security) and finished that project this week. Each day he had some helpers from the church join him, and Tim loved getting to know the people and working with them.

Tim has also spent some time shopping for materials here in PNG, what an exercise in patience! Tim went to pick up some lumber supplies (to build a shade cover for the kid’s sandbox), and it took him about 3 hours, and the building supply store is only 5 mins away… as you can tell it is a long story, but we are learning that time is not of the essence here in this country (it’s a good lesson for us busy Canadians!). Tim has also been running some extra soccer clinics for kids at an open field near their settlement – he had about 60 kids come for a few hours, and they love him! Tim was also invited to play on the PNG Division 1 team on Saturday at the stadium, we’ll have to see how that goes!!

This morning I held the first health teaching session in the Biwat Settlement. We had about 25 “mamas” (moms) and lots of “pikininis” (children) come. The teaching was about disease prevention (healthy living, cleanliness, nutrition) and about treatment of some common problems (dehydration, diarrhea, wounds, TB). In the settlements, the people live in small shacks, with no running water – they bathe in the nearby river. Many of the homes are built on stilts, and we met under a home that was built that way. It is quite a crowded area with lots of families in close proximity. It is sad to hear about how often sickness (and even death) happens from situations that could be prevented (such as untreated, infected sores can quickly make a person septic and if untreated, die). It was an amazing experience to work with the women in the settlement, their desire to learn was so encouraging. I pray that they may live healthier lives. We hope to do a few more teaching sessions in different settlements, as well as to do an evening session on HIV/AIDS and invite the entire community to attend.
The boys have been keeping busy too – swimming, biking, bonding, learning how to share, growing, learning new words (Lucas can say “dada”, Noah can say “sorry”!), they are just doing so well here! We are so thankful that they are adjusting so well, there are so many changes in their little lives. It has also been so special for the cousins to spend so much time together, and for us to get to know Jono and Karlyn!

We are excited to see more of PNG this coming week when we go on a little vacation with Ian and Nadia. We plan to drive to Madang (5 hours away) – a town up the coast – for a few days, then up to Ukarumpa – the missionary base for Wycliffe Bible translators. We’ll be sure to update you when we return!

On our way to Biwat Night Fellowship (yes, Lucas is in a sling, and Tim has a purse, I mean a bilum - a gift from the nationals, all the men carry a bilum here!)