Moto Bible Run

While in Ukarumpa, one of those "won't miss it for the world" opportunities arose. 

Tim was invited to join in on a moto trip to distribute newly revised

Tairora Bibles to some of the local villages. 

Joining aviation fellows, Bruce Hanson and Jon Mork,

they set out on a muddy and oh.no.eventful trip.

 

 

 

At one point on the dirt roads, Bruce hit a deep rut and turned his bike over. 

Had it not been for the heavy backpack full of Bibles, he may have come out unscathed. 

 However, the weight of those bibles contributed to some

remarkable shoulder pain and the fear of greater damage.

 

In an area known for high security issues, it was a blessing to have a passing truck full of helpful Papua New Guineans who loaded up the bike and brought Bruce back to the center clinic where our fine SIL doctors can assess the shoulder damage.

Thank you friends!

A muddy ride!

 



Conference

It is a long time to sit...6 days of meetings...

(plus two days for regional meetings and 1 day of manager's meetings)

BUT such a joy to share in the work that is being done around the country to aid Bible translation.

 

 

 

While we have our meetings, the kids are thrilled

to join in on VBS with all the missionary kids in country.

We are so thankful for the volunteers who give of their time to bless our children in this way.

This year a team from the US came to staff VBS.

Thank you!

Can you find Kylah, Lucas and Weston?

 

 

Meanwhile, Austin was able to join in on many of the youth group activities, including ping pong tournaments, river gumi-ing, movie nights, and er...taping.  :)

(Ask Austin about those top secret missions!)

 

We even managed a pizza night in our little flat.

 

Biennial Flight to Ukarumpa

 Every two years missionaries from Wycliffe/SIL in Papua New Guinea gather together for our biennial conference.  Teams come in from all over the country to share in this time of reports, strategy planning, governance, fellowship and encouragement.  Our visit began with a take-off on the Kodiak.  It seemed a fitting day to fly on a JAARS plane as it was Papa Mc's Birthday.

(He flew many years as a JAARS pilot in South America.)

 Happy Birthday Papa! 

 

 

 

   

 It's always fun to leave our coastal area and fly into

the highlands to the Ukarumpa center where Tim and I taught in 1997-1998.

 

 



 

                                                                                                                                                                          

 



The Best Birthday Party Ever...

Last year, I confess, I just tiptoed into the 40’s.  This year…no holding back as I barreled in with a bunch of beautiful bosom buddies.  Thanks to our sweet friends Callum and Kate Skeet who came up with the brilliant idea of celebrating all the March birthdays with a BBQ, we enjoyed sharing in the celebration of life, the joy and blessing of friendship, as well as an international feast complete with the breaking in of the Skeet’s new woodstove as well as a true Spanish Paella lovingly gifted from Pablo and Ana Vila-Romero.  Normally we would have enjoyed a pool party in the Milne Bay Estates Oil Palm Plantation.  However, the pool was under repair so a long tarp was set up on the steep hillside behind their house and a slippery slide was enjoyed by all.   And I do mean all.  After watching the kids hog enjoy all the fun for several hours, a dare was issued to the birthday girls and we took it on with great enthusiasm.  The allure of racing down a muddy, wet hillside was soon irresistible to the majority of the adults remaining at the party.  And Oh.so.much.FUN!!  We rolled, played, slid and laughed until it hurt!  The night ended with no serious injuries, a little icing fight, and lots of smiles.  As we traveled home, the kids exclaimed, “Mom, that was the best birthday party EVER!!!  You should do that every year!” 

 

Vital Run Goodbye

Though we have a few more months in Alotau, our goodbyes are already beginning. 

At the end of February, we said "Goodbye" to our friends from the multi-language program, VITAL, that meets 3 times a year in Alotau for translation work.

 

They will be returning at the end of May just as we are heading back to the US.

 

Continue to pray for these lovely people as they give of their time

and come from their villages into Alotau on the Kwadima II  for

3 months out of the year (February, June, and October) to work in teams

to translate the Word of God.

Birds in Winter

 Even though we are about as far away from Winter as we can get,

we still enjoy bringing in some cool with our art projects.

Austin

 Kylah                                                              Lucas

Weston