One month since departure

Here it is, May 26th one month from when we boarded our first flight for Papua New Guinea.  Don't ask me how long it feels because I wouldn't know what to tell you.

What we can tell you is that we are enjoying PNG and are feeling blessed by God's call on our lives. Todd has been working at the Industrial yard mainly getting a forklift up and going. He was able to go with some of the other constuction guys into Lae this past week. He was being shown where to buy what.  I think that he enjoyed the overnight outing, especially eating out at a restaurant (a novelty here.)

Andrew lost his first tooth here in PNG. He put the tooth under his pillow when he went to sleep and when he woke up there was a 2 kina bill under his pillow. That's worth $1 US money.  This past Thursday he celebrated his 7th Birthday. He had cupcakes at school and mommy made him apple pie for dinner (his favorite.)  He enjoyed Skyping with his class from Cornerstone in Paradise on his birthday morning.  He is enjoying his class, classmates and teachers.  His last day of school is June 8th. They will have a 5 week break before starting 2nd grade.

Connor enjoys going to preschool on Tuesday and Friday mornings. He likes being able to walk to school with Andrew and some of the other children from next door. I pick him up at noon both of those days.  He enjoys swinging on our neighbor's swing and jumping on the other neighbor's trampoline.  The girls from the neighborhood are enjoying his company.

I started work here last week. I work in the Member Care department.  Member Care helps with organizing visiting Pastoral teams and counselors, assisting families during transitions, teaching classes for physical, emotional and spiritual health and doing practical things for family when called upon.  The coordinator is in the states on furlough and other members of the team will also be returning soon while others leave on furlough.  I have been going to work on the days that Connor has preschool.  I am learning about the job, meeting people and figuring out how things work here.

I will be more diligent to keep this blog up to date. Things are settling in as we learn where things are, who to talk to about what, and not get shocked by the prices at the store.  We find that the people here are lovely, the air is clean and fresh, the view is beautiful and we have been here long enough to barely hear the roosters when they crow at 4am.

Thinking of you all.  We love you.
Todd, Susan, Andrew and Connor