Hey Everyone,
Big prayer need here in PNG. On Sunday night (right after that last adventure) Jesse got an email saying that his grandfather (Bonitas father) had passed away. He was VERY close to his grandpa and seems to be taking it very hard. He is talking to someone about it on the radio right now and is sort of choking out some tears. He is coping fairly well, but it has been very difficult for him. Please pray very hard for him and for his family. We are trying to be supportive and encouraging, but I cannot even imagine how hard it would be to have a close family member pass and not be there for the funeral and mourning process. His grandfather was a godly and Christian man who was ready to meet his Savior. He specifically told Jesse that if he died while Jesse was in PNG that he did NOT want Jesse to come back for the funeral. He said that if Jesse came back for it, he would have to have a little chat when Jesse got to heaven haha. So please please please pray for Jesse Pryor and his mother as they deal with this difficult time.
Thank you again for all of your prayers and interest in our trip.
-C.R.
PS: 1 more week until we are out of the bush and can post a bunch of pictures!!!
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Monday, June 29, 2009
Wow. Everything here is an adventure. After church yesterday, we were going to take a boat trip to a city called Angoram. It is connected to civilization by road, so there is a government and police post, a couple stores, good medical center, and stuff like that. We were preparing to leave and a mentally challenged guy came to the clinic because he fell in the fire and burned his arm to the point where the skin was puffing up and peeling off. Thus, our nice little sight-seeing trip turned into a medical evacuation. Seven of us piled into a small little boat - (Me, Lea, Jesse, a guy named Nick, the burn victim and his parents) and started toward Angoram. The boat worked great all the way to Angoram - the river was nice and clear and the sun was shining. The trip only took about 2 hours and 15 minutes. We got the patient to the medical center with no glitches.
We were going to pick up two village kids who just finished their school term and bring them back to Samban. While we were waiting for them, a guy from right near Samban came up and asked if he and his daughter could get a ride with us. His daughter who was 20-25 years old (but it was hard to tell because of her sickness) has Tuberculosis and is beyond treatment so they were bringing her back home to die. (We found out later that the reason she was dying was because she and her family refused to take the TB medicine when she was diagnosed over a year ago because they believe in faith healing.) Anyway, Jesse said "Sure, jump in the boat." So it ended up being the TB girl, her father, me, Lea, Jesse, Nick, and two school kids (ages 20 and 22) - A REALLY full boat. We made it back upriver all the way to a town called Kumbarumba (probably a third of the way home) when the motor propellor malfunctioned. Turns out something happened and we could only go in idle speed - an agonizingly slow pace. Many people can paddle their canoes faster than we were going. So we just put-putted along up the river, trying to keep our spirits up by thinking about what a great story it would make.
But in typical PNG style, things got crazier...and worse. At one point, we pulled off to the bank of the river so Jesse could try to fix the motor. The TB patient asked if she could "waswas" or wash off in the river. Nick picked her up (she couldn't have weighed more than 50 lbs - I could have put my hand around her femur) and set her down in the shallow water, clothes and all. Then, she apparently decided she wanted a more thorough washing, because she started taking her shirt off. While culturally acceptable here, it still made for a VERY awkward moment for me. I was just thinking, "It's okay - you can just look at the beautiful scenery, it'll all be covered up in a minute or two." FALSE. She and her father had been sitting in the front of the boat facing the rear. Lea and I were sitting on the middle seat facing forward. This girl proceeded to get into the boat RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME completely bare chested. Nobody except me and Lea seemed to bat an eye. For the next extremely uncomfortable hour and a half I rode at paddleboat speed down a river with a dying, emaciated, half naked village woman's chest smack dab in front of me. I got a cramp in my neck from turning my head to the left for so long. Another difficulty was that we were sitting on tin benches and the boat was SO packed that we couldn't stretch out our legs at all. Talk about a pain. I guess God likes putting us in circumstances that make us uncomfortable...for extended periods of time.
We continued upriver for a few more hours - through crocodile inhabited waters I might add - just watching the sun go down over the PNG grassland. I've been sort of malaria paranoid ever since we got here, and since they are nocturnal, so I was sort of freaking out internally when I realized we would be mosquito fodder for the next few hours. We just had to turn over our health to God and trust in Him and His sovereign plan. So we sat there, slapping blood-hungry skeeters and looking at the stars, creeping up the river. Finally, we got to a village called Wom, and we waited another 15 minutes for villagers to put a motor on a canoe to take us up to Samban. We eventually piled in and took off, leaving Jesse and the school kid to bring the boat up slowly. The sky off in the distance was lit up because some people had set the grass on fire for no apparent reason. It was pretty cool looking though. It was very peaceful - the moonlight illuminating the river, the tropical landscape, and the sound of frogs croaking as we passed. It felt like we were in some sort of movie.
At 9:45 at night (3 hours after dark) we got back to the house in Samban. What was supposed to be a quick 5 hour round trip turned into a 9 hour night excursion. Oh, and this is just the abbreviated version of the story, with a LOT of details left out. We'll give everyone the full story when we get back.
Well...that's the latest and greatest from bush.
-C.R.
We were going to pick up two village kids who just finished their school term and bring them back to Samban. While we were waiting for them, a guy from right near Samban came up and asked if he and his daughter could get a ride with us. His daughter who was 20-25 years old (but it was hard to tell because of her sickness) has Tuberculosis and is beyond treatment so they were bringing her back home to die. (We found out later that the reason she was dying was because she and her family refused to take the TB medicine when she was diagnosed over a year ago because they believe in faith healing.) Anyway, Jesse said "Sure, jump in the boat." So it ended up being the TB girl, her father, me, Lea, Jesse, Nick, and two school kids (ages 20 and 22) - A REALLY full boat. We made it back upriver all the way to a town called Kumbarumba (probably a third of the way home) when the motor propellor malfunctioned. Turns out something happened and we could only go in idle speed - an agonizingly slow pace. Many people can paddle their canoes faster than we were going. So we just put-putted along up the river, trying to keep our spirits up by thinking about what a great story it would make.
But in typical PNG style, things got crazier...and worse. At one point, we pulled off to the bank of the river so Jesse could try to fix the motor. The TB patient asked if she could "waswas" or wash off in the river. Nick picked her up (she couldn't have weighed more than 50 lbs - I could have put my hand around her femur) and set her down in the shallow water, clothes and all. Then, she apparently decided she wanted a more thorough washing, because she started taking her shirt off. While culturally acceptable here, it still made for a VERY awkward moment for me. I was just thinking, "It's okay - you can just look at the beautiful scenery, it'll all be covered up in a minute or two." FALSE. She and her father had been sitting in the front of the boat facing the rear. Lea and I were sitting on the middle seat facing forward. This girl proceeded to get into the boat RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME completely bare chested. Nobody except me and Lea seemed to bat an eye. For the next extremely uncomfortable hour and a half I rode at paddleboat speed down a river with a dying, emaciated, half naked village woman's chest smack dab in front of me. I got a cramp in my neck from turning my head to the left for so long. Another difficulty was that we were sitting on tin benches and the boat was SO packed that we couldn't stretch out our legs at all. Talk about a pain. I guess God likes putting us in circumstances that make us uncomfortable...for extended periods of time.
We continued upriver for a few more hours - through crocodile inhabited waters I might add - just watching the sun go down over the PNG grassland. I've been sort of malaria paranoid ever since we got here, and since they are nocturnal, so I was sort of freaking out internally when I realized we would be mosquito fodder for the next few hours. We just had to turn over our health to God and trust in Him and His sovereign plan. So we sat there, slapping blood-hungry skeeters and looking at the stars, creeping up the river. Finally, we got to a village called Wom, and we waited another 15 minutes for villagers to put a motor on a canoe to take us up to Samban. We eventually piled in and took off, leaving Jesse and the school kid to bring the boat up slowly. The sky off in the distance was lit up because some people had set the grass on fire for no apparent reason. It was pretty cool looking though. It was very peaceful - the moonlight illuminating the river, the tropical landscape, and the sound of frogs croaking as we passed. It felt like we were in some sort of movie.
At 9:45 at night (3 hours after dark) we got back to the house in Samban. What was supposed to be a quick 5 hour round trip turned into a 9 hour night excursion. Oh, and this is just the abbreviated version of the story, with a LOT of details left out. We'll give everyone the full story when we get back.
Well...that's the latest and greatest from bush.
-C.R.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
After a day or so of waiting for word, we (Charlie & Lea's family) received word from Lea last night regarding the situation with the Biwat people seeking revenge against the Ap Ma people.
Lea says that there has been lots of talk - but that, "most likely nothing will come of it, the people here get all worried and jittery really fast. They are very fearful. No new word. With time, the talk will die down and probably go away. Don't worry:) we will be ok. Thanks to all who have prayed!
Lea says that there has been lots of talk - but that, "most likely nothing will come of it, the people here get all worried and jittery really fast. They are very fearful. No new word. With time, the talk will die down and probably go away. Don't worry:) we will be ok. Thanks to all who have prayed!
Friday, June 26, 2009
June 26
Hey everybody!
Just got back from a 5 day milling trip!
We traveled all day Monday - Jesse and I were in a little dingy but everyone else (along with around 3000 lbs of milling equipment and fuel) piled into a 50 ft canoe. The "river" we were traveling on was only about 4 ft wide and 3ft deep or less. At one point, everyone had to jump out of a canoe and cut a path through 300 yards of swamp so we could push the canoe through. After about 5 hours of tedious travel through swamp and jungle waterways we finally arrived at the Keram River (an actual river). We went upstream about 2.5 hours to a village called Yar where we would be milling. We stayed in a bush house (I'll post pictures when we get back to Madang) which was very nice, but afforded no protection from mosquitos whatsoever. The house was on poles about 6 feet in the air, and the walls were 3 feet high. Other than the roof, and 3 ft high walls, the house was completely open air - almost like a giant square gazebo.
We set up tents inside the house so that the mosquitos didn't eat while we slept, but any time we were just sitting around, I wore my jungle-strength mosquito repellent. I was praising God that it actually seemed to work. I tested it the first night, I sat there and watched while mosquitos (probably malaria diseased blood suckers) swarmed around. Several of them landed on my legs, only to bounce around for a few seconds and then leave. After that, I didn't worry about the mosquitos very much - I just kept the repellent on.
Tuesday through Thursday were milling days. The villagers had hacked a trail back into the jungle (think The Jungle Book) about 500 yards to where the good timber trees were. We mostly milled Kwila trees - or Ironwood as it is called in the U.S. We milled giant posts of this stuff - 8 inch by 8 inch by 12 ft long - to be used as beams and posts for the new literacy center in Samban. It is difficult to describe the milling process, so I will do it via pictures once we are out of the bush. But basically we rolled 2-4 ft in diameter logs around through the jungle and onto a sawmill and cut them into timber - using nothing but pure manpower. Good thing Papua New Guineans are all ripped like 20 year old NFL players and work like oxen. The bush cut bush had bamboo and sharp thorns all through it but ALL the guys worked in bare feet. I helped move logs around, ran the sawmill, and sharpened blades for the mill and for chainsaws.
At night, we would pile about 25-30 people in the 50 ft canoe and haul them back to the village. We would bathe in the river and then go inside our house and eat and chill out. We cooked rice on our first night there, but then the village women came and brought us a ton of food. After that we would just go to our house and wait for them to bring us food. They mostly brought Ang - a nasty gelatinous substance that is apparently edible - I tried it once and then chose to abstain. We were also given yams (basically potatoes) bananas (also strangely like potatoes), and fish. Best of all..I had a whole big piece of bandicoot one night for dinner. Bandicoot is a sort of giant jungle rat and it is absolutely delicious.
Another really great thing about the trip was getting to know the milling crew. All of the guys were in their thirties and, like typical New Guineans, they loved to tell stories and joke around. My pidgin definitely improved from listening to them talk all the time. I was really sad I had to leave this morning because I definitely had a great time with them.
I definitely felt everyone's prayers. Hopefully I don't get malaria or another stomach parasite, but I'm pumping meds like they're going out of style.
Anyway, just thought I'd update everyone and let you know that I'm safe and sound! 10 Days until we can upload pictures!!!
Thank you for your prayers!!!
-C.R.
Hey everybody!
Just got back from a 5 day milling trip!
We traveled all day Monday - Jesse and I were in a little dingy but everyone else (along with around 3000 lbs of milling equipment and fuel) piled into a 50 ft canoe. The "river" we were traveling on was only about 4 ft wide and 3ft deep or less. At one point, everyone had to jump out of a canoe and cut a path through 300 yards of swamp so we could push the canoe through. After about 5 hours of tedious travel through swamp and jungle waterways we finally arrived at the Keram River (an actual river). We went upstream about 2.5 hours to a village called Yar where we would be milling. We stayed in a bush house (I'll post pictures when we get back to Madang) which was very nice, but afforded no protection from mosquitos whatsoever. The house was on poles about 6 feet in the air, and the walls were 3 feet high. Other than the roof, and 3 ft high walls, the house was completely open air - almost like a giant square gazebo.
We set up tents inside the house so that the mosquitos didn't eat while we slept, but any time we were just sitting around, I wore my jungle-strength mosquito repellent. I was praising God that it actually seemed to work. I tested it the first night, I sat there and watched while mosquitos (probably malaria diseased blood suckers) swarmed around. Several of them landed on my legs, only to bounce around for a few seconds and then leave. After that, I didn't worry about the mosquitos very much - I just kept the repellent on.
Tuesday through Thursday were milling days. The villagers had hacked a trail back into the jungle (think The Jungle Book) about 500 yards to where the good timber trees were. We mostly milled Kwila trees - or Ironwood as it is called in the U.S. We milled giant posts of this stuff - 8 inch by 8 inch by 12 ft long - to be used as beams and posts for the new literacy center in Samban. It is difficult to describe the milling process, so I will do it via pictures once we are out of the bush. But basically we rolled 2-4 ft in diameter logs around through the jungle and onto a sawmill and cut them into timber - using nothing but pure manpower. Good thing Papua New Guineans are all ripped like 20 year old NFL players and work like oxen. The bush cut bush had bamboo and sharp thorns all through it but ALL the guys worked in bare feet. I helped move logs around, ran the sawmill, and sharpened blades for the mill and for chainsaws.
At night, we would pile about 25-30 people in the 50 ft canoe and haul them back to the village. We would bathe in the river and then go inside our house and eat and chill out. We cooked rice on our first night there, but then the village women came and brought us a ton of food. After that we would just go to our house and wait for them to bring us food. They mostly brought Ang - a nasty gelatinous substance that is apparently edible - I tried it once and then chose to abstain. We were also given yams (basically potatoes) bananas (also strangely like potatoes), and fish. Best of all..I had a whole big piece of bandicoot one night for dinner. Bandicoot is a sort of giant jungle rat and it is absolutely delicious.
Another really great thing about the trip was getting to know the milling crew. All of the guys were in their thirties and, like typical New Guineans, they loved to tell stories and joke around. My pidgin definitely improved from listening to them talk all the time. I was really sad I had to leave this morning because I definitely had a great time with them.
I definitely felt everyone's prayers. Hopefully I don't get malaria or another stomach parasite, but I'm pumping meds like they're going out of style.
Anyway, just thought I'd update everyone and let you know that I'm safe and sound! 10 Days until we can upload pictures!!!
Thank you for your prayers!!!
-C.R.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Thursday June 25
We just received this email from Karie Pryor, the missionaries that Charlie & Lea are serving in Poppa New Guinea. Please pray for Gods protection over them.
Dear friends,
Due to an unfortunate death of a Biwat police man who died after drinking to excess with a Laten community member the Biwat people are seeking revenge. There have been a lot of reports that they are coming our way to burn houses etc. Our people are on high alert in fact some are bringing possessions into our house in hopes that they will be safer here. Jesse is still out in Yar. Just for the record even though people here are really getting excited I am not that concerned as they would be coming from a long distance and most likely we will hear the drums (garamuts) if there is trouble. However we have heard of some confirmed acts of violence against Ap Ma people in Angorgam. As this unfolds please help us to pray for those who would seek to injure us and for peace of mind here in the village. Tomorrow is the last day of school and children are walking back and forth on the road until then please pray for their safety as well.
Lea and Charlie Roth have been here in Samban with us for 2 weeks now doing all kinds of different things. We now have a new full size basketball court and the sports equipment their church provided for the school here is in constant use. Lea has gotten to know many of the kids personally interacting with them daily in school creating books about the alphabet with the kindergarden and books about the months of the year with the first grade. And both Lea and Charlie have undertaken the task of teaching the finer points of basketball to our second graders, as well as many other games and sports. Charlie has learned to sharpen sawmill blades and set teeth on them. He got to run the mill a bit here before going to Yar with Jesse.
We have had a good time getting to know Jill our newest resident and PBT member. She is doing well being totally smothered in tok ples every day. Better her than me. Actually she is sharing what she learns with me so that I am not so clueless. While I can speak the trade language I can't yet form full sentences in the tribal language.
People are gearing up for the dedication and we are getting ready to paint some more here at home so that the house is more presentable for guests.
Jesse and Charlie are in Yar milling and say that it was going good as of Tuesday. They are massing timber for the literacy center and clinic. They are also milling some for the Yar community for a classroom I believe. I am to speak with him today on the radio and confirm his return date which we are thinking will be Friday or Saturday.
On a different note, God has really been merciful there have been 2 premature births in the last week luckily neither of the babies appears in distress and mothers are well after some initial complications. Also Euin Jon (Kanja) fell from his ladder onto a shade tree and got a brance 3/8 in in diameter lodged in his side under his arm fortunately it stayed outside the ribcage. It was 2 inches embedded. We sent him to Kambot and they were able to cut the skin and remove the stick and he is doing much better after some initial infection. So even without our nurse (who is with a brother in Wewak who is near death) we have been able to take care of the little things here at home.
We have two more weeks out here until we take Lea and Charlie back to town please pray that things will stay calm and productive.
Karie, Jesse, Naleh, Elijah, and Judah.
Lea, and Charlie Roth
We just received this email from Karie Pryor, the missionaries that Charlie & Lea are serving in Poppa New Guinea. Please pray for Gods protection over them.
Dear friends,
Due to an unfortunate death of a Biwat police man who died after drinking to excess with a Laten community member the Biwat people are seeking revenge. There have been a lot of reports that they are coming our way to burn houses etc. Our people are on high alert in fact some are bringing possessions into our house in hopes that they will be safer here. Jesse is still out in Yar. Just for the record even though people here are really getting excited I am not that concerned as they would be coming from a long distance and most likely we will hear the drums (garamuts) if there is trouble. However we have heard of some confirmed acts of violence against Ap Ma people in Angorgam. As this unfolds please help us to pray for those who would seek to injure us and for peace of mind here in the village. Tomorrow is the last day of school and children are walking back and forth on the road until then please pray for their safety as well.
Lea and Charlie Roth have been here in Samban with us for 2 weeks now doing all kinds of different things. We now have a new full size basketball court and the sports equipment their church provided for the school here is in constant use. Lea has gotten to know many of the kids personally interacting with them daily in school creating books about the alphabet with the kindergarden and books about the months of the year with the first grade. And both Lea and Charlie have undertaken the task of teaching the finer points of basketball to our second graders, as well as many other games and sports. Charlie has learned to sharpen sawmill blades and set teeth on them. He got to run the mill a bit here before going to Yar with Jesse.
We have had a good time getting to know Jill our newest resident and PBT member. She is doing well being totally smothered in tok ples every day. Better her than me. Actually she is sharing what she learns with me so that I am not so clueless. While I can speak the trade language I can't yet form full sentences in the tribal language.
People are gearing up for the dedication and we are getting ready to paint some more here at home so that the house is more presentable for guests.
Jesse and Charlie are in Yar milling and say that it was going good as of Tuesday. They are massing timber for the literacy center and clinic. They are also milling some for the Yar community for a classroom I believe. I am to speak with him today on the radio and confirm his return date which we are thinking will be Friday or Saturday.
On a different note, God has really been merciful there have been 2 premature births in the last week luckily neither of the babies appears in distress and mothers are well after some initial complications. Also Euin Jon (Kanja) fell from his ladder onto a shade tree and got a brance 3/8 in in diameter lodged in his side under his arm fortunately it stayed outside the ribcage. It was 2 inches embedded. We sent him to Kambot and they were able to cut the skin and remove the stick and he is doing much better after some initial infection. So even without our nurse (who is with a brother in Wewak who is near death) we have been able to take care of the little things here at home.
We have two more weeks out here until we take Lea and Charlie back to town please pray that things will stay calm and productive.
Karie, Jesse, Naleh, Elijah, and Judah.
Lea, and Charlie Roth
Monday, June 22, 2009
Monday June 22, 2009
Well, I don't really update on what I'm doing here out in the bush much, but I thought I'd throw a post of my own in the mix while Charlie is gone:) I have been doing work in the clinic and have seen all sorts of things already, some of them haven't even been at the clinic. There has been malaria, chicken pox, pneumonia, bronchial infections, ring worm, sores, cuts, gashes, impailed objects and the like. The nurse that usually works at the clinic has not been here at all because her brother is very sick and in the hospital. So Karie has been working there more than she thought she would be. Even when she's not at the clinic, people will come and get her to help with an accident or problem. We got called out the other day because a little boy fell down his stairs onto a piece of wood or stick and a piece got stuck in the back of his shoulder. The kids here are extremely tough and he wasn't crying even though he wanted to. Another guy was out in the garden or bush and cut himself with his bush knife (which is like a machete). That seems to happen fairly regularly and usually isn't pretty. Without getting too descriptive, he cut an artery or something and it was buldging out and clotting at the broken end outside the wound. I guess I was kind of like Karie's medical assistant, I got the water and bandages while she cleaned the wound. I wouldn't mind helping with the dirty work but until Karie passes out (she gets sick and sometimes passes out if she looks at bloody wounds and stuff too much) I just help with everything else usually.
I teach in the kindergarten class 3 days a week. We teach English letters and words but most of the kids can't speak it and hardly understand it. This week I will be teaching in the first grade class instead. The first graders are usually 7-10 maybe a few 12 year olds. Mondays and Wednesdays I do craft time with the kids in the 2nd grade class. Even though it's second grade the kids range from age 9-16. On Fridays the 2nd graders have sport time. Usually the teacher just says go out and play but I have been teaching them the rules to games then we go out and play an organized game. The first week I taught the rules of basketball and last week I taught them kickball. they had never even heard of kickball much less played it. Their teacher said that no one has ever taught it before and it was going to give them "big name" in the area because no one else knows that game and it was so great that they know it now and no one else does- haha.
I also work in the gardens with Karie. One day last week I planted a row of watermelons ( and by row I mean rooooooowww :P) then we cut rice with our bush knives. I also cut "kau kau" (like sweet potatoes) on Saturday. We hacked down all the grass and weeds that had grown over top of the area then dug the ground looking for the kau kau and at the same time preparing the ground to replant. It is very hot working in the garden especially when the sun is shining! Its usually 80-85 inside so outside and with sun...well you can imagine haha. Unfortunately I'm still having spider run-ins...last night one scared me because I turned around and there was one about the size of a hand on my backpack :( I really like spending time with the kids. Last night I sat on a porch swing for the longest time with 2 of the little girls. Once kids are past about 3 years old they really don't get any affection from older people, maybe just from an older sibling. The one little girl, Judith, was shy at first but eventually she was all curled up beside me with her head on my shoulder. I know it's going to be hard to leave the kids!!!
~lea~
Well, I don't really update on what I'm doing here out in the bush much, but I thought I'd throw a post of my own in the mix while Charlie is gone:) I have been doing work in the clinic and have seen all sorts of things already, some of them haven't even been at the clinic. There has been malaria, chicken pox, pneumonia, bronchial infections, ring worm, sores, cuts, gashes, impailed objects and the like. The nurse that usually works at the clinic has not been here at all because her brother is very sick and in the hospital. So Karie has been working there more than she thought she would be. Even when she's not at the clinic, people will come and get her to help with an accident or problem. We got called out the other day because a little boy fell down his stairs onto a piece of wood or stick and a piece got stuck in the back of his shoulder. The kids here are extremely tough and he wasn't crying even though he wanted to. Another guy was out in the garden or bush and cut himself with his bush knife (which is like a machete). That seems to happen fairly regularly and usually isn't pretty. Without getting too descriptive, he cut an artery or something and it was buldging out and clotting at the broken end outside the wound. I guess I was kind of like Karie's medical assistant, I got the water and bandages while she cleaned the wound. I wouldn't mind helping with the dirty work but until Karie passes out (she gets sick and sometimes passes out if she looks at bloody wounds and stuff too much) I just help with everything else usually.
I teach in the kindergarten class 3 days a week. We teach English letters and words but most of the kids can't speak it and hardly understand it. This week I will be teaching in the first grade class instead. The first graders are usually 7-10 maybe a few 12 year olds. Mondays and Wednesdays I do craft time with the kids in the 2nd grade class. Even though it's second grade the kids range from age 9-16. On Fridays the 2nd graders have sport time. Usually the teacher just says go out and play but I have been teaching them the rules to games then we go out and play an organized game. The first week I taught the rules of basketball and last week I taught them kickball. they had never even heard of kickball much less played it. Their teacher said that no one has ever taught it before and it was going to give them "big name" in the area because no one else knows that game and it was so great that they know it now and no one else does- haha.
I also work in the gardens with Karie. One day last week I planted a row of watermelons ( and by row I mean rooooooowww :P) then we cut rice with our bush knives. I also cut "kau kau" (like sweet potatoes) on Saturday. We hacked down all the grass and weeds that had grown over top of the area then dug the ground looking for the kau kau and at the same time preparing the ground to replant. It is very hot working in the garden especially when the sun is shining! Its usually 80-85 inside so outside and with sun...well you can imagine haha. Unfortunately I'm still having spider run-ins...last night one scared me because I turned around and there was one about the size of a hand on my backpack :( I really like spending time with the kids. Last night I sat on a porch swing for the longest time with 2 of the little girls. Once kids are past about 3 years old they really don't get any affection from older people, maybe just from an older sibling. The one little girl, Judith, was shy at first but eventually she was all curled up beside me with her head on my shoulder. I know it's going to be hard to leave the kids!!!
~lea~
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Monday, June 22, 2009
Hey yupla (you all in pidgin),
I am leaving in about an hour to go to a village called Yar where I will be milling timber for 5 days. It is going to be physically challenging, but that's not what worries me. We are going to be in the jungle for 5 days and I will most likely be spending a significant of time outside at night with the malaria mosquitos. I have resigned myself to the fact that if it is God's will for me get it, so be it - but i'm still gonna fight it like the plague.
Also, there will be danger of running into snakes - something I'm still not too keen about.
We will be staying in a tent inside a village house, so at least when I go to bed I will be safe. The timber we are milling is for the new literacy center that is to be built in September/October.
I know that you all have been praying for us, but I thought I would just specifically ask for a LOT of prayer over the next 5 days (we return Friday). Prayer for safety from bugs, skeeters, and injury while we are cutting down giant trees and using the sawmill.
Love you all and thanks!
-C.R.
Hey yupla (you all in pidgin),
I am leaving in about an hour to go to a village called Yar where I will be milling timber for 5 days. It is going to be physically challenging, but that's not what worries me. We are going to be in the jungle for 5 days and I will most likely be spending a significant of time outside at night with the malaria mosquitos. I have resigned myself to the fact that if it is God's will for me get it, so be it - but i'm still gonna fight it like the plague.
Also, there will be danger of running into snakes - something I'm still not too keen about.
We will be staying in a tent inside a village house, so at least when I go to bed I will be safe. The timber we are milling is for the new literacy center that is to be built in September/October.
I know that you all have been praying for us, but I thought I would just specifically ask for a LOT of prayer over the next 5 days (we return Friday). Prayer for safety from bugs, skeeters, and injury while we are cutting down giant trees and using the sawmill.
Love you all and thanks!
-C.R.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Excerpts from an e-mail Charlie sent Sat. the 20th to answer some questions his family had asked:
"E-mail is broken. I couldn't believe I got that last e-mail through, but I guess it was just lucky. From here on out, all e-mail we get through is bonus. To make it easier for you, expect that you won't hear from us again until we get back into town. (July 9th). We'll keep trying but the chances are terrible that we will be able to get through very often. We don't even know if this e-mail will get through.
We've been working pretty hard. Jesse and I work on construction and maintenance stuff, Lea helps Karie in the clinic, helps teach grades 1 and 2. She taught them basketball last week, and this week she taught them kickball. We do feel as though we have helped the Pryors.
Seems like most of the villagers are not believers, or at least don't go to church. It is really hard to tell though because when people have a dispute, they think they can't go to church...and there are a LOT of disputes over land and stuff like that. So for all we know, the whole village could be saved but not come to church because they're ticked at another villager.
The Pryors live right in the village, but on one end of the main street. They minister to Samban, Painiten, and a couple other villages that are within a few miles.
I think we're over the parasites (hopefully). Karie gave us drugs which killed them.
I think the picture of "our house" on the oipng website is actually the clinic. We'll post a bunch of pictures when we get back to town - of the house, village, villagers, all sorts of things:-)
Jesse and I leave on Monday for the milling trip. We will be gone for five days. We will be staying in a village, in a bush house or village hut (like Samban people do), but we will put up a tent inside one of the houses to sleep in. It is going to be a long, dirty week. Pray for safety - milling is hard work and there will also be thousands of mosquitos.
Thank you for the prayers - we definitely feel the love and support from back home.
Hope to e-mail again soo, but who knows.
-C
Excerpts from an e-mail Charlie sent Sat. the 20th to answer some questions his family had asked:
"E-mail is broken. I couldn't believe I got that last e-mail through, but I guess it was just lucky. From here on out, all e-mail we get through is bonus. To make it easier for you, expect that you won't hear from us again until we get back into town. (July 9th). We'll keep trying but the chances are terrible that we will be able to get through very often. We don't even know if this e-mail will get through.
We've been working pretty hard. Jesse and I work on construction and maintenance stuff, Lea helps Karie in the clinic, helps teach grades 1 and 2. She taught them basketball last week, and this week she taught them kickball. We do feel as though we have helped the Pryors.
Seems like most of the villagers are not believers, or at least don't go to church. It is really hard to tell though because when people have a dispute, they think they can't go to church...and there are a LOT of disputes over land and stuff like that. So for all we know, the whole village could be saved but not come to church because they're ticked at another villager.
The Pryors live right in the village, but on one end of the main street. They minister to Samban, Painiten, and a couple other villages that are within a few miles.
I think we're over the parasites (hopefully). Karie gave us drugs which killed them.
I think the picture of "our house" on the oipng website is actually the clinic. We'll post a bunch of pictures when we get back to town - of the house, village, villagers, all sorts of things:-)
Jesse and I leave on Monday for the milling trip. We will be gone for five days. We will be staying in a village, in a bush house or village hut (like Samban people do), but we will put up a tent inside one of the houses to sleep in. It is going to be a long, dirty week. Pray for safety - milling is hard work and there will also be thousands of mosquitos.
Thank you for the prayers - we definitely feel the love and support from back home.
Hope to e-mail again soo, but who knows.
-C
Friday, June 19, 2009
Friday, June 19, 2009
Hey everyone!
Long time no updates eh? Our radio modem broke down on Monday June 14 so we have not been able to email at all. But here is what has been happening.
On Monday June 14, Lea and I both came down with some sort of parasite or stomach bug. Lea handled it pretty well, but I had drank a coconut (pure glucose) which apparently fueled my parasite so I felt really crappy. At around 7 on Monday I walked into the bathroom and hurled my guts out. When I came out, Lea was looking at me like I was an alien. Apparently she could hear me spewing and it sounded...uh...violent? I looked at her and said, "If you do end up barfing, just look out, because it is powerful!"
On Tuesday we just sat around all day watching movies. Neither of us felt much better. Tuesday night, they put us on some drugs (we're still on them now) to kill the bad stuff in our guts. It makes us a little tired, but we are feeling fine now.
We are gearing up for our milling trip. We cleaned the mill and Jesse packed it up. We sharpened a TON of sawblades...well some villagers did. it was supposed to be my job but I was out of commision Tuesday and Wednesday. Now we are setting the teeth on them. We have to bend every one of the sawblade teeth to the proper angle. Pain in the royal doinkus. Its pretty mindless though so at least I can daydream.
Jesse and I took a boat trip today. We were scouting out what rivers would be best to take when we go to mill. We got about 1/3 of the way there and the boat motor started over heating. We had to turn back, but it turned into a 3 hour battle with mosquitos. Luckily, I've been testing to see which repellent I should take on the trip, so I had repellent on from my knees down and elbows out. But the skeeters were swarming my shorts region, gha! I took off one of my sandals and just went tribal on them...I killed about 15 in 3 minutes. The little village boy who was with us was cracking up laughing. I was just like, "Whatever man, I'd rather hunt than be hunted." We have been getting bitten a lot lately though. I thought that mosquitos couldn't bite me through my net, but apparently if your body is right up against it, they can stick their little blood sucking noses through and nab you. my knee, hand, and toe all got absolutely nailed.
We have really been challenged by the environment and the discomfort is taking it's toll. I read Psalms everyday. I'm really loving the ones about how God watches over his children and protects them through time of trial.
Strange as it seems, the end is in sight. We've got less than 20 days left. After the milling trip, it will be just around 10 days until we leave Samban to head to Madang, Ukarumpa, and possibly somewhere else, we'll see.
Okay, Lea and Karie are painting the house, so it reeks like turpentine (the paint was diluted). On top of that, Lea is using some sort of fuel to clean off her hands and the sink so it smells SO rank in here. I gotta get out. Peace!
-C.R.
Hey everyone!
Long time no updates eh? Our radio modem broke down on Monday June 14 so we have not been able to email at all. But here is what has been happening.
On Monday June 14, Lea and I both came down with some sort of parasite or stomach bug. Lea handled it pretty well, but I had drank a coconut (pure glucose) which apparently fueled my parasite so I felt really crappy. At around 7 on Monday I walked into the bathroom and hurled my guts out. When I came out, Lea was looking at me like I was an alien. Apparently she could hear me spewing and it sounded...uh...violent? I looked at her and said, "If you do end up barfing, just look out, because it is powerful!"
On Tuesday we just sat around all day watching movies. Neither of us felt much better. Tuesday night, they put us on some drugs (we're still on them now) to kill the bad stuff in our guts. It makes us a little tired, but we are feeling fine now.
We are gearing up for our milling trip. We cleaned the mill and Jesse packed it up. We sharpened a TON of sawblades...well some villagers did. it was supposed to be my job but I was out of commision Tuesday and Wednesday. Now we are setting the teeth on them. We have to bend every one of the sawblade teeth to the proper angle. Pain in the royal doinkus. Its pretty mindless though so at least I can daydream.
Jesse and I took a boat trip today. We were scouting out what rivers would be best to take when we go to mill. We got about 1/3 of the way there and the boat motor started over heating. We had to turn back, but it turned into a 3 hour battle with mosquitos. Luckily, I've been testing to see which repellent I should take on the trip, so I had repellent on from my knees down and elbows out. But the skeeters were swarming my shorts region, gha! I took off one of my sandals and just went tribal on them...I killed about 15 in 3 minutes. The little village boy who was with us was cracking up laughing. I was just like, "Whatever man, I'd rather hunt than be hunted." We have been getting bitten a lot lately though. I thought that mosquitos couldn't bite me through my net, but apparently if your body is right up against it, they can stick their little blood sucking noses through and nab you. my knee, hand, and toe all got absolutely nailed.
We have really been challenged by the environment and the discomfort is taking it's toll. I read Psalms everyday. I'm really loving the ones about how God watches over his children and protects them through time of trial.
Strange as it seems, the end is in sight. We've got less than 20 days left. After the milling trip, it will be just around 10 days until we leave Samban to head to Madang, Ukarumpa, and possibly somewhere else, we'll see.
Okay, Lea and Karie are painting the house, so it reeks like turpentine (the paint was diluted). On top of that, Lea is using some sort of fuel to clean off her hands and the sink so it smells SO rank in here. I gotta get out. Peace!
-C.R.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Lea writes from Samban:
I went to another village with Karie today, she was visiting a patient and I went fishing with a stick, a hook, worms and styrofoam for a bobber. Karie went to the patient and I just followed some little kids from that village. Couldnt really talk or understand them but I just went along. Went to the garden 2 miles away a few days and picked rice and cut down bananas. We ride the quad to get out there and the path leaves much to be desired and has lots of holes filled with mud. The one front wheel no longer has its mud guard either, so needless to say it's a bit of a muddy drive.
Wednesday a pregnant girl came into the clinic and was only a few months along, but was shaky and stuff and Karie thought maybe she had low blood sugar. Someone from church donated some blood glucose testing systems. The nurse isnt here right now so we figured it out on our own. I read the directions and looked at the pictures and we got the girl's blood tested and turns out her count was low. Karie commented, "what are the chances that when she actually needed that (blood testing kit) it just happend to come." So that was really neat and definitely a praise. I clean up after Karie and count out doeses of pills and medicine when I'm at the clinic usually.
The teachers are overwhelmed (in a good way!) with all the stuff we brought, it's so much for them. They were discussing amongst themsleves why their school always gets help and not the government shcool and wondering if the Pryors had asked for it. Karie had overheard though and came walking in and told them that she and Jesse didn't even know Charlie and I and dropped the hint that God is blessing them and its His doing that we came and brought all the supplies. The school is so Chrstian and is so awesome to see. The kids say the Lord's prayer everyday when they start.
I'm so sticky! and just wanna be for real clean :P oh well. Saturday I got up at 7 to go fish again. It rained the night before so everything was really muddy even on the normal path. On the way back we went a back way which was supposedly a short cut. It was more of just a little path. It was so slippery and muddy! I almost slipped a bunch of times. Karie was like, ' well now you have been thrashing through the bush' because it was just a path in the middle of the jungle. I walked across this wobbly bridge that was just a log then a plank to cross the river. It had kinda a hand rail part of the way but it was out a little from the log and it was wobbly too. Karie didn't walk on it and took the canoe because she fell on one like that once haha. Then I walked across a coconut tree trunk to get across another creek. Yesterday the basketball "court" was really muddy from the rain, especially on the one end so Jesse dumped a bunch of dirt and we spread it around. But the dirt is black and pretty moist itself, so things were still muddy. Then they dumped corn millings on that, which is kind of like saw dust. I wasn't planning on playing till the court dried out at least a little. The ladies and moms wanted to play last night though and wanted me to play so we played full court - mud, millings, and all. The ball was slippery and slimy most of the time and since 3/4 of the court was wet and/or muddy or just really thick dirt we couldn't really dribble, so we had to pass to get the ball up the court. It was fun, the ladies told me we were all sisters. I had mud all over me when it was all said and done but it's no big deal; being muddy and dirty is nothing new - its a regular thing now haha. Thankfully Charlie and I are both healthy which is a huge praise! Thank you all for your prayers!
Lea writes from Samban:
I went to another village with Karie today, she was visiting a patient and I went fishing with a stick, a hook, worms and styrofoam for a bobber. Karie went to the patient and I just followed some little kids from that village. Couldnt really talk or understand them but I just went along. Went to the garden 2 miles away a few days and picked rice and cut down bananas. We ride the quad to get out there and the path leaves much to be desired and has lots of holes filled with mud. The one front wheel no longer has its mud guard either, so needless to say it's a bit of a muddy drive.
Wednesday a pregnant girl came into the clinic and was only a few months along, but was shaky and stuff and Karie thought maybe she had low blood sugar. Someone from church donated some blood glucose testing systems. The nurse isnt here right now so we figured it out on our own. I read the directions and looked at the pictures and we got the girl's blood tested and turns out her count was low. Karie commented, "what are the chances that when she actually needed that (blood testing kit) it just happend to come." So that was really neat and definitely a praise. I clean up after Karie and count out doeses of pills and medicine when I'm at the clinic usually.
The teachers are overwhelmed (in a good way!) with all the stuff we brought, it's so much for them. They were discussing amongst themsleves why their school always gets help and not the government shcool and wondering if the Pryors had asked for it. Karie had overheard though and came walking in and told them that she and Jesse didn't even know Charlie and I and dropped the hint that God is blessing them and its His doing that we came and brought all the supplies. The school is so Chrstian and is so awesome to see. The kids say the Lord's prayer everyday when they start.
I'm so sticky! and just wanna be for real clean :P oh well. Saturday I got up at 7 to go fish again. It rained the night before so everything was really muddy even on the normal path. On the way back we went a back way which was supposedly a short cut. It was more of just a little path. It was so slippery and muddy! I almost slipped a bunch of times. Karie was like, ' well now you have been thrashing through the bush' because it was just a path in the middle of the jungle. I walked across this wobbly bridge that was just a log then a plank to cross the river. It had kinda a hand rail part of the way but it was out a little from the log and it was wobbly too. Karie didn't walk on it and took the canoe because she fell on one like that once haha. Then I walked across a coconut tree trunk to get across another creek. Yesterday the basketball "court" was really muddy from the rain, especially on the one end so Jesse dumped a bunch of dirt and we spread it around. But the dirt is black and pretty moist itself, so things were still muddy. Then they dumped corn millings on that, which is kind of like saw dust. I wasn't planning on playing till the court dried out at least a little. The ladies and moms wanted to play last night though and wanted me to play so we played full court - mud, millings, and all. The ball was slippery and slimy most of the time and since 3/4 of the court was wet and/or muddy or just really thick dirt we couldn't really dribble, so we had to pass to get the ball up the court. It was fun, the ladies told me we were all sisters. I had mud all over me when it was all said and done but it's no big deal; being muddy and dirty is nothing new - its a regular thing now haha. Thankfully Charlie and I are both healthy which is a huge praise! Thank you all for your prayers!
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Note: The last post was actually written on Tues. June 9th, but not posted until the 12th due to password troubles.
Saturday June 13, 2009
It has now been 4 days of village life. Lea and I are holding up pretty well, all things considered. We are making lots of new friends and doing all sorts of new things. Lea has been working in the clinic, teaching kids how to play basketball, taking fishing trips, making school supplies, and playing with the village kids. I have done so many different things this week. I sharpened chainsaw blades, milled lumber, built, assembled, and made a basketball hoop, weedwhacked, cut down trees, powerwashed screens and beams, taught village kids how to play knockout, picked rice, planted watermelons, and hung solar powered lights.
Yesterday, we dug a hole in the ground and put in a pole (part of a tree) to use as a basketball pole. Then we took one of the backboards we had built (using the lumber that we milled) and used the tractor to hang the backboard on the pole. Me and two villagers were in the bucket (sort of like a Bobcat bucket) holding and nailing the backboard. When we finished nailing it, Jesse told us to hang on because he was going to lower the bucket and let us out. I was hanging on, but he accidentally dropped the bucket about 18 inches. I lost my balance and fell out of the bucket. On my way down, my leg went in between rungs on the ladder that was under us. I got tangled in it and it sort of fell on top of me. Luckily, I was able to grab onto the bottom of the bucket and slow my fall, otherwise I definitely would have broken my leg. So I've been thanking God for his protection.
Lea and I are already realizing that life in the U.S. is very cushy and luxurious. We feel as though we haven't been really "clean" since we got here. We shower every night, but it is hard to get all of the jungle off with just a small trickle of water. I have accepted the fact that I will need to suffer through my own stank until we get back to town. I have given up trying to smell better and I'm just trying to get off all the dirt. Strangely enough though, I don't feel as gross as when I don't shower back home. There is no pressure to be clean around here, so anything we do is pretty much for our own benefit.
Over the past two days, I have made friends with a group of Jr. High age boys. We were out picking rice (or "cuttim raiz" in pidgin) and the whole time they were teaching me how to say things in their language. Pidgin is a mostly English with a wierd accent and atrocious grammar. I always feel like correcting them when they say something, but I have to stop myself because bad English is good pidgin. One of the town leaders told my "gang" to only speak to me in "tok pigin" so that I would learn it. After we were done working yesterday, I sat on the stairs and about 15 kids crowded around me and I just talked pidgin with them. They kept laughing at me because I was botching it so bad. I think i'm starting to pick it up though.
One thing I have really enjoyed is seeing how people everywhere are the same. Even though these people live under thatched roofs, their town is very similar to a small town in the U.S. They have the same problems - gossip/rumors, parent politics at the school, gambling, drugs, fighting/crime. Everything we have at home, they have here in some form. Take away all the money, clothes, cars, and the language barrier, and these people are just like me. It has been pretty sweet to see how humans are humans - regardless of where/how they live.
Lea and I really enjoy hearing from you all. We check email at lunch every day, and I always get excited when we have contact with the outside world.
We are getting along great with the Pryors. Jesse teases Lea a lot, but it's all in good fun. The boys and I are getting to be good pals. They like to hit and fight, but I've learned that I can just give it right back to them (Thanks Dad for "The Knocker" - it's working great). Judah is HILARIOUS. Last night, we were sitting at dinner and a mangy dog named Pilot was whining and scratching at the door. Judah yells, "Shut up Pilot!" And then shakes his head and mutters "I'm gonna kill that dog." We laughed for 5 minutes.
I woke up today and saw about 15 mosquitos on my net. I'm getting tired of just playing defense, so, with an indignant huff, I decided to go on the warpath. I started trapping them in my net and flicking them to death. In a span of 30 minutes or so, I killed over 25. I kept taunting them - saying things like, "Stinks when your prey starts fighting back, huh?" and "Take that you little blood SUCKER!" I felt much better when my killing spree was over.
Anyway, can't wait to get back and shower and scrape off with some steel wool.
-C.
Saturday June 13, 2009
It has now been 4 days of village life. Lea and I are holding up pretty well, all things considered. We are making lots of new friends and doing all sorts of new things. Lea has been working in the clinic, teaching kids how to play basketball, taking fishing trips, making school supplies, and playing with the village kids. I have done so many different things this week. I sharpened chainsaw blades, milled lumber, built, assembled, and made a basketball hoop, weedwhacked, cut down trees, powerwashed screens and beams, taught village kids how to play knockout, picked rice, planted watermelons, and hung solar powered lights.
Yesterday, we dug a hole in the ground and put in a pole (part of a tree) to use as a basketball pole. Then we took one of the backboards we had built (using the lumber that we milled) and used the tractor to hang the backboard on the pole. Me and two villagers were in the bucket (sort of like a Bobcat bucket) holding and nailing the backboard. When we finished nailing it, Jesse told us to hang on because he was going to lower the bucket and let us out. I was hanging on, but he accidentally dropped the bucket about 18 inches. I lost my balance and fell out of the bucket. On my way down, my leg went in between rungs on the ladder that was under us. I got tangled in it and it sort of fell on top of me. Luckily, I was able to grab onto the bottom of the bucket and slow my fall, otherwise I definitely would have broken my leg. So I've been thanking God for his protection.
Lea and I are already realizing that life in the U.S. is very cushy and luxurious. We feel as though we haven't been really "clean" since we got here. We shower every night, but it is hard to get all of the jungle off with just a small trickle of water. I have accepted the fact that I will need to suffer through my own stank until we get back to town. I have given up trying to smell better and I'm just trying to get off all the dirt. Strangely enough though, I don't feel as gross as when I don't shower back home. There is no pressure to be clean around here, so anything we do is pretty much for our own benefit.
Over the past two days, I have made friends with a group of Jr. High age boys. We were out picking rice (or "cuttim raiz" in pidgin) and the whole time they were teaching me how to say things in their language. Pidgin is a mostly English with a wierd accent and atrocious grammar. I always feel like correcting them when they say something, but I have to stop myself because bad English is good pidgin. One of the town leaders told my "gang" to only speak to me in "tok pigin" so that I would learn it. After we were done working yesterday, I sat on the stairs and about 15 kids crowded around me and I just talked pidgin with them. They kept laughing at me because I was botching it so bad. I think i'm starting to pick it up though.
One thing I have really enjoyed is seeing how people everywhere are the same. Even though these people live under thatched roofs, their town is very similar to a small town in the U.S. They have the same problems - gossip/rumors, parent politics at the school, gambling, drugs, fighting/crime. Everything we have at home, they have here in some form. Take away all the money, clothes, cars, and the language barrier, and these people are just like me. It has been pretty sweet to see how humans are humans - regardless of where/how they live.
Lea and I really enjoy hearing from you all. We check email at lunch every day, and I always get excited when we have contact with the outside world.
We are getting along great with the Pryors. Jesse teases Lea a lot, but it's all in good fun. The boys and I are getting to be good pals. They like to hit and fight, but I've learned that I can just give it right back to them (Thanks Dad for "The Knocker" - it's working great). Judah is HILARIOUS. Last night, we were sitting at dinner and a mangy dog named Pilot was whining and scratching at the door. Judah yells, "Shut up Pilot!" And then shakes his head and mutters "I'm gonna kill that dog." We laughed for 5 minutes.
I woke up today and saw about 15 mosquitos on my net. I'm getting tired of just playing defense, so, with an indignant huff, I decided to go on the warpath. I started trapping them in my net and flicking them to death. In a span of 30 minutes or so, I killed over 25. I kept taunting them - saying things like, "Stinks when your prey starts fighting back, huh?" and "Take that you little blood SUCKER!" I felt much better when my killing spree was over.
Anyway, can't wait to get back and shower and scrape off with some steel wool.
-C.
Friday, June 12, 2009
GREETINGS FROM THE VILLAGE OF SAMBAN!
We took off yesterday from the Madang Airport and flew via Missionary Aviation Fellowship to the village of Samban. The pilot took off and then let me fly the plane the whole way to the village. When we arrived, the entire village was out at the airstrip to welcome us. They sang us 4 or 5 songs, and everyone was smiling and shaking our hands and saying welcome. This one old dude came up and shook my hand and said "Welcome! We hope you like our little place!"
We then started walking toward the village. As we approached a bridge, three village men started singing. They were dressed in traditional "sing-sing" attire...or maybe I should say they were "undressed." Anyway, they wore headdresses, body paint, grass loincloths, and had crazy necklaces on and were beating on their drums and singing. Lea got some video of it - I can't wait to show it in church. These dudes escorted us all the way to the Pryors house. I'd be lying if I said the experience wasn't a little shocking...but it was sweet too. How many people can say that they were serenaded by natives? It was hilarious though, cause I looked down, and the one dancer guy was wearing a dress watch that was clearly NOT part of his costume.
The rest of the day we just unpacked, hung out and played volleyball and basketball with the villagers, and got the tour of the village. These people are amazing hut builders. They've got houses with two and three stories, proches and decks on upper floors. Its like the Swiss Family Robinson on steriods.
One last story - last night Lea and I went down to our room to set up our mosquito nets and were confronted by the biggest spider I've ever seen outside of a zoo. The body of it was about the size of my thumb, and its legs were probably 3-4 inches long. I tried to smash it with my shoe and it grabbed by shoe and started dragging it to it's lair. - Just kidding - it was SO fast and dodged. Karie said they're territorial though, so I'm gonna get another shot at it tonight. It's going down. Like my dad always said - a man's gotta protect his family from the varments...or in this case , giant arachnids.
We both slept well - mosquito nets are strangely comforting and soothing. Night sounds in Samban include pigs grunting, crickets and frogs chirping, and an occasional dog fight. At 6 AM a rooster started crowing right outside our bedroom. It crowed for a solid hour - when I find out which one it is I'm going to subtly suggest that it be the next to "hit the block." Stupid animal.
Can't wait to show you all pictures - we got some whopper shots yesterday.
Love you all and miss you a ton!
-Charlie
We took off yesterday from the Madang Airport and flew via Missionary Aviation Fellowship to the village of Samban. The pilot took off and then let me fly the plane the whole way to the village. When we arrived, the entire village was out at the airstrip to welcome us. They sang us 4 or 5 songs, and everyone was smiling and shaking our hands and saying welcome. This one old dude came up and shook my hand and said "Welcome! We hope you like our little place!"
We then started walking toward the village. As we approached a bridge, three village men started singing. They were dressed in traditional "sing-sing" attire...or maybe I should say they were "undressed." Anyway, they wore headdresses, body paint, grass loincloths, and had crazy necklaces on and were beating on their drums and singing. Lea got some video of it - I can't wait to show it in church. These dudes escorted us all the way to the Pryors house. I'd be lying if I said the experience wasn't a little shocking...but it was sweet too. How many people can say that they were serenaded by natives? It was hilarious though, cause I looked down, and the one dancer guy was wearing a dress watch that was clearly NOT part of his costume.
The rest of the day we just unpacked, hung out and played volleyball and basketball with the villagers, and got the tour of the village. These people are amazing hut builders. They've got houses with two and three stories, proches and decks on upper floors. Its like the Swiss Family Robinson on steriods.
One last story - last night Lea and I went down to our room to set up our mosquito nets and were confronted by the biggest spider I've ever seen outside of a zoo. The body of it was about the size of my thumb, and its legs were probably 3-4 inches long. I tried to smash it with my shoe and it grabbed by shoe and started dragging it to it's lair. - Just kidding - it was SO fast and dodged. Karie said they're territorial though, so I'm gonna get another shot at it tonight. It's going down. Like my dad always said - a man's gotta protect his family from the varments...or in this case , giant arachnids.
We both slept well - mosquito nets are strangely comforting and soothing. Night sounds in Samban include pigs grunting, crickets and frogs chirping, and an occasional dog fight. At 6 AM a rooster started crowing right outside our bedroom. It crowed for a solid hour - when I find out which one it is I'm going to subtly suggest that it be the next to "hit the block." Stupid animal.
Can't wait to show you all pictures - we got some whopper shots yesterday.
Love you all and miss you a ton!
-Charlie
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Hey everyone!
I'm sitting here at a Pioneer Bible Translators (PBT) station in Madang, Papua New Guinea. SO much has happened in the last 5 days that I won't be able to include everything, but I'll try to cover as much as I can.
First of all, we will not have internet access out in the bush, but we can email via radio so I'll be emailing future posts to my family and they will post them. But I will not be able to see comments or anything like that. If you want to contact me, you'll have to email me at the Pryor's email address and put like "For Charlie" in the subject line so they know it's for me. Their address is: oipng@crmf.org.pg
Okay. Lea and I have decided that traveling is not very hard, but it can be stressful. Our flight from LA to Brisbane, Australia boarded on time but then sat at the gate for 3 hours because the pa system in one of the cabins was not working. So we sat there, in LA, for 3 stinking hours just waiting to leave. 14 hrs later, we arrived in Australia only to wait another 30 minutes on the plane because of a swine flu scare. Some dufus was feeling sick so they came on and quarantined and tested him.
Our bags didn't make the connection from Bisbane to Port Moresby, so we had to do without changing clothes for 3 days. Sorta gross. But we finally got them back yesterday so it's all good.
We leave for the bush tomorrow so we're packing up stuff and weighing it to put on the plane.
The Pryor family is great! Jesse is hilarious - a dry sense of humor and he's a lot like my brother and college roommate in terms of temperment/personality. Karie is great too - very strong, but she definitely cares for the people around her. The kids are awesome too. Nahleh is nine and she knows everything about this country and loves to share everything she knows. Elijah, (6) is all boy - running around beating things and rough housing. Judah (3) loves to run around playing with his siblings.
We have adjusted pretty well to the time change - i'm sleeping from around 10 to about 6:30, so i'm pretty pumped about that. I'm also eating all the native food I can get my hands on - squid (awesome), lamb with thai garlic sauce (even better), and lots of local fruit.
We went to a place called Jais Aben and went swimming/snorkeling. It was like swimming in an aquarium. I met all the characters from finding nemo. This place is absolutely beautiful - mountains, oceans, tropical plants. Striking.
We haven't really had to rough it yet - but that is definitely coming. More to come on that later.
Jesse told me today that the village people have prepared some sort of song and dance to welcome us tomorrow, so that will be exciting.
Hope all is well with everyone back in the states!
-C.R.
I'm sitting here at a Pioneer Bible Translators (PBT) station in Madang, Papua New Guinea. SO much has happened in the last 5 days that I won't be able to include everything, but I'll try to cover as much as I can.
First of all, we will not have internet access out in the bush, but we can email via radio so I'll be emailing future posts to my family and they will post them. But I will not be able to see comments or anything like that. If you want to contact me, you'll have to email me at the Pryor's email address and put like "For Charlie" in the subject line so they know it's for me. Their address is: oipng@crmf.org.pg
Okay. Lea and I have decided that traveling is not very hard, but it can be stressful. Our flight from LA to Brisbane, Australia boarded on time but then sat at the gate for 3 hours because the pa system in one of the cabins was not working. So we sat there, in LA, for 3 stinking hours just waiting to leave. 14 hrs later, we arrived in Australia only to wait another 30 minutes on the plane because of a swine flu scare. Some dufus was feeling sick so they came on and quarantined and tested him.
Our bags didn't make the connection from Bisbane to Port Moresby, so we had to do without changing clothes for 3 days. Sorta gross. But we finally got them back yesterday so it's all good.
We leave for the bush tomorrow so we're packing up stuff and weighing it to put on the plane.
The Pryor family is great! Jesse is hilarious - a dry sense of humor and he's a lot like my brother and college roommate in terms of temperment/personality. Karie is great too - very strong, but she definitely cares for the people around her. The kids are awesome too. Nahleh is nine and she knows everything about this country and loves to share everything she knows. Elijah, (6) is all boy - running around beating things and rough housing. Judah (3) loves to run around playing with his siblings.
We have adjusted pretty well to the time change - i'm sleeping from around 10 to about 6:30, so i'm pretty pumped about that. I'm also eating all the native food I can get my hands on - squid (awesome), lamb with thai garlic sauce (even better), and lots of local fruit.
We went to a place called Jais Aben and went swimming/snorkeling. It was like swimming in an aquarium. I met all the characters from finding nemo. This place is absolutely beautiful - mountains, oceans, tropical plants. Striking.
We haven't really had to rough it yet - but that is definitely coming. More to come on that later.
Jesse told me today that the village people have prepared some sort of song and dance to welcome us tomorrow, so that will be exciting.
Hope all is well with everyone back in the states!
-C.R.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
On the Eve of the Unknown
The past few months seem like a giant blur. Track season, Finals, ECACs, Graduation, vacation in Florida, and now, Papua New Guinea. I have not even had time to process all of the things that have happened or the changes I have experienced. As I look back on these experiences and cannot help but smile because I have done my best to live with no regrets. But this blog is not for reminiscing about my college days, it is about the next few steps in my life. Steps that take me to Papua New Guinea.
So here I sit, at my desk in my bedroom, about to embark on one of the most exhilarating and unique experiences of my life. From the day I decided to accompany Lea to PNG until now, I have not felt the slightest twang of either doubt or anxiety. It could be because I am naively floating toward this experience, ignorant of the challenges of the next six weeks. Though probably true, I think the only way to explain my sense of peace is that I have felt God guiding and directing every aspect of this trip. From flight plans to fund raising, God has shown himself faithful and trustworthy every step of the way.
I feel somewhat melancholy about leaving, knowing that when I come back it will not be to my "normal life" of classes, cafeterias, and constant interaction with friends and peers. I am not disheartened however, but rather confident in God's plan for my life and for this trip. Lea and I both joyfully anticipate discovering how God will utilize us and this trip to bring glory to His name.
-C.R.
So here I sit, at my desk in my bedroom, about to embark on one of the most exhilarating and unique experiences of my life. From the day I decided to accompany Lea to PNG until now, I have not felt the slightest twang of either doubt or anxiety. It could be because I am naively floating toward this experience, ignorant of the challenges of the next six weeks. Though probably true, I think the only way to explain my sense of peace is that I have felt God guiding and directing every aspect of this trip. From flight plans to fund raising, God has shown himself faithful and trustworthy every step of the way.
I feel somewhat melancholy about leaving, knowing that when I come back it will not be to my "normal life" of classes, cafeterias, and constant interaction with friends and peers. I am not disheartened however, but rather confident in God's plan for my life and for this trip. Lea and I both joyfully anticipate discovering how God will utilize us and this trip to bring glory to His name.
-C.R.
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