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