Newsletter 2

Where to begin? In one sense, it seems like we do not have a lot to tell right now – things which happened only a few weeks ago, seem like ancient history, as there is always something, some drama, some challenge, unfolding in front of us. So, let’s start at the beginning, or at least where we left off last time.

The population of our little compound (with Reformed Ministries) is in a constant state of flux. The Mulder and Eikelboom families (apologies if I have misspelled either name) left around the time of my writing the last update, and since then Ray and Cheryl(?) Gibbello were joined by their son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren, and have gone off for three months (they are church planters). We have also had another couple, John and Annette Smid, from Canada (who are involved with one of the boards overseeing the Bible College), as well as Andrew from Crossroads (prison fellowship) come and go. Sarah Heys has also returned from a holiday, somewhere in that time. It is interesting to meet all of these people from different places around the world, all with a passion for sharing the Gospel. Doubly interesting, when one of them starts talking about my hometown, and the people from our Church who he has met through Crossroads.

Now, while Andrew may have caught my attention in conversation, our weekend with John and Anna was probably one we will remember for much longer. Towards the end of the week, we noticed that water was washing away the riverbank on one side of the road. On Saturday, the road was replaced by a gaping hole which cut us off from town. As this was on the edge of City Mission property, our front fence was lined with people, vehicles, and angst, everyone pondered their immediate problem of getting into town. We were among the fortunate, who had people in town who could come and pick us up, just as soon as we had figured out how to cross the river. Others milled about, and as the day grew longer, frustrations led to shots being fired by the police force in attempt to subdue some of the more unruly in the crowd. Needless to say, trying to fall asleep while hearing gunshots ring out on the other side of the fence – within meters of where staff and their children sleep – is a pretty pointless exercise. Turns out that shots in the air are not something people worry about too much in these parts, and my concerns were met with grins from the staff I spoke to. It seems that John and Annette managed to get the whole “Lae Experience” in a few short days.

Madison fast asleep in a bilum

The Haus Clare orphanage taking shape

Fast forward a few long weeks, and the temporary bridge is still standing, although more of the river bank has washed out, taking a family home down with it in the settlement adjacent to us. Fortunately, we have not been impacted beyond a little difficulty in getting to town, and a power outage for some of the staff houses.

Cheree is well and truly back into homeschooling the oldest two, and we reap the rewards of her labours in seeing Isaac find his love for reading (almost) at the expense of meals. While Sarah is still here, they are able to join in with her art class too, which they seem to be enjoying.

All of our children have found good friends and playmates here, and have abandoned the idea of shoes as being old-fashioned and backwards. How they run across the hot, sharp stones is a bit of a mystery to me at the moment, with my soft baby-feet crying out at my lunacy whenever I try it.

Meanwhile, projects continue, and eat up the majority of my time. The Children’s Crisis Centre, or Haus Clare, is taking shape quite quickly, although a pause has been been put on the other projects for the short term.  

Adventurous ride to church when the road caved in

The hole in the road (it got a lot bigger and deeper in the days after this photo was taken)

Of course, all of this is not without troubles or burdens. In no particular order, some of them are:

• The Thermomix which a group gave to Cheree seems to be malfunctioning. I know that this probably sounds like more of a minor inconvenience than a “trouble”, but I know that it has been a great help in her being able to achieve as much in a day as she does. For now, it seems to have sorted itself out, but we are not sure at all if it will last for a whole lot longer.
• Language. While I am picking up more and more of the language, albeit slowly, and we are starting to understand more in Church, it remains a challenge. This is magnified for Cheree, who does not have the same exposure as I do. We know that these things will take time, but it is a challenge nonetheless.
• Leadership. At this moment, I stand at the edge of the abyss. It’s time to find out if I sink or swim. There is a gap of approximately a week, between the acting GM leaving, and the actual GM arriving back from furlough. During that time, as far as projects are concerned, I am it, and bear the responsibility of keeping things running as smoothly as they have been under Kirt’s watchful eye.
• Leadership. Again. All work and no play makes Daddy an abstract ideal. A man who is never home, cannot keep his house in order. I think that about sums it up.
  
  At the same time, we have much to be thankful for:
• Technology. Free facebook (which I am personally beginning to loathe) means free messaging loved ones back home. Skype, on special occasions, means seeing their faces.
• Family, who answer our groans of not being able to understand the sermons, by sending us sermons from home.
• Family in Blood. We’ve been welcomed here with open arms; the kids have all gained a few more uncles and aunties, and we’ve both gained more than a few nephews and neices.
• Experienced missionaries. Ian and Nadia’s experience has been a great guide as we tried to find our feet, especially in dealing with things like sores which become infected.
• Like minded individuals. Outside of the Reformed Ministries compound, we hae made fast friends in Ricky and his family.
• Fresh fruit. Bananas coming out of our ears.