Has it really been 2 weeks already??

It’s been 2 weeks and the students are starting to feel comfortable, in their environment and with each other. This means their real personalities are starting to come out! It’s been great getting to know them and hearing how God has reached in and grabbed a hold of their life. We just finished going through the Chronological Bible teaching. I was able to sit in on most of the classes (when I wasn’t in the kitchen) and I love seeing how the entire Old Testament is building up to the birth of Jesus – our Redeemer. It’s interesting to have that foundational teaching in chronological order, so it’s not just Sunday school Bible stories, but the story of man and our relationship with our Creator and our need for Him. When we came to the end, the trial & crucifixion of Jesus, it was like I was experiencing it for the first time. As one student (Drew) said “My allergies may have flared up a little bit…” I don’t think there was a dry eye in the room.

We’ve also done some things outside of class, like a hike to the place where the Interface “Changed” video was filmed. Here are some pictures from that hike…We call these "Dr. Seuss Trees"

My coworkers (Amanda & Julie) and I having a little rest after climbing the "hill".

The Interface Team

I had conveniently forgotten how dirty and smelly I get here! My feet will never be the same. Plus, it is dry season right now so there are a lot of bushfires, and therefore there is a lot of ash everywhere. I just finished sweeping up a ton of ash that must have come in through the screens, windows or cracks I the house. It’s crazy how much gets everywhere! The people burn the grass, and we have no idea how they control these fires, but they always stay under control… well, almost always. A few days ago one lady in the village lit some of her trash on fire when the wind suddenly picked up and that fire got out of hand near the road – but only briefly. Here is an after picture from that little debacle. :o) I’ve been spending as much time in the village as possible. I’m re-learning how to make a bilum. The ladies think I’m a slow learner (Hey, it's really difficult!), but a good PNG meri. This team is sure keeping me on my toes with my duties as camp nurse. I’m pretty sure at this point everyone has either been sick or had some kind of minor injury (mostly scraped up knees and elbows – but that kind of stuff can be serious business in a tropical climate). Thankfully everyone is mostly healthy at this point, including me! And of course, I love being here and part of me wishes I could stay forever, but God has other plans for me back home. I am just going to soak up every minute, and hope to have an impact. A friend of mine sent me an encouraging email and said “Each day you will have the option to do what's easy or to make eternal ripples for God's glory”, so here’s to making ripples! “God is looking for imperfect men and women who have learned to walk in moment-by-moment dependence on the Holy Spirit. Christians who have come to terms with their inadequacies, fears, and failures. Believers who have become discontent with 'surviving' and have taken the time to investigate everything God has to offer in this life”. ~ Charles Stanley