The procession begins.

    Now we see them up close and it is impressive! The canoe in front is an outrigger, still used between the islands today. The rest of the boats are motor boats. Also used around the islands today.

The crowd watches and waits on the beach.

Can you see them on the horizon? That is the flotilla signifying the bringing of the Gospel by sea to this island.

          The Bibles have arrived. This is the first time that the actual printing has been paid for by the local community.

         There was also a similar banner over the road at the entrance to the village.

All of us with SIL were introduced individually. The first lady you see, Beverly, along with her husband (not here) operate the SIL guest house in Kavieng on the island of New Ireland. Another nice place to visit---next time. Beverly flew to the dedication on a plane belonging to a gold mining company who has a presence on the island.

Steven's wife, Holly, takes the mike and does introductions. The Hongs' four children were something like 7yrs, 5 yrs., 3 yrs and 4 mos. when they started with SIL. Men on the coast wear "laplaps". Where we are in the highlands, only the women wear them. There are just a length of material wrapped around at the waist. The men often belt them.

Preliminary ceremony begins. Steven Hong, the translator, is on the far right. The Hongs are Korean Americans and have been in translation ministry for almost 20 years.

Our gifts. Most of the guys rec'd the same kind of bilum as did the women. Quite nice.

The gifts for us at the welcome ceremony Wed. evening, our first evening in the village. We were each called up by name to receive something made for us.

Snorkeling on the reef; the first afternoon we were there and it felt great! Water was beautiful. Fish were plentiful. We saw lion fish, neon fish, stripped fish, big fish, little fish, navy blue starfish.

Kim Brotzler (official event photographer) shared a room in the "woman's house". We didn't even have to use our Therma-rest bedrolls. Mattresses, bedding, pillows provided! Very unusual. One room did have only mats on the floor for the 3 people there. We slept well, but very hot, humid and noisy until late. Both nights a CD of one of the male singing groups played and played and played over the loud speaker. It was for sale.

Bamboo pipes are played with a foam slapper, often the bottom of a flip-flop. The sounds are different depending on the the length and diameter of the pipe. The guys playing these really get a work out!

Yes! We had a few performances on the bamboo pipes! Pretty cool. Usually there was also singing by a group along with the pipes.

The dedication stand where we will be sitting tomorrow during the official dedication. Note all the "bilus" = decorations. The next day, when we were actually sitting there, it was hard to see the performers :) of course. But the service was great. They brought by cups of kool-aid and apples for us. It was a long day of being entertained.

We sat comfortably in molded lawn chairs under a canopy while being welcomed and entertained.

     Another welcoming line complete with leis.

Our first look at the beach area where we will spend some of our time in the next 2 days. Gorgeous!

Then by boat out around the point, past the reefs to the main village where we will stay and where the ceremony will take place tomorrow.

This group sang for us while holding signs, "Welcome to the land of Madera speakers", Welcome to Simberi Island". They sing out and sing in harmony with the greatest of ease!

 . . . . .gave us quite a start! The kids had a good laugh! After this, another group sang for us and we had some refreshments; cooked bananas, papaya, cucumbers.

Our first welcome in the first village we stopped at. These children sang a traditional song for us and then . . .see next picture . . . .

Making my way onto the King Air for the ride to Simberi Island and the Mandara NT Dedication.

Jim found our friend, pilot Christopher Clark, getting the Kodiak ready for the Mandara Bible Dedication. This was one of the planes headed to Simberi Island.

                  Spider pictures for the grandkids!

            One of our unique spiders.

                 From our front porch, yesterday! We see many rainbows here. This one was a double. There is a second one faintly seen above this one.

Meet Tabitha(PNGn), Jessica(Philippino) and Rachel(U.S), 3 of my first graders, who stopped in one Sat. afternoon to share their candy from a birthday party with me.

Celebrating Wendy's birthday. Tim made the frames for these prints. That's Ben, their Kindergartener and the youngest of their seven kids.

Dimeko in my classroom as she is telling me of the return of the Ukarumpa villagers after the violence. They went out of Center after sleeping for 2 nights on our BB court. She and some others said they felt like the exiled Israelites. They were carrying everything they owned at that point. Most homes had been burned. So, they decided to cross the bridge at the Main Gate singing a song of the Promised Land as they walked to their village land. This actually should be a video. She sang the song for me. Notice the tissue in her hand. It was a very moving and emotional moment for her as it was for me.

Jim and me with Wayne and Caryl Freeman, Wycliffe NZ, when they were here in Ukarumpa to visit. Pastor Daniel and his wife from Korea came with them. This picture was taken at the market in early morning. I am wearing my PNG meriblouse given to me by one of my students.

My friend, Dimeko's, home that she had saved for years to build. The tin roof was a special luxury instead of thatch. It is no more because it was burned to the ground during the fighting in Ukarumpa Village where she lives(ed). Dimeko cleans classrooms at my school, is a Christian and is a wonderful friend in the Lord. Her faith through this has been extraordinary. She has gone back to the village grounds with all the other displaced persons. She tells me they are sleeping under the stars or in some of the smaller out buildings that were left. There is still tension between the villages in this valley. Keep praying for God's peace in the hearts of men.

More of what we saw during the days of unrest. This is as I was walking home from school. Normally, machetes and bush knives are not allowed on Center. If brought for work purposes, they are to be concealed. They are commonly used for yard work.

Ukarumpa villagers as they walk past our house on their way to the BB court to sleep for the night after the violence erupted in their village. What they carry is all they own now as most of the homes were burned.

Puppets are operated mostly by the HS kids. They have adult leadership who does scheduling. They perform all around the valley and at events here on Centre.

Family Sunday was on Mother's Day. "M & M" (Miniature Ministry) did the service. The puppet ministry here is really good. They did a great job!

Me with baby Victoria. She is a little doll. We even got her to smile. Babies in general here receive very loving care. And, yes, I did give her smooches!

Showing us how she carries the baby in the bilum. There are several blankets laid in the bottom. Very cozy. This woman is the second mama, which means she is probably an aunt on the mother's side. Babies are cared for in more than one family. This is why there are no orphans or homeless children in PNG. None.

Another neighbor, Raewyn Brook, had these ladies from a near-by village over for a visit. Peter and Raewyn are translators and are from AU. These ladies are making bilums while visiting.

Even a Mc Employee of the month, tribal style. James and Natalie had lots of little tables and chairs set 'round their living area. Another creative idea found in Uka!

"Hello. My name is James. May I help you?" Yes, Mickey D's right here in Uka. Our neighbors, James (pilot) and Natalie (med tech at clinic) from AU, were expecting the kids from one of the hostels for an evening out at McD's. So clever. They even had the cardboard French Fry packets directly from Mc's. Someone sent all the trappings for them from AU.

And, who says we can't have it our way! We ordered fries and a coke to go.