Another shot of the Meeting House. It is a wonderful, imposing, yet casual, interior.

Inside the classroom at Morning Meeting. "Calendar Time" is just like it is with first grade in the states except for writing the day, month, year (instead of month, day, year). We count how many days of school we've had, how many more to go. We coordinate the number of straws and amt of money with the days in school. The calendar person of the day also gets to eat the chocolate kiss as we count down the days we have left.

Thought you would like to see where the students hang their backpacks, lunches, shoes, etc. The weather is mild year 'round, so we are able to use the outdoors regularly. It is rainy season now and we have had some real gushers. The playground is full of mud, but that does not stop the students. We have a faucet near our classroom door for washing muddy feet, legs, arms. We occasionally have to call a parent to bring dry clothes. So far, it has only been for the boys. Hmmm . . . . . . .

Here is my first grade class lined up outside the classroom. It is a mini-United Nations; varied cultures, languages and accents. It's taking my ear a little while to make it all out. I was told today that report cards and written parent correspondence is to be done in "Commonwealth" English. (that would be NOT American English) The spellings differ on some words. PNG was under AU until 1975 independence. I'll adjust and then it will be time to leave!

Here is Jen, my full-time first grade assistant. I am really fortunate and blessed to have her. She handles some of the paperwork, copying, checking of some student work and knows the schedule ( and the students) better than I do. She is a terrific artist as well. Anytime I have an idea, she has it done up in no time. She is from Adelaide, AU and is between high school and college, trying to decide on a major.

This woman passed us walking quickly to get to market. I took the picture because she has 2 bilums, traditionally worn with the handle on the forehead and the bag (s) draped over the back.

Another morning at the market. We go at least twice a week and sometimes 3x. This woman has the carrots lined up so nicely with rocks, that I asked her if we could take a picture. She immediately stopped smiling as she posed.

These are "eucharist" lilies that we bought at the market. The smell wonderful and last a long time. Dad, of course, wants some. He has looked them up and they are available in the states. Sometimes called "Amazon" lilies, but have to be dug up each fall. They are nice.

Three of the high school guys are running this venture. This one is serving it up.

Here are the menu and the prices. A kina is about 0.40.

Here is our very own neighborhood ice cream truck. Trust us, the ice cream is not like anything we've had before, but buying from the ice cream truck seems to make it taste better. These are our neighbors, Greg and Chrissy and their boys.

Here is a cute couple of kids, each carrying a "bilum." Bilums are used to carry our books, groceries, market items, etc. I have one that I carryback and forth between school and home.

View of the Meeting House where we have church. It is a large building with a tall, raftered ceiling.

Here is the worship from Sunday. We had instruments and singers as well as piano. Everyone here has many talents and jobs. The guy at the piano is one of the pilots.

Dad preached his Uzzah sermon on Sunday, Jan. 24 here in Ukarumpa at the Meeting House where we hold church. It was very well done and very well rec'd. The entire morning was very worshipful with the hymn singing seeming to be heaven itself. Dad was so filled with the emotion of worship that he was a bit choked up at the beginning of his sermon.

Why, I think it's Nana down the fire pole!!

What is that Papa taking a picture of now!?

Good shot of our fabulous tree house and climbing wall.

Another backyard view, this one after Dariaso had done some weeding and clean-up. We love the rock and moss.

This is our water tank. It catches rain water from the eaves. It is the water we using for drinking, bathing, dishes, laundry, washing vegetables, etc. The RAM water is from the river and is used in toilets for flushing. RAM water used to used for much more and had to be boiled/treated in some way. Many Papua New Guineans use river water for everything, but some are now getting rain water tanks.

Abandoned truck cab? Car? Maybe it's missing a grill.

Kids at play. One is holding a bow.

These peanuts are drying on the roof. They will be sold at market.

The "long kitchen".

This is the smaller "cooking kitchen" or "long kitchen" used by one of the families. Notice the live meat on the left.