This can be flooded during a heavy rain.

All bridges, everywhere, are one lane. This is a bridge in good shape.

Some of the sights along the way; laundry day. Notice that the clothing is layed out to dry on the mud.

OK, here we go. This IS the road and this is the easy stretch!

Sugar cane growing on the Ramu Valley Plantation. Ramu is one of the largest producers of sugar in the country. Maybe the largest. It's the label on all the bags of sugar we buy.

Oil palms. The fruit is near the bottom when they are this small. The trees will get quite tall. Palm oil is made from the fruit.

Here are photos of the "challenging, but well-worth-it" trip to Madang that some of you have been praying about with and for us. Some of these pics will look like "off-road" travel, but . . . .it IS the road! I now have a new appreciation for all of those 4 wheel drive commercials. We've been there. The Ramu Valley is toward the beginning of our trip; after Yonkee Lake and the Kassam Pass of which I've put pictures on the blog previously. The Ramu Valley is home to many sights including the Ramu Plantation which grows sugar cane, oil palms, beef and maybe even coffee, I'm not sure.

Simon Savaiko, Literacy Coordinator for Bible Translators Assoc., gave the message on Sunday and a timely one it was. Simon talked about the Light; that It is our source for everything. Of course, Christ is that Light. He talked about how the Light has never and will never be put out, even though many have tried. The darkness does not overwhelm the Light. He thanked those here for bringing the Light to his country, to PNG. And, thanked them for staying here in spite of those that want to put out the Light. "You brought the Light here and passed it on. I am the fruit of that Light that you brought. Thank you. Thank you for the work of SIL and BTA." A timely message because many here are discouraged with the treatment received by some of the nationals. We continue to have break-ins, road hold-ups, additional security watches and those who stir-up trouble in some of the neighboring villages against Ukarumpa. Some here have spoken openly about when is "enough enough". When do they pack up their families and head home? We ask you to be praying that God's will will be done and that those here will be protected; that the trouble makers would be brought to justice, that their eyes would be opened spiritually-speaking and that they would understand the Bible's message of Christ, forgiveness and new life. Simon's message was very encouraging, helping to put the focus back on what the purpose is here.

Here is the crushed can in its place of honor, along with its "inventor". Another successful barrel crush. Even the HS principal, Max, gets in on the action. See previous picture.

 Joel is the artist for this year's barrel crush, a new tradition which Jim has brought to Ukarumpa.

The birthday present: Queen Alexandria Birdwing and a Goliath Birdwing. A lady here on center mounts them, certifies them along with the paperwork that they have been properly treated and sells them.

   Fun with paper airplanes on our veranda. It was another beautiful day!

  The Liningers, Brooks, Voltmers and Freezes to celebrate Jim's birthday.

 

Jim's birthday was Monday. We celebrated with several friends coming over on Saturday.

High School concert. Once again, fabulous music. Maybe because there aren't quite as many things to distract students here. They can be more disciplined in their studies. They certainly are able to play music at a high level. This concert included, "Clowns" by Philip Parker; "Waterdance" by Carl Strommen; selections from "Phantom"; Festive Dance From Faust. It was followed by a wonderful choir concert with, "He is Jehovah", "Was It a Morning Like This", and other selections. We have enjoyed getting to everything we can here.

Our dragons, as we finish our unit on China. Samuel is in the next picture as he missed out on the class picture due to a playground accident. But, he came back to school for a quick visit at the end of the day. We were glad he was OK!

  This 8th grader is a xylophonist whose mallets literally flew across the keyboard.

  Middle School concert. They sound like a high school band. Very good.

Another chicken dinner going home.

Alex and Lois Vincent, on the left, the Lovetts on the right. Both couples have been here in Ukarumpa since the late 1950's. The Vincents will be leaving here this spring. They have completed 3 New Testament translations. It is so much fun and a blessing to talk with them about life here "back in the day". An encouragement to those who come behind. Who will fill their shoes?

Steve Geiss and wife Tracy behind him and to his right. See blog info for story of survival after an accident here in PNG.

Steve Geiss giving testimony to all he has been through in the last year and the miracles God has done. Steve was driving an SIL van with passengers on the Highlands Hwy on April 4 2009 when they were hit by an oncoming semi in the wrong lane. Everyone was medivaced to Cairns, AU. Steve was unconscious and awoke to sounds of crying, praying, pain, chaos and his wife near death from her injuries. This is not the country to have any kind of accident in; medical facilities are poor, locals strip the vehicle and the passengers of everything and they take revenge on who they think caused the accident. Vigilante justice. Steve has been through numerous surgeries in the last 10 months having several broken bones among other injuries. He and his wife are doing well. During this message time Steve stated, "This was not my plan. The every day things I took for granted were not the same anymore. Life was chaotic; reduced to simple things. I was no longer in control. My own sufficiency was not enough. I could only turn to God Himself who has faithfully supplied our needs and showed us how much we need each other. You have been Jesus Christ to us when we were destitute and dependent. Early on I didn't believe God would/could heal me. I was convinced I'd never walk again. Never pilot a plane again. These were falsehoods. God has taught me to trust Him; to remember His many blessings in the middle of pain and chaos. He has taught me not to worry about the future over which I have no control. And, here I am walking again, with crutches, but walking again. My wife is recovering. Others in the accident are recovering. My hope is to be flying again. When the doctor asked me what I did, I told him I was a pilot. His response was, 'Steve, you are a pilot.'" Jim and I have heard a lot about this accident since we've been here. It has impacted the community incredibly. The missionaries here have provided for the Geiss family and others out of their own funds, kitchens, households. Truly a picture of Christ's church.

Dedication of Liz, a fellow teacher, who will be leaving teaching at the primary school to work with an adult literacy project in one of the villages. She is difficult to see here; wearing blue and standing right behind the man at the podium.

Having pizza with Larry and Connie Lovell. They have lent us many kitchen items to make life here easier. They are translators with a language group in Milne Bay.

 

The villain (Nathan) in disguise! the audience was not fooled! This HS Senior is a very good actor! He is interested in going into film.

Melanie's mom was the pianist. She was great with all the melodramatic flourishes expected in a melodrama.

Here is a shot of the set.

Here is Melanie Sahl as the heroine and Nathan Pfaff as the villain in the Community Theater melodrama, "Pure as the Driven Snow." Actors were adults and high school students. They did an excellent job! Really good. As befitting a melodrama, the audience participated; booing the villain, cheering the hero, and "aahhhing" the heroine. Great fun!

This is the Wycliffe Associates Volunteer Center, an entire building where teams stay. The managing couple lives on site. Because we are WA, we are invited each Tuesday night to a potluck here.

Bugs and butterflies. A woman on Centre mounts these and sells them. PNG has many unique species.

New roof on the Kai Bar win-haus. The former roof was thatched, too hard to maintain and buggy. Now it's metal. Homes and buildings here have metal roofs. Nice when it rains.

The Kaibar right outside our grocery store. Hamburgers, fries, chicken, ice cream made to order. Kai means "food".

Chapel singing.