Well - after nearly 96 hours of travel we finally made it. We had quite a time of it:
Emma was sick starting a few days before and through most of the travels - she got a bit better each day. Thanks for your prayers!
Olivia developed a bad allergic reaction to we don't know what. What looked like bug bites while in flight to Port Moresby ended with an nearly entire body hives that night in Moresby. She was itchy and couldn't sleep - I finally found another traveling missionary with an allergy tablet and she finally got to sleep.
We had planned an overnight in Port Moresby and then onward to the US. Unfortunately we had a long delay causing an extra overnight both in Fiji and in L.A. but the airline took care of everything and it was nice to have a bed both nights.
The last flight I finally got to say to a stewardess, "I am a doctor, can I help?" A young man had intense abdominal pain (possibly appendicitis) and I took care of him and talked to the airlines medical service by the inflight phone. Upon landing in KC, they had an ambulance waiting. It was an exciting way to end our very long journey.
Despite the length of the journey the Lord was with us at every step and we were constantly aware of His presence. I had a couple opportunities to share with people on the journey and pray the Lord will bless the seeds planted. Often in my life I have felt some sort of pressure to get out the entire gospel message but it always seems forced. Lately I have seen that the things that stick with people are the things that come from the heart and connect at their point of interest. If you start right into a gospel presentation it just seems you want to shove your ideology at people, but if you are genuinely concerned about people and what they are thinking, dialogue quickly comes into meaningful conversation. At the end of about a 5 minute conversation with one lady, literally as we were walking off the plane, she said how she felt her life was shallow and she wanted to find real meaning (inferring to what I had found in serving God and others).
We were blessed to get off our last plane and find Gail's family waiting there. They also brought with them coats from Fountain Valley Church of the Nazarene, one of our Colorado LINKS churches. We had a great Christmas time with my family and then Gail's, we opened gifts from family and from churches as well. What an outpouring of love! Thanks to everyone, especially our wonderful Colorado LINKS churches!
It has taken awhile for Olivia (2 yr) to get used to all this - not only travel and new people but clothes. She really hated shoes (in PNG she wears "Crocs" or is barefoot), pantyhose, and wouldn't wear a coat. As you can see she is adjusting and has found that a coat and shoes let you build a snowman!
We are looking forward to seeing many of you in our travels. Blessings in Christ.
Scott

Still packing!

Our house is still in disarray as packing is full force now. Today's plan is to thaw out the freezer and take down Christmas decoration, clean, give away food, and lots of goodbyes.

Olivia is enjoying helping packing. She finds toys and sitcks them in suitcases and says "take this to Merica". When we reply "no you can't" she responds with "but I need it!"

Please pray for Emma, as she has been running a fever yesterday and today, throwing up and tummy trouble too. She is a trooper, and doesn't complain, but we want her to feel better before traveling.

Christmas party

December 7th was filled with excitement! The day started with practice for the Christmas pageant, followed by making presents for parents, and gingerbread house decorating. Hansel and Gretel would have been in heaven. We wrapped up the party with cookies and snowballs and the movie "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever". The fourth graders had read the book, and in Allison's opinion, the book was better. The whole school attended, even with the addition of preschool friends, there was only 13 kids present. We truly have a unique and precious school. This was a great kick of the the Christmas break!

Packing

Name

As the clock is ticking down to heading to the states, we are in a flurry of activity. Packing, rushing to finish up subjects in school, cleaning, eating out the food in our pantry and freezer, and undecorating for Christmas.

The girls packed their back packs for the plane last week. Emma had 8 stuffed animals and no clothes! Allison only had 4 stuffed animals, a change of clothes and many other necessary items.

Olivia is being pretty clingy to Mama lately as I am sure she is feeling the changes going on. Please pray for us as we travel.

Saturday we head to the capital city of PNG, spend the night. Sunday, we fly to Fiji, with a stop over in Solomon Islands. 10 pm on Sunday, leave Fiji for LA, then Denver, then Kansas City. We arrive at 10:01pm Sunday night, one minute after we leave Fiji with the time and date change!