Pacific Garden in Garoka

Last time we stayed here, we had a room that was very nice. Comparable to most hotel rooms in the states. This time, we went for the cheaper room, $90 per night. This is it, above. There is a tiny bathroom, out of view. It was a little tight, but it was wonderful!

The fam and Becky and Katie before ordering lunch. A pizza with smoked salmon and capers and tortillas with cheese. Yum!

The wonderful thing about the hotel is the beautiful grounds. There is an actual park near by. (this is very rare in the highlands!! ) And a subdivision, and a river, and trails were all a great change of scenery.

We loved these paintings on the wall above the bar area. Hope to go back to Garoka some time soon!

Garoka!

Garoka is always an adventure. It is a town 75 miles from us, but takes 3 hours over rough roads to get there. Where we usually stay was full, so we stayed at an official hotel instead of a guest house. They had a Wii set up and we all had fun playing with it. Katie and Allie are boxing.

We also get to splurge on food. Emma enjoys a chocolate eclair! Yum

Olivia was over tired and just clumsy. She fell down like 10 times and got a new sore on her knee each time. Run, fall down, cry. Start again.

One of the highlights of Garoka is the pool. If you eat at the Bird of Paradise Hotel/Restaurant, then you get to swim there. It always seems warmer in Garoka, so we usually swim a lot. But this time is was pretty cool. That didn't keep Allie out of the water!

Becky and Katie watched the girls one night and Scott and I got to eat out on our own (see anniversary blog). It was a great weekend!

Avi school

After speaking with Kathy and Jill at the women's meeting, we were requested to go speak at the 8th grade class, just down the road from Kudjip. Kathy sang, then Jill gave a devotion about what it really mean to truly love each other.

I shared a bit about HIV and then branched into purity and abstinence.

It was lots of fun, except for about 30 minutes of my sharing when there was another class on the other side of the bamboo wall that had a very loud speaker whom I had to shout over! The land of the unexpected!

May 14th!

I am late in blogging, but Olivia turned four in a dramatic way! She had been planning and inviting people to her birthday since Janurary! She is such a joy to my life! Here she is with her breakfast choice of french toast!

It was a Mickey Mouse party with Mexican food for the meal. I pulled out the plates and napkins and party blowers that Mom and Dad had brought in March. I laid them out on the coffee table so Livy could see them first thing. I told her "Grammer and Papa brought those for you!" She said "They are here today?!" As sad as we were not to have family with us, it was a very nice party.

Olivia, at four, is very into dress up, princesses, and babies. She loves coloring and drawing pictures. Livy and I still nap every day, she is a good napper. She loves playing with Aden and her sisters and helping in the kitchen. Thank you God, for Olivia!

Where o-where is Judy?

When Judy is here, she is in charge of the storeroom. Seen above. It looks a little crazy, but there is a place for most everything and most everything is in it's place. We get containers of supplies from the states (Dr Todd Winters, Medford OR) Those supplies are unloaded into our empty containers. Then, as time allows, we moved a truck bed full to the storeroom. They are on the left, waiting to be distributed.

Since Judy is in the states, I was opening and putting away some boxes. There could be anything inside! Usually labeled on the outside, so I know a little of where it goes.

Last week I opened, put away or distributed about 30 boxes. Now I just need to get another truck load moved and start putting those away. And pray for Judy to come home soon!

A blessed sight! Empty boxes. We are so thankful for the giving of people in the states. Every day, we would have not had the supplies that we desperately need if not for these containers!

College of Nursing

Scott and I got an opportunity to speak to the college of nursing students during their Wednesday night service time. We divided up the guys and girls and had a great time. We shared about purity, and dating and being single and being married.

I think there are about 75 nursing students. Above is 1/2 of the girls. Below, is Scott and they guys, there were not very many guys that night. I think the student ratio is about 1/3 male to 2/3 female.

Mother's Day!

What a great Mother's day! I was showered with homemade cards and breakfast made for me! We went out to lunch at RonDon Ridge. A very relaxing time and beautiful memories!

May Day!

I have been having trouble with my computer/Internet/blogging for a while now. My amazing friend Danielle came and stood by the computer this morning and it started working perfectly! I spent an hour yesterday without any progress!

Anyway, a long, long time ago the girls, Aden and I delivered May Baskets. I had planned to do it in the morning when Al and Em were on a field trip. They saw the baskets and quickly notified me that they did not want to be left out. So, after naps it was.

We got caught at every one's house, except for the people who were not home! I don't know why I love May Day so much, other than a vague memory of delivering them in (?) 2nd grade to the teachers at school, and enjoying it so much.

Hope your May Day was happy!

What is the temperature of your relationship with God?

Once again a party for the 4th- 7th graders for bible class. This past week was a medical party. When you live at a small mission hospital, there are a lot of things you can borrow for a great party.

Costumes and rubber glove water balloons made up our first game. Those gloves were hilarious to play with!

We took good care of our patients, had patient races with arm slings and leg braces and neck rings.

Don't freak! It is pineapple fanta!

The 5 minute lesson at the end of the party was learning how to take your spiritual temperature. Rev 3: 15-16. How are you doing with God. Are you hot or cold?
No more bible parties until next year. I will miss those fun times. Maybe we'll have to start something else for the summer break.

14 years!

May 13,1995, 14 years ago, Scott and I were married!
This year we celebrated with a great cheese cake from Kathy and I went to bed at 7pm!
Then on Sat, we were out of town, our friends watched the girls and we went out to eat. Which is a very big deal in PNG!

Tiny ones!

This is the smallest baby have taken care of. She was about 2 lbs. at birth. Only a few kids that size have survived here. She is three weeks old now but still very weak. Please pray God continues to work a miracle for her. - Scott

This little baby was a twin, but his brother died shortly after birth. This one was about 3 pounds at birth, bigger than his brother. Which gives him about a 50% survival rate here in PNG. The mom named the baby Scott. I explained to her that Dr Scott used to have really dark hair like her baby!