Just another day.

Thursday was an ordinary day, doing cases in the OR, when Dr Bill comes in to let us know the hospital is closed. Jan 1st, we hired a new security company for our hospital and station security. The previous security were local people with no training or experience.

It seems that the previous security were upset by some issues where they thought they were being cheated by the hospital, so they took over control of the main gate. Which means they displaced the new company and were in charge of the lock and key on the gate.

The hospital was closed until the matter resolved a couple hours later and then was reopened. Pray for our leaders of the hospital to keep making hard decisions that God is leading them to make.

The birthday party

We cast sail at 9:30 for Ye Ol Highlander (a hotel/restaurant in Mt Hagen-45 minutes away)

The day was filled with swimming, games like "Find Tick Tock, the Crock", "Walk the Plank", "Swab the Poop Deck", and a great treasure hunt!

Pizza, Red velvet cake, presents were all great treasures. But at the end of the day, friends were the best treasure of all.

Eleven

Can you believe that it has been 11 years? WOW! Al is such a great gal. She is a great 11 year old. She is kind and very sensitive. She is very perceptive of other's feelings and likes to make sure people are happy.

At 11, she is happy to still climb up in the chair by dad, climb trees, play fairy games with her sisters, play on the computer, reads everything she can get her hands on. Allie is our early riser, usually at 6 or 6:30 am. She likes her room to be organized, but doesn't have to have it perfect to enjoy it. She likes school and likes being home as well.

I asked Al if she wanted breakfast in bed, and she said " I can't wait that long to get up". Thankfully, I did decorations the night before! She was up at 6:15, but I think awake long before that. We had blueberry muffins and grape juice for breakfast and peppermint tea.

Do you remember being 11? 5th grade? I remember getting sent to the principal's office, having 2 best friends, encyclopedia reports, loving to read, and loving my cats. Go ahead and post your memories from when you were 11.

Swimming time!

Jan 8th, if you are living in the mid-west, I bet this activity wasn't on your agenda. But it was a warm afternoon, and we had visitors, so we filled up the pool.

Some of us thought the water was cold and enjoyed the lawn chairs more.

I am always encouraged by how much fun can be had in less than a foot of water!

And of course, warming up in a cozy towel tops off the party!

Personality vs Culture

My thoughts have been traveling lately. To a land where I am not sure what the terrain is, what the weather will be like, or when I will arrive. But I am going along for this journey of my mind.

Here it is...how much of my personality (who I am) is wrapped up in my culture and my roles?

When we came to PNG, I was a total American girl. I was independent. The girls and I would go wherever I wanted, run errands, spend an hour at the park, grab a fast food lunch and not report to anyone. A lot of my personality was wrapped up in that independence.

Then I go to a land where I am a foreigner. Because of safety, I only drive when I have a man to go with me in the car. Only if a car is available. Only if I find child care for the girls because it is better for them to stay home. THEN, there is no place to go! Is this a joke?

So, it was a big adjustment. Independence being only one example of the issues I faced. Now, after 5 1/2 years, I am mostly adjusted to most issues of living cross culturally. I guess I am thinking of Job from the Bible. What if for some reason, I was stripped of my "roles" how does my personality change?

I guess what I am grasping for on this journey is...who is Gail that will never change?
1. If I am not a nurse, I am still caring.
2. If I am not a missionary, I will still seek to share Christ's love with people around me.
3. If I am not a mom, I would have a hole in my heart! But would be mothering to the motherless.
4. If I am not a wife, I am still a bride of Christ.
5. If I couldn't quilt/scrapbook/blog, I would still create.
6. If I am not healthy, I will still enjoy each moment.
7. If I am in pain, I will cling to God who will get me through.
8. If I lived in a hut with a dirt floor, I would know that God loves me just as much.
9. If my computer died, and I lost touch with "the rest of the world", I would maybe focus more on where I am at.
10. If I am not a Christian....no, that is a role that will never change.

Thanks for being around for this travel and wandering of my thoughts.
Who would you be if stripped of your roles along this journey of life?

At the Market

Mt Hagen market is a sight to see. If you come to visit, we will definitely take you there. Hundreds and hundreds of produce vendors selling their freshly picked, organic fruits and vegetables all at great prices. I always run out of strength to carry my bags before I run out of money.

Saturday, the Dooley 5 headed to Hagen, had lots of errands and the market was right before lunch. Scott, Allison and Emma got the honor of going in the market, while Livy and I were dripping sweat in the cruiser.

Upon returning to the car, Scott had about 20 cucumbers! I thought, "wow, he must be hungry for cucumbers!" As he got in, he told me what happened. An older lady ran-literally-(and it is hard to run in the market) up to him, hugging him, thanking him, crying "Doctor! Doctor! Thank you so much! I brought my daughter, (let's call her Sarah) to the hospital and she had suddenly became paralyzed. Sarah could not look after her new baby, I was doing everything for Sarah and my grandchild. You gave her medicine and now she is absolutely fine" The lady pointed down the aisle and there was Sarah, tears streaming down her face, holding a baby, selling cucumbers. Scott was very humble and gave all of the glory to God as he accepted the cucumbers.

As we eat them for lunch today, we will remember Sarah's miracle and God's hand on our lives every day. My New Year's resolution is to minister to the people that God puts in front of me.

New Year's Eve, PNG style