Reminders

Hey kids out there! Check out our top 10 daily reminders that we no longer live in the United States of America! Compare them to where you live and go to school.

In this part of the world, outlets provide
220 volts instead of 110 volts. An adapter
is required or if an appliance operates at a
higher wattage, a converter is necessary. 

Our louvered windows work differently
than horizontal or vertical sliders, but they
do a good job keeping the mosquitoes out
and allowing the cool breezes in.

                                                                 

Rainwater runs down our roof and into our
gutters where it is piped into large
holding tanks. Due to large trees nearby,
we have a local teenager sweep off the roof
every few weeks to keep our water system working.

Everyone removes their shoes before
entering the schoolhouse and people's homes.

Where are the eggs? Oh yes! They
are on the counter. Because the eggs are
 not washed, they do not need refrigeration.

At school, our students call us Aunt Brenda
and Uncle David. In fact, everyone is an aunt
 or uncle unless they are your mom and dad!

Every night we wash ziplock storage bags
since you cannot buy them in the stores.
Everyone brings them over in their suitcases!

Our produce aisle looks a little
different than the one at Winco!

Our neighborhood convenience store has daily specials on
roasted bananas and sausages!

The most popular recess activity at our school
is climbing the huge mango trees in the front yard!

         
                             

                             
               

MK School Dedication

Brenda and I have greatly enjoyed teaching in the newly renovated MK (missionary kid) Elementary school here in Kudjip. The school floor plan includes a large central room that we use for opening, eating lunch, and whole school activities; a library area; two classrooms; and three bathrooms. The openness of the floor plan, and the many windows provides for a bright, cheery atmosphere. On September 26^th, a dedication ceremony was held at the school. Stephanie planned and emceed the ceremony. Students sang and signed Jesus Loves Me, and shared memory verses. Katherine’s delicious spice cake was enjoyed by all. Our students presented the thank you cards they had made to those adults who were on the planning team, as well as the workers who were present. Pastor Apa prayed for the school, and then individuals prayed for each student and teacher. Thanks to some very generous people in the states, our school now has a projector, 6 iPads, and new read aloud books for the primary classroom. We greatly appreciate the two work and witness teams that came all the way from Xenia, Ohio as well as the team from West Texas to work on the school. A huge thank you goes to Randy for his leadership during the project which began in mid-May. Students take great pride in their new school, and busily perform their cleaning chores at the end of each school day!

Mt. Hagen Cultural Show

Papua New Guinea is a very culturally diverse country with more than 800 different languages spoken. In a country of 8 million, people groups are often isolated from each other due to the mountainous terrain blanketed by dense jungle. The people of Papua New Guinea are a very proud, independent people. They are proud of the province they are from, the tribe they belong to, and their tok ples, or heart language. This became very apparent when we visited the staging area of the Mt. Hagen Cultural Show back in August. At the invite of our neighbors Matt and Tammy, we traveled to the soccer stadium on the outskirts of Mt. Hagen. Behind the stadium, we were able to freely walk through the staging area, talking to the participants dressed in their finest traditional regalia. Their colorful costumes were made from traditional materials such as grasses, bird of paradise wings, and cuscus fur. Materials for painting faces included charcoal mixed w/ oil, as well as the modern conveniences of white-out and lipstick. Ornate necklaces are made of shells from the coastal regions. Prior to 1933, kina, or shells were used for trading. In 1933, the country adopted the Kina, as their currency.