Their presentations were impressive. As you can see, the visuals were quite different and they were very expressive in English. Most of them enjoyed it, which was a very good thing, especially for the women. I won’t go into detail, but the seven women have huge hurdles ahead of them; just being here is one! There were 150 applicants for the 30 spots so they have all jumped that hurdle. I wish I could convey their sacrifice just for the transportation to get here, let alone the big changes in climate and diet for many who come from lower elevations. Anyway, they are all glad to be here — (and as I reread this paragraph, it would never pass on the quiz of topic sentence and controlling idea. Maybe they are teaching me!!!)

Dan and Janet, my friends who are the reason I am here, humanly speaking, arrive tomorrow — I marvel at the Lord’s perfect timing; the class is over and I can go into Hagen with the driver to meet them. I can’t wait to have Janet back — for many more reasons that the meals she will graciously feed me! Please keep praying that my visa will be extended so I can stay until April 30 and go into the Bush as I did the first year I was here.

I will let you know the results of the English exam, but I am very optimistic that they will all do well.

Nice classroom, no?

Can you feel the enthusiasm?

Anxious to learn!

Guess I will tell you a story from Saturday. I began a load of wash, then went to the office, only to find out a few minutes later that there was no power. When I returned, dreading to face a washer full of half washed clothes and soaking water, believe it or not, it had already done the first spray rinse and spin, so when I couldn’t feel any soap at all, I said, “Thank you, Lord!”, and put them out to dry.  So what if a little soap is left because of not having the full tub-rinse cycle!  Know that will gross some of you out totally, but I am thankful to have a washer at all, so a little soap can’t be that much of a problem!!

Just for the fun of it, I will tell you a food story, too. Saturday dinner was quite an adventure.  Didn’t have the brand tuna from last year, so I just bought what was there. When I opened it, it looked like black dog food.  I valiantly tried to eat it, but after a few mouthfuls, I couldn’t gag it down.  Hardest part was disposing of it!  Thought of just putting it outside, but decided I didn’t want a full-blown cat fight under my window, so had to come up with something else.  Walking to the food disposal hole in the ground wasn’t in the cards, so it went down the toilet.  Oh my!  Wasn’t sure the stove would light, but I did it after only three matches — a record, I think.  So I had a cup of that dried chicken soup I found last year and it was really good. Also — I found REAL RITZ crackers in Best Buy which turned out to be a good addition to the soup meal.  Then I finished the pineapple from Thursday night.  

If some of you, (I won’t mention any names, Grace and Cheryl), are not completely turned off by now, I will try to make sure I include something else next time. But believe me, I am doing fine. Even had a pizza tonight, made by a cute girl on the Guest House staff. Of course, it contained only veggies: onion, green pepper and carrots! How’s that for different? But I ate half of a 12” pizza, which, by the way, cost only $4 for the whole thing! Pretty cheap meal!!

Enough… right????????

There is no power on the campus so I haven’t been able to access the internet to let you know that I did arrive Thursday as scheduled and have had a great time settling in and seeing many staff members again. It’s wonderful to be back!!!

I am making good progress in my plans for the English Refresher Course which begins Monday for the next two weeks — 4.5 hours a day. I love the planning and feel so much more confident than a year ago! Amazing how doing something the second time is so much easier! I know I will do a better job!

More later; have to make hay while the sun shines! But thank the Lord with me that I am safely here with all my many pounds of cargo and am healthy and feel great! That’s from the Lord!!!

Monday afternoon here and the first I have been on the Internet since Wednesday night! Had my first 3 hours of classes this morning and it went great. I love teaching! The students are a bit more relaxed than last year — or maybe it is me? Smile!!

Have to eat lunch and get back to work! More later….

Have had three good flights, meaning that they were uneventful! Always thankful for that! Just one more tomorrow and I will BE THERE!!!! It doesn’t leave until 1:30 so Ruth is picking me up at 11:00 — means a pleasant, leisurely morning similar to Cairns this morning — taxi was there at 9:30, but that still was not early or stressful!

Meals today have been plentiful. (This is mostly for my friend Carol, who is always concerned about me getting enough food! If you are in a hurry, just stop reading here!) I had a pastry and coke this morning, then chicken and pasta salad on the plane (completely unexpected!), then a sandwich– veggies on rye bread, very good, — with Ruth, and in an hour will have a pre-ordered dinner here at MAPANG. Always fun to hear where other guests are going and have been! So ‘no worries’ re food today! Tomorrow will be another story, but I have chex mix and heath bars in my luggage so am not concerned!

When I told the customs officer that my gifts were mostly books for the students since I was a teacher, he waved me right through. I don’t think he cared to see the veggie peelers I brought for a few of the ladies. Very thankful for that. I was the last one off the plane — was one of only 5 women on board and was seated as far back as could be. It is a ‘small’ plane — two seats on each side of an aisle and not more than 20 rows, and pretty empty. One has to go down some stairs, outside and up stairs to the plane, then the reverse, so it took me some moments to carry my luggage up the stairs to the airport. I was thankful there was a breeze because it is hot and humid here. Also thankful to have a neat, new, wheeled carry-on. I have to learn not to bring so much carry-on luggage, but it is SO HARD!!

Well, hope this satisfies even the most detail-driven person among you! HA!!!!

Don’t know when I will have internet access at CLTC, but will be in touch as soon as I do. Thanks so much for praying for my health and safety. The Lord is very kind to me!!! I am very excited to be having the “Great PNG Adventure” for the third time and can’t wait to begin teaching on Monday!

P.S. Didn’t get to mail this last night; am trying again this morning. Had a great night’s sleep and feel “ready for anything”– only the Lord could give me that enthusiasm to face a day with lots of uncertainties! I have put HIM in charge of the details — surely couldn’t do them on my own. Stay tuned….

Almost there…

I am happily ensconced in a charming little room at MAPANG — a Missionary Guest Home — in Port Moresby and have had such a fascinating lunch with the CLTC gal who works to get visas, etc. for expats coming to serve at the college. Her husband works for the governor of a close province, who is a Christian, and it is so enlightening to hear her talk about her country, the politics, the government, the problems and how they see God working behind the scenes. So incredibly interesting! Please do pray that Ruth will be able to get my visa extended so I can go to the bush with Dan and Janet in April! She seems quite confident.

Have had three good flights, meaning that they were uneventful! Always thankful for that! Just one more tomorrow and I will BE THERE!!!! It doesn’t leave until 1:30 so Ruth is picking me up at 11:00 — means a pleasant, leisurely morning similar to Cairns this morning — taxi was there at 9:30, but that still was not early or stressful!

Meals today have been plentiful. (This is mostly for my friend Carol, who is always concerned about me getting enough food! If you are in a hurry, just stop reading here!) I had a pastry and coke this morning, then chicken and pasta salad on the plane (completely unexpected!), then a sandwich– veggies on rye bread, very good, — with Ruth, and in an hour will have a pre-ordered dinner here at MAPANG. Always fun to hear where other guests are going and have been! So ‘no worries’ re food today! Tomorrow will be another story, but I have chex mix and heath bars in my luggage so am not concerned!

When I told the customs officer that my gifts were mostly books for the students since I was a teacher, he waved me right through. I don’t think he cared to see the veggie peelers I brought for a few of the ladies. Very thankful for that. I was the last one off the plane — was one of only 5 women on board and was seated as far back as could be. It is a ‘small’ plane — two seats on each side of an aisle and not more than 20 rows, and pretty empty. One has to go down some stairs, outside and up stairs to the plane, then the reverse, so it took me some moments to carry my luggage up the stairs to the airport. I was thankful there was a breeze because it is hot and humid here. Also thankful to have a neat, new, wheeled carry-on. I have to learn not to bring so much carry-on luggage, but it is SO HARD!!

Well, hope this satisfies even the most detail-driven person among you! HA!!!!

Don’t know when I will have internet access at CLTC, but will be in touch as soon as I do. Thanks so much for praying for my health and safety. The Lord is very kind to me!!! I am very excited to be having the “Great PNG Adventure” for the third time and can’t wait to begin teaching on Monday!

P.S. Didn’t get to mail this last night; am trying again this morning. Had a great night’s sleep and feel “ready for anything”– only the Lord could give me that enthusiasm to face a day with lots of uncertainties! I have put HIM in charge of the details — surely couldn’t do them on my own. Stay tuned….

Almost there…

I am happily ensconced in a charming little room at MAPANG — a Missionary Guest Home — in Port Moresby and have had such a fascinating lunch with the CLTC gal who works to get visas, etc. for expats coming to serve at the college. Her husband works for the governor of a close province, who is a Christian, and it is so enlightening to hear her talk about her country, the politics, the government, the problems and how they see God working behind the scenes. So incredibly interesting! Please do pray that Ruth will be able to get my visa extended so I can go to the bush with Dan and Janet in April! She seems quite confident.

Have had three good flights, meaning that they were uneventful! Always thankful for that! Just one more tomorrow and I will BE THERE!!!! It doesn’t leave until 1:30 so Ruth is picking me up at 11:00 — means a pleasant, leisurely morning similar to Cairns this morning — taxi was there at 9:30, but that still was not early or stressful!

Meals today have been plentiful. (This is mostly for my friend Carol, who is always concerned about me getting enough food! If you are in a hurry, just stop reading here!) I had a pastry and coke this morning, then chicken and pasta salad on the plane (completely unexpected!), then a sandwich– veggies on rye bread, very good, — with Ruth, and in an hour will have a pre-ordered dinner here at MAPANG. Always fun to hear where other guests are going and have been! So ‘no worries’ re food today! Tomorrow will be another story, but I have chex mix and heath bars in my luggage so am not concerned!

When I told the customs officer that my gifts were mostly books for the students since I was a teacher, he waved me right through. I don’t think he cared to see the veggie peelers I brought for a few of the ladies. Very thankful for that. I was the last one off the plane — was one of only 5 women on board and was seated as far back as could be. It is a ‘small’ plane — two seats on each side of an aisle and not more than 20 rows, and pretty empty. One has to go down some stairs, outside and up stairs to the plane, then the reverse, so it took me some moments to carry my luggage up the stairs to the airport. I was thankful there was a breeze because it is hot and humid here. Also thankful to have a neat, new, wheeled carry-on. I have to learn not to bring so much carry-on luggage, but it is SO HARD!!

Well, hope this satisfies even the most detail-driven person among you! HA!!!!

Don’t know when I will have internet access at CLTC, but will be in touch as soon as I do. Thanks so much for praying for my health and safety. The Lord is very kind to me!!! I am very excited to be having the “Great PNG Adventure” for the third time and can’t wait to begin teaching on Monday!

P.S. Didn’t get to mail this last night; am trying again this morning. Had a great night’s sleep and feel “ready for anything”– only the Lord could give me that enthusiasm to face a day with lots of uncertainties! I have put HIM in charge of the details — surely couldn’t do them on my own. Stay tuned….

Almost there…

I am happily ensconced in a charming little room at MAPANG — a Missionary Guest Home — in Port Moresby and have had such a fascinating lunch with the CLTC gal who works to get visas, etc. for expats coming to serve at the college. Her husband works for the governor of a close province, who is a Christian, and it is so enlightening to hear her talk about her country, the politics, the government, the problems and how they see God working behind the scenes. So incredibly interesting! Please do pray that Ruth will be able to get my visa extended so I can go to the bush with Dan and Janet in April! She seems quite confident.

Have had three good flights, meaning that they were uneventful! Always thankful for that! Just one more tomorrow and I will BE THERE!!!! It doesn’t leave until 1:30 so Ruth is picking me up at 11:00 — means a pleasant, leisurely morning similar to Cairns this morning — taxi was there at 9:30, but that still was not early or stressful!

Meals today have been plentiful. (This is mostly for my friend Carol, who is always concerned about me getting enough food! If you are in a hurry, just stop reading here!) I had a pastry and coke this morning, then chicken and pasta salad on the plane (completely unexpected!), then a sandwich– veggies on rye bread, very good, — with Ruth, and in an hour will have a pre-ordered dinner here at MAPANG. Always fun to hear where other guests are going and have been! So ‘no worries’ re food today! Tomorrow will be another story, but I have chex mix and heath bars in my luggage so am not concerned!

When I told the customs officer that my gifts were mostly books for the students since I was a teacher, he waved me right through. I don’t think he cared to see the veggie peelers I brought for a few of the ladies. Very thankful for that. I was the last one off the plane — was one of only 5 women on board and was seated as far back as could be. It is a ‘small’ plane — two seats on each side of an aisle and not more than 20 rows, and pretty empty. One has to go down some stairs, outside and up stairs to the plane, then the reverse, so it took me some moments to carry my luggage up the stairs to the airport. I was thankful there was a breeze because it is hot and humid here. Also thankful to have a neat, new, wheeled carry-on. I have to learn not to bring so much carry-on luggage, but it is SO HARD!!

Well, hope this satisfies even the most detail-driven person among you! HA!!!!

Don’t know when I will have internet access at CLTC, but will be in touch as soon as I do. Thanks so much for praying for my health and safety. The Lord is very kind to me!!! I am very excited to be having the “Great PNG Adventure” for the third time and can’t wait to begin teaching on Monday!

P.S. Didn’t get to mail this last night; am trying again this morning. Had a great night’s sleep and feel “ready for anything”– only the Lord could give me that enthusiasm to face a day with lots of uncertainties! I have put HIM in charge of the details — surely couldn’t do them on my own. Stay tuned….

I am happily ensconced in a charming little room at MAPANG — a Missionary Guest Home — in Port Moresby and have had such a fascinating lunch with the CLTC gal who works to get visas, etc. for expats coming to serve at the college. Her husband works for the governor of a close province, who is a Christian, and it is so enlightening to hear her talk about her country, the politics, the government, the problems and how they see God working behind the scenes. So incredibly interesting! Please do pray that Ruth will be able to get my visa extended so I can go to the bush with Dan and Janet in April! She seems quite confident. Have had three good flights, meaning that they were uneventful! Always thankful for that! Just one more tomorrow and I will BE THERE!!!! It doesn’t leave until 1:30 so Ruth is picking me up at 11:00 — means a pleasant, leisurely morning similar to Cairns this morning — taxi was there at 9:30, but that still was not early or stressful! Meals today have been plentiful. (This is mostly for my friend Carol, who is always concerned about me getting enough food! If you are in a hurry, just stop reading here!) I had a pastry and coke this morning, then chicken and pasta salad on the plane (completely unexpected!), then a sandwich– veggies on rye bread, very good, — with Ruth, and in an hour will have a pre-ordered dinner here at MAPANG. Always fun to hear where other guests are going and have been! So ‘no worries’ re food today! Tomorrow will be another story, but I have chex mix and heath bars in my luggage so am not concerned! When I told the customs officer that my gifts were mostly books for the students since I was a teacher, he waved me right through. I don’t think he cared to see the veggie peelers I brought for a few of the ladies. Very thankful for that. I was the last one off the plane — was one of only 5 women on board and was seated as far back as could be. It is a ‘small’ plane — two seats on each side of an aisle and not more than 20 rows, and pretty empty. One has to go down some stairs, outside and up stairs to the plane, then the reverse, so it took me some moments to carry my luggage up the stairs to the airport. I was thankful there was a breeze because it is hot and humid here. Also thankful to have a neat, new, wheeled carry-on. I have to learn not to bring so much carry-on luggage, but it is SO HARD!! Well, hope this satisfies even the most detail-driven person among you! HA!!!! Don’t know when I will have internet access at CLTC, but will be in touch as soon as I do. Thanks so much for praying for my health and safety. The Lord is very kind to me!!! I am very excited to be having the “Great PNG Adventure” for the third time and can’t wait to begin teaching on Monday! P.S. Didn’t get to mail this last night; am trying again this morning. Had a great night’s sleep and feel “ready for anything”– only the Lord could give me that enthusiasm to face a day with lots of uncertainties! I have put HIM in charge of the details — surely couldn’t do them on my own. Stay tuned….

Terry and Gomara are very well educated students, having gown up in the capital city where the education is far better than in the Bush. Gomara was in the Wives’ class and had the baby in the photo during

Terry and Gomara and family March 2011

The Lord used Terry’s eval to greatly encourage me as I leave in just a few days. How kind of the Lord to let me find it!

Here it is:

“Our short term English class has been wonderful. I personally have learnt a lot. I have enjoyed our class, especially the reading times. I have also learnt a lot of thing like figures of speech, connections. Apart from these, the worksheets were very helpful…. Thank you, Kay, for teaching us. We thank God for you.”

Please pray that I will think clearly this week and remember all the things I need to take and do in prep for being gone four months, three weeks of those in the Bush! Clothes are easy, it’s the other stuff I need wisdom for! Thanks so much.

P. S. “learnt” is British and Australian for learned. It is NOT incorrect there!!

Weather in Chicago has been PERFECT for the last week or more and I love to say, “New England has nothing on us!!” Sadly, I forgot to charge the battery in the camera so the most showy trees couldn’t be photographed, but I love the ones I did get. So neat to see families enjoying the day, especially a number of fathers with their children. There is a cool visitor center in place of the boat rental where we used to get canoes! All in all, it has been a really special day! Hope you have had similar great adventures on this holiday!

You could pray that my passport will get there safely, be stamped quickly and returned to me within the week — always a bit nervous to put one’s passport in the mail!

I returned from my fun California vacation a couple of weeks ago and am enjoying being home and reconnecting with friends. Doing a little (really little) housecleaning and a bit of shopping for PNG and in general, ENJOYING BEING RETIRED!!!!!!!! Stopping to read a magazine when it arrives in the mail and taking a walk first thing in the morning are luxuries for a teacher, but now quite possible and very much appreciated!

hiking to Thomas Mountain

The last two weeks in July my nephew and brother and I travelled to Buena Vista Colorado to dismantle my late uncle’s model railroad, fulfilling a promise made by Wayne to my aunt and uncle. We spent 5 days traveling both ways and five days there — days filled with work, work and more work, but we were able to accomplish even more than we had hoped! Trains were the major, nay, the only focus of this trip, but it was very interesting to see the largest railroad yard in the world in North Platte, Nebraska as well as two huge locomotives looking out over the river in Omaha.

Large diesel and a "Big Boy"

Had only two days at home from the time they returned (via Amtrak) to Jacksonville until I left for CA –but in that time Karen McMillan painted my back yard fence —

HOT work!!!!

Today I relaxed and tried to catch up with mundane things like bills, etc., but I think Carol will give me only that one day, so want to get this posted. I hope you are having a great summer, as I am! God is SO SO good!!!!

Sharing about their week on the last day.

Tho’ I have been home for two weeks, I want to share a couple of photos from Maranatha Bible Conference Grounds in Muskegon, Michigan. The second week I had the blessing of knowing one of the families personally; well, at least the Mom! I have known Cindy Pope since she was a little girl at Warrenville Bible Chapel in the ’60’s!!! She attended Emmaus and was at Lake Geneva for years. What a great surprise and blessing to welcome “The Pope Family” to the Family Retreat and reconnect with Cindy and her wonderful little girls!

Sharing about their week on the last day.

The craft program went fine — it really is a piece of cake and the easiest job up there. No laughing at me in the Craft Room — it isn’t doing crafts, it is managing the kids and I can still handle that! The kids loved their photos and bird feeders, and the helmets and binoculars which they wore for the story time in a fantastic rain forest! Such creativity! It is a fabulous program.

In the chapel at Maranatha Bible Conference Grounds in Muskegon, MI,

If you know any families who are affected by disability, I hope you will start thinking even now about helping them attend a Family Retreat next summer. Cindy loved it; she called me the next day and said she was having “STM Withdrawal” — (STM stands for “Short Term Missionary” — fancy name for the volunteers). She had one for each of her girls –what a blessing for a mom with disabled kids!
]]> http://kayinpng.wordpress.com/2011/07/09/joni-and-friends-family-retreat/feed/ 1 kayinpng Cindy's family with two gals from her "small group" that met each morning. Sharing about their week on the last day. In the chapel at Maranatha Bible Conference Grounds in Muskegon, MI, http://kayinpng.wordpress.com/2011/07/08/i-can-see/ http://kayinpng.wordpress.com/2011/07/08/i-can-see/#comments Fri, 08 Jul 2011 01:54:21 +0000 kayinpng http://kayinpng.wordpress.com/?p=334 Continue reading →]]> Just have to share the great blessing of my second cataract surgery yesterday! When the new lens was inserted, it has my prescription in it, so… I DON’T NEED ANY CORRECTIVE LENSES!!! After 52 years of contacts, and 8 of glasses before that, I can see distance and can even read and use the computer without anything!!!!!!!

Am about to go up and collect all my contact cases, cleaners, etc. from the bathrooms and cosmetic cases and THROW THEM OUT!!!!!!!!!!! YIPEEEEEE!!!!!!!

There is one small “con”: I can now see how dirty the shower is — really need to work on that!!!!!!!!! (Smile!!)

So just thank the Lord with me for technology and Doctors and wisdom — we live in an amazing age! I can remember what my parents went through for their cataract surgeries. Mine was a piece of cake and with such great results!!!!!!!!

I AM THRILLED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!