Goodbye 2014

I rode the 33km bike loop again yesterday.  The last time was a couple weeks ago.  First stop was a small village (I can't remember the name) just outside a local coffee plantation.

About an hour later I reached the village of Norikori and talked to my new friend, Junior.  I was heartbroken to discover that he and his family had prepared a meal for me last weekend, but I failed to show up.  I explained to him that with the down-pour of rain, and lightning, I just wasn't brave enough to tackle the trail.  I think he understood.  Now I've got his phone number (yes he has a mobile phone!) and told him I'll call him next weekend when I'm on my way so he knows when to expect me.  Junior is the handsome guy in the red shirt.  Can you pick out the other three adults in this group?

The next village that I ride past is the friendly village of Abola (like Ebola, only not!).  These are about the nicest people I've run across in PNG.  There's usually 50-100 just sitting on a hillside waving and shouting when I ride up, and I usually stop to chat with them.  This time I took some photos.  Another new friend named Kairo (pronounced Cairo like the Egyptian city) also wanted to buy my bike.  I told him that it was not for sale, but he persisted and asked if I could sell it to him when I leave PNG.  I thought for a moment, than told him I'd do him one better and would give him the bike for free when I leave, but warned him that I plan to be here for 12 years if God so blesses me.  He smiled and said he would gladly wait.  He's in the back row on the right side, wearing a red shirt, and holding up his index finger.

You might have noticed the shorter gentleman wearing the yellow Mickey Mouse ears hat?!  Well, I mentioned that I liked his hat, then one thing led to another and...

On a different note, today (I think) we opened our last shipping box!  Woo hoo!!!  We're now fully moved into our new house, messy though it may be.

Amelie and Elisa had their class Christmas presentation at the International School.  Go figure, the battery in the camera died after only 4 photos (bad Daddy) and the spare battery was no where to be found in the bag (BAD Daddy).  I only got photos of Ami, but used the dead camera to "take photos" of Elisa anyways.  She was smiling and seemed so proud...  Don't tell her!!

Jenny went back to playing Floor Hockey (Floorball) on Thursday nights.  She's really awesome, and looks good at it too!!  How good is she?!  Well, Ukarumpa had their biannual floor hockey tournament this past Saturday, and Jenny's team (comprised of four people) won.  She now has her name proudly engraved on the Ukarumpa Floor Hockey trophy!

Thank you so much to all of you who helped us to get here, and to those who are helping us to stay here.  We are your ambassadors here in Papua New Guinea and are working hard to reach out and form relationships with those we've come to serve.  Thank you God for calling us and sending us.