Earlier in the week, prior to Sports Day, the weather was very much raining and just messy. About 2 days before the event, the weather turned nice and we were all (mostly us parents) hoping the grass and field would dry out before the Friday event. It was nice all day Thursday even through the evening hours. Then as I was tucking in the girls that night, Kiery was in a goofy mood and she prayed for rain for the Sports Day. She must have a more direct line to God then I do at times. We woke Friday morning to pouring down rain. Kiery thought she was so funny….. As we went out the door, we grabbed umbrellas, jackets and prepared ourselves for the mud!!!! 
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Sports Day, or as I affectionately called it, Mud Day!
Earlier in the week, prior to Sports Day, the weather was very much raining and just messy. About 2 days before the event, the weather turned nice and we were all (mostly us parents) hoping the grass and field would dry out before the Friday event. It was nice all day Thursday even through the evening hours. Then as I was tucking in the girls that night, Kiery was in a goofy mood and she prayed for rain for the Sports Day. She must have a more direct line to God then I do at times. We woke Friday morning to pouring down rain. Kiery thought she was so funny….. As we went out the door, we grabbed umbrellas, jackets and prepared ourselves for the mud!!!! 
Friday, August 26, 2011
Bananas!!!
We finally harvested our first bunch of bananas! We have about six banana trees in our garden and one bunch was ready to chop down. After we cut it off at the stem, we hung it from a rope on our porch to let them ripen. As part of chopping them down, we learned that if you get any of the juice from the stem on your clothes, it will permanantly stain them!
We are going to have to get creative to use so many bananas in a short amount of time. They will ripen really fast and all at once. Banana bread, banana cookies, banana slices in our pancakes and pudding will all be on the menu for a while.
We are going to have to get creative to use so many bananas in a short amount of time. They will ripen really fast and all at once. Banana bread, banana cookies, banana slices in our pancakes and pudding will all be on the menu for a while.
Anyone have any other banana recipes you would be able to share?
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Birthday
Well, today is my birthday! I have to say that I never thought I would ever spend a birthday doing what I did today. First, I went to a village church in the Gadsup (pronounced God soup) people group. It was a great experience getting to worship our Lord with people from all over the world. I recorded some of the singing during the praise time if you’re interested.
The message was given by one of the “youth” from a church group visiting from Goroka. An interesting thing about the youth in this country, is that they aren’t necessarily people who are younger. It seems that a youth is anyone who hasn’t married or hasn’t had kids, or sometimes, you can still have a youth who “is” married and “does” have kids, but they are still considered a youth. I haven’t quite figured out the rules on this one yet. But basically you’ll see people who are likely in the late 30’s or 40’s who are still part of the “youth group”.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
What has God been up to lately?
Ruth and Chad
Ruth and I have been haveing some really good conversations about plans for the future. We're both sold out for Jesus, we're both willing to serve Him no matter where He calls us. And, of course, we're married to eachother! This makes for a very exciting combination with a lot of potential.
One thing about Ukarumpa, is that you walk everywhere you go and it's always uphill. I had read that somewhere before coming and thought, yeah whatever. But actually you don't appreciate how everthing is uphill until you live here. I guess if you thought of a town of hills, and then everybody built on a hilltop, that kinda gives you a perpective of what it's like walking around town here in Ukarumpa.
But I digress,... the point I was getting at was that when Ruth and I are going to the store, or visiting a friend, getting the mail, renting a movie from the Russel's (missionaries here who have a big movie collection), we walk to where we need to be and it can sometimes take a half hour or more of just ... walking.
We've been looking forward to running errands because walking together becomes a bit like a date! We are hanging out and chatting along the way. And unlike date night's at home where we would go to a restaurant and pig out, these dates come with the added bonus of excercise! (Actually, I think Ruth and I are already healthier that when we came.)
Ruth and I have been haveing some really good conversations about plans for the future. We're both sold out for Jesus, we're both willing to serve Him no matter where He calls us. And, of course, we're married to eachother! This makes for a very exciting combination with a lot of potential.
One thing about Ukarumpa, is that you walk everywhere you go and it's always uphill. I had read that somewhere before coming and thought, yeah whatever. But actually you don't appreciate how everthing is uphill until you live here. I guess if you thought of a town of hills, and then everybody built on a hilltop, that kinda gives you a perpective of what it's like walking around town here in Ukarumpa.
But I digress,... the point I was getting at was that when Ruth and I are going to the store, or visiting a friend, getting the mail, renting a movie from the Russel's (missionaries here who have a big movie collection), we walk to where we need to be and it can sometimes take a half hour or more of just ... walking.
We've been looking forward to running errands because walking together becomes a bit like a date! We are hanging out and chatting along the way. And unlike date night's at home where we would go to a restaurant and pig out, these dates come with the added bonus of excercise! (Actually, I think Ruth and I are already healthier that when we came.)
Monday, August 8, 2011
The Unfamiliar Becomes Familiar
For the first several weeks we were here in PNG, life was just so “unfamiliar”, nothing was “normal” to us. In the last few days things are finally becoming “familiar” to us. We’re starting to get names and faces and families figured out! Most things have found a place in our new home. Knowing what the store has and doesn’t have is becoming more routine. Knowing where people live and places are and getting to know the short cuts in the community is helping a ton since you have to walk everywhere!!!
We have settled into a pretty good daily routine at least for now. All 3 girls enjoy school and their friends and activities.
Meliah is in softball and doing “Soul Purpose” which is a youth group and also a small group of girls that meet another night a week. It seems someone is always having a movie night on Friday nights so Meliah is a part of that also.
We have settled into a pretty good daily routine at least for now. All 3 girls enjoy school and their friends and activities.
Meliah is in softball and doing “Soul Purpose” which is a youth group and also a small group of girls that meet another night a week. It seems someone is always having a movie night on Friday nights so Meliah is a part of that also.
AAAARRRRGGHHHH... I'm a Pirate!
We were at Meliah’s first softball game of the season and Annakah was hanging out with a group of her friends when suddenly she had a parrot on her shoulder!
The parrot’s name is Buddy and he says several things and even sounds like an alarm. Anyway, Ruth and I had to snap a couple pictures. Annakah has a way with animals of all kinds and Buddy really liked hanging out on her shoulder.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
When you’re living in a third world country, you learn to love your dishwasher….
I love it here, as I have said before, but there are some definite luxuries that I miss from back home. Such as the dishwasher. And my computer. Oh, the loveliness of my computer. Mhm, and our 42” television. We need to get the pictures up, but we have an insane dinosaur-like TV. Big box on the back, antenna poking out the front… yeah, put a dial for the volume on the screen and you got yourself a priceless antique.
Anyway, school’s going well. Considering. I had no idea how complicated those twisty code locks could be. I get it now. But the first few day?! Well, I didn’t use my locker. At all.
Well, this isn’t a big surprise to anyone, but Math defiantly isn’t my strong point. Geometry doesn’t like me, And you know something? I don’t like it either. But something that is probably a surprise to most of you, is that I had to drop Spanish 2. It turns out when you combine Spain Spanish and lack of my alphabet skills with me, and my wacky work ethic, it ain’t pretty. But the rest of my classes, including Yearbook, are going really well. I hope it keeps coming. I really like the school and the kids and the teachers. Everyone seems to want to be there. Really? If it wasn’t for the kids wanting to be apart of the mission field, there wouldn’t be a Ukarumpa. It’s kind of incredible, actually.
Okay, well I’m done jabbering at you now. Keep us in your prayers, Oh and be thinking of me on Thursday, I’ll be playing in my first softball game. Yeah. That’s how I roll.
Yours Truly,
Meliah Michael
Anyway, school’s going well. Considering. I had no idea how complicated those twisty code locks could be. I get it now. But the first few day?! Well, I didn’t use my locker. At all.
Well, this isn’t a big surprise to anyone, but Math defiantly isn’t my strong point. Geometry doesn’t like me, And you know something? I don’t like it either. But something that is probably a surprise to most of you, is that I had to drop Spanish 2. It turns out when you combine Spain Spanish and lack of my alphabet skills with me, and my wacky work ethic, it ain’t pretty. But the rest of my classes, including Yearbook, are going really well. I hope it keeps coming. I really like the school and the kids and the teachers. Everyone seems to want to be there. Really? If it wasn’t for the kids wanting to be apart of the mission field, there wouldn’t be a Ukarumpa. It’s kind of incredible, actually.
Okay, well I’m done jabbering at you now. Keep us in your prayers, Oh and be thinking of me on Thursday, I’ll be playing in my first softball game. Yeah. That’s how I roll.
Yours Truly,
Meliah Michael
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