For us, dedications are the landmark that tell us Bible translation is getting done. A dedication happens after a New Testament is finished translating into a new language. A process which takes many many years to do. Some folks say "I worked for the military for 20 years and got my pension" and others say "I worked on a translation for 20 years and had a dedication."
Supporting this work is what we do.
So here, is the latest info the the most recent dedication that we're excited about.
From a friend who went:
- It was a privilege for me to be at this NT dedication as it was the culmination of a work that my father, David [edit], was instrumental in starting back in the early 80s. Verses like Philippians 1:6 "he who began a good work...will bring it to completion.." take on a special significance. God IS faithful and will bring to completion what He began.
- Please pray that God would speak to the churches in Auhelawa in their own language as they... use these scriptures.
1/23/2008
Tree flood
today some of the industrial department were tasked with felling 3 trees near the high school. At this point it is worth a moment of thought, to see if God has called any professional lumberjacks into the ministry. And even if "lumberjack" is the proper term.
Needless to say, the job had to be done and the guy tasked with doing it, gave it his best shot.
Unfortunately, wind today was unusually high, the space he had to work with was very very tight, zero margin for error, and to make a long story short, the first tree landed on the roof.
As a network guy I saw the switch go down in my air conditioned room and didn't think much of it "oh it's a power glitch".
Walking home to lunch, I saw the missing section of the roof.
BUT that's not all.
The tree landed smack dab in the center of a 2000 gallon water tank, and the water flooded the main offices.
This is where I come in, because ups's and power strips and tower pc's were getting soaked in water.
But, for the most part, the response of everyone is "we were fortunate" because school was not in session. It begins again on Monday.
It was not raining as it usually is around this time.
And there was very little expensive damage (if any).
We came together, lent fans, dried out the rooms to avoid mildew, and the roof is being repaired.
I would expect people to be mad or upset, but most folks seem to be understanding and feel bad for the guy in charge.
Looking at the tree, that would be a very difficult drop for the most professional of tree..um...doctors?
They had a very small target space to drop it in.
I was speaking with my co-laborer (worker) and we decided we prefer our jobs. When we mess up, data gets lost. When they mess up, property gets damaged and people might get hurt.
But no one did.
So it really is something exciting and different that we can all help out with. It is nice to be in a place where the
"sucks to be you" mentality doesn't exist.
Where what happens to you, happens to us.
Needless to say, the job had to be done and the guy tasked with doing it, gave it his best shot.
Unfortunately, wind today was unusually high, the space he had to work with was very very tight, zero margin for error, and to make a long story short, the first tree landed on the roof.
As a network guy I saw the switch go down in my air conditioned room and didn't think much of it "oh it's a power glitch".
Walking home to lunch, I saw the missing section of the roof.
BUT that's not all.
The tree landed smack dab in the center of a 2000 gallon water tank, and the water flooded the main offices.
This is where I come in, because ups's and power strips and tower pc's were getting soaked in water.
But, for the most part, the response of everyone is "we were fortunate" because school was not in session. It begins again on Monday.
It was not raining as it usually is around this time.
And there was very little expensive damage (if any).
We came together, lent fans, dried out the rooms to avoid mildew, and the roof is being repaired.
I would expect people to be mad or upset, but most folks seem to be understanding and feel bad for the guy in charge.
Looking at the tree, that would be a very difficult drop for the most professional of tree..um...doctors?
They had a very small target space to drop it in.
I was speaking with my co-laborer (worker) and we decided we prefer our jobs. When we mess up, data gets lost. When they mess up, property gets damaged and people might get hurt.
But no one did.
So it really is something exciting and different that we can all help out with. It is nice to be in a place where the
"sucks to be you" mentality doesn't exist.
Where what happens to you, happens to us.
VBS
Kendal has been blogging about VBS here.
I have put up some pictures
385 kids, 1 back yard... enough said. This pic is one of my favorite. See if you can find Sydney
Bird of Paradise
one of our friends got the "planet earth" dvd set for Christmas and we're watching it right now. The very first disk had some GREAT and super rare footage of some "birds of paradise" here in PNG.
That is the national bird, and several people around here have gone on guided hikes to see one, only to hear it and never see it.
now you can see it if you click play below.
youtube has a few of the videos, it truly is an amazing bird.
(WARNING: youtube does not moderate the comments section, sometimes it can get very 'colorful'... I typically don't read the comments because of this)
God's creation never ceases to surprise and amaze me.
That is the national bird, and several people around here have gone on guided hikes to see one, only to hear it and never see it.
now you can see it if you click play below.
youtube has a few of the videos, it truly is an amazing bird.
(WARNING: youtube does not moderate the comments section, sometimes it can get very 'colorful'... I typically don't read the comments because of this)
God's creation never ceases to surprise and amaze me.
1/20/2008
Malaria
two weeks ago I caught Malaria. Apparently only female mosquitos bite.
All this time I had been avoiding the male mosquitos. (-;
The clinic cured me with a few pills.
Two days ago Calvin began to get bad headaches and have other symptoms.
The clinic proved he had Malaria, were very professional and he's on medication and being treated.
Malaria is like having a really bad flu for a few hours a day, and then it goes away, and then it comes back the next day or so, and continues on this cycle, getting worse each time.
But with the right pills, it goes away and doesn't trouble you for a very long time.
I feel so exotic having said I've caught Malaria.
Calvin on the other hand, jsut feels tired.
Pray for healing for him, he takes illness very very well, and it really is the first time I can recall him being sick this year. God has granted the kids good health as a major answer to our prayer.
In fact knowing he has Malaria is a bit of a relief.
First, it sounds worse than it is. If you've had it, you don't fear it any more than one fears the flu.
Second, we were glad to know he wasn't having migraines, which might be a hereditary thing given that Kendal gets them from time to time.
It's odd to think of Malaria as a relief, but it was in fact a large relief to us.
WOW it rained super hard for ten minutes and then stopped.
I'm very glad I finished my outdoor chores before then. Sometimes you can really get caught by surprise in these flash rainstorms.
All this time I had been avoiding the male mosquitos. (-;
The clinic cured me with a few pills.
Two days ago Calvin began to get bad headaches and have other symptoms.
The clinic proved he had Malaria, were very professional and he's on medication and being treated.
Malaria is like having a really bad flu for a few hours a day, and then it goes away, and then it comes back the next day or so, and continues on this cycle, getting worse each time.
But with the right pills, it goes away and doesn't trouble you for a very long time.
I feel so exotic having said I've caught Malaria.
Calvin on the other hand, jsut feels tired.
Pray for healing for him, he takes illness very very well, and it really is the first time I can recall him being sick this year. God has granted the kids good health as a major answer to our prayer.
In fact knowing he has Malaria is a bit of a relief.
First, it sounds worse than it is. If you've had it, you don't fear it any more than one fears the flu.
Second, we were glad to know he wasn't having migraines, which might be a hereditary thing given that Kendal gets them from time to time.
It's odd to think of Malaria as a relief, but it was in fact a large relief to us.
WOW it rained super hard for ten minutes and then stopped.
I'm very glad I finished my outdoor chores before then. Sometimes you can really get caught by surprise in these flash rainstorms.
The weekend, new ministries, and building
Here is an insight into the culture here.
Monday - Weds you do your job, but on Thursday you begin thinking about what you're going to do on the weekend because none of the stores are open unless you drive down the road a bit.
So if you're going to cook something special, or build something special, it's planned by thursday and friday you pick up your ingredients unless you expect friday will be full of everyone else doing the same so you pick up your items on thursday.
And if you're like me, Monday is the day you get all the stuff you forgot to get ahead of time. Both K and I do a decent amount of planning ahead, but there are some weeks that simply fly by.
Last week, Kendal did the Vacation Bible School for the PNG children, and there were 384 kids! You can read it on her blog (there's a link in the menu on the side there).
I began helping with the audio team on weekends. I'm committed to 3 hours a weekend for 1 month on and one month off, setting up and running audio for church services. Now it's nothing like a big professional setup, in fact, the audio team has no budget.
But over the years through innovation and creative use of resources there are a few mics (with old cables) a few horrible monitors, and a sound board. It's been a while since I've done sound, but it'll be enjoyable to serve again in this manner. Typically we attend the Tok Pisin church which doesn't use much audio, so every other month we'll rotate between English Service and Tok Pisin service.
Right now the audio team consists of one other guy who has been doing it for a while now. And given the culture of this place it can be tiring, because you end up spending a lot of your weekend setting up and tearing down. No equipment stays up permanently because the church is also the meeting house where all events take place.
Finally, the building part.
The family is getting a bunny. Someone has one on center they no longer want, and I went with the kids to see it, and they liked it.
We decided to name it Dominoe as it has white and black spots.
I preferred Cadbury or BigWig or even Excelsior. I have yet to be successful in naming any pet Excelsior. (-;
I was able to build the cage out of all spare parts left behind in the shed from the previous owner. It may not look like a masterpiece, but it was cheap. I only had to buy wire and hardware.
Ooh we had a theft this weekend.
I mentioned the tree falling down a while back and damaging the fence?
Well the fence has been repaired, but this weekend sometime, someone dug under the already weak fence pole, and snuck into our garden and stole pumpkins and various ripe food.
In PNG culture, this is a BIG offense. In our house, it's not a huge deal. If they would have asked, we would have gladly given them. But in PNG gardens are the livelihoods of the culture and it is the equivalent of stealing someone's paycheck. Our friend and yard meri, Moni is taking it very seriously.
We lost produce. It wasn't as if they broke into a building or stole anything valuable. Then again, with our perspective, not much of our "stuff" is considered valuable or irreplaceable.
That was pretty much our weekend. Sounds exciting, and the days flew by. Still we made time for family and had a family day as usual.
The wife of a translator passed away this week. They've been here for many decades and have finished several translations (I think the number is 3). It was sudden and the center is rather saddened by her loss.
When we were first here, this couple invited us to their house for "hot cross buns". An Easter tradition with them. Later they brought us pizzas as we packed for POC thinking properly that we were busy.
We only knew them a little, but what we knew, we like a lot.
This is a sad time, but the community comes together and supports the family through prayer, listening, meals, and all manner of things.
Logistically it was difficult to get a helicopter to their village so that the body could be transported out. But the community pulled together. She was 61. She spent her life serving God, and we are inspired by her spirit and her actions.
I can think of fewer better ends than to be brought home in the midst of serving Him.
Monday - Weds you do your job, but on Thursday you begin thinking about what you're going to do on the weekend because none of the stores are open unless you drive down the road a bit.
So if you're going to cook something special, or build something special, it's planned by thursday and friday you pick up your ingredients unless you expect friday will be full of everyone else doing the same so you pick up your items on thursday.
And if you're like me, Monday is the day you get all the stuff you forgot to get ahead of time. Both K and I do a decent amount of planning ahead, but there are some weeks that simply fly by.
Last week, Kendal did the Vacation Bible School for the PNG children, and there were 384 kids! You can read it on her blog (there's a link in the menu on the side there).
I began helping with the audio team on weekends. I'm committed to 3 hours a weekend for 1 month on and one month off, setting up and running audio for church services. Now it's nothing like a big professional setup, in fact, the audio team has no budget.
But over the years through innovation and creative use of resources there are a few mics (with old cables) a few horrible monitors, and a sound board. It's been a while since I've done sound, but it'll be enjoyable to serve again in this manner. Typically we attend the Tok Pisin church which doesn't use much audio, so every other month we'll rotate between English Service and Tok Pisin service.
Right now the audio team consists of one other guy who has been doing it for a while now. And given the culture of this place it can be tiring, because you end up spending a lot of your weekend setting up and tearing down. No equipment stays up permanently because the church is also the meeting house where all events take place.
Finally, the building part.
The family is getting a bunny. Someone has one on center they no longer want, and I went with the kids to see it, and they liked it.
We decided to name it Dominoe as it has white and black spots.
I preferred Cadbury or BigWig or even Excelsior. I have yet to be successful in naming any pet Excelsior. (-;
I was able to build the cage out of all spare parts left behind in the shed from the previous owner. It may not look like a masterpiece, but it was cheap. I only had to buy wire and hardware.
Ooh we had a theft this weekend.
I mentioned the tree falling down a while back and damaging the fence?
Well the fence has been repaired, but this weekend sometime, someone dug under the already weak fence pole, and snuck into our garden and stole pumpkins and various ripe food.
In PNG culture, this is a BIG offense. In our house, it's not a huge deal. If they would have asked, we would have gladly given them. But in PNG gardens are the livelihoods of the culture and it is the equivalent of stealing someone's paycheck. Our friend and yard meri, Moni is taking it very seriously.
We lost produce. It wasn't as if they broke into a building or stole anything valuable. Then again, with our perspective, not much of our "stuff" is considered valuable or irreplaceable.
That was pretty much our weekend. Sounds exciting, and the days flew by. Still we made time for family and had a family day as usual.
The wife of a translator passed away this week. They've been here for many decades and have finished several translations (I think the number is 3). It was sudden and the center is rather saddened by her loss.
When we were first here, this couple invited us to their house for "hot cross buns". An Easter tradition with them. Later they brought us pizzas as we packed for POC thinking properly that we were busy.
We only knew them a little, but what we knew, we like a lot.
This is a sad time, but the community comes together and supports the family through prayer, listening, meals, and all manner of things.
Logistically it was difficult to get a helicopter to their village so that the body could be transported out. But the community pulled together. She was 61. She spent her life serving God, and we are inspired by her spirit and her actions.
I can think of fewer better ends than to be brought home in the midst of serving Him.
1/13/2008
Long Standing Issue,...resolved
follow up and follow through are hard tasks to accomplish in any organization.
Since before I've been here, there has been one outstanding technical issue we have not been able to solve.
In a village, lives a translation assistant. A papua new guinea man who understands some English. He sits at a radio which is connected via modem to his laptop, he types in a number on his radio handset "sel call" and it dials a radio here, and then the two modems begin to talk and email is transferred.
This man has been unable to get the communication working to get email, which means all of his work has been sitting on the laptop hard drive and not sent here, which means one crash could wipe out months of work.
We get 15 minutes every other day to solve this with him over the HF radio. The computer guys gave it a go for weeks and weeks,... no progress.
We asked everything under the sun, and finally said, "it HAS to be a radio issue"
and we called in the radio guys.
THEY spent hours and hours over weeks and weeks with them.
All hope was diminishing quickly then today, one of the radio techs came in and said,
"well team, we solved it!!" and sure enough, we monitored the call and email was working.
The solution:
-The man in the village was calling the wrong number. He was calling himself.
It's a silly solution, but not one single one of us thought to ask the question first "what number are you dialing?"
He was very simply dialing the number on his handset, which rather than indicating the number he should dial, was indicating the number he was should someone want to dial him. Because technically the dialing is not a computer thing, the computer guys didn't ask it, and because it's not quite a radio thing, the radio guys didn't ask it until finally someone said, "okay, walk me through from the very beginning" a question we had asked repeatedly.... something about his answer sparked someone to ask 'and what number are you dialing?'.
It was the equivalent of someone saying "everytime I dial my own number I get a busy signal".
We chuckled for a moment at the simplicity of it, but soon realized the irony that it took several of us, so long to solve the problem because of all the communication issues in the way.
Sometimes, in fact most times, finding the solution is all about asking the right question.
Maybe I will add to my daily prayers, the God give me the right questions.
No matter how smart you feel you are at what you do, sometimes something very simple comes along and humbles you.
Since before I've been here, there has been one outstanding technical issue we have not been able to solve.
In a village, lives a translation assistant. A papua new guinea man who understands some English. He sits at a radio which is connected via modem to his laptop, he types in a number on his radio handset "sel call" and it dials a radio here, and then the two modems begin to talk and email is transferred.
This man has been unable to get the communication working to get email, which means all of his work has been sitting on the laptop hard drive and not sent here, which means one crash could wipe out months of work.
We get 15 minutes every other day to solve this with him over the HF radio. The computer guys gave it a go for weeks and weeks,... no progress.
We asked everything under the sun, and finally said, "it HAS to be a radio issue"
and we called in the radio guys.
THEY spent hours and hours over weeks and weeks with them.
All hope was diminishing quickly then today, one of the radio techs came in and said,
"well team, we solved it!!" and sure enough, we monitored the call and email was working.
The solution:
-The man in the village was calling the wrong number. He was calling himself.
It's a silly solution, but not one single one of us thought to ask the question first "what number are you dialing?"
He was very simply dialing the number on his handset, which rather than indicating the number he should dial, was indicating the number he was should someone want to dial him. Because technically the dialing is not a computer thing, the computer guys didn't ask it, and because it's not quite a radio thing, the radio guys didn't ask it until finally someone said, "okay, walk me through from the very beginning" a question we had asked repeatedly.... something about his answer sparked someone to ask 'and what number are you dialing?'.
It was the equivalent of someone saying "everytime I dial my own number I get a busy signal".
We chuckled for a moment at the simplicity of it, but soon realized the irony that it took several of us, so long to solve the problem because of all the communication issues in the way.
Sometimes, in fact most times, finding the solution is all about asking the right question.
Maybe I will add to my daily prayers, the God give me the right questions.
No matter how smart you feel you are at what you do, sometimes something very simple comes along and humbles you.
1/12/2008
Ministries and moments
Kendal is helping staff a vacation bible school for the national children. There are 300 signed up. It will be interesting to see how many will show up, as when you ask parents if they want to bring their kids, your typical answer culturally is "yes".
There is a pretty dramatic story tied to the last VBS. One of the little boys grew attached to the son of the VBS instructor and in turn quickly became a small part of their family.
One day his father showed up and thanked them for loving his son. Apparently this man was a notorious criminal and brother of many criminals. Through this relationaship all three gave up crime and came to Christ.
So please pray for the VBS and for Kendal's involvement.
Today in our Tok Pisin church, we prayed for:
-a ministry for the young children
-a new ministry for the youth
-a ministry for non believing adults
-a ministry for believing adults who want to learn to help in translation and literacy
-existing translation projects
-translation projects finishing up.
That is a huge spectrum of people and involvement.
The two chief issues that I see in this country right now are:
-AIDS - we are in epidemic proportions now, and soon to reach Africa's level.
-Youth - the culture is starting to realize that their youth are in need of strong moral role models and leadership. Ministries are starting to pop up to meet that need.
It is exciting to see reaching out to the community in so many ways.
Please be praying for this week and VBS.
And, a note on the family front,
today the kids and I made a tin can telephone.
It actually works quite well!
http://amos.indiana.edu/library/scripts/phone.html
Sydney insisted on decorating each can, and I replied that they could each decorate 1 can.
s-"but calvin doesn't know how to draw the numbers good!"
me-"what numbers?"
s-"the numbers for the phones!"
me-"what are those numbers for?"
s-"to dial phone numbers"
me-"what are phone numbers for?"
s-"so you call the right person."
me-"and how could you call the wrong person?"
s-"if you dialed the wrong number"
me-"and how many phones are there in the world?"
s-"millions"
me-"and how many phones are there on this tin can phone?"
s-...long pause..."two"
me-"so if you're on one phone, how many phones do you need to call?"
s-"one"
me-"and can you ever get the wrong number?"
s-"no"
me-"so how many numbers do you need to decorate on your phone?"
s-"well, either one or none. I suppose calvin can do that alright."
Quite literally an hour later they had their lines crossed as they had tangled their tin can phone string in a tree. After they were complaining of "busy signal" for a while, I came and untangled it for them.
There is a pretty dramatic story tied to the last VBS. One of the little boys grew attached to the son of the VBS instructor and in turn quickly became a small part of their family.
One day his father showed up and thanked them for loving his son. Apparently this man was a notorious criminal and brother of many criminals. Through this relationaship all three gave up crime and came to Christ.
So please pray for the VBS and for Kendal's involvement.
Today in our Tok Pisin church, we prayed for:
-a ministry for the young children
-a new ministry for the youth
-a ministry for non believing adults
-a ministry for believing adults who want to learn to help in translation and literacy
-existing translation projects
-translation projects finishing up.
That is a huge spectrum of people and involvement.
The two chief issues that I see in this country right now are:
-AIDS - we are in epidemic proportions now, and soon to reach Africa's level.
-Youth - the culture is starting to realize that their youth are in need of strong moral role models and leadership. Ministries are starting to pop up to meet that need.
It is exciting to see reaching out to the community in so many ways.
Please be praying for this week and VBS.
And, a note on the family front,
today the kids and I made a tin can telephone.
It actually works quite well!
http://amos.indiana.edu/library/scripts/phone.html
Sydney insisted on decorating each can, and I replied that they could each decorate 1 can.
s-"but calvin doesn't know how to draw the numbers good!"
me-"what numbers?"
s-"the numbers for the phones!"
me-"what are those numbers for?"
s-"to dial phone numbers"
me-"what are phone numbers for?"
s-"so you call the right person."
me-"and how could you call the wrong person?"
s-"if you dialed the wrong number"
me-"and how many phones are there in the world?"
s-"millions"
me-"and how many phones are there on this tin can phone?"
s-...long pause..."two"
me-"so if you're on one phone, how many phones do you need to call?"
s-"one"
me-"and can you ever get the wrong number?"
s-"no"
me-"so how many numbers do you need to decorate on your phone?"
s-"well, either one or none. I suppose calvin can do that alright."
Quite literally an hour later they had their lines crossed as they had tangled their tin can phone string in a tree. After they were complaining of "busy signal" for a while, I came and untangled it for them.
Saturday in a really big nutshell
the kids have been a bit much to handle as we're in the 4th week of a 6week school break, so Kendal invented "the kindness crown".
Family members (including daddy and mommy) act with kindness and the most kind person gets to wear the crown until the next day's dinner.
The kids were SOOO good today.
I did some cleaning and organizing. It is amazing how time goes so fast and things can get out of order. We like a certain semblance of order and cleanliness around our house, so I took the time today to do that.
I did some woodworking today, Calvin and I made a little frame. He helped me make it and then he oil/stained it. I LOVE that the previous owner of this house was a carpenter and has nails/screws/wood/glue/stain all left behind. I can do many of these small projects without spending a dime.
I repaired a handlebar on a bike by adding a makeshift spring.
This place really is paradise for jury riggers.
I worked on another project of mine, but that's a different post.
And then, after all that, around 5pm, I looked up in a tree and looked at the rotting tree fort. Intending only to climb up and test out it's strength, I ended up rebuilding the tree fort with scrap wood, and so now the kids have a nice little and simple tree fort.
Kendal came along and said "you need a bucket with a rope to carry stuff up with!"
The kids loved it.
So... with all that family time, work stuff, and given a new fort in the yard, I'm looking at a very restful Sunday with the kids outdoors all day!
When I was a kid, I remember my dad was always working. My kids don't get to see me at work unless I work on Saturdays, but it's good for them to see that rather than me sitting inside all day at a computer, which, I would be doing even if I was working.
I enjoy busy days like today, because not only is the work rewarding, but being able to do it along side your kids, is rewarding to.
Kendal spent her day working in the kitchen making meal preparations.
Tonight's dinner:
bbq teriyaki chicken sandwhiches, cabbage salad, pineapple, and fruit jello.
look, no grubs in that meal... well not on purpose. The only grubs I've eaten while here, I ate accidentally.
Family members (including daddy and mommy) act with kindness and the most kind person gets to wear the crown until the next day's dinner.
The kids were SOOO good today.
I did some cleaning and organizing. It is amazing how time goes so fast and things can get out of order. We like a certain semblance of order and cleanliness around our house, so I took the time today to do that.
I did some woodworking today, Calvin and I made a little frame. He helped me make it and then he oil/stained it. I LOVE that the previous owner of this house was a carpenter and has nails/screws/wood/glue/stain all left behind. I can do many of these small projects without spending a dime.
I repaired a handlebar on a bike by adding a makeshift spring.
This place really is paradise for jury riggers.
I worked on another project of mine, but that's a different post.
And then, after all that, around 5pm, I looked up in a tree and looked at the rotting tree fort. Intending only to climb up and test out it's strength, I ended up rebuilding the tree fort with scrap wood, and so now the kids have a nice little and simple tree fort.
Kendal came along and said "you need a bucket with a rope to carry stuff up with!"
The kids loved it.
So... with all that family time, work stuff, and given a new fort in the yard, I'm looking at a very restful Sunday with the kids outdoors all day!
When I was a kid, I remember my dad was always working. My kids don't get to see me at work unless I work on Saturdays, but it's good for them to see that rather than me sitting inside all day at a computer, which, I would be doing even if I was working.
I enjoy busy days like today, because not only is the work rewarding, but being able to do it along side your kids, is rewarding to.
Kendal spent her day working in the kitchen making meal preparations.
Tonight's dinner:
bbq teriyaki chicken sandwhiches, cabbage salad, pineapple, and fruit jello.
look, no grubs in that meal... well not on purpose. The only grubs I've eaten while here, I ate accidentally.
1/08/2008
Guinea Pig Funeral
Today, our two guinea pigs died. I returned from work to find my son crying and in need of comfort. He discovered the guinea pigs dead in their cage. I sat with him, put my arm around him and together mom and I comforted him.
Sydney was at a friend's house.
His sad little face, his tears. A day that you know is coming the moment the family decides to get a pet, and after all, death is part of the process of owning a pet.
I told him it was okay to be sad, and that maybe a funeral would help us to say goodbye. He perked up at the idea of being able to say a few words.
So in the pouring rain, we went out, made a grave marker, dug the graves, and held a service in our back yard. Grieving doesn't wait for weather.
"I'll talk the most since I loved them the most", he said.
Oddly though, it was Sydney who played with them the most.
We told Sydney the news, and then had a little burial ceremony in back. Calvin is pretty broken up about it.
It is always heartbreaking to see your kids that sad, but you know that it is also a good opportunity to discuss death, and goodbyes, and sorrow, and grieving.
We think that the guinea pigs ate something that was poisonous to them, as the day before the kids were feeding them all kinds of pickings from different plants.
They are forever immortalized however in our guinea pig movie, so the kids can look on them fondly.
In my eyes, this is a blessing because I had recently been wondering how prepared my kids are for loss, and this is a good opportunity to talk it out. Kendal's eyes are teary when I look at her, because seeing her children like this, breaks her heart.
After the funeral they are perked up a bit, still sad, but not as much as before. We'll talk more about it at dinner.
Sydney said "I'm sad."
me "it's sad when pets go away"
Sydney "I'm not sad because of that, I'm sad because it's my fault, I fed them the red leaves."
me "they have a good word for something that happens that you didn't meant to happen, it's called an accident, and it wasn't your fault, or Calvin's, you weren't trying to kill them. Besides we don't know that is why they died."
She seemed to feel better after that.
This may sound callous, but as a dad, these moments, where you can comfort your children, offer guidance, they come to you for help and consolation..... these are cherished moments, and while I wouldn't have them suffer if I could have stopped it, I am glad I was home to be there with them.
R.I.P. Bullet
R.I.P. Stripes
---Words spoken at funeral---
Calvin - "Bullet was my birthday present, and I'm sad he died. He was my favorite pet in the whole world. Goodbye Bullet."
Sydney and mommy abstained.
Dad - "You came to us in a box, and you left us in a box. You lived side by side and you died side by side. And while it saddens us to see you go, we'll remember you both for the movie stars that you were."
brief prayer
"Thank you God for giving us two friends like Bullet and Stripes for as long as You did. We're sad they are gone, but we know it is okay to be sad sometimes. Help our hearts to heal, and thank you for our friends."
---
Follow up
---
Today we received a package from our friends at Devoted. We were not expecting a second package full of Christmas presents.
We decided at lunch to keep the presents for after dinner.
When Calvin said, "he was the best present I ever got." I said, "well tonight we have some presents we can open, and I'm pretty sure none of them are alive so they can't die."
As soon as I said it, I realized it wasn't as comforting as I meant to be.
But, after opening the presents after dinner, the kids perked up a little more.
So thank you to our friends and to God for the well timed gifts.
1/07/2008
Goings on
With Christmas, New Year's and Boxing day, I've fallen a bit behind in blogging.
We hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and will have a Happy New Year!
Well let's see, what is going on around here.
Weather, it's rainy.
Bible Translation - there is a new dedication soon. Auhelawa NT dedication in Milne Bay. This particular translation has an interesting story.
Dr. David Lithgow, father of one of the current leadership here in PNG, began a translation here and it was finished by national translators who took over the project.
you can read more about the good Doctor at
http://www.pastornet.net.au/renewal/journal4/lithgow.html
Note that his wife's name is Daphne.
So that dedication is coming up, great story, there is a book about it. His son isn' the only missionary to have been raised here and then stayed through adulthood.
Yesterday we trained and equipped a literacy worker team to go into the village and use their radio for email. For me direct interaction with language workers is rather exciting because it is my chance to give them superior support and make them feel less isolated while they are in the village.
The better job I can do here, of equipping them, the less devastating a technical failure when I'm not around will be.
What else is going on?
Hmmn, extra curricular activities,
Kendal has begun involvement in a vacation bible school. Next week the two of us will be hiking through a nearby village inviting all the national boys and girls in the area to come and attend.
I have signed up to help with the audio team during Sunday services. I'll be setting up microphones and the like to help with the morning audio.
An interesting side note there. Many people wear multiple hats (have several jobs). Some are their technical jobs for being here, and others they do for fun, or involvement. I've yet to see a ceiling on how active you can be here.
Well the main sound guy was also a manager in Aviation. And sunday morning there was a medical evacuation, something that the Aviation manager needs to handle.
Ironically the only other guy on the audio team was his aviation deputy manager.
So... since the medical takes priority, it was touch and go as to whether or not church on sunday would have any audio.
Honestly, we deal with power outtages enough that not having audio would have worked out fine too, but it has become a luxury we've become accustomed to. Hearing the pastor way in the back without him having to shout is often considered a good thing. (-;
So, even though I've joined the audio team because I'd enjoy it, and Kendal has joined the VBS team because she'd enjoy the ministry, a side effect is that we're also accomplishing supporting other ministries as we free up others to do their OTHER jobs as well.
It is an interesting community and the way we serve an interact creates a strong support base.
People do come and go often, as is the nature of living overseas and having furloughs. But it always seems like when someone leaves a huge hole is created, but slowly, somehow, that hole is weaved back together, not always as strong as before, but able to allow functionality until the original person returns.
For this reason as well as social reasons, seeing people leave permanently is always difficult. Not only do you lose the proximity of a friend, you have to work twice as hard. (-;
But, we are very excited as January is the month of returns! People are coming back! We're very excited to see new life breathed into the place, see new faces that have been gone longer than we've been here!
It means more work for me in CTS, as I'll be setting up all their email and accounts and access etc. But it is well worth it!
We hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and will have a Happy New Year!
Well let's see, what is going on around here.
Weather, it's rainy.
Bible Translation - there is a new dedication soon. Auhelawa NT dedication in Milne Bay. This particular translation has an interesting story.
Dr. David Lithgow, father of one of the current leadership here in PNG, began a translation here and it was finished by national translators who took over the project.
you can read more about the good Doctor at
http://www.pastornet.net.au/renewal/journal4/lithgow.html
Note that his wife's name is Daphne.
So that dedication is coming up, great story, there is a book about it. His son isn' the only missionary to have been raised here and then stayed through adulthood.
Yesterday we trained and equipped a literacy worker team to go into the village and use their radio for email. For me direct interaction with language workers is rather exciting because it is my chance to give them superior support and make them feel less isolated while they are in the village.
The better job I can do here, of equipping them, the less devastating a technical failure when I'm not around will be.
What else is going on?
Hmmn, extra curricular activities,
Kendal has begun involvement in a vacation bible school. Next week the two of us will be hiking through a nearby village inviting all the national boys and girls in the area to come and attend.
I have signed up to help with the audio team during Sunday services. I'll be setting up microphones and the like to help with the morning audio.
An interesting side note there. Many people wear multiple hats (have several jobs). Some are their technical jobs for being here, and others they do for fun, or involvement. I've yet to see a ceiling on how active you can be here.
Well the main sound guy was also a manager in Aviation. And sunday morning there was a medical evacuation, something that the Aviation manager needs to handle.
Ironically the only other guy on the audio team was his aviation deputy manager.
So... since the medical takes priority, it was touch and go as to whether or not church on sunday would have any audio.
Honestly, we deal with power outtages enough that not having audio would have worked out fine too, but it has become a luxury we've become accustomed to. Hearing the pastor way in the back without him having to shout is often considered a good thing. (-;
So, even though I've joined the audio team because I'd enjoy it, and Kendal has joined the VBS team because she'd enjoy the ministry, a side effect is that we're also accomplishing supporting other ministries as we free up others to do their OTHER jobs as well.
It is an interesting community and the way we serve an interact creates a strong support base.
People do come and go often, as is the nature of living overseas and having furloughs. But it always seems like when someone leaves a huge hole is created, but slowly, somehow, that hole is weaved back together, not always as strong as before, but able to allow functionality until the original person returns.
For this reason as well as social reasons, seeing people leave permanently is always difficult. Not only do you lose the proximity of a friend, you have to work twice as hard. (-;
But, we are very excited as January is the month of returns! People are coming back! We're very excited to see new life breathed into the place, see new faces that have been gone longer than we've been here!
It means more work for me in CTS, as I'll be setting up all their email and accounts and access etc. But it is well worth it!
12/31/2007
2007 in Review
I love the "year in review" stuff on New Years, it helps remind you exactly how much has happened this year.
So at dinner tonight, the family discussed the year, it's hard to imagine it's been a year, and exactly where it all began, but as best we can tell:
-To us-
Spent time in Waxhaw, NC. Saw snow, made a snowman, received training.
Moved to Papua New Guinea
Made new friends
Learned a new language
Celebrated boxing day in a Korean home, and a Finnish home.
Learned some Finnish words.
Became missionaries.
Kids starred in a christmas chapel
Calvin discovered a love for running and soccer.
Sydney blossomed as a social butterfly in many cultures. German, PNG, Finnish children in our yard is a daily thing.
Had a jungle adventure at POC, did lots of hiking and learning.
Went to exotic new places like Lae, Madang, Alotau, Port Moresby, and Australia.
became involved in multiple ministries
generally being good neighbors to people and building relationships
-While we were here-
several bible dedications
showing Jesus video
showing AIDS awareness videos
VITAL training
literacy work in progress
-To Others-
new babies to several families and friends
friends moving to hawaii
family changing jobs
friends remodeling homes
family moving into new home
friends getting engaged
deaths in friends family
medical scares for friends and family
and more
Side Effects:
-not as "up" on pop culture, tv, radio, or movies as we were last year
-can't remember the taste of Taco Bell or real Pepperoni
-missing friends and family
-overall sense of joy and accomplishment
It's been such a great year. Words don't really accomplish the task of communicating the fulfillment that comes from looking at the last year of your life and realizing it's been your best year yet.
I had thought for a long time my best years were behind me. Many people tell you "college will be the best years of your life." and I think personally, that life keeps getting better when you're following the will of God. Marriage, children, family, and the blessings keep coming.
Our prayer at dinner tonight was one of thanks for the blessings of the past year
and for strength for the next year that we would be able to overcome the challenges and be aware of the opportunities, and ever mindful to be thankful for both.
Happy New Year!!!!!
So at dinner tonight, the family discussed the year, it's hard to imagine it's been a year, and exactly where it all began, but as best we can tell:
-To us-
Spent time in Waxhaw, NC. Saw snow, made a snowman, received training.
Moved to Papua New Guinea
Made new friends
Learned a new language
Celebrated boxing day in a Korean home, and a Finnish home.
Learned some Finnish words.
Became missionaries.
Kids starred in a christmas chapel
Calvin discovered a love for running and soccer.
Sydney blossomed as a social butterfly in many cultures. German, PNG, Finnish children in our yard is a daily thing.
Had a jungle adventure at POC, did lots of hiking and learning.
Went to exotic new places like Lae, Madang, Alotau, Port Moresby, and Australia.
became involved in multiple ministries
generally being good neighbors to people and building relationships
-While we were here-
several bible dedications
showing Jesus video
showing AIDS awareness videos
VITAL training
literacy work in progress
-To Others-
new babies to several families and friends
friends moving to hawaii
family changing jobs
friends remodeling homes
family moving into new home
friends getting engaged
deaths in friends family
medical scares for friends and family
and more
Side Effects:
-not as "up" on pop culture, tv, radio, or movies as we were last year
-can't remember the taste of Taco Bell or real Pepperoni
-missing friends and family
-overall sense of joy and accomplishment
It's been such a great year. Words don't really accomplish the task of communicating the fulfillment that comes from looking at the last year of your life and realizing it's been your best year yet.
I had thought for a long time my best years were behind me. Many people tell you "college will be the best years of your life." and I think personally, that life keeps getting better when you're following the will of God. Marriage, children, family, and the blessings keep coming.
Our prayer at dinner tonight was one of thanks for the blessings of the past year
and for strength for the next year that we would be able to overcome the challenges and be aware of the opportunities, and ever mindful to be thankful for both.
Happy New Year!!!!!
12/24/2007
Video
We made a 20 minute small video you can watch or downloadof our Christmas.
if you download the video, you can expand it to make it larger, it's small so that it didn't take us long to upload.
This is for everyone we'd normally see at Christmas, and everyone who helped contribute to us being here and everyone who helped to make our Christmas great!
thank you
-Owens Family
CLICK HERE FOR THE VIDEO - it's best if you right click on the "click here" to save it.
if you download the video, you can expand it to make it larger, it's small so that it didn't take us long to upload.
This is for everyone we'd normally see at Christmas, and everyone who helped contribute to us being here and everyone who helped to make our Christmas great!
thank you
-Owens Family
CLICK HERE FOR THE VIDEO - it's best if you right click on the "click here" to save it.
Christmas Eve and Morning
Christmas Eve
tonight we were invited to celebrate "finnish porridge"
it is meant to be a christmas breakfast dish, but they got started late.
"yolle" is their christmas
santa comes to the door, knocks and gives out gifts...
that is how they know he is white
they have trees inside.
in the rice porridge, a sweet dish with options for milk, sugar, cinnammon,
if you find a hidden almond you get to make a wish.
Sydney found the first one, the second, the third,
and our friends snuck an almond into their 5 yr old son's bowl who wasn't looking
he found the almond, and began to chew it when his mom said "what did you find?"
he replied,
"a peanut!!!"
we all laughed, he missed out on his wish!
it was very pleasant talking about their traditions on Christmas.
Sydney liked the porridge, she ate two bowls of it.
I was honored to be invited, although we had plans to be elsewhere we found a way to squeeze them in.
Their traditional christmas dinner is a huge ham, but they are doing turkey this year.
They performed a chapel for us last week part of their tradition.
Traditionally they ask for alms at the end. IT's a play about Herod and his decree to kill the boys under 2 and a soldier who defied him.
An unexpected treasure found on Christmas Eve.
A visit by a neighbor with cookies
a visit by a national seeking money
a visit by a friend borrowing a vehicle and breaking it
a visit by a neighbor inviting for porridge
and now, the new year's eve party.
Got home from our celebration with friends and it's 7pm the kids say "we got to get to bed quick! Santa's coming"
we looked at norad
and we figure since PNG is on the edge of the map, we're sometime after russia. Sure enough Santa left Kamchata Russia moments ago, and is now flying over the blue ocean.
The kids were scared, they ran and jumped into bed!
They're odd ducks in some ways.
Christmas Eve the kids were acting excited as kids do, and as parents do, we used the Santa ploy against them.
I said "If you guys misbehave, I'm going to stand outside the house at midnight waving a flag shouting ' Santa don't stop here!!'
Instead of being stricken with fear, which is what I thought their silence was indicating, they were puzzling this scenario out until finally Calvin asked,
"What kind of flag would you use?"
That sent Kendal and I into laughter but Calvin really wanted to know. "I'll use a PNG flag buddy."
"okay."
Christmas morning:
Funny moment:
Calvin got really excited over a used toy lightsaber that cost us less than a dollar at a neighbor's yard sale, and he shouted
"I bet no one else in Ukarumpa has a light saber like this."
and I replied "well, not any more."
Kendal and I chuckled over that. The kids weren't phased at all by the fact that a few of their gifts were used. I doubt they noticed.
We were amazed at the generosity of everyone this season and feel overwhelmed with honor and gratitude that this Christmas morning was so enjoyable!
My Daughter is slightly evil. She decided to leave a christmas cap at the base of the fireplace to trick me into believing that Santa left his hat behind. So in the morning I played it up. I saw the hat, and ran out the door yelling "Santa santa!!! you forgot your hat!" I came back in... "oh man.. what if santa flew around without his cap and got a cold and got sick and couldn't deliver presents to back home?"
Her face got really serious for a moment, and then she laughed.
I half think the laugh was because she realized I was joking, and half because she pulled one over on old dad and was enjoying it.
tonight we were invited to celebrate "finnish porridge"
it is meant to be a christmas breakfast dish, but they got started late.
"yolle" is their christmas
santa comes to the door, knocks and gives out gifts...
that is how they know he is white
they have trees inside.
in the rice porridge, a sweet dish with options for milk, sugar, cinnammon,
if you find a hidden almond you get to make a wish.
Sydney found the first one, the second, the third,
and our friends snuck an almond into their 5 yr old son's bowl who wasn't looking
he found the almond, and began to chew it when his mom said "what did you find?"
he replied,
"a peanut!!!"
we all laughed, he missed out on his wish!
it was very pleasant talking about their traditions on Christmas.
Sydney liked the porridge, she ate two bowls of it.
I was honored to be invited, although we had plans to be elsewhere we found a way to squeeze them in.
Their traditional christmas dinner is a huge ham, but they are doing turkey this year.
They performed a chapel for us last week part of their tradition.
Traditionally they ask for alms at the end. IT's a play about Herod and his decree to kill the boys under 2 and a soldier who defied him.
An unexpected treasure found on Christmas Eve.
A visit by a neighbor with cookies
a visit by a national seeking money
a visit by a friend borrowing a vehicle and breaking it
a visit by a neighbor inviting for porridge
and now, the new year's eve party.
Got home from our celebration with friends and it's 7pm the kids say "we got to get to bed quick! Santa's coming"
we looked at norad
and we figure since PNG is on the edge of the map, we're sometime after russia. Sure enough Santa left Kamchata Russia moments ago, and is now flying over the blue ocean.
The kids were scared, they ran and jumped into bed!
They're odd ducks in some ways.
Christmas Eve the kids were acting excited as kids do, and as parents do, we used the Santa ploy against them.
I said "If you guys misbehave, I'm going to stand outside the house at midnight waving a flag shouting ' Santa don't stop here!!'
Instead of being stricken with fear, which is what I thought their silence was indicating, they were puzzling this scenario out until finally Calvin asked,
"What kind of flag would you use?"
That sent Kendal and I into laughter but Calvin really wanted to know. "I'll use a PNG flag buddy."
"okay."
Christmas morning:
Funny moment:
Calvin got really excited over a used toy lightsaber that cost us less than a dollar at a neighbor's yard sale, and he shouted
"I bet no one else in Ukarumpa has a light saber like this."
and I replied "well, not any more."
Kendal and I chuckled over that. The kids weren't phased at all by the fact that a few of their gifts were used. I doubt they noticed.
We were amazed at the generosity of everyone this season and feel overwhelmed with honor and gratitude that this Christmas morning was so enjoyable!
My Daughter is slightly evil. She decided to leave a christmas cap at the base of the fireplace to trick me into believing that Santa left his hat behind. So in the morning I played it up. I saw the hat, and ran out the door yelling "Santa santa!!! you forgot your hat!" I came back in... "oh man.. what if santa flew around without his cap and got a cold and got sick and couldn't deliver presents to back home?"
Her face got really serious for a moment, and then she laughed.
I half think the laugh was because she realized I was joking, and half because she pulled one over on old dad and was enjoying it.
12/22/2007
the Santa Debate
My wife and I believe this is the last Christmas that the kids are going to believe in Santa because of the conversations we've been having.
I know many folks don't believe in teaching their kids about Santa, and I have debated this with a friend a few times. However our household has taken measures this year, to make sure that their first Christmas away from home is a special one, and thus, it's not the year for them to stop believing.
Which is why the debates they've been having have been so encouraging and fun. They are really trying to apply reason to this issue that is of the utmost importance to a young child.
Here is a caption of the debates:
Which brings me to the debates on Santa Claus.
We've had ongoing debates over the past few days, and I'll try to summarize them here.
C-"How is santa claus going to fit down our chimney, it's small?"
s-"he's got magic, besides he can come in the front door."
C- "well that settles that question, but it doesn't settle what color Santa claus is."
s - "in PNG, he's black."
C - "no he's white"
s - "he's black"
C - "he's got to be white, I've seen him before in the stores."
s - "that wasn't the real santa claus, the real santa claus is black"
Chad - "what color was Jesus?"
S and C - "white"
Chad - "why do you think that? where was he from?"
C - "Jerusalem"
S - "no nazareth!"
Chad - "and what color were people from there?"
S and c - "we don't know"
Chad - "they why do you think Jesus was white?"
pause...
C - "but Santa is from the north pole."
Chad - "what color are Santa's elves"
s and c - "white"
Chad - "are elves big or small?"
s and c "small"
Chad - "what else is small?"
C - "a mouse."
Chad - "and what color are mice?"
S - "brown"
Chad -"so if elves are small, why aren't they brown?"
at this the kids paused and the debate ended until a new day
S - "I don't know what to think about Santa Claus, I mean, a lot of my friends don't believe in him."
C - "he's real, I know it."
s - "yeah I know it too, because every christmas eve, I hear reindoor footsteps on the roof, but everyone else says he's not real"
C - "he's real alright."
s - "yeah I know he's got to be real."
C - "okay so that settles that he's real, but it doesn't settle what color he is."
Chad - "we've never seen santa so how could we know?"
s - "you could setup a video camera for when he comes?"
Kendal " don't you think santa would know if you did that? After all he knows if you've been good or bad."
C - "dad, I don't think you should put up a video camera, Santa will know and you won't get any presents"
S - "I know you can wrap up the camera and put it in a present under the tree"
C - "but then it would only take a picture of black."
Chad - "does that mean santa is black?"
s and c - "no, silly!!"
C - "I don't think we should talk about this any more, Santa will know and then none of us will get any presents."
and that ended the conversation... at least for now.
the next debate.... why today (sunday) is called "Christmas Adam"
C - "it's christmas adam because Adam came before eve"
chad - "who came before Adam?"
S - "GOD!"
Chad - "then why didn't we call yesterday Christmas GOD?"
they laugh
Chad - "and who came before God?"
both - "nobody!!!"
Chad "oh."
Chad -"so who came AFTER eve?"
C - "Moses"
S - "no silly, Father Abraham"
Chad - "no, their kids, two of which were named Cain and Abel. So why don't we call the day after Christmas, Christmas CANE?"
S - "well, we do have a candy cane."
C - "And jesus came after Eve, so Christmas is called Christmas Jesus!"
Chad - "you guys do know that Christmas eve isn't named after Eve from the bible right?"
C - "yes silly, it's a joke, we're making jokes."
That was a load off my mind.
one of the traditions we have in our house is to weekly light a candle in preparation for Christmas, and read some scripture verses around the table, celebrating Advent. It's a Scriptural preparation for Christ's birth, and what we're truly celebrating.
It is a pleasant thing to see when your children spend more time talking about Christ and His birth than they talk about their gifts and what they might be getting. Each year, neither of them can come up with a list of gifts they want.
It is part of the magic and the innocence of Christmas, that our kids still get. It has a lot less to do with what they might be getting. They write no letters to Santa, they make no lists, they do however, spend time reading their Bibles and wrapping gifts for others.
It brings me a lot of joy to watch Christmas through their eyes. This year, it'll be different, but it should be very memorable.
Thank you all for your contribution to it!
I know many folks don't believe in teaching their kids about Santa, and I have debated this with a friend a few times. However our household has taken measures this year, to make sure that their first Christmas away from home is a special one, and thus, it's not the year for them to stop believing.
Which is why the debates they've been having have been so encouraging and fun. They are really trying to apply reason to this issue that is of the utmost importance to a young child.
Here is a caption of the debates:
Which brings me to the debates on Santa Claus.
We've had ongoing debates over the past few days, and I'll try to summarize them here.
C-"How is santa claus going to fit down our chimney, it's small?"
s-"he's got magic, besides he can come in the front door."
C- "well that settles that question, but it doesn't settle what color Santa claus is."
s - "in PNG, he's black."
C - "no he's white"
s - "he's black"
C - "he's got to be white, I've seen him before in the stores."
s - "that wasn't the real santa claus, the real santa claus is black"
Chad - "what color was Jesus?"
S and C - "white"
Chad - "why do you think that? where was he from?"
C - "Jerusalem"
S - "no nazareth!"
Chad - "and what color were people from there?"
S and c - "we don't know"
Chad - "they why do you think Jesus was white?"
pause...
C - "but Santa is from the north pole."
Chad - "what color are Santa's elves"
s and c - "white"
Chad - "are elves big or small?"
s and c "small"
Chad - "what else is small?"
C - "a mouse."
Chad - "and what color are mice?"
S - "brown"
Chad -"so if elves are small, why aren't they brown?"
at this the kids paused and the debate ended until a new day
S - "I don't know what to think about Santa Claus, I mean, a lot of my friends don't believe in him."
C - "he's real, I know it."
s - "yeah I know it too, because every christmas eve, I hear reindoor footsteps on the roof, but everyone else says he's not real"
C - "he's real alright."
s - "yeah I know he's got to be real."
C - "okay so that settles that he's real, but it doesn't settle what color he is."
Chad - "we've never seen santa so how could we know?"
s - "you could setup a video camera for when he comes?"
Kendal " don't you think santa would know if you did that? After all he knows if you've been good or bad."
C - "dad, I don't think you should put up a video camera, Santa will know and you won't get any presents"
S - "I know you can wrap up the camera and put it in a present under the tree"
C - "but then it would only take a picture of black."
Chad - "does that mean santa is black?"
s and c - "no, silly!!"
C - "I don't think we should talk about this any more, Santa will know and then none of us will get any presents."
and that ended the conversation... at least for now.
the next debate.... why today (sunday) is called "Christmas Adam"
C - "it's christmas adam because Adam came before eve"
chad - "who came before Adam?"
S - "GOD!"
Chad - "then why didn't we call yesterday Christmas GOD?"
they laugh
Chad - "and who came before God?"
both - "nobody!!!"
Chad "oh."
Chad -"so who came AFTER eve?"
C - "Moses"
S - "no silly, Father Abraham"
Chad - "no, their kids, two of which were named Cain and Abel. So why don't we call the day after Christmas, Christmas CANE?"
S - "well, we do have a candy cane."
C - "And jesus came after Eve, so Christmas is called Christmas Jesus!"
Chad - "you guys do know that Christmas eve isn't named after Eve from the bible right?"
C - "yes silly, it's a joke, we're making jokes."
That was a load off my mind.
one of the traditions we have in our house is to weekly light a candle in preparation for Christmas, and read some scripture verses around the table, celebrating Advent. It's a Scriptural preparation for Christ's birth, and what we're truly celebrating.
It is a pleasant thing to see when your children spend more time talking about Christ and His birth than they talk about their gifts and what they might be getting. Each year, neither of them can come up with a list of gifts they want.
It is part of the magic and the innocence of Christmas, that our kids still get. It has a lot less to do with what they might be getting. They write no letters to Santa, they make no lists, they do however, spend time reading their Bibles and wrapping gifts for others.
It brings me a lot of joy to watch Christmas through their eyes. This year, it'll be different, but it should be very memorable.
Thank you all for your contribution to it!
12/17/2007
Voltage
the electricity here is provided via a hydroplant (dam) some miles... er.. kilometeres away.
This country uses 3 phase power.
I'm not an electrician, don't ask me to explain.
The long and the short of it is,
many times a day we get under voltage (brown outs) over voltage (spikes), power outages and phase outages.
This wreaks havoc on computer equipment but we've got systems in place to compensate.
(read: a shack full of car batteries daisy chained to an inverter system)
One fun anecdote however,
yesterday we got an over voltage so long, and so high, that the fans all began spinning faster than usual.
One fan, spun soo fast, it began to whistle, and then, the blade flew off it's mount, hit the fan cage, rattled it loose, and sprayed plastic chips in all directions.
Mind you the fan was mounted via a reverse threaded screw which is meant to tighten as the fan spins... so how this happened, we don't know.
But it was exciting!
This country uses 3 phase power.
I'm not an electrician, don't ask me to explain.
The long and the short of it is,
many times a day we get under voltage (brown outs) over voltage (spikes), power outages and phase outages.
This wreaks havoc on computer equipment but we've got systems in place to compensate.
(read: a shack full of car batteries daisy chained to an inverter system)
One fun anecdote however,
yesterday we got an over voltage so long, and so high, that the fans all began spinning faster than usual.
One fan, spun soo fast, it began to whistle, and then, the blade flew off it's mount, hit the fan cage, rattled it loose, and sprayed plastic chips in all directions.
Mind you the fan was mounted via a reverse threaded screw which is meant to tighten as the fan spins... so how this happened, we don't know.
But it was exciting!
Unexpected Needs
One thing that has been a huge adjustment for me personally, is being surrounded by constant need.
What I mean by that is, every day that goes by, as I talk with people, I find someone who has a need.
In the States, most people hid their need, or really didn't need.
Here, people are constantly wondering how they are going to get along day by day.
Many friends have strong financial need. As we talk on the roadways, or store aisle, that need is communicated and often through tears. We serve a miraculous God who can supply our need. The struggle is the process of waiting on Him to supply. Often people here are very tired of struggling, it wears you down, and tears are very near the surface.
Today I spoke with a friend in dire straights right now, they've had break ins, and thefts, and translation issues, and they are having a very tough time.
The part that I was not expecting here was to have my heart torn in so many different directions. I'm the kind of guy who likes to solve problems for people. It's why I am in the computer I.T. business.
I like for people to look to me as a solution provider. But I simply can't meet all of the need there is here. I can occasionally help in one way or another, and as a family we can pray and encourage, but I never expected to have my heart broken for people on a daily basis.
I'm sure there is some sort of survival technique you learn after being here for a while, but my entire life I've tried to avoid becoming apathetic, which means all to often, that empathy is the opposite reaction, and here empathy means feeling other's pain frequently.
The only thing I can think to do most of the time is pray.
It's the kind of environment that makes you want to give everything you have to help others.
So what am I doing?
Today that means giving someone some cookies and a hug, while delivering the bad news about their laptop screen having died. What I want to do is give them a brand new laptop, but I can't. I can not solve this problem with my resources. heh heh, I didn't even bake the cookies, my wife did that!
It really seems to me that all things come down to relying on God.
What I mean by that is, every day that goes by, as I talk with people, I find someone who has a need.
In the States, most people hid their need, or really didn't need.
Here, people are constantly wondering how they are going to get along day by day.
Many friends have strong financial need. As we talk on the roadways, or store aisle, that need is communicated and often through tears. We serve a miraculous God who can supply our need. The struggle is the process of waiting on Him to supply. Often people here are very tired of struggling, it wears you down, and tears are very near the surface.
Today I spoke with a friend in dire straights right now, they've had break ins, and thefts, and translation issues, and they are having a very tough time.
The part that I was not expecting here was to have my heart torn in so many different directions. I'm the kind of guy who likes to solve problems for people. It's why I am in the computer I.T. business.
I like for people to look to me as a solution provider. But I simply can't meet all of the need there is here. I can occasionally help in one way or another, and as a family we can pray and encourage, but I never expected to have my heart broken for people on a daily basis.
I'm sure there is some sort of survival technique you learn after being here for a while, but my entire life I've tried to avoid becoming apathetic, which means all to often, that empathy is the opposite reaction, and here empathy means feeling other's pain frequently.
The only thing I can think to do most of the time is pray.
It's the kind of environment that makes you want to give everything you have to help others.
So what am I doing?
Today that means giving someone some cookies and a hug, while delivering the bad news about their laptop screen having died. What I want to do is give them a brand new laptop, but I can't. I can not solve this problem with my resources. heh heh, I didn't even bake the cookies, my wife did that!
It really seems to me that all things come down to relying on God.
kid stuff
last night at dinner my daughter asks
"mom, I have a question, and it's kind of funny"
mom-"okay"
syd-"so, why did you marry dad anyway? Was it because you wanted a good laugh?"
this morning my son says
"mom, I saw a part of a movie yesterday and it was really wierd. These guys were wearing robes and saying all kinds of crazy words, and then they hit themselves in the head with a board. It was really funny."
I laughed because I knew he was talking about a Monty Python scene.
"mom, I have a question, and it's kind of funny"
mom-"okay"
syd-"so, why did you marry dad anyway? Was it because you wanted a good laugh?"
this morning my son says
"mom, I saw a part of a movie yesterday and it was really wierd. These guys were wearing robes and saying all kinds of crazy words, and then they hit themselves in the head with a board. It was really funny."
I laughed because I knew he was talking about a Monty Python scene.
12/16/2007
Christmas Chapel
Calvin and Sydney were in a christmas chapel today. A one hour musical in which they sang songs of praise to Christ for His birth. It was a very lovely school event.
It is such a nice thing to be able to walk 5 minutes up the road and attend their school functions, and to know I don't need to explain it to my manager because he'll be there too watching his kids.
I saw a lot of imbalance in the Silicon Valley.
One day, on Valentine's day, it was 6pm and a manager came around, mind you it was already one hour past quitting time for many of us, and he said
"I think you should go home early." to every one of us.... I thought "this isn't early"
and I asked him, "why?"
and he responded...
"It's Valentine's day. Work is important, and... I guess Marriage is important to."
In his mind he was being magnanimous and giving everyone time off. In my mind, he had his priorities sorely out of whack, and a few hours of leaving work earlier wasn't going to fix it.
Here, things seem to have balance. We take time to pray, we do daily devotions as a department, we do monthly prayer as a branch, we go to our kids school functions, and on weekends we rally around the youth events that are taking place.
While it is balanced however, there is an added stress on the family of being outside one's comfort zone. Several of our friends have been having a really rough few months, and it is human to want to curl up into a ball during those times.
We are thankful that we're looking at a new christmas this year. New adventures, new people, new happenings. It is for us, the silver lining in not being home.
For some of our friends, however, it's really tough. Add onto that the hits that seem to keep coming at them, and suddenly their desire to return home becomes very strong.
Pray with us this season for the fortification of the missionaries here. Pray that our home could be a warm blanket for those wanting to curl into a ball. Pray that we can be supportive and encouraging to folks who are tired of being here. And pray that God would breath new life into them, and if He so chooses, to use us to do it.
Personally, I wish that I could somehow inject people with this enthusiasm I have for this place. Yes it wains at times when people expose their grumpy side, but that's part of life anywhere. If we could bottle up how glad we are to be here, it would be a good medicine for people. A lot of our friends right now need a "christmas miracle". They need an infusion of joy.
The kids sang great this morning, it was the best Christmas gift to see your children praising God in song, in a community that praises God.
It is such a nice thing to be able to walk 5 minutes up the road and attend their school functions, and to know I don't need to explain it to my manager because he'll be there too watching his kids.
I saw a lot of imbalance in the Silicon Valley.
One day, on Valentine's day, it was 6pm and a manager came around, mind you it was already one hour past quitting time for many of us, and he said
"I think you should go home early." to every one of us.... I thought "this isn't early"
and I asked him, "why?"
and he responded...
"It's Valentine's day. Work is important, and... I guess Marriage is important to."
In his mind he was being magnanimous and giving everyone time off. In my mind, he had his priorities sorely out of whack, and a few hours of leaving work earlier wasn't going to fix it.
Here, things seem to have balance. We take time to pray, we do daily devotions as a department, we do monthly prayer as a branch, we go to our kids school functions, and on weekends we rally around the youth events that are taking place.
While it is balanced however, there is an added stress on the family of being outside one's comfort zone. Several of our friends have been having a really rough few months, and it is human to want to curl up into a ball during those times.
We are thankful that we're looking at a new christmas this year. New adventures, new people, new happenings. It is for us, the silver lining in not being home.
For some of our friends, however, it's really tough. Add onto that the hits that seem to keep coming at them, and suddenly their desire to return home becomes very strong.
Pray with us this season for the fortification of the missionaries here. Pray that our home could be a warm blanket for those wanting to curl into a ball. Pray that we can be supportive and encouraging to folks who are tired of being here. And pray that God would breath new life into them, and if He so chooses, to use us to do it.
Personally, I wish that I could somehow inject people with this enthusiasm I have for this place. Yes it wains at times when people expose their grumpy side, but that's part of life anywhere. If we could bottle up how glad we are to be here, it would be a good medicine for people. A lot of our friends right now need a "christmas miracle". They need an infusion of joy.
The kids sang great this morning, it was the best Christmas gift to see your children praising God in song, in a community that praises God.
12/15/2007
Unexpected blessing
Today was a day of unexpected blessings. It's Sunday here.
First, to hear the Christmas Story in Tok Pisin. I was not expecting that, although years in the church I should have been expecting the Christmas story soon, but it snuck up on me.
I learned a new term "bokis kaikai" it's the Tok Pisin term for "manger" and it means "food box" which is what the manger was, it was a trough.
Somehow, hearing the Christmas story of Christ's birth, in a new language, had new meaning. I don't know if you're like me or not, but when you've been raised in the church, the holidays all seem to have a routine. It takes a serious commitment to not let yourself get caught up in going through the motions of celebrating Christ and to really let the meaning sink in.
Hearing things in a new language, I didn't have to take the effort it jsut sunk in. It hit me in a new way.
Like they said in church "long taim bipo, ol i no got tok save long tv o tok save long nuispaipa, tok save i kam long ensel" (back in Jesus' day, they didn't get news from the paper or tv, the Angel brought the news"
Secondly, I got to spend some time talking with my neighbor who has lived here for 24 years. He's a Papua New Guinean man, who manages a department here. It has been my pleasure to get to know him better, and to have him show me the ropes a bit this morning, was a blessing. Now, I have a trusted resource to talk to when I have questions about the culture.
Many times, the question comes up "what is the right thing for me to do here?" Culturally it's hard to know what to do, and when you are trying to build a reputation as being trustworthy and helpful, you don't want to make a wrong impression or make a wrong move that could take a lot of time to fix. Thankfully, God sent us our neighbor John.
It was good to talk to him today, and to realize that he is watching out for us.
The other day I had a man come to my door, as they often do, to talk. What I didn't know was that this man was a well known liar, or con-man. My neighbor helped in that situation and shed light on things.
Thanks to God for surrounding us with people to help us adapt.
Today is Family Sunday.
We typically attend church, enjoy the afternoon, then in the evening we eat pizza and watch a family film.
Yesterday Kendal spent the day in the kitchen while I puttered around doing chores and projects. She baked cookies, bread, caramel corn... all the smells of Christmas. Today some ladies are coming over for a cookie exchange so I'm hopeful that'll be a good thing for building relationships... me and the kids of course are going to be GONE during those 2 hours building relationships elsewhere. (-;
****FOR MEAT LOVERS******
Oh and last night we enjoyed our first STEAK here. WE've been avoiding the beef (except for ground beef aka "mince") because it can be rather chewy and taste gamey. But we decided to give it a go.
I began the marinade the night before, put in some lemon juice for tenderizing, garlic, oil, vinegar, spices. Let it sit.
Then in the morning I put meat tenderizer on it, and rubbed it in.
In the afternoon I rubbed it with spices... and I figured, the meat had to be almost falling apart in your mouth now. I've never tenderized meat that much, because it would fall apart.
Nope, while the flavor was great... the meat was REALLY chewy. Calvin seemed to really like it. It was a tasty meal. For those grillmasters out there, I will definitely need to tenderize this "steak" a lot more.
IT was an odd cut I've never seen, so don't ask what cut it was. The meat cutters do things differently here. Even so, the flavor was good enough that it was worth the chewing.
I think, the thing that most takes us "home" in our minds is food. Food is an adaptation here, but occasionally you get things jsut right and all the food tastes like home. Last night was one of those kinds of meals. Definitely being here has broken my love affair with food. Okay maybe not broken, but inhibited.
One of the things they'd tell us is that we'd find it odd what we miss about food back home. For some reason I really miss Taco Bell burritos. I have NO idea why. I wasn't a HUGE fan before coming here.
First, to hear the Christmas Story in Tok Pisin. I was not expecting that, although years in the church I should have been expecting the Christmas story soon, but it snuck up on me.
I learned a new term "bokis kaikai" it's the Tok Pisin term for "manger" and it means "food box" which is what the manger was, it was a trough.
Somehow, hearing the Christmas story of Christ's birth, in a new language, had new meaning. I don't know if you're like me or not, but when you've been raised in the church, the holidays all seem to have a routine. It takes a serious commitment to not let yourself get caught up in going through the motions of celebrating Christ and to really let the meaning sink in.
Hearing things in a new language, I didn't have to take the effort it jsut sunk in. It hit me in a new way.
Like they said in church "long taim bipo, ol i no got tok save long tv o tok save long nuispaipa, tok save i kam long ensel" (back in Jesus' day, they didn't get news from the paper or tv, the Angel brought the news"
Secondly, I got to spend some time talking with my neighbor who has lived here for 24 years. He's a Papua New Guinean man, who manages a department here. It has been my pleasure to get to know him better, and to have him show me the ropes a bit this morning, was a blessing. Now, I have a trusted resource to talk to when I have questions about the culture.
Many times, the question comes up "what is the right thing for me to do here?" Culturally it's hard to know what to do, and when you are trying to build a reputation as being trustworthy and helpful, you don't want to make a wrong impression or make a wrong move that could take a lot of time to fix. Thankfully, God sent us our neighbor John.
It was good to talk to him today, and to realize that he is watching out for us.
The other day I had a man come to my door, as they often do, to talk. What I didn't know was that this man was a well known liar, or con-man. My neighbor helped in that situation and shed light on things.
Thanks to God for surrounding us with people to help us adapt.
Today is Family Sunday.
We typically attend church, enjoy the afternoon, then in the evening we eat pizza and watch a family film.
Yesterday Kendal spent the day in the kitchen while I puttered around doing chores and projects. She baked cookies, bread, caramel corn... all the smells of Christmas. Today some ladies are coming over for a cookie exchange so I'm hopeful that'll be a good thing for building relationships... me and the kids of course are going to be GONE during those 2 hours building relationships elsewhere. (-;
****FOR MEAT LOVERS******
Oh and last night we enjoyed our first STEAK here. WE've been avoiding the beef (except for ground beef aka "mince") because it can be rather chewy and taste gamey. But we decided to give it a go.
I began the marinade the night before, put in some lemon juice for tenderizing, garlic, oil, vinegar, spices. Let it sit.
Then in the morning I put meat tenderizer on it, and rubbed it in.
In the afternoon I rubbed it with spices... and I figured, the meat had to be almost falling apart in your mouth now. I've never tenderized meat that much, because it would fall apart.
Nope, while the flavor was great... the meat was REALLY chewy. Calvin seemed to really like it. It was a tasty meal. For those grillmasters out there, I will definitely need to tenderize this "steak" a lot more.
IT was an odd cut I've never seen, so don't ask what cut it was. The meat cutters do things differently here. Even so, the flavor was good enough that it was worth the chewing.
I think, the thing that most takes us "home" in our minds is food. Food is an adaptation here, but occasionally you get things jsut right and all the food tastes like home. Last night was one of those kinds of meals. Definitely being here has broken my love affair with food. Okay maybe not broken, but inhibited.
One of the things they'd tell us is that we'd find it odd what we miss about food back home. For some reason I really miss Taco Bell burritos. I have NO idea why. I wasn't a HUGE fan before coming here.
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