Back to PNG!

After 3 months in Australia waiting for Lance to arrive, we're finally back in PNG! The last few weeks have been a complete whirlwind. We found out that Lance's visa had been approved on Monday, March 12, and we bought tickets the next day to head back to PNG. A flurry of packing and cleaning ensued. We arrived at our mission base in Wewak on Friday, March 16, and our mission's annual conference for missionaries in our region began that evening. For 4 days, we worshipped and fellowshipped with friends, many of whom we hadn't seen for a year. We're so thankful we made it back in time for this special event!

Morning sessions of worship and encouraging messages for the adults with childcare for the kids

Enjoying some snow cones at Kids' Carnival

 The day after conference ended, we shopped and packed our groceries and supplies for returning to Wabuku.

All of our groceries go in boxes and are wrapped in black plastic to protect them from water



All of our supplies for the next month or so

And on Thursday, March 22, we headed back into Wabuku, less than a week after returning to Wewak! The normal 2 hour boat ride turned into 4 hours due to a slow motor, but we finally made it home!



Waiting for the airplane to take us home



Headed to Wabuku!

 

It feels so good to be back, though we definitely experienced some reverse culture shock. For several days, we hardly ventured outdoors as we cleaned, sorted, and unpacked. Today was our first "official" day back to language and culture study, and it felt good to get going again. We're really encouraged at how quickly we're remembering things we've learned. We're also enjoying seeing all our national friends again. They all love Lance and are constantly commenting, "Temrai keri!" which basically means that he's so big. :) Which he certainly is! He's doing so well adapting to his new life, and he's a really easygoing baby. He also sleeps amazingly well at night (sometimes only getting up once!), which is a HUGE blessing to us with language study! Can't believe he'll be 2 months old on the 7th!



A rare moment when all three kids were crying at the same time. Thankfully it's rare. :)
 

Our sweet, happy little man!


Thanks SO much for praying for us as we get settled back into life here and get back into a routine with language and culture study. Sometimes, it feels like we'll never master it, but we are encouraged at the progress we're making.