Our Homecoming

Just over 2 weeks ago, we arrived back here in Lae. Our home awaited us...with a thick layer of dust over everything. Ian mopped our floors over and over again for an hour and a half just so the soles of our feet wouldn't be blackened! Communication with the outside world was also limited--the phone was disconnected and internet not working. That was ok, after a day of travelling we were too tired to talk, skype, blog or email anyway! And besides, we had to be up bright and early the next morning for the kid's first day of school. Or so we thought. Turns out we got the dates mixed up somehow because we were the only ones who showed up for school that day! Oh well, try again tomorrow. The other surprise awaiting us when we got home were some unexpected visitors. It's not ideal to have visitors when you're just getting settled in, but these aren't the kind who get in the way at all. In fact, we don't see much of them, especially during the day. The only problem is they haven't yet let us know how long they're planning to stay and to be honest, it's getting a bit inconvenient to have them around, as discreet as they are. So, we've set some traps with a little bit of peanut butter and put out some poison and we're hoping these visitors of ours will soon be here no more, as inhospitable as that may sound!

Our first Sunday back at church we were glad to see many new and old faces, and especially some that we hadn't seen in a long time. John Lanta (pictured below on the left) and his family have returned after living in Brisbane, Australia for 2 years while John studied for his Masters in Mathematics. He's returned to his teaching position at the University of Technology here in Lae. The man in the middle is Martin Makusi, a long-time member of the Reformed Churches of PNG who recently repatriated back to the other side of the island, West Papua. He was on his way to also visit the churches in Port Moresby and stopped by to say hello. And lastly, on the right is Rumanasen, the oldest member of our church and also our faithful and honest treasurer (a rare find in PNG).

John and Polena Lanta's daughter, Yoni.

The school year at the Bible College in Port Moresby will also soon commence. Here are Gami and Joel, who have already returned to the Bible College to get their children enrolled in school and do some work on their garden, which will hopefully provide them with fruits and veggies while they study.

They were a blessing to the church while in Lae as Joel helped lead some worship services while we were away; Gami met with the Sunday school teachers to encourage them in their work; and they both travelled to another area of PNG where there is interest in starting another Reformed Church and met with the people there.

May the Lord give them and all the students and staff at the Bible College a blessed year of study again!