Last Stop before Home!

We're back in the tropics! We've been in Cairns for the past week, getting used to the heat and humidity and reuniting with old friends, also connecting with the Reformed church group here. 

At Muddy's with friends from Lae!

Nurse Aliesha and Nurse Karlyn!

Shakira and Jono

Joseph and Caleb

Cameron and Karlyn

Jono and Bryce

Benjamin's first swim in the ocean!

We're dealing with a lot of emotions as we anticipate returning to PNG after being away for 6 months, but also as we say goodbye to our very good friends, Wayne and Cheronne VanderHeide and their family. It's been an incredible blessing to be here in Cairns with them before they move back to Albany. We will miss them dearly, as will all the people at the Bible College in Port Moresby and in the churches. For 9 years, they gave all of their hearts to the work of the Lord there and we praise God for them and pray that He will give them all they need to settle back in Albany again.

Tassie!

Roses in bloom...wild peacocks roaming...majestic mountains...gorgeous beaches...that's some of the beauty of Tasmania. It was really wonderful to spend a week there with the VanAsperen family and the rest of our brothers and sisters in Christ in Launceston and Legana. We managed to see quite a bit of Tassie in our short time there and share about the work of the Lord in PNG to many, maybe even most, of the members in both congregations. We thank the Lord for the interest shown for the work of mission in PNG.   

Here's a little taste of the beautiful sights we visited...

We made it!
Mt. Barrow

There was just enough snow at the top to make this snowman
and throw a few snowballs!

Riding the lift over the gorge in Launceston.

Some say Rosita and I could be sisters...and perhaps Scott and Caleb could pass for cousins?!

Crazy peacock hunters!

Run, Petey Peacock, run!

The school in Launceston held a fundraiser earlier this year
and raised $4,000 to support our school in Lae,
which they presented to us when we were there doing a presentation!
Incredible!

Karlyn on the beach at St. Helen's.

They say that Tassie has some of the top ten most beautiful beaches in the world!

Feeding the ducks at City Park, Launceston.

Good mates, Caleb and Scott.

Our littlest man...at 3 months.

Thank you, Gerald and Rosita and family, for being amazing hosts and for your generous hearts!
We have many fond memories of our time in Tassie and we thank the Lord for the opportunity to visit.  

Memories of WA!

6 weeks in Western Australia...a fantastic time filled with many different experiences, enriched by many wonderful people! 

It was also a busy time. Ian had the honour of preaching every Sunday in 9 different churches; he took part in the 1st, but hopefully not the last Mission Conference; he shared what God is doing in PNG to 7 churches and we visited 4 different schools. We met with our Mission Board and our sending church. 

Sometimes it was a tiring time--parenting and homeschooling 'on the run' isn't always easy, especially with a newborn still waking up in the night! 

But it was also a refreshing time as were we shown much love and hospitality--we rarely cooked for ourselves and were spoiled by many gifts! We were greatly encouraged by the support and interest for the work, and the love and care shown our family. 

God is so faithful and provides all we need!  

A few pics to share with you too:   

Ian chatting with Stephen 't Hart on a day out at Penguin Island.
Could they be discussing mission?!

Benjamin, so content to sleep on Jess's shoulder!
We enjoyed a great weekend with Ted and Cathy and girls in Busselton!

Uncle Ted still has the touch....3 years ago, he held a very similar looking baby of ours!

Back at the shack, as they call it---our little home in Bedfordale.
What better way to do your schoolwork than with your cute  brother by your side!

Asleep again...this time on Jacinta's shoulder!
We had a fun time here and at the Aquarium with her and her parents, Len and Viv.

Saturdays were a lot of fun at the Geurts' place!
Rides on the jeep or the quad...

and of course, fun in the mud!

Karlyn with Karen.
Park-hopping with great friends is always fun!

Then we drove 4 hours to visit Albany for a week.
It was such a blessing to catch up with good friends the Alkemas and the VanderHeides.
Here's Karlyn and Ashlyn, happy to be together again!

Jono and George at Emu Point in Albany.

Caleb liked hanging out with George too!

Karlyn and Avery also had fun together!

Little friends...Benjamin and Judah.

It was really special to celebrate my birthday in Albany too!
We went out for dinner with Nat and Andrew, and Kristen and Hendrik.

Jono and Karlyn really enjoyed being part of Ashlyn and Avery's class in Albany.
Here they are all dressed up for Culture Day.

We could share so much more, but it's hard to pack 6 weeks of experiences into one blog post! One more thing to mention though...it was also great to have the opportunity to get to know our new co-workers, Chris and Nicole Steenhof. Somehow we didn't get a photo of them---we'll have to make up for that once they join us in Lae in a few months' time, DV! We do look forward to them coming.