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.

Our Journey Back to PNG...So Far

An Early Morning Swim in the Waves at Waikiki, Hawaii!

Aaaahhh, I love to sleep on the beach!

A beautiful spot near a canal in Waikiki. 

Catching some zzzzz's on our way to Sydney!

Victoria Park, Sydney.
A different type of flying...more fun!!??

A group of loved ones met us at the airport in Perth and brought us
to our little cottage here in Bedfordale with the Geurts family.
It's a great spot!

Caleb, on one of the big 'toys' with 'Uncle' Mark!

Together again...cooking Saturday morning Breakfast.
It was so good to see our old friends again when they came up from Albany for a weekend.

Proud fathers...Dong Woo, Ian and Hendrik!

Kings Park, Perth.
Our kids had great fun with Avery and George.

Back at the ranch...and on the tramp with Luke!

Our boy has learned to smile!

Our first school presentation in Kelmscott.
We've been really thankful for all the encouragement and support at our presentations.
Ian's presented to 4 churches so far, and we have another school one this week.

Karlyn, presenting a friend at the school with a PNG bilum.

We miss you so much, our families and friends in Canada and Holland!
But we are so thankful for the way God is blessing us and encouraging us here.

He is good...all the time!

Canada..3 months all rolled into 1 blog

We are down to our last 12 hours or so in Canada before we move on again. In many ways, it's hard to believe that our time here is once again drawing to a close. What a time it's been! We're so thankful to the Lord for everything! Especially for blessing the arrival of our new son, but also for all the reconnecting with loved ones! We will miss you all!

Tomorrow we fly to Honolulu, and after a couple night's rest, on to Sydney, and then eventually to Perth area where we'll spend the next 6 weeks or so. So even though it's hard to say goodbye, and the pain is definitely there, it is time for us as a family to move on and get one step closer to being home again in PNG. 

With not much time left and still packing to do, here's a bunch of photos from our months in Canada--in no particular order! 

The Wildeboer Family at Thanksgiving

One of our last mornings here, and there's frost! Definitely time to get to warmer temps!

Benjamin...growing so fast. He's been averaging a pound a week so far!

Flashback to the summer...Karlyn with her cabin pack at Campfire! Sprouts Camp.

Caleb and his little friend, Maia.

Our good friends, although they're missing a member of the family!

Fun memories of a weekend of camping with our 33 Wildeboer cousins!

Caleb's 3rd birthday present. See the concentration.
The bike's already on it's way to PNG in a box!

A Thomas cake, of course.

Karlyn on her 6th birthday in August.

Her birthday--at the Science Centre--she couldn't wait for this hair-raising moment!

With neighbour, Roslyn, a great friend.

Time out with Great-Grandma.

Great-Grandma meets Benjamin!

Nana does too!

Papa and the boys.

Gramps spent hours biking with Jono and Caleb.

Baking Gingerbreads with Grandma.

With Auntie Lu, who also held me at my baptism.

Karlyn's birthday cake!

Grandma and one of her many snuggles with Ben.

Our Benjamin, sleeping soundly. Let's hope he does this on our many hours of flying!

There was so much more to our time here, there's no way we can even show it all in photos.
Our hearts are filled up with the wonderful memories and loved ones who support and pray for us.
May our God be with you till we meet again.