Well, it seems quite some time has
passed since I last sat down to write a post here! Between turning 6
and finishing up the last couple months of Kindergarten, learning how
to walk, taking a turn leading our monthly English church service on
station, figuring out where our next overseas term should be, playing
de facto photographer for various events and family photo shoots,
diagnosing and treating about 40 patients every day, and planning our
family vacation next month, we've all been keeping busy!
Anna's Strawberry Shortcake birthday party in May
With her 6th birthday came some new privileges (like reading instead of nap time and getting to watch certain movies), and also the added responsibility of helping me with laundry. Although it does make my heart twist just a little seeing her out there doing her chores like a big kid...!
A couple months ago, I was able to attend a church opening where Suzanna, one of the ladies who helps me in the house, is pastor. To reach the church, we drove one of the land cruisers over this section of road, half of which washed down the mountain some time ago and was replaced by a quasi-bridge of tree trunks:
The church was brightly decorated to celebrate its inaugural service, and several members of the congregation performed some special music.
Myself with Suzanna after the service
Once a month, many ex-pats from the various missions organisations in this part of the country gather at Kudjip for 'English Lotu', or 'worship in English'. June was our month to lead this service, and after Mark led worship I spoke on Hope.
Our little helper collecting the offering
At the beginning of this year, I
started teaching clinic outpatients once a week on three different
topics – diabetes, asthma/ COPD, and chronic reflux disease. Staff
at the hospital requested an additional nurse to be hired on to
remedy the deficit in patient education, but the request was turned
down for budgetary reasons. So myself and another missionary wife
(also an RN) have begun volunteering weekly, she with inpatients and
I am working with outpatients from the clinic. I love getting to spend time
with patients each Friday morning, and I'm thankful to be able to
leave the kids in their Aunt Kathy's very capable hands!
One of my asthmatic patients, a lady who remembers the construction of the original Kudjip hospital buildings over 50 years ago!
Additionally, I have started
communicating with our travel agent about our flights home in the
fall – which is difficult for me to believe even as I write it!
We're looking at getting back to Tulsa either October or November,
which means we're here in PNG for a maximum of 5 more months. It also
means I'm finding myself in that place of reflecting on the
bittersweet nature of our calling … but that is a blog post for
another day!
This roly-poly little lady has finally found her feet, and enjoys toddling all over the house trying to keep up with her big brother and sister. Which is, of course, an impossible mission ... but she sure does look cute while she tries!
