Author: Chris and Maggie Hostetter

I woke up this morning to find two different beetles (one is now in the bug cage) and a praying mantis on our porch.  Micah stepped on one of these beetles a week ago, and while they don’t bite, its claw-like little feet latched onto his foot and he did a nice little scream and […]

11 October, 2011 I was always taught that the “honeymoon” period of cross-cultural experiences lasts a month or two. It does not. It lasts exactly 7 days. Today I entered the “contemplating divorce” period. No, it wasn’t that bad. But I did feel very overwhelmed and really wished that I could run to Walmart because […]

A PNG man left a book at our house and so yesterday morning Maggie and I gathered up all our kids and went for a walk to his house to return the book.  Niki was not home but his brother and sister were.  We stayed and talked for a while; us in English and a […]

Today is our 5th full day here and it already seems as if we’ve been here weeks.  Sleep has steadily improved through the week as our bodies are adjusting to a whole new world.  We’ve entered a beautiful new world and are learning to make it home.  All around us are new things, foods, bugs, […]

Plane 1 MN-LA We arrived at Minneapolis Airport shortly after 9 in the morning.  We loaded our 10, yes 10, suitcases onto a cart and our carry-ons onto our backs.  We had zero free hands until Maggie smartly decided to strap Maisie’s car seat into the stroller and then strap Bailey into that.  This contraption […]

God is good and we have many blessings to share with you, soon.  I haven’t been able to get on the internet other than paying to use a kiosk (like I am now).  So, this will be brief but we will give you all the details of our journey as soon as we are able.  […]

We’re completely out of our apartment and packed.  Tomorrow morning at 8:30 we’ll be loading up 10 suitcases and 4 bright eyed and bushy-tailed kids to go to the airport.  We’re tired (“To bed early!” I say.) but excited and ready.  I can’t tell you how thankful we are for your prayers and what a […]

We leave Thursday, September 29th for Papua New Guinea.  We’d appreciate your prayers as we travel and settle in to our new home.  We’ll be flying from Minneapolis to LA, and then from there to Sydney, Australia.  If all goes well we’ll have two days to rest and enjoy Syndey before flying onto Port Moresby, […]

Its been a busy time of preparing to go overseas.  Last week we packed up most of the house and then I took all our stuff to Springfield, Missouri to get shipped to Papua New Guinea.  I borrowed the brilliant Bristols’ Durango to pull my fabulous father’s trailer and had a smooth1500 miles of driving.  […]

Maggie and I have work permits!  Yay!  What does that mean?  It means we’re on the last step before buying plane tickets.  Now that we have work permits we can send our passports to the embassy in D.C. and have visas stamped in them.  When our passports are back in our hands we can purchase […]