Merry Christmas to all our Friends and Family!
We know we are not Home for Christmas (in New England or the Maritimes) because Christmas in Papua New Guinea means:
Amazing luscious green view of God’s creation from our porch (above)!
Beautiful wild poinsettias
Lots of cold rainy nights (cold meaning 55 degrees F/ 13 degrees C)
Celebrating with co-workers from USA, Canada and Germany
Listening to Christmas music while sweating
Doing all our Christmas shopping on the internet for family at home
Enjoying Christmas lights until 8:30 pm because our batteries are too low
Talking to family via Skype on Christmas day, which is actually Christmas Eve at home
Wondering if we will get stuck in the mud on the way to the Christmas concert
Praying for a cold rainy day on Christmas so we can enjoy a fire in our woodstove
We are enjoying a relaxing Christmas season this year because we aren’t gearing up for a January program. This year we aren’t hosting a January Interface program because of our lack of staff and time needed for curriculum development. We need time to gear up for a summer packed with our highest student numbers in years, we pray! 🙂
We enjoy Christmas in Papua New Guinea because it is a slower pace… without the Christmas rush we can think on and enjoy the wonder and amazement of all that God has done for us starting with the birth of Jesus!
A funny cultural thing happened this Christmas. The word merry in pidgin means woman and one of the Bena believers jokingly told us that he wasn’t going to have a merry Christmas this year. He was tired of Christmas always belonging to woman so he was going to have a man Christmas this year, not a merry one. So now, whenever he sees us he wishes us a “man Christmas.”
We just wanted to share a few praise and prayer requests with ya’ll. And let you know that we have just updated our blogspot… www.kukmerinakamdaman.blogspot.com. Check out the latest pictures … Jacob’s creation, Relaxing in Madang, The arrival of Cement!!, Decorating for Christmas, Christmas parties and Christmas Village tournament!
Praises!
– Ray Family and Peachy Family headed here to join our staff in January 20th!
– The Ray family has their work permits, visa and 84% of their support raised! They will fly January 15th!
– Relaxing time to enjoy the celebration of the birth of our Savior!
– Jonny, Marco and Diemo, our German Interns, a huge help with everything that needs to be done!
– Great team of co-workers!
– A very relaxing time in Madang region, on the coast!
– The Bena church is meeting every Sunday and Wed mornings now!!
– God’s faithfulness and perfect plan for His children! God’s provision for our needs moment by moment. God’s amazing blessings!
– Wonderful friends and family who are always praying and supporting us!
Prayer:
– That God would grow us closer together and closer to Him each day.
– Interface students at home, that God would continue to grow them closer to Him as they reflect on all God has taught them.
-Janie Miles, co-worker, back in the USA for her home assignment. Pray that she has an encouraging and restful time at home.
-Scholl family as they adjust to life with four children and process paperwork for Levi to return to PNG with them in Feb!
-Marco, Jonathan and Diemo continually adjusting to life at Interface, learning English, North American culture and PNG culture!!
-Peachy family as they go through the paperwork for visas and work permits to come to PNG.
-Anna, short term volunteer, who would like to be an assistant cook while we are Home next year.
-Staff unity as we continue to learn how to work together as a team.
– Jacob, as he and Pete, continue to work together in the workshop organizing work projects and overseeing the Interns.
– Continued peace among the villages.
– Provision for tickets as we head home in August 2012
– Provision for a car during our time at home, August 2012 – April 2013
– Provision for an apartment while home in MA, USA – November 2012 – March 2013.
– Rich and Dawn Foster and family as they at home on home assignment and adjusting to life. The Bena believers to continue to walk with God while the Fosters are away.
– God would enable us to live for Him moment by moment by doing ALL things through Him and nothing at all in own strength.
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