Greetings from Papua New Guinea, 

Today has been a very exciting day. We started out by going to a neighboring bush village. The bush village is a place that has very little electricity (usually only one light per household), and there is no running water. Almost every house was made out of grass and wood, and the women and children washed the laundry in the creek. This way of living was more of what I was expecting in PNG, and it was really amazing to see the people in their homes, instead of in town or market. While we were walking through the village, children came from nowhere and followed us everywhere. They wanted us to take their picture and video tape them. Some of them gave jewelry Lisette and Bethany (the Bennett’s daughter), while others threw a rugby ball around with me and Mark. It was an experience that I will never forget.

In the afternoon we went back to the Bible college and had a game day with the students and some of the community members. It was so much fun. Nathan, Mark, and I played volleyball almost the entire afternoon with some of the guys. Lisette and Meg played soccer and Frisbee with the younger kids. It was so great to be able to meet them on an equal playing field, no one was in charge, and we were all there just having fun and fellowshipping with each other. Later in the afternoon I realized while playing volleyball that I was the only girl still playing. It was a little awkward because this society is so male dominated, but at the same time very exciting. I felt like they were letting me in, and respecting me a little more. We all had a lot of fun, and some of us got a little sunburned…okay just me. J I feel that God really blessed this time.

Tonight we met at the Bennett’s house to play games and have fun. When we got there we were introduced to two other missionary couples that are also working in PNG. One is from the US, and the other couple is from Australia. It was really interesting to hear them talk about their ministries, and just realize that not all missionaries come from the U.S. It was a really good time to just relax and have fun on a Saturday night. Well, I will stop typing because it is 11:15pm our time and this is the latest I have stayed up since we’ve been here, and I am really tired. I hope all of you are doing well. And we are all doing really well here, and we’re all still healthy.

Tomorrow we will be going into another village and attending a local church there. There is a possibility of us talking a little bit there, but we won’t know until we get there. We are all really exciting about experiencing a PNG church service. Thank you for your prayers. 

God Bless, 

Stephanie and the Team 

 This picture was taken outside of a typical PNG Highlands house.  Eight people (4 of them adults) live inside this small building.