Red Number Days

Yesterday at 4AM the prayer call was not only louder but longer. So you lay in bed and wait for the call the be finished and wonder if this is the new alarm system you will have to adjust too. BUT, it is the ascension day of Mohamed so prayer times were more important and shops were closed.
It is a red number day for the Indonesians. Also for us, Scott and I have been married 5 years yesterday as well. For celebration we went to a Indonesian wedding reception in Abepura. We arrived at 6:30 PM, 15 minuted late, we did not start the reception until about 7:30. Even for the missionaries who have been here a long time, being on time is a hard habit to break. It would have been nice to be able to talk to each other but the music was so loud I had to keep telling Nick not to plug his ears.

I want to put some pictured on the computer but the cord that helps me do that is in our luggage which is somewhere between Jakarta and here. Scott and Nick have been living out of their hand luggage for almost a week now. Mijo and I brought our suitcases through so we were under limit but were also promised that the rest of our barang ( stuff) would arrive the next day....as you can see it has not been the case.

Scott has been given the green light to drive. This is good because we now have more mobility, scary because it is all so different. I am supposed to learn, somehow it is not on my priority list. We want to get a motor bike, that would be fun. You have to realize that the roads are small, there are no fast rules, everyone thinks they have the right of way, motor bikes assume you can always see them even if they don't look at on-coming traffic, there are no passing lanes, traffic signals or shoulders. I might just be a passenger for awhile.

We have orientation this week for school..we start on the 20th and go straight through with no breaks until Christmas...but then we also have 4 weeks for Christmas break. This gives the High schoolers here at boarding school a longer time with their families.

I am sure we will have quite a few red number days here in Papua, and not only because it is on the calender. I will be sure to let you know....

Arriving at Gate......

We have arrived...non-eventful everything. I have been reminded again and again how little I need to worry. It is a daunting flight and amazing in its length. We left on Saturday morning at 1:30 AM from San Fran and arrived here in Papua at 7:30 Am Tuesday morning. We have slept and woken up at strange hours. We went shopping yesterday for essentials...here in Indonesia you work in the Millions. 1 million rupiahs is about 100 dollars, there are a lot of zeros to deal with when you are looking at the price.
We live at the school, it is beautiful...the fans are going all the time, it is also a bit on the warm side. The cicaks (small lizard) make a wonderful clicking noise at night as the cicada's turn on their charm at 5:30PM. The Prayer calls from the Mosque wake us up at 4:30...and revelry from the military post at about 5:30. If we leave our toothbrushes out for too long they will be swarmed by the ants. Well, anything left out too long will be swarmed by ants. I tried to buy from a lady who came to the door our first night here. She laughed when I gave her all out money and gestured for her to take what we owe since I could not figure out what she wanted. She was kind and took only what she needed....I think. :)
It is surreal to be here...in so many ways I have no idea what to think. I am just soaking it in at the moment. Scott is a pro at all of this. He is not liking this adjustment time and wants to just get going with work and helping. He is quite amazing in his adaptability. The kids...are doing GREAT !! Nick has several friends and Mijo is calling the lizards cute.
I will post pictures as soon as I get them on the computer...Just wanted you all to know...we are here !!!!!

Last boarding call...

I never know in the moment if God really cares about lost purses because it is just a lost purse. BUT...what if that purse has all your credit cards and debit cards and it is the day before you are to leave the country for a year. Does He care about that? This is my conversation with Him as we are driving down the highway, I left my purse at the restaurant the night before and had not missed it till the morning after. Please God care for my purse and excuse my forgetfulness. Please, I do not want to pay the consequences of my stupidity...Please, please , please....

The good people at the restaurant had found it and my sister-in-law and niece retrieved it...

I never know in the moment if God really cares about safe airplane rides....Please God, please please please care for this airplane on this day on this journey.

I guess if He cares enough for my purse, maybe he cares about this airplane ride or whatever I or you can think of as we fill in the blank. As my faith is renewed every day in every situation from lost purses, airplane rides to being in Papua for a year, I can know He cares. I know it isn't that everything turns out the way I would want it too, but that in everything He cares.

A few more hours and we are on our way. We have a few things to pack yet but pretty much, we are set to go. I will be praying, I will be hoping for non-eventful everything, I also know God cares.

I will write as soon as I am able...

BTW

I did not mention in the post before where we are all going....Papua, Ache, Lesotho, DRC, Haiti, Equador and more places that I can't remember at this moment.

Threads of Grace

Mijo is upstairs in our apartment giving a voice lesson to a fellow MK. Nick is skate boarding with another MK outside in the 99 degree heat. Scott is running yet another errand on my behalf, trying to make things run smoothly in this temporary household. We have just finished our orientation and waiting to begin our Security training. We are all a bit tired but today as we wrapped up our time together we were amazed at the community God put together here in Nampa in these short two weeks. We are from everywhere, US, Canada, Netherlands, Mexico and the Philippines. We are married with 4 children, 3 children, 2 children, no children. We are single and widowed. The youngest child is coming in September and Conner at 13 is the oldest. Some have been married 30 years, some just a 1.5 years. All of our stories though have an amazing common theme whether we are going to fly airplanes, teach, houseparent, maintenance, do IT or LT, be Mom's and Dad's, we all have come with one purpose, to do right by those we serve and make Jesus' name famous. Every story shared was weaved together with threads of grace. The sadness of some, the joy of others and the fears of all were woven with God's amazing Grace.

5T does not mean 5C

We are learning quite a few things here at orientation. We have been doing personality tests and between Scott and I we have found a a few key things. On a scale of working well or relating well, Scott and work well together but we don't relate well. We should be co-workers but most likely we will have conflict if we are wanting to have a relationship... This session was not that helpful :). Scott says we just need a lot of projects that we are constantly working on so we can get along. It has been good to be here, but it is a bit on the long days and sore bum side of things.
Today we were learning how to cook from scratch. This was fun...Remember that Scott and I work well together...not necessarily relate well. We were making a pie crust, Scott was mixing I was gathering ingredients. I like getting things done, so I kind of glanced at the recipe...Scott would have read it completely. I read 5 cups of water rather then 5 Tablespoons of water. If you have ever made a pie crust...yes...it requires only 5 tablespoons. Anyway...Scott was mixing, and waiting for me to do what he thought I had gained a proficiency...I read 5, I assumed cups. We had to start again from scratch. It was good though, we did good work when Scott read the directions and told me what to do.
Mijo and Nick...they are making friends and were able to play in a puddle made from a fire hydrant. Cheap thrills on a HOT Idaho day. They seem to still like each others company.. this is a good thing. We are looking forward to the weekend. We may even go and see a movie or replace some clothes that were ruined in the drier after a pen exploded.

Behaving Badly!

I am sure none of you can relate, but in the spirit of honesty let me tell you...I behaved quite badly this week. I lost hope, yelled at the kids just because I could, quit several times and simply lost it. BTW...all is done, all animals in loving homes, house is cleaned, classes are done, even our plants have a place to settle....Mind you...this all transpired in its entirety this Friday. OK, back to the story, it is Thursday afternoon and I am stressed OUT!!!!!! A wonderful lady, I am sure, has just told me over the phone that maybe because we don't have all the details taken care of we are really not supposed to go. She used the trump card, God had told her and she felt obligated to let us know this new message from the Almighty. I am weary to the bone, my house is in disarray, my kids are sad, my husband is tying up loose ends, I have a paper to write AND I get a message from God that we are all in the wrong because we can't quite get everything together. Bless her heart, I was in no mood to talk, I should have but I hung up the phone, curled into a small ball and wailed. Scott walks in the room at this time, watches me melt and wonders what for awful has happened. As I wail in desperation, Scott, (wanting to tell me ..NOT the time Heidi for a melt down.. SNAP OUT OF IT ) gently puts his arms around me and lets me drain my stress tank and lets me know its going to be all right. I so wish in times like this I would remember the faithfulness of God. I don't...I hate that about my faith. I know better...I really do !ANYWAY..we are on the way to Idaho. All packed up and somewhat rested. Wanted you all to know inspite of me, God is previous, He already knows, He's already been. Remind me next time !!!!