Home stretch

We are now in our last week in Papua New Guinea.  Wow!  It has gone fast.  We are excited to be here (friends, serving and helping the missionaries, playing outside) but we are missing home a little, too (our kitties, no ants in our food, storebought bread).  I have said before that heaven for me (Tracie) will be when I can have all my friends and sisters in Christ in one place together. 

Yesterday (Sunday) we worshipped the Lord and His creation at the beach.  We had a lovely time at Malolo.  It is a beautiful black sand beach.  The seas were a little rough but the girls loved it so very much anyway.  Richard stayed out in the ocean with them much of the time and they love it when Dad is with them.  I got some fun video of our time that we will upload when we get to the States. 

Richard is working today on finishing the cabines for the Lockwood family.  They are moving into the Pal language group soon after we leave.  They have been workind for probably 2-3 years in PNG to get there.  They researched the area, visited the people, surveyed the area, built their houses (materials flown in by helicoptor) and are getting ready to make their final move.  Richard has built their kitchen cabinets and they look great.  His is finishing the doors today.  Kim, the wife, came and looked at them on Friday and really liked them.  A woman and her kitchen are the same whether in Frisco or Pal...it's always nice to have pretty cabinets.

We met as a group yesterday to fellowship together.  Richard gave the message which was a challenge from Romans 14.  He spoke of the importance of working to edify the body at all times.  It is a pro active thing, not just something that happens. 

Monday duties call...Love to all...

Quite a message

We downloaded our pastor's message from last Sunday and had church under the house today.  We started in the yard then went to the house location after the rain came.  We were listening to a very good message about Psalm 90 and how it relates to our lives.  Pastor Bruce was asking the question:  What will we do with our lives this new year or even further down the road.  Near the conclusion we felt a little rumble that got stronger and stronger.  We all looked at each other for a few seconds and when the rumbling continued, Richard ordered us to get out from under the house.  We scattered and stood there till it stopped.  Now it all probably lasted less than 15 seconds but it sure seemed like a lifetime.  We all came back together feeling a little scared except for Mary who thought it was fun. 

Here is a link to the website that keeps track of the quakes.  http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/Quakes/pt10003000.php
It was a 5.9 which was the biggest I've ever felt.  We did have a smaller one last week but it was over more quickly and I was upstairs when it happened so I didn't really see the house moving.

Love to all...Tracie