Pacific Orientation Training and Living in Village Nom

Mara and I praise God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ and thank Him for His grace, which is sufficient; and still, He covers us in daily blessings and His mercies are new every morning. We thank Him for you, our beloved and His and trust He will supply all your need.

Thank you for your prayers, they are a sweet fragrance to our Lord and great encouragement for us.

I am back from the jungle, a feeble, yet joyful 47 kg, currently being de-liced and de-wormed, with malaria still not being out ruled by the doctor. There are many reasons for me to be thankful. The Lord was with me

in the air:

in the water:

on the ground:

I thank the Lord for all He worked in the 8 weeks of cultural immersion, physical conditioning and Tok Pisin learning at Nobnob (Madang area)

I praise the Lord and thank Him for searching our hearts and the hearts of all who heard the Word of Christ in the 5 weeks of village living in Nom, every day, all the day

We remain in prayer that the planted seed will bear a rich harvest onto the name of the Lord and that all blessings abound with all who obey and love the One Who loves us with a perfect and eternal love.

We love and miss you, dear family. May the Lord bless you and all your loved ones, as we keep you in our hearts, thoughts and prayers and abide in Christ’s truth and love.

Rain in Ukarumpa

Further Impressions

Our living conditions are good, despite all the winding muddy paths and roads going up- and downhill Ukrumpa.

There is one store and we have to be creative with our menus. Many times we walk in with thoughts about that week’s meals, but have to adjust to whatever is available at the time…

Here is quick run through of things we had to do in the first couple of (working)days upon our arrival.

-          Inspect living quarters and complete housing inventory forms

-          Complete other housing forms

-          Read meters (electric and gas) and record readings

-          Drop off all paperwork at the housing office

-          Take laptop to CTS (Communication Technical Services) for formatting and setting up with the local network, email address, internet and security settings

-          Open Post office account and get a PO box with key

-          Get a store membership card, grocery shopping

-          Get a tour of the UIS – register Mara and chose adequate courses for 10^th grace honor roll; meet principal; Mara taking test for relevant Math level

-          Visit clinic and get necessary shots, make appointments for check-up and shots which were not available

-          Rest and sleep

So, yes, I am a to-do list writer.  Partially, because I forget things when they aren’t written down and partially because it is very satisfying to see things crossed off the list.

What’s currently on your to-do list?

Ukarumpa - First Impresssions

We have been here for a week now and are a little settled in; we are well, praising the Most High. Our Lord has been and is still watching over us. We arrived last Saturday and were immediately embraced with much love and caring; we even had clothes from generous new friends, until our luggage arrived a couple of days ago.

Mara has started school – she has a full schedule, starting at 7:45 am and going till 3:30 pm with one hour break for lunch.

We marvel, praising God and thanking Him for the sun, for it warms our body, water and house; for the rain, for it is what we drink and wash with; for the grass, which enjoys our eyes and helps clean the abundant mud off our shoes and feet; for the birds, who greet us every morning, before the dark dissipates. The beauty of this place is striking – manifest of God’s glory in His creation – the land, the people; my heart is heavy with the burden I see in their eyes; may the Lord have mercy and reveal His glory to these peoples He has placed so deeply and firmly in our hearts.

Beside the gentle, almost surreal, waking up to the birds’ “speaking” and the weightless fog, swiftly lurking behind the hills, the highlight for me was probably this morning, when I went to a busy market and stopped at each merchant to greet them in my foreign speech and manner. Oh, how big and beautiful their smiles - they light their faces! We must do this again.

Arrival in PNG

Here we are, finally, after two days of travel and losing another in the change of time zone...

Thank you, Lord for your mercy and grace and for your protection.

On Our Way to PNG - (Almost) One day in Manila

When the airline attendant changed the time indicating a delay of over one hour, Mara and I knew we were on a tight schedule (Mara's expression, to make it sound nice!). Basically, we had less then an hour between United Express flight from PDX connecting in Los Angeles to Philipine Airlines. And indeed, the flight was even later than announced...Our flight to Manila was leaving at 10:05 p.m. and we were stuck in LA traffic, in a shuttle moving slow motion toward the international terminal. 9:50 p.m. we arrived at the Philipines Airlines counter, where the manager took us through straight to security. Mara and I thanked God: our Lord was holding the next flight - we knew.

14 hour later, we arrived in Manila, but our luggage did not. Officials, though very kind and helpful, regret that the four baggages will be sent to Port Moresby on Monday - the earliest. By then, Mara and I will already have arrived in Ukarumpa. We trust our Lord; He has carried us through so far. Even if, at this moment, we have clothes to last us for the next three-four days.

In Manila, our adventure continues. Initially, we had not planed to leave the airport, but as you can see - it is very crowded.

Manila International Terminal Departure Entrance

So, we decided to take the local's way to the nearest quarter: Baclaran. First we are riding the bus, then the Jeepney.

waiting for the bus outside the airport

the bus driver was hasting the Jeepney in front of us

Manila traffic at 8 am

Jeepneys - from a WWII model and make

trying to decide which dish looks more delicious

Mara counted 16 of us in this Jeepney :) - the air was already very hot

Finally, giving in to hunger, we ate - Mara decided to have a pork "bbq" skewer with the traditional rice; I could not resist and, as always when travelling, had the locals' favorite.

In case you were wondering "is that fish head" - you were right!; the dish on the left is a stew made with intestine, lungs, kidneys, spline and tripe - yum!

And now, "Mabuhay!" (local greeting), from NAIA, the international terminal in Manila, with the only luggage left with us. We are looking forward to share more in the next few days.

As always, with love from us to all of you. The Lord bless you!

Martha or Mary: Learning to wait on the Lord

I had forgotten how overwhelmingly satiating the fullness of green is in the Northwest. Beautiful and refreshing, calling out to be explored. The Lord also grants us good weather - it is warm and bright and we are grateful for anwered prayers.


Mara and I are back; from the Valley to the Mountains, the Lord is with us. We were received with much love and great interest; so much so, that we had every day filled with sharing, prayer, serving and fellowship. In our busy days we became like Martha and slipped into the worries of tomorrows. The Lord gently stills our storms and quitens us with His love. We learn to be Martha and Mary, in one and in harmony, being poured out, yet seeking rest at the feet of our Lord. He strengthens us and upholds us by His victorious right hand; He leads us beside still waters; He restores our souls, for His name’s sake.


May we see His glory!


We are at 92% of our financial support; at 95% we can buy our air plane tickets to Papua New Guinea. We thank for all who give sacrificially and pray for joyful givers to make monthly commitments by the end of this month.


It sometimes seems futile and discouraging, time is short and we are experiencing physical exhaustion.
But we know that nothing is impossible with God and that is the place we belong - at His feet, bringing all our petitions, with thanksgiving before the One who can do far and beyond what we can ask or imagine.


If you feel moved to plug in, please click here

Partner with us and see God's Word taken to PNG through Literacy

http://www.wycliffe.org/Partnership.aspx?mid=BF6B4B



The Lord's Timing

The Lord makes everything beautiful in its time. Ecclesiastes 3:11 is quoted often by believers and unbelievers, alike. The Word of the Lord came to me recently and I meditated upon it. My heart was stirred to seek beyond and I remembered the context: the God-given task. The Word of God tells us that He, the Maker of heaven and earth, who made us in His image, has put eternity in our hearts.
  "What profit has the worker from that in which he labors? I have seen the God-given task with which the sons of men are to be occupied. He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts,"
and it goes on:
   "except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end." Amazing, isn't it. No one can know the work that God does from beginning to end - only God. He is Sovereign - my God; and Almighty and Holy is He. My God; the One Who knows the beginning from end, Who knows me by name and numbered all hairs of my head. He, Who knew me before I was formed in my mother's womb and has a plan and a purpose for me - He is my God and my Lord, and there is no other. Indeed, He makes everything beautiful in its time. Now is the time, for you and I, to take the God-task seriously. Let's not only talk eternity, but do it! For "what profit has a worker from that in which he labors?" (Ecclesiastes 3:10). We are to be "occupied" with the God-given task. Let us make His glory known to all the earth. This is not only a God-given task, it is a God-task, immense; and with God all things are possible. Or else, Jesus would not have given us the taks to go and make disciples of all nations. (Matthew 28:19-20)

It is not an option. Christ made it simple: He said "Go". And this is for everybody. It is a task for everybody who is in Christ. It is not at random that you are reading this. We can find numerous excuses for not going: age, health, economic crisis and financial hardship, children and family. The Lord knew all we could come up with and warned in advance: "everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life." Could that be you? Could this be your time?

I know it is for me. It is my time to go. Will you pray for Mara and I? Will you be a joyful giver so we can go? Will you send us? Will you go?

Please read more in our May newsletter by clicking here

March Newsletter

Time lapsed from the last visit here...It is not because there was nothing to write about, speak about, add. It is because there is so much to write about, to say, to do, still.
Please click to read the March 2011 Newsletter




Rejoing in Heaven and on Earth - Sarbatoare in cer si pe pamant

"I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent." Luke 15:7

Botezul mamicii mele:

Haleluia!