Congrats to Mike and Laura on their coming mission trip to Africa.

You will have a wonderful time working with the people and building relationships.  May God give you the desires of your heart.

Alan and Linsey volunteers here for 2 months.

What a wonderful day serving the Lord!!!

Mike preached and God spoke through him.  We serve such an amazing God.  We are blessed to be serving the people of Papua New Guinea.

Everyday we see God working in his people.

John has devotions with his family every night and plays the guitar.  He said that there were 15 members that participate in the devotions each evening.  This is so exciting to see a change in their lives.

Friday, I decide to go get the supplies needed for the Volunteer House for Mike. Mike gives me the list of materials, I grab my market bag, Pastor Robert rides along as security and one maintenance worker. Ruben says to me as I pick up the maintenance dyno that the emergency brake was left on does not work. I say OK and off we go.

Well by the time we got to town, we stopped at the market and I see and hear steam coming out from underneath the cab. It smells like hot brakes. By the time I got back to the truck there was no more hot brake smell. I decide to pay attention and see it occurs again while in town. I call Ruben to inform him of what happened he says I will check it when you get back. OK!

We go to Mitre Hardware and pick up supplies which take over two hours. It is amazing at how you have to be patient and wait. There is not hurry. We went to three different hardware stores looking for stain. No luck. Mike is going to have to order it from Lae. In the mean time I have had to call Mike and clarify that I am getting the correct materials because everything looks different and has a different name. I think he turned his cell phone off for awhile. (Later find out he did because he was in a meeting with Stanley about the new hospital materials.)

Off to B&M Electrical to pick up the circuit breakers for the Volunteer House. Phillip informs me that the warehouse closes at lunch so we wait an hour for the complete list of needed breakers. I take the men to lunch at the bakery – meat pies, cookies, and soda. After lunch we get our breakers and head back to Kudjip.

Of course you can’t just go flying down the road, you have to slow down for all the potholes and watch for the people along side the road. As we get to the last new bridge being built, I have to stop. As I stop the truck dies, oil light comes on, and glow plug coil is blinking. I get out of the truck and hear boiling water. I decide immediately that I am not turning the truck back on. I call Ruben and Mike telling them the situation. Ruben said he was on his way with the mechanic.

Pastor Robert, the maintenance man and I visit with all the people along side the road. Watch all the traffic go by and wave at the people. Of course I am the only white skin person but I never felt afraid. After 45 minutes I call Ruben asking where he was. He and Mike were just leaving the station so we waited for about 15 minutes before they arrive. They open out the bonnet and see that the radiator cap is lose. It looks like oil is on the fan belt. I am not happy and feeling very bad that I hadn’t made a better decision in town to explore the smell further. Mike and Ruben attach the rope to the truck and we head down the road to Kudjip. As we pull into the station, I am thanking God for protection and watching over us.

Today, Ruben and and mechanic put water in the radiator and were checking out the engine. I haven’t heard the outcome.

One week ago today the Puyallup Team arrived in Mt. Hagen with suitcases in hand. They had a tour of the hospital and station to get oriented and acquainted to the area. Yesterday, the team poured cement for the 12×12 storage/water pump room. The everyone worked hard to get the pour done from shoveling the boxes full of sand and cement to hauling the cement in wheelbarrows. According to Kayla everyone was in bed by 8:30 PM last night.

Mark, Bob, and Jeff D. with nationals helping are doing the block work inside the house. The ceiling is also done for the ceiling board. Tim has been running the backhoe and Jeff has been driving the truck for loads of sand from Water Conny. Rachel, Ashley, and Kayla have been busy painting the wall boards with prime. Everyone is going a good job and staying busy.

We are preparing for the next two teams arrival – Puyallup and Ridgecrest. Puyallup arrives July 18th with 17 team members. Ridgecrest arrives July 30th with 14 team members. Mike is ordering the final supplies for each team while they are here. Diane and Lena have processed 10 chickens for each team and cleaned the kitchens throughly. Diane has baked bread and cinnamon rolls for the first two to three days that the team arrives. This helps them have some food to eat before that first shopping day in town. Judy and the house marys are cleaning the houses, making beds, and doing the yard work. A lot of work goes into being ready for the teams to come.

We are excited to have the teams arrive. They will continue work on the volunteer house. Puyallup has an electrician on their team so Mike plans on having the entire house wired by the time the team leaves. Puyallup will also be pouring cement and framing the additional storage room. They will also help dry in the house – meaning it can be locked up. Ridgecreat has a plumber on their team so all the plumbing done while they are here. Ridgecrest will start putting up the plywood wall siding inside the house. There is lots to do to get a house built and ready for use.

Each team will also be working along side PNG men. These PNG men are also volunteering and giving of their time. The work site is a great place for building relationships between cultures.

We are so thankful for the teams who come, give of their time and resources. The teams are an encouragement and are so helpful in getting the support buildings constructed for the hospital. Mike has received word from other confirmed teams who will be coming in December, January, February, and March. God is providing! Our goal is to have a Work and Witness Team once a month to complete the hospital support buildings.

Mike worked with the maintenance crew on Friday getting new lumber and materials for building a mobile scaffold system that attaches to the front bucket of the backhoe. Saturday found the station without electricity while Mike and the maintenance crew repaired an electrical cross brace on one of the electrical poles. Friday, Mike and the maintenance crew constructed a high rise platform for the men to work on while repairing the electrical pole cross brace. All of the electrical pole cross braces on station need to be replaced because the wood is rotted – one pole at a time. Mike is enjoying working with the men and helping them learn how to think through the steps of completion on a project. Mike is patient and takes his time. The men like Mike.

The platform is attached to the backhoe front bucket and then raised into position by the pole. The men used a ladder to go up to the platform.

Mike invited the Hospital Construction men for kaikia Wednesday night. The 12 men who came live in a flat down the road while they are here building the hospital. This men come from Goroka, Port Morseby, Lae, Manus Island. Along side this men are the local village men who also help with the hospital construction. Pastor Taima, the first district superintendent for the Nazarene Church in PNG, joined us for the evening.

Diane prepared spaghetti, vegetable and fruit trays, cabbage salad, and banana cake. After eating we played games. The men really enjoyed the games.

July 4th was a busy day for Diane and Mike. We had Diane’s birthday party at the house. We invited our PNG family to help celebrate the 4th of July and Diane’s birthday. Diane baked her birthday cake a couple days before the big event. The day of the celebration found Diane in the kitchen preparing sloppy Joes, vegetables and fruit trays, and cabbage salad. Everyone arrived at 5:30 PM for the meal and evening of fun. Mike demonstrated how to make a sloppy Joe. It was the first time for everyone.

After eating and visiting we played games. This was also a first time for everyone to play group games. Everyone was laughing and having a great time. In fact our PNG friends are ready for another game night and fun.