Here is some more information for the big trip, I don’t know if everybody has email, but they can feel free to write me any questions or thoughts they have or if they just want to start getting our email updates about our work in the Patpatar tribe.
Thanks,
Aaron
PJ, Jimmy, Jared, Cheryl, Chuck and Gloria, John and Michelle, and Chad,
Just over a month left until you embark on the adventure of a lifetime. As the countdown gets closer I wanted to give you some more information on what to expect, what to bring, and what you will be doing. Some of this you will already have heard through the meetings or the video and some of it will be new. Thank you in advance to each one of you who have taken the step to be a part of this adventure. Thank you for the sacrifices of family, work, time, and money that each one of you have made to be a part. I believe that each one of the sacrifices will be worth the cost and God will do amazing things through this trip.
Where does it begin? Your airplane trips! From Sioux City, each plane will be getting on will be bigger and nicer and about all you can do is sit back, and try to get some sleep and enjoy your flight. Once in Papua New Guinea you will need file off the plane with everybody else and go through customs. It is there you will have to show your passport and get your visas which should be waiting for you and claim anything from your customs slip (that will be explained to you on the airplane). You will collect your luggage, exchange money if needed and then head out of the room. Welcome to PNG!
You will have to take all of your luggage out of the building and go down the sidewalk to your right. You should have plenty of time, but you will have to keep moving to be sure to get on the plane. Once you get to the Domestic Terminal (the other building) you will have to go in and clear your bags through an x-ray machine and then get in line for the flight you are to be on. After you have gotten your tickets you will have to go to through the doors on the side and through another x-ray machine. Now you are in the waiting room. It is always a good idea to sit towards the front and be ready when they call your flight, because many times they over book and it is first on first to go.
The next landing will be in Hoskins and I will be waiting for you just on the other side of the fence. You will only have a couple of hours of daylight left. So I will show you around a little. You will have supper prepared for you and you can go to bed early if you want.
The next several days you will be going in various directions serving so many of us. You know more about what to expect than I do since you’ve been in correspondence with the conference committee. We will have enough food for you to get through most of your time there. For additional drinks or snacks I believe the store will be open for an hour each afternoon. I will be around and can be your inside man if you need anything. In an earlier email I mentioned carvings and tribal crafts for sale. If they are around they will be sitting outside the store. I (or probably anyone around) can help you barter and translate if you see something you like.
On Sunday we will go back to the Hoskins airport and you will fly to Kokopo (Kokopo is the fastest growing town and one of the nicest towns of PNG. It is across the bay from Rabaul which was destroyed in 1994 by the volcano.). We will check the seas and pick up some produce and last minute things for the next week. If the seas are nice and everything works like we have arranged we will head to the boats. Our boat will be there along with two others. It will be a crowd of us with the Kunzers, the nine on the workteam, myself, and all our stuff. We do have life jackets for everybody and we will take every precaution available. We will not take chances if the seas are rough. If that is the case we will stay at the SIL guesthouse Sunday night and try to leave early Monday morning, since the seas are generally calmer in the morning. It is about a one hour ride to one of the most beautiful islands you will ever see and then another hour to our village, Bom (rhymes with home). (For an alternative possibility of the kind of trip it could be ask PJ about his backside. J) You made it here!
For the next 4 days you will be with us. Some of the projects are listed below. We will be working long days, but will have a great time and you will get to see some incredible things. We are very excited for you to be here and for the opportunity to get to know you. Each evening we will get together to share, pray, sing, and plan the next day. During the day we will be doing many things at once trying to get as many of the projects done as possible. We will also squeeze some walks into the village and the gardens in the jungle. Bring your sense of adventure, your ethic of hard work, and your appetite for spiritual growth. See you soon!
Aaron
What to bring:
Bedding: I don’t know what you are provided or required to bring for conference, but once you get to the tribe we have enough bedding for everybody. We will be short about 4 pillows though (unless you want to use a small throw pillow) so some of you may want to bring a pillow. Our all time low so far has been 71 degrees, so you will only need a sheet to cover up with. We do have mosquito nets available for everybody.
Clothes: One nice but casual outfit for travel. A few lightweight old work clothes that you won’t mind getting wet or ruined. A swimsuit. A poncho. Whatever you want for footwear – we will be dirt work and some hiking. One thing to keep in mind is that if it is raining much you will probably be walking through water, so you may want some flip-flops or sandals (or for walking on the beach or between houses).
Other: Towel and washcloth will be provided for you; You do need to bring Toiletries; Bible; Journal; Pen; Flashlight; Bug Spray (There are fewer mosquitoes and biting bugs here than there are in Iowa, but we recommend bug spray all the time while you are here to help prevent malaria); Sunscreen (we are a lot closer to the equator here so it takes less time to burn; but one bottle can be shared among several); camera (optional).
Important papers: Passport, Visa (should be in your passport); Photo ID; (maybe a picture of your family to show us); some money
Living
Where you will be staying: Cheryl will be staying with Kunzers. The rest of you will be staying at the Luses. Chuck and Gloria and John and Michelle will each have their own room. The rest of the guys will be Avalon and Sierra’s room or else the living room. There is indoor plumbing (a toilet, shower, and sink). The ladies will be able in the shower. Though, Lord willing, we will have enough water (especially since the last work team connected the tank and Kunzers will be by themselves when we leave), for the sake of power and time the guys will probably bathe in the creek (though we can make exceptions).Laundry – Laundry will be done everyday. This should help with you not having to bring so much clothing, however, things are not always dry after one day, so you may want to plan accordingly.
Meals: Breakfast will be at the Luse’s. Lunch and supper will be at Kunzers. Tammy will be in charge of the meals, but will require the help of a couple of you.
Projects:
Kunzers: There are several small jobs in and around the house. The overflow from their water tank needs redirected. The gray water needs redirected. Several window louvers need replaced. Some things need painted. Repair some termite damage and some preventatives added.
Luses: There are several small jobs around and in the house. The gray water needs rerouted to a nearby ditch. There is some termite damage that needs fixed and some preventatives added. There is a floor board that needs replaced. Several window louvers need changed. An oven door needs fixed. Some screens need replaced. The nursery needs set up. And last the house needs boarded up.
Boat: This will be the major project and the biggest priority. We need to put a floor in the boat. Put the consul in. Patch and paint some areas on the outside. And several other smaller details to get it ready for our team to use. We will also be filling some PVC pipes with cement to use as rails to pull the boat up on our beach.
Other: If time permits the stairs on Marbach’s house need repaired.
Prayer Requests:
Good seas: for safety in travel to and from Bom
Little or no rain: Yes, we need rain to have water, but when it rains in the rainforest it really rains. If we get too much it could greatly hamper our work.
Good health: When traveling to different areas, eating different food, drinking different water, stomach problems are common. Pray that everybody will have a smooth transition.
Open hearts: For what God has in store for you and for us.
Good testimonies: Though we have not preached the Gospel to the Patpatar people yet, they are watching us. Some know English, but even those who don’t will be watching you to see what they can learn about the white people and their God.
I am praying for you and your families as you prepare and come on this trip!
