A supply flight
It was an average, quiet Thursday evening last week and we had just put the kids to bed and were finally sitting down to unwind. We began hearing some people shouting. That was followed by some loud waling and more shouting. It seemed far off at first and then the noise came closer. Our house is located right on the airstrip so at times we’re in the center of everything. After a few minutes there were many people in all different directions shouting and crying. I was a little tense and wondered what was going on. Usually when the sun goes down things are pretty quiet and people are in their huts cooking and sitting close to a fire. Later that night we found out that a girl had died after we sent her out by plane to a nearby city to seek medical help. The people had gotten word by radio. The death was not only unexpected, but was linked to many other things. Many people were upset and rioting, ruining houses and other’s property. We didn’t get much sleep that night. Jason had his bush knife by the bed and our contingency plans were running through our heads. We had to rest in the Sovereignty of God. But that was not a normal evening for our family in Toboland.
We’re realizing ‘normal’ really varies these days. Since we’ve moved into Tobo we’ve experienced some very strong earthquakes, heavy wind, a fly “plague”, and some extremely sunny weather. Our partners have told us over and over that this is not NORMAL for Tobo! However, since we’ve built our house and settled in, began schedules & daily routines it’s nice to finally have a ‘normal’ life. Even Kadynn can predict what can happen on certain days, which she has never been able to do in the past. Jason is in full time language study (40 hours a week), I’m teaching Kadynn Kindergarten and trying to learn a little language as well. We have market on Tuesdays, believer’s meetings on Thursdays, team meetings Thursday nights, ladies meetings on Saturdays, church with our partners on Sunday mornings, men’s meetings Sunday nights… things at last seem pretty normal to us and our kids.
Here are some other things that have become ‘normal’ to our family:
Grocery shopping by e-mail- we send a detailed list of the food and everything else we need to someone out in town and they fill our order. Our monthly flight delivers it right to us!
Bed bugs- What a horrible thing to consider normal, but we just can’t seem to get rid of them since moving into Tobo!
Hanging Laundry- Well, we never did this back in the States…but life without a dryer isn’t so bad, at least we have an automatic washing machine!
Skirts only please- Yup, that’s my wardrobe these days.
What’d you say?- The kids will have to pick up on the language if they want to communicate with their new Tobo friends. Until Jason & I learn the language, we have NO CLUE what’s going on!
Airstrip Dates- Just putting a new movie on for the kids and taking a few laps together on the airstrip- but NO holding hands- it’s against the rules around here!
Playing Dr. Mom- And believe me, I have no training or experience in the medical field, but I am getting pretty good at Band-aids. Thankfully there is a village doctor (not a witch doctor) who has knowledge especially in the medical realm of things that happen around here. Otherwise emergencies have to wait for a flight in the morning, supposing there are clear skies.
Pizza Hut Night- If we lived in a hut we might actually be able to say that (our house is a little nicer)… but Friday nights are looked forward to around here and my homemade pizzas have improved dramatically since moving overseas, however they still don’t measure up to the pan pizzas at Pizza Hut.
Mud stained clothes- The kids have their outside clothes and their inside clothes. Believe me, you can tell the difference.
Flight days- It’s as much excitement as we can stand on that one day a month when the plane comes to deliver our groceries & mail. We wear our “inside” clothes & clean the house in case the pilot needs to use the bathroom.
Cucumber time! - Our kid’s favorite snack went from Care Bear fruit snacks to cucumbers.
“Sorry kids, not enough power”- a phrase we repeat at least 3 times a day when the kids want to leave their lights on or watch movies. We only have solar power here in the tribe. It’s funny to hear the kids ask if there is enough power before they turn lights on.
Warm Winters- Although this isn’t quite normal yet in our minds, it’s something we’ll have to accept as normal. As northerners, we’re used to frigid winter months and unfortunately those same months happen to be the warmest ones here in Tobo.
No refrigerator- We decided we’d rather use what little power we have for other things. We have a freezer and the nights are cold enough to keep our leftovers good until the next day.
An audience at all times- I don’t know if we’ll ever get used to this as being normal, but we are stared at from sun up til sun down as long as we’re outside, and if we have the windows open wide enough.
E-mail through radio & no internet- We have good reception from about 12-4PM and those are the times when we can send & receive e-mail through our High Frequency radio. Unfortunately, we don’t have internet out here.
Well, I hope this gives you an idea of what normal means for us, living among the Tobo people of Papua New Guinea. Thanks for praying for our family and for covering us for those ‘abnormal’ events like the one described above and for those that are sure to happen in the future.
Speaking of normal… it has definitely become normal for us to trust the Lord with our finances. I said normal… not easy!! We cannot just take extra hours at work to help increase our income, we just have to trust the Lord to move in the hearts of those who are aware of our needs. He has been continuing to use you to provide for our needs. We have 83% of our house building & setup expenses paid off! Thank you!
Thinking of and missing you all, along with all the things that would be considered normal in the States!!
Your Hands & Feet,
Jason, Nisae, Kadynn, Judah & Eden
Give yourself a big pat on the back if you go back and count how many times I used the word “normal” in this update and come up with the answer of 17!! And for ideas of some USA “normal” things we would love to get in packages, visit our Package Ideas page!!
