Berpiknik

Hi there!

It's been a long time since I've written anything here, but what better day to start back up than my 35th birthday?

I have been back in Indonesia for almost a month now, after nearly 2 years in the US. My family is living in the new-to-us city of Wamena, in the highlands of central Papua. Today my husband and friends Karin and Doug planned a picnic to celebrate my birthday. I was excited to see more of the beautiful region where we are living!

First we planned to drive to the hydro plant...but the road was newly washed out.

Look, a pig!

Then we headed towards the yellow bridge near the big washout area. On the way we saw the place in the river where CMA missionaries first landed a float plane in this region in 1954. The people living nearby are proud to be close to the place where the Gospel first entered this region. Some churches hold Easter services here, and this area is open to people who want to picnic. But we thought it might be hard to keep the girls out of the river (and very dangerous if they went into it!!).

We were not able to get to the yellow bridge because that road was filled with mud. We tried walking there, but it got too squishy. The girls enjoyed walking in the mud and rocks.

Then we backtracked a bit to an area with a very fun (and well-maintained) foot bridge. We walked over the bridge and down a path.

Here are the 3 little pigs!

I like the steps to get over the pig-fences.

Here is a little garden.

We walked back over the bridge and had our picnic in a pondok--a wooden structure with a floor and a roof. Karin packed lots of yummy food for us!

Afterwards the girls played in the grass nearby.

Everything is new to me here, and there is so much beauty...I like the wooden fences and the traditional huts (honai), flowers, people walking everywhere, mountains in every direction. Flying around here is amazingly beautiful too! I will share photos of that another time!

This afternoon I also had a surprise birthday party at my neighbors' house. I am grateful for so many people who care about me! Transitions are hard, and my emotions are mixed. I am very grateful to be here in Wamena, though, I'm grateful for the friends to miss who live elsewhere and for the friends for me and for my family here. I am grateful for my God who is always with me, wherever I am. And look at this--I have lived another year! It will be interesting to see what this year will bring!