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!

Camping in the Boise National Forest

Just over a week ago we went for our first camping trip as a family of four. We borrowed a trailer (and an SUV to pull it) and drove two hours north to a camping site surrounded by big pine trees and near Payette River. It was a fun change of pace from our usual life and I really enjoyed the beauty of the woods and water. 

Some of my favorite moments included:

Zoe waking up on Saturday morning...

Z: My hands are cold!

Daniel and I laughed because this may be the first time she has had cold hands (having spent most of her life in Indonesia).

Z: Cold hands are funny! (and she joined in the laughter.)

Watching Zoe explore the river (with Daniel close at hand to help her get up when she fell down).

Sitting and talking with Daniel at the campfire for a couple of hours after the girls had gone to sleep.

I am so grateful for the fun time that we had...and we all want to go camping again! (At least Daniel, Zoe and I do...I can't really speak for Ariella on this one.)

Have you gone camping this summer? What did you enjoy the most about it?

Beach Day at Pulau Ahe

Today our family, along with 24 friends, went to a little island near Nabire called Ahe. It took us 20 minutes in the car and then 40 minutes on a boat to get there. It was so beautiful! Daniel tried out the fishing spear that I got him for Christmas and speared and cooked 3 (small) fish. I spent most of my time keeping Zoe from drowning and nursing Ariella...but I also got to go snorkeling and saw a lion fish and the wing of an airplane from World War II. Zoe loves swimming and said she would float home in her little floatie (why is she so completely unafraid of the water?). Ariella went "swimming" for her first time.

Here are some photos so that you can enjoy the beauty of the beach with us:

Transition and Adventure

In 5 days it will be one year since I arrived in Indonesia. One year since I left family, friends, snow, sugar houses, and a language and culture that made sense to me and moved to the other side of the world.

eating french toast and pancakes at a sugar shack in Deerfield, MA one year ago

recent photo with Zoe

In just a few weeks (okay, about 6) I will finish language school and be done living in the town of Salatiga on the island of Java, Indonesia. Daniel, Zoe, and I will be serving with Mission Aviation Fellowship on the island of Papua. To be honest, part of me does not want to leave. Why not? Because I really like it here! This place, that almost a year ago was strange, new, and hot has become familiar and temperate. I am able to speak and understand enough of the Indonesian language to start to make friends with local people. There are so many people--both Indonesians and ex-pats--who I will dearly miss!

Also there is the thought "we've learned how to live here and soon it will all change" that keeps coming to my mind unbidden. I have been lying awake at night thinking about Transitions.

Upcoming Transitions:
I will finish language school April 13th.
On April 14th we will leave here and start our 5-flight journey back to the US for a mini-furlough. The purpose of this time is for Daniel to finish some training that was snowed out in December 2010 and for us to get to see family, friends, and supporters.
While in the US we plan to be in the New England area, Ohio, and Idaho. I hope Zoe travels well!
In late June we are flying from Idaho to Papua, Indonesia (via lots of cities of course).
Then we plan to live in Sentani, Papua for 6 months to 1 year for more training.
After that we will move somewhere else in Papua, but we don't know where yet.

I think the hardest thing for me is that I do not even know where I will eventually live. It is hard to plan for an unknown future.

But really, does any person know what will happen in the future?

I want to change my perspective and look at my Transitions as an Adventure. Instead of worrying about the many transitions and how my baby will adjust I can be thankful to be on a great adventure with my husband and baby and with my Trustworthy God.

"...And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Mt. 28:20b)