Friday, May 30, 2008
Tornado
I think the first ever tornado has hit Papua. The amount of flurry and activity that has gone on here in the last 3 days and the debris left behind could easily be likened to a tornado. Imagine what it is like in your home when you are getting ready for a trip-or the craziness at graduation with parties and pictures and family flying in-now times that by 16 and you about have it. Garth has been named the official chauffer since he is one of the only people allowed to drive the big bus. So he drove the Senior class to Jayapura one day and the Junior class the next along with shuttling groups to the airport in between. But as of now, Friday night, all the kids are gone except for three. The last three kids will be on the same flight as us tomorrow, so we will all travel together to the airport.
I am thankful that God got us through our first year. We developed good friendships with some of the students here and will miss many of them. They taught us while we taught them.
Our kids are having a hard time falling asleep tonight because of their overwhelming excitement for our trip tomorrow and the thought of seeing family somewhere at the end. What a blessing to be able to come home! We are so full of joy at all that this year has held for us. Can’t wait to show you our pictures and tell you our stories. We will be doing a presentation of our time here on June 8th at 6:00 p.m. at Calvary Community Church in Williams Bay, WI. You are all welcome to come.
Next time I see you it will be live and in person!
I’m not going to be able to sleep tonight either!!!!!!!!
Love,
Rachel
I am thankful that God got us through our first year. We developed good friendships with some of the students here and will miss many of them. They taught us while we taught them.
Our kids are having a hard time falling asleep tonight because of their overwhelming excitement for our trip tomorrow and the thought of seeing family somewhere at the end. What a blessing to be able to come home! We are so full of joy at all that this year has held for us. Can’t wait to show you our pictures and tell you our stories. We will be doing a presentation of our time here on June 8th at 6:00 p.m. at Calvary Community Church in Williams Bay, WI. You are all welcome to come.
Next time I see you it will be live and in person!
I’m not going to be able to sleep tonight either!!!!!!!!
Love,
Rachel
Monday, May 26, 2008
What a load!
This is me about to leave the Pasar. I am loaded up and even have a backpack full on my back.
I am holding: 6 cucumbers
2 kilos of carrots
3 kilos of green beans
2 big cabbages
2 kilos of potatoes
8 packages of tempeh
3 pineapples
25 oranges
2 big bunches of kang kung
1 large papaya
1 watermelon
1 toy gun
1 toy cell phone
1 toy motorcycle
4 hand carved wooden spoons
I bought all of these items for under $30.00
I am holding: 6 cucumbers
2 kilos of carrots
3 kilos of green beans
2 big cabbages
2 kilos of potatoes
8 packages of tempeh
3 pineapples
25 oranges
2 big bunches of kang kung
1 large papaya
1 watermelon
1 toy gun
1 toy cell phone
1 toy motorcycle
4 hand carved wooden spoons
I bought all of these items for under $30.00
Sunday, May 25, 2008
We are not going to Singapore
This is the latest information on Wyatt. We are NOT going to Singapore. The arm looks like it might be fractured (might). The x-ray machines here are not the greatest to start with and then we emailed them so the quality wasn’t too clear. The orthopedic doctor said that he thinks we can wait and get it x-rayed as soon as we get home. The hospital that did the x-rays won’t read the x-rays so the best we could do is to email them. This same injury happened to a little girl here a few weeks ago and they sent the x-rays to this same doctor and he didn’t see the fracture, but the family went to Singapore to check it out and the doctors there x-rayed it and saw a fracture. So…we will keep it wrapped up and wait. Hopefully he won’t be too uncomfortable on the plane sitting so close to people that could easily bump it. Pray that we are making the right decision in waiting. He is still in pain, and isn’t using his arm for anything. The girls are being great helpers for him and we are all taking turns helping him get dressed etc. When Cale wakes up he always wants to know about Wyatt’s arm first thing. It is wonderful that we don’t need to be planning a trip to Singapore right now in the midst of everything else we are doing.
Today was the Baccalaureate service at church. It was excellent. Sometimes those can be boring, but the speaker today did a great job. Then this afternoon we had a dessert celebration for all of the Seniors also. That was yummy. They are all wrapping things up. These are the last 4 days of school – full of finals, packing, and other assorted craziness.
Speaking of craziness, I need to go spend some time with my husband. Ha Ha.
Love you
Rachel
Today was the Baccalaureate service at church. It was excellent. Sometimes those can be boring, but the speaker today did a great job. Then this afternoon we had a dessert celebration for all of the Seniors also. That was yummy. They are all wrapping things up. These are the last 4 days of school – full of finals, packing, and other assorted craziness.
Speaking of craziness, I need to go spend some time with my husband. Ha Ha.
Love you
Rachel
Birthdays are so much fun
We celebrated Sophie's birthday a little earlyso the dorm kids could be a part of it
Saturday
Hi to all!
Garth and Wyatt are at the hospital right now getting x-rays. Then we have to scan them into the computer and email them to an orthopedic doctor in Singapore.
Then wait for him to read them and tell us if we need to fly there or not.
Quite the ordeal for a broken bone.
I will keep you posted.
Love,
Rachel
Garth and Wyatt are at the hospital right now getting x-rays. Then we have to scan them into the computer and email them to an orthopedic doctor in Singapore.
Then wait for him to read them and tell us if we need to fly there or not.
Quite the ordeal for a broken bone.
I will keep you posted.
Love,
Rachel
Wyatt's Arm
I thought I would let you know that Wyatt fell yesterday in the gym and landed funny on his arm. It was out straight and he landed on the palm of his hand so his elbow was kind of jammed up. We took him to the clinic to have it looked at today and we were told that he needs to go and get it x-rayed. It is 2:00 in the afternoon on Friday and the hospital is closed (go figure, that’s Papua!) so we will try and see if we can get the x-ray done at Dian Harapan (that is where Garth had his appendix removed from). There is a chance he will need to go to Singapore to have a cast put on. If it is broken, it is broken on a growth plate and it wouldn’t be able to wait until we get home. So one of us, I guess probably Garth, would go with him and have that done. He is in pain and right now has it in a bandage and a sling. I will keep you posted for sure.
Love you
Rachel
Love you
Rachel
Signing each others yearbooks
Cale pretending that he has glasses
Garth getting measured at a tailors.We wanted to get an Indonesian shirt
made for him. He was like a giant
compared to his lady. She kept saying,
"Besar!" (Big)
Two days and $18 later he has a really nice shirt
A little boy sleeping on his mother's table at the Pasar
These banana trees are at the bottom
of our driveway
Sunday, May 18, 2008
May 18, 2008
Sophie made Cale a hat out of pipe cleaners
Kid's church lesson on the Good Samaritan
We asked the kids to bandage each other up with toilet paper
TJ's birthday party
May 18th, 2008
Just a quick note to say hi. We have had some boiling hot days lately. I am very thankful we have a pool nearby that we can take advantage of. We went on Saturday and Sunday. We have been teaching Emma how to dive. She is really working hard and doing a great job. After about 20 belly flops she got a couple of fantastic dives in. She is getting it, and really wanted to stay and keep working on it. She kept saying , “Just one more, please?” The rest of us relaxed and got cooled off.
My Uncle Russ flew in today. He has some training to do with one of the pilots here so he will be in the area until Friday morning. What a treat! We were able to have him for lunch and this week he will join us for dinner. We also celebrated TJ’s birthday today. He is one of the kids in our dorm and is a lover of frosting. He toyed with the idea of having me just make frosting and skip the cake, but I decided instead to make a cake and give him an extra bowl of frosting on the side. It worked out great.
Last night sitting in our living room having family time Emma says, “Mom, could I have some sunscreen? I think I am getting sunburned.” I said, “Emma, it is 7:30 at night and you are inside under fluorescent lights. There is no way you are getting sunburned right now.”
Garth and I taught Kid’s Church today. The lesson we did was the Good Samaritan from Luke 10:25. We told the Bible story about a Jew that was walking and got attacked and beaten, and all his clothes taken, and money, and then he was left on the side of the road to die. A high up religious leader saw him and walked by unwilling to help. A Levite that worked in the temple walked by without helping. Then a Samaritan came by. Samaritans were hated by the Jews, yet this man stopped to help the hurt man. He took care of his wounds and put him on his donkey and took him to an inn to take care of him for a few days. Then he gave the innkeeper money to continue caring for the man until he came back. The Bible talks about how this Samaritan was a good neighbor to the wounded man, and that we need to go and do the same thing to those around us. After the story, we split the kids up in twos and gave them rolls of toilet paper and let them take turns bandaging up each others’ wounds. It was very cute.
I will post pictures of this on our blog.
Enjoy your day-hopefully it won’t be as hot as ours.
Love,Rachel
My Uncle Russ flew in today. He has some training to do with one of the pilots here so he will be in the area until Friday morning. What a treat! We were able to have him for lunch and this week he will join us for dinner. We also celebrated TJ’s birthday today. He is one of the kids in our dorm and is a lover of frosting. He toyed with the idea of having me just make frosting and skip the cake, but I decided instead to make a cake and give him an extra bowl of frosting on the side. It worked out great.
Last night sitting in our living room having family time Emma says, “Mom, could I have some sunscreen? I think I am getting sunburned.” I said, “Emma, it is 7:30 at night and you are inside under fluorescent lights. There is no way you are getting sunburned right now.”
Garth and I taught Kid’s Church today. The lesson we did was the Good Samaritan from Luke 10:25. We told the Bible story about a Jew that was walking and got attacked and beaten, and all his clothes taken, and money, and then he was left on the side of the road to die. A high up religious leader saw him and walked by unwilling to help. A Levite that worked in the temple walked by without helping. Then a Samaritan came by. Samaritans were hated by the Jews, yet this man stopped to help the hurt man. He took care of his wounds and put him on his donkey and took him to an inn to take care of him for a few days. Then he gave the innkeeper money to continue caring for the man until he came back. The Bible talks about how this Samaritan was a good neighbor to the wounded man, and that we need to go and do the same thing to those around us. After the story, we split the kids up in twos and gave them rolls of toilet paper and let them take turns bandaging up each others’ wounds. It was very cute.
I will post pictures of this on our blog.
Enjoy your day-hopefully it won’t be as hot as ours.
Love,Rachel
Thursday, May 15, 2008
May 15, 2008 - Ground beef is a delicacy?
Today was rainy and dreary so we didn’t go for our usual morning ride on the motorcycle to run errands - just enjoyed hanging out at the house playing with Cale while the other kids were in school, and getting some little things done here. There is so much to do to close up the hostel for the summer. One of the big things is the inventory. We need to write down everything that is left, go to the store and price each item and then figure out the worth of it all. No food can be left in the cabinets because of rodents and pests and the freezers have to be empty, so I am trying to plan out the food so that we can use everything up and not have excess. It will be tricky. Even today ordering chicken…ugh…it is hard to know how much we will eat in the last 15 days, but there are 16 of us, so…hopefully I will guess right. Right now our meat grinder is broken and the meat store’s meat grinder is broken so you can’t get any ground beef. The part we need for our grinder is from the States so I have a feeling it might be broken for awhile. I had sloppy joes on the menu for tomorrow so I need to come up with something else now.
I do have some funny Sophie stories that will make us all forget about the meat problems. Last week I was substituting for Wyatt’s class during a time when Garth was teaching P.E.. Cale was sleeping and Sophie was out of Kindergarten so I told her she could come to the class with me. The class was working on the last of their Math homework so I told Sophie she could draw on the white board at the front of the room. I was walking around helping the students and not paying attention to what Sophie was drawing. Until she says to me, “Mom, how do you spell underwear?” I look up and there, nice and big, across the white board Sophie had drawn a picture of a girl in her underwear. Why? She just thought it would be funny. Anything for a laugh.
Later, Sophie was talking about one of the girls in her class that doesn’t like to talk or pray in front of others, and I said, “Well, maybe she is shy to do that in front of everyone.” Sophie said, “I get nervous sometimes too, but I just imagine that they are my pillows.” I am glad she didn’t say anything about imagining them in their underwear. We don’t need any more pictures of that.
A little while ago, Sophie was drawing a picture of an angel and asked how to spell angel so I told her. She made her g and her e backwards. I know that she knows her letters so I mentioned it to her and said, “Soph, why are you having a hard time with your letters tonight.” She says, “It is because I am ill.” She isn’t, but always comes up with creative excuses quickly.
During our family devotions tonight we were reading about how God is never too busy for us and He always has time to listen and answer our prayers. One of the questions at the end said, “Is there anything that you can’t pray and talk to God about?” Emma says “Nooooooo.” Sophie says, “Yeeeeeeeeeessss.” I said, “Why did you say ‘Yes’, Soph?” “Because we shouldn’t pray and ask God for Satan to not get sick. That is one thing we shouldn’t pray about, Mom.” Other than that, we can talk to Him about anything, in her book. ‘Tis true.
Well, I should go and rethink my menus. We have fish and we are getting chicken, so that is good. Why don’t you go brown some ground beef for tacos, or nachos and think of me, o.k.? YUM. That sounds good. I can’t wait to have American food again.
Love to all-
Rachel
I do have some funny Sophie stories that will make us all forget about the meat problems. Last week I was substituting for Wyatt’s class during a time when Garth was teaching P.E.. Cale was sleeping and Sophie was out of Kindergarten so I told her she could come to the class with me. The class was working on the last of their Math homework so I told Sophie she could draw on the white board at the front of the room. I was walking around helping the students and not paying attention to what Sophie was drawing. Until she says to me, “Mom, how do you spell underwear?” I look up and there, nice and big, across the white board Sophie had drawn a picture of a girl in her underwear. Why? She just thought it would be funny. Anything for a laugh.
Later, Sophie was talking about one of the girls in her class that doesn’t like to talk or pray in front of others, and I said, “Well, maybe she is shy to do that in front of everyone.” Sophie said, “I get nervous sometimes too, but I just imagine that they are my pillows.” I am glad she didn’t say anything about imagining them in their underwear. We don’t need any more pictures of that.
A little while ago, Sophie was drawing a picture of an angel and asked how to spell angel so I told her. She made her g and her e backwards. I know that she knows her letters so I mentioned it to her and said, “Soph, why are you having a hard time with your letters tonight.” She says, “It is because I am ill.” She isn’t, but always comes up with creative excuses quickly.
During our family devotions tonight we were reading about how God is never too busy for us and He always has time to listen and answer our prayers. One of the questions at the end said, “Is there anything that you can’t pray and talk to God about?” Emma says “Nooooooo.” Sophie says, “Yeeeeeeeeeessss.” I said, “Why did you say ‘Yes’, Soph?” “Because we shouldn’t pray and ask God for Satan to not get sick. That is one thing we shouldn’t pray about, Mom.” Other than that, we can talk to Him about anything, in her book. ‘Tis true.
Well, I should go and rethink my menus. We have fish and we are getting chicken, so that is good. Why don’t you go brown some ground beef for tacos, or nachos and think of me, o.k.? YUM. That sounds good. I can’t wait to have American food again.
Love to all-
Rachel
Sunday, May 11, 2008
May 11,2008
Cale having a blast at the MAF playground
Awards night at school
Cale and Sophie at Aneka Mas
Lake Sentani
Sophie sketching the lake
Out with Daddy on a ride
Grilling fish outside
Babysitting for baby Sophie-Cale wantedto keep her
Does you stomach have a heartbeat?
This morning I was sound asleep when Sophie came in and said “Good Morning, Mommy. Can I see your tummy?” I groggily said “Yes.” So she proceeds to place her ear on my stomach. After awhile she sits up with a worried look on her face. “Mommy, I can’t hear it! I can’t hear your stomach beating.” I said , “Sophie, it is not my stomach that has a heartbeat. It is my heart, up here.” So she moved her head up and was instantly relieved. “Oh, good, Mommy. I can hear it now.”
Do you think God cares about sweaters? I do. On Wednesday night, Garth and I were watching a movie and I saw a guy zip up his sweater because he was cold and I thought, “Oh, it would be so nice to feel cold again-to be able to wear a sweater or a sweatshirt.” Well, I went to bed listening to a rainstorm that progressed all night. The storm brought with it a bunch of cool air and I will tell you, during the night I got cold. I woke up in the morning, cold, and actually got to wear a sweatshirt yesterday and long sleeves and jeans today. It has been so refreshing! How nice to feel that again. I don’t know how long it will last but I am enjoying every minute.
As of right now we cannot access our blog. We are in the midst of figuring out why the site has been blocked. Once we get it figured out I will load all of the pictures I have waiting.
I want to wish all of the Mothers a Happy Mother’s Day. Especially mine because without her I wouldn’t be here. My Mom is so much of me or I am so much of her, depending on how you look at it. Every time I make homemade bread I think of her. I loved cutting a thick piece of her warm bread that would have flecks of flax in it and spread it with butter that instantly melts. And her chocolate chip cookies were always the size of a dessert plate and loaded with chocolate chips. I have made hundreds of cookies but hers were always the best. She rubbed some of her loves off on me -I love to rearrange furniture and clean and make lists, and sing silly songs, like: “Rufus, rafus,” “C-H-I-C-K-E-N” and “Your Mommy loves you” all songs she sang to me when I was small. She taught me about priorities, and patience, the importance of laughter, and the godly way to love your husband. She showed me that I should always find the good in situations and not to complain. She lived the example of what I want to be. She showed me how my faith can grow in hard times and that it is ok to do without some comforts, and that home is anywhere that the family is, as long as you are together. And because of her, we still love to be together. We soak each other up. Part of me is missing because I am away from them, but I know that we will always be connected, because she has woven us together with God’s love into this beautiful quilt called family and nothing will ever be able to pull us apart. I am so blessed and thankful. She is a wonderful Mom and an awesome friend.
Happy Mother’s Day, Mom. I will see you in 24 days.
Love you-
Rachel
Do you think God cares about sweaters? I do. On Wednesday night, Garth and I were watching a movie and I saw a guy zip up his sweater because he was cold and I thought, “Oh, it would be so nice to feel cold again-to be able to wear a sweater or a sweatshirt.” Well, I went to bed listening to a rainstorm that progressed all night. The storm brought with it a bunch of cool air and I will tell you, during the night I got cold. I woke up in the morning, cold, and actually got to wear a sweatshirt yesterday and long sleeves and jeans today. It has been so refreshing! How nice to feel that again. I don’t know how long it will last but I am enjoying every minute.
As of right now we cannot access our blog. We are in the midst of figuring out why the site has been blocked. Once we get it figured out I will load all of the pictures I have waiting.
I want to wish all of the Mothers a Happy Mother’s Day. Especially mine because without her I wouldn’t be here. My Mom is so much of me or I am so much of her, depending on how you look at it. Every time I make homemade bread I think of her. I loved cutting a thick piece of her warm bread that would have flecks of flax in it and spread it with butter that instantly melts. And her chocolate chip cookies were always the size of a dessert plate and loaded with chocolate chips. I have made hundreds of cookies but hers were always the best. She rubbed some of her loves off on me -I love to rearrange furniture and clean and make lists, and sing silly songs, like: “Rufus, rafus,” “C-H-I-C-K-E-N” and “Your Mommy loves you” all songs she sang to me when I was small. She taught me about priorities, and patience, the importance of laughter, and the godly way to love your husband. She showed me that I should always find the good in situations and not to complain. She lived the example of what I want to be. She showed me how my faith can grow in hard times and that it is ok to do without some comforts, and that home is anywhere that the family is, as long as you are together. And because of her, we still love to be together. We soak each other up. Part of me is missing because I am away from them, but I know that we will always be connected, because she has woven us together with God’s love into this beautiful quilt called family and nothing will ever be able to pull us apart. I am so blessed and thankful. She is a wonderful Mom and an awesome friend.
Happy Mother’s Day, Mom. I will see you in 24 days.
Love you-
Rachel
Monday, May 5, 2008
Totally useless Information
It’s Monday-so you need something to laugh at. Here goes:
Did you know that a person lost in the woods and starving can obtain nourishment by chewing on their shoes? Leather has enough nutritional value to sustain life for a short time. Talk about polishing off a meal!
Did you know it takes 3,000 cows to supply a single season’s worth of footballs to the NFL?
Did you know that volcanic ash can remain hot for up to 100 years?
Did you know there are 4 places in the United States with the word chicken in their name? Chicken, Alaska-Chicken Bristle in Illinois, and Kentucky- and Chickentown, Pennsylvania.
Did you know that before 1859, baseball umpires were comfortably seated in padded rocking chairs behind home plate?
The average person blinks 25 times a minute.
The back of your hand is called the opisthenar.
And last but not least-
Even if the stomach, the spleen, 80 % of the intestines, one kidney, one lung, and virtually every organ from the pelvic and groin area are removed, the human body can still survive!
Sometimes you just need useless info like this on a Monday. Hope yours is good.
Love ya,
Rachel
Did you know that a person lost in the woods and starving can obtain nourishment by chewing on their shoes? Leather has enough nutritional value to sustain life for a short time. Talk about polishing off a meal!
Did you know it takes 3,000 cows to supply a single season’s worth of footballs to the NFL?
Did you know that volcanic ash can remain hot for up to 100 years?
Did you know there are 4 places in the United States with the word chicken in their name? Chicken, Alaska-Chicken Bristle in Illinois, and Kentucky- and Chickentown, Pennsylvania.
Did you know that before 1859, baseball umpires were comfortably seated in padded rocking chairs behind home plate?
The average person blinks 25 times a minute.
The back of your hand is called the opisthenar.
And last but not least-
Even if the stomach, the spleen, 80 % of the intestines, one kidney, one lung, and virtually every organ from the pelvic and groin area are removed, the human body can still survive!
Sometimes you just need useless info like this on a Monday. Hope yours is good.
Love ya,
Rachel
Friday, May 2, 2008
May 2, 2008
The Elementary students had one week to read 30,000 pages. If they did, the teachers would get drenched. They did it!!!
Our own Hannah Montana
Cale was helping the yard workers trim our bushes
Just alike!
Patience, my Dear!
I got quite the scare the other night. From who you might ask? Let me tell you. I was absolutely exhausted and had fallen into a deep sleep when I heard a little noise. So I half woke up and listened but didn’t hear anything again. Then I felt a presence-like someone was in the room. So I sat up and there at the end of my bed was Emma. Just standing there. And I SCREAMED!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Really screamed. Garth jolts up out of bed, Emma starts crying. I am all freaked out-Garth is trying to figure out what is going on. Emma didn’t know why Mommy was screaming at her-Garth thought she had wet her pants! What an ordeal. Then she couldn’t remember why she was there. We were both worked up and trying to calm down. It took awhile after that for me to fall asleep. Not Garth. He was snoring again in a matter of minutes-of course. Wonder what I would have done if it was a burglar?
Today was so fun. The kids had off of school to celebrate Ascension Day. (Jesus rising back into heaven) So we slept in (a little) and went to the gym to play together, and took a walk, went to the pool, watched Parent Trap…I love days like this. Lazy days together. However, it wasn’t quite as lazy as I thought. Yesterday right before our pembantus left, Poppi told me that they were not coming in tomorrow because of the holiday. So I had to think quick and figure what I could make for everyone out of the food we had. I had been told that all of the stores would be closed and that everyone would be in church. I am always nervous cooking for all 16 of us-I am afraid that I am not making enough food. We had spaghetti, garlic bread, veggies and a salad- and yes, there was enough.
Friends of ours, Jason and Jodi, went to a big store in Abeh the other day to get a few things that you can’t get in stores here. While there were there, they noticed that the check-out line was getting really long. Come to find out, all of the cash registers were out and none of the scanners were working either. The owner ran to the aisle with the calculators and gave them to the cashiers. They began to enter the prices in by hand, however, many of the items had barcodes and not prices, so the workers were taking each item back to the shelf to get the prices. While this was going on, Jason took all of their items back to the shelf and wrote down the price of each so when their turn came they would be prepared. The cashier had checked out all but 3 of their items when the cash registers came back on. So, the cashier, took everything out of the bags and rescanned each item. That is so typical of life here in Papua. As westerners, we are bothered by these type of inconveniences. I was thinking about why that is, and I have decided that it is because we have expectations. The Papuans don’t. We expect to be treated the way we would be in the States. We think we have “rights” as a customer to get served quickly and efficiently. The Papuans only know this way and have nothing to compare it to. Therefore, they expect life to be as they know it to be. I, on the other hand, want to change them and make them more hurried and efficient instead of letting them change me to be more patient and understanding. Yikes! It is like I think my way is right and their way is wrong. What is up with that? With my attitude I might as well just find someone to follow me around with a fan and feed me grapes all day. Anyways, one thing I have heard since before we left was “It is not wrong just because it is different.” And I need to keep remembering that.
Well, it is 9:00 and that is curfew for a school night. Time to lock up and make sure everyone is here.
Love to all-Rachel
Today was so fun. The kids had off of school to celebrate Ascension Day. (Jesus rising back into heaven) So we slept in (a little) and went to the gym to play together, and took a walk, went to the pool, watched Parent Trap…I love days like this. Lazy days together. However, it wasn’t quite as lazy as I thought. Yesterday right before our pembantus left, Poppi told me that they were not coming in tomorrow because of the holiday. So I had to think quick and figure what I could make for everyone out of the food we had. I had been told that all of the stores would be closed and that everyone would be in church. I am always nervous cooking for all 16 of us-I am afraid that I am not making enough food. We had spaghetti, garlic bread, veggies and a salad- and yes, there was enough.
Friends of ours, Jason and Jodi, went to a big store in Abeh the other day to get a few things that you can’t get in stores here. While there were there, they noticed that the check-out line was getting really long. Come to find out, all of the cash registers were out and none of the scanners were working either. The owner ran to the aisle with the calculators and gave them to the cashiers. They began to enter the prices in by hand, however, many of the items had barcodes and not prices, so the workers were taking each item back to the shelf to get the prices. While this was going on, Jason took all of their items back to the shelf and wrote down the price of each so when their turn came they would be prepared. The cashier had checked out all but 3 of their items when the cash registers came back on. So, the cashier, took everything out of the bags and rescanned each item. That is so typical of life here in Papua. As westerners, we are bothered by these type of inconveniences. I was thinking about why that is, and I have decided that it is because we have expectations. The Papuans don’t. We expect to be treated the way we would be in the States. We think we have “rights” as a customer to get served quickly and efficiently. The Papuans only know this way and have nothing to compare it to. Therefore, they expect life to be as they know it to be. I, on the other hand, want to change them and make them more hurried and efficient instead of letting them change me to be more patient and understanding. Yikes! It is like I think my way is right and their way is wrong. What is up with that? With my attitude I might as well just find someone to follow me around with a fan and feed me grapes all day. Anyways, one thing I have heard since before we left was “It is not wrong just because it is different.” And I need to keep remembering that.
Well, it is 9:00 and that is curfew for a school night. Time to lock up and make sure everyone is here.
Love to all-Rachel
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