Life in PNG begins

Life in PNG is going to be much different.  I have found myself spending many hours in prayer and listening.  The reality of where we are hit us this weekend.  Starting off with Nikki heading to the store to purchase groceries for our family.  She returned home having spent $350 and able to fit them all in about two bags.  After my stupid response "what did you buy" and looking around it hit me we aren't in Nebraska anymore.  Yes, the days of Wal Mart and $.96  brown sugar is gone, now it looks more like a fire cracker stand at $16.00 for brown sugar.
Then that evening we were informed of some of the violent wars going on around the Highlands.  With some detailed descriptions I would say fears set in for all of us.  Nikki the girls and I spent the evening talking through what we had learned that day.  I knew it would happen and it is very hard to look at your girls in tears and saying they don't want to live here.  I had to look to God and say Help!  We know this is still where the Lord wants our family, we know this to be true.  But knowing the truth and walking in faith is not the easiest thing to do.  We discussed it and all agreed we would take it day by day and trying to keep our focus on the Lord not the crazy things going on around us.  I know Satan wants us to go home but I know for a fact that there is not a thing he can do to us.  We are in Gods will and His control.  I fell asleep that night thanking God for allowing us to be a part of His Family.
The next day we headed into Goroka to the market.  The girls we excited but soon figured out that the market is not a lot of fun.  Very muddy and dirty with lots of people staring at the 6 white people out of 2000.  Yet we walked through and purchased our goods and proceeded to Brian Bell where we can purchase our home appliances.  Dang! Yes let me say that again Dang it is expensive here.  We are looking at spending $1700 for a washing machine, $75 for a toaster, $800 for a microwave. ( Gulp.. ya maybe we won't be needing a microwave).  Then we headed back to Lapilo for the afternoon.  The girls had some friends come get them and they were gone for the rest of the day.  As their father it feels good to see them able to take off and relax with some new friends.  We discussed the days events that evening and again faced with hard times.  But we were able to spend time with some friends the Moritz in prayer.  It is amazing what comfort God gives us through prayer.  We are blessed to be here with the Moritz family and the Tallman family.  They both have been wonderful and encouraging.
Today we loaded up and went to ITF which is where we will be working.  Our co workers the Doerksons picked us up this morning.  When we arrived we toured the property and our future home.  I think the girls were please with where they will be living.  We then headed up into the nearest village where we spent the remainder of the day.  It was our first time up as a family and God opened our eyes to why we were here.  There was a woman who had passed away on Sunday and her funeral was today.  We wondered around from location to location talking with the family members and just sitting with them.  They were all preparing "mu mus" which is a ground earth steamed meal.  As we walked we came to the location they would be burring the woman.  Men were digging the hole just outside a hut.  They said that the womans family is in one location and the husbands family at another.  When the time came they would meet together and bury the woman and then they would all share the feast together.  I can't explain the feelings I had as I was so interested into why they were doing the things they did but then realizing the fate of this woman.  She was not a believer.  My girls experienced the whole thing with us.  When we returned home I asked what that they were thinking and how they were dealing with it.  Brooke replied "dad I know why we are here now".
I write these things not to worry anyone but to be real and transparent.  We have had times of fear and question.  But God has proven Himself faithful time and time again.  He has showed us in a short time the world we now live in.  He has also showed us why He wants us hear and  reminded me that the price His son paid was greater than that we face.  God is truly awesome and we are so blessed to be walking with HIM in PNG.
Please pray for the Bena people and that they might be willing to hear the Truth.