LIFE GOT BUSY!

Life got busy and so did we! You may have not heard from us in awhile but we are still alive!  Last month many things occurred all within a few days to a few weeks of each other so now I am trying to catch up on things I pushed off.  In the month of May our generator was showing signs it might be on it's last leg, then the day came when it finally died.  We use this generator for many things, all of our houses are powered by it.  Our fridges, lights, water all work when the generator runs but when it turns off we switch to battery banks, which each home has here.  Our battery banks are not new, the generator when it is running will charge the battery banks so they will work at night for lights, fridge, etc. So, as you might have figured when the generator died, the lights, electricity died as well.  Water was also on limited use for us until we figured out what we would do.  While the guys were working on a plan I was dealing with a whole different issue with the Lord.  During this time I found a lump in my breast and became overwhelmed with emotions on top of the emotions of not knowing how we would live without the generator.  I had to rely on God in a way I never had before.  I couldn't understand what was happening but came to the realization I don't need to. I gave God my life and know that whatever he Allows I can rest in that.  Also during this time, one morning Travis was moving our German Shepherd from one fenced in area to another and he let him walk back without having a leash on him, well he saw our kitten on the front porch and he took off after it and killed it.  I thought at this point I couldn't take anymore excitement but there was more on the way!!!!  A few days went by and I noticed water backing up in the sink and shower and the toilet was acting funny.  That night when Sierra went to take a shower black stuff came up the drain.  Travis said he would take a look at it in the morning thinking it was a clogged drain.  The next morning as I got the kids ready and off to school, Travis went up into the village and I was home getting in some alone time with God.  I went back and used the toilet, as I left the bathroom I heard a gushing of water flowing from that direction.  There was such a force I cannot compare it to anything other than an explosion in the toilet.  Within seconds water and .... yes that stuff filled our bathroom floor, and was flowing into our bedroom.  Luckily I was able to get most of the stuff picked up off the floor and grab my phone to call Travis.  He got home and the work began all morning, day, night.  We worked on this septic issue for the next week trying to figure out what was going on. Finally we found the clog and pulled out what looked like a shirt that had been flushed down the toilet!!!!  Not from us, but apparently someone who lived there before us at some point had flushed a shirt?..... This was not the only solution to the problem, there was a pipe that needed to be moved and the septic pumped.  We had a few guys helping Travis pump it while he dug a huge pit in our back yard to bury it in.  It is now June and we believe the septic issue is solved, the generator was taken to Lae and is fixed until our new one arrives.  The doctor did and ultrasound on me and all indications show the lump to be cystic and it has since gone away, and one of my village friends gave me a kitten from her cats litter.  Life has not been dull here in PNG but I am thankful for all the opportunities God has given us to Trust Him and to Know Him!

Pics of Life in PNG

Puppy kisses for Sierra

Brooke is holding one of the new German Shepherd puppies for ITF

This is the HUGE rat Travis killed in our bedroom!

Going to town

My friends and I heading into town

Travis with Pastor Jeremiah.  Check out the Husker shirt!!!!

Bread and Butter

Recently our mission store was all out of bread orders and butter.  For the first time I panicked over bread and butter.  I thought of all the recipes that required bread and butter and my mind got the better of me. I am beginning to realize that things are not as simple over here as in the states.  I appreciate Wal-Mart being open 24hrs a day and the freedom to just hop in my car and go when I need to.  God is teaching me a lot about dependence on Him and not on self (I can't say that I have enjoyed it much).  With Travis and I being in full swing on language learning, I also feel like I am in full swing learning how to cook and when to wash clothes as well.  I have enjoyed spending time in the village and getting to meet our neighbors.  Last night we heard a lot of music that was coming from the village.  This morning Travis and I walked up there and found out they were having a Crusade/Revival and so we stopped and sat with them for awhile.  To my surprise I found that I could understand a lot of what the man was teaching and really enjoyed being there.  I wanted to say thanks for all your prayers as we continue to work on our language and a new culture.  We are in our home now at Interface and are getting more settled but still waiting for our container to be released.  We are anxiously awaiting God's timing on this as we wait.  We would also ask you to pray for a few of our supporters who we heard are having health issues as well as a few family members.  It is hard to be away when we hear bad news but trust the Lord that nothing goes past His knowing and His plans are always to prosper us not to harm us.  I am attaching some pics of what the Rays have been up to, so enjoy and know that we love and miss you all!

 

Nikki helping in the garden

    My friend Shara and I learning how to turn the rope for making bilums

     Kids crossing the river on a gumi

    Aute our language helper making fishing poles

     Sierra with her new friend Annie

    Brooke

    Sierra getting a push from her dad

    Hannah, Sierra, Savannah, Brooke sitting in the village up from us

    Qwela with her son Jodi

    Friends from the village, the gal holding the pig is Lucy

    Lucy and Nikki

    Jodi carrying my bilum

                       Sierra jumping off the waterfall

                      Nikki jumping off the waterfall

                       Nikki after the jump!

                       Brooke jumping off the waterfall

    Our orientation class crossing the river

                              Cute baby!

    Language helper Aute showing us how to start fire with no matches

                             Aute helping Travis

    Nikki learning how to make a bilum

    Travis and the guys learning how to make baskets

Lotu (Church)

Today we went to a nearby Pisin Church.  As we walked up the hill we could hear voices singing out loud.  As we approached the Church, ladies came to greet us and shook our hands and I even got a kiss on the cheek.   They were so happy we had come to visit their Church.  They told us that they were having Sunday School at that moment and the kids could go inside and sing.  We all walked in and it was so beautiful.  I could actually understand some of the words they were singing and all the kids were so happy to sing as loud as they could!  We sat in the back and listened and then joined in on some of the songs we could understand.  One of the songs I loved the most went something like this: "Jesus is the winner side, winner side, winner side, I want to be on the winner side, Hosannna Jesus is the only way, the Bikpela God bilong me."   Pastor Jeremiah is a believer but the Church is small.  There were only 4 ladies and the rest children attending his church.  Please be in prayer that the men of these women would start attending as well as other men in the village.  Today he taught on John chapter 3 where Jesus tells Nicodemus he has to be born again to enter the Kingdom of God.  He talked about the wind and how we do not know where it comes from but we know it's there. He also talked about how a snake sheds its skin and has new skin and related it to being born again by leaving the old ways and following God. After church I met a lady named Susan who told us that we need to come visit on Saturday and she will teach us more Pisin and we can work in her garden and she will teach us.  As they walked us home we stopped at Pastor Jeremiah's garden and he gave us two pumpkins which we call squash in the states.  I have to say this was a very enjoyable time for all of us and we look forward to more opportunities to spend time with them.

Waterfall Hike

Yesterday, a group of about 20 of us went on a hike to go cliff jumping off a waterfall.  It was a beautiful day for a hike. We started out at around 12ish and before you know it the sun felt like it was cooking my neck and arms.  I cannot tell you how beautiful the view was all around me.  The mountains were so lush and green and everywhere you looked it was beautiful!  Every now and then you would see a tribal home tucked away between some hills or high on the top of a mountain.  We walked and walked and it seemed like we were never going to get there but 2 hours later we arrived at the waterfalls.  It was amazing to see this beauty so far away and yet some of the natives living out there walk this everyday to come to work at our center.  It really did give me a new appreciation for how hard their lives are carrying loads and walking everywhere without the luxury of cars.  I know words cannot express what we saw so I am going to attach some pics for you all to see!