More pictures from Drew

Pictures from Drew

Pics from Collin (sent while in the Brisbane airport)

 Me in the Kodiak airplane. (Not Matt's plane but a bigger one used by SIL)

 Connor mowing the yard!

Connor crossing the bridge at market.

Seven days and nine fingers left!

Today we have been working on the guest house. It really has come along since we have been here. Our apartment is the only one left that is unfinished. Connor spent the majority of the day working on the ceiling. He is putting up a drop down ceiling using boards cut by the sawmill. Tomorrow it should be finished. While he is doing that, I have been using a router and table saw cutting strips to cover the gaps between the ply board walls. I start by rounding the short side of a 1 by 8 and then ripping it down with the table saw. Well today I had a little "accident". I was ripping on one of the boards and it got into a bind. The board jerked and my thumb went right on the blade. I cut it from from the pad of the thumb all the way over the tip and into the nail. So now it is bandaged up and really throbbing hard! I am having to type out on my iPod with just my pointer finger on my good hand. Mrs. Rachel was working the clinic today so I dropped in for a visit! She cleaned it up and said she would take a look at it tomorrow to see if it looks like we are gonna need stitches. She thinks (and I really hope) that I'm not going to need it. Looks like I've got "7 days and 9 fingers left" on this trip!

Bro. Matt is starting to feel better. Mrs. Lena gave him a antibiotic pack today and he has been on the anti-malaria medicine for a day already. He's still getting the fever and then chills every half hour or so but not nearly as bad. I got to talk with him some this morning while it rained about PNG. He really helped give me an idea about flying cost as well as other major things about living in the jungle.

Well I need to get going. We have church in an hour. Just wanted to give y'all a injury update. Somehow now I have to figure out how to get the blood off the guest house floor...

-Collin

(Don't have a weak stomach? Go look at Collin's thumb here.)

Good bartering, weird gossiping, and wood cutting

The last few days have been interesting to say the least! On Tuesday, Bro. Matt dropped me off in Komako to meet up with preacher Jack and Jason Ottosen. After the slick trek up to Jason's place, I set up my spot on the floor of the cook house and decided to call it a night. I have had a bad cough that has gotten worse over the past few days and it really is hurting my endurance on hiking. Anyway, after I felt a little better, Jason and I walked down to market back on the airstrip. He, like he did with Connor, gave me a few Toiya (1/100th of a kina or a penny) and told me see what I could get with it. I think I did really well! For the equivalent of 15 US cents, I got four bananas and two oranges. I was really excited till I realized that those were gonna last me about five minutes. They were very good and sweet. I guess cause they are grown right here is part of it. Jack got a avocado that was great. All in all, I really liked the PNG food!

While we were at market, we ran into the province leader guy (forgot the official name) who asked Jason how long I planned to stay before I left for Iquiyu. He looked at me strange and then asked him what he was talking about (all this time I am oblivious about what they are saying). Then he told Jason that he had heard that I had come to go to Iquiyu (a 2 hour hike from Komako) as a missionary. Jason then asked me if I wanted to go to Iquiyu and went on to explain everything that was said. Evidently some gossips where just trying to figure out why the new "white guy" was there! It was well circulated, because the next day I was sitting on a pile of logs waiting on Jason to get back from refilling the water cans and an elderly man came over to talk with me. As we talked, he said he was headed to Iquiyu and wanted to know if I was coming. Through broken pigin, I tried to explain that I wasn't going to Iquiyu and that I was just visiting Jason. Evidently he didn't understand me very well because, if I understood him right, he started telling me a story about how that he and one other person over in Iquiyu are the only ones that "believe". He said if I come with him, I could help him by starting a strong church and get more saved. I was really taken back by all this. Who started the rumor of me going to Iquiyu? How did it happen to circulate so quickly? Very strange. As all this was running through my head, the elderly man got up and shook my hand bye and said he was leaving for Iquiyu, but to please come soon. A very strange and sad story. 

On Thursday, Jason and I started out early for the "fica forest". We hiked straight up a interminable mountain to get to where the trees where. For all those wondering why we didn't cut trees a little closer, Komako is part of the beginning of the "grass plains", and he doesn't have enough trees near him. So we walked up the nasty, muddy, slick-as-snot mountain trail and the nationals hauled the sawmill up on poles. I have no clue how they can get that thing up there! They are dissembling it into four sections, but still, it took a helicopter at full weight with it to get it to Komako! Serious team work there! Jason and I went with London (first convert of Komako) and Jack before the guys brought up the sawmill and we started cutting wood. I could not believe that I have been cutting trees and splitting wood for a whole winter and now just when I think I am gonna be getting away from doing it, I find myself on the backside of the planet with a chainsaw in the middle of nowhere hacking down "fica" trees. And that kind of wood is harder than unseasoned red oak to cut!!! It is miserable! It was neat though how God worked. Jason has only worked a chainsaw a few times and Jack was not the best person to work one so I happened to be able to teach Jason how to use one. We had trouble when we first opened it (it is a brand new chainsaw) with the oil not running out. Then we had problems with just keeping it running! Finally, Jason figured it out and we were able to cut for almost 5 hours on Thursday! We wanted to get the area surrounding where the sawmill will be cut so that the nationals won't drop one of these massive trees on it! The locals all threw their comments in (without being requested to) on how to cut or where it was gonna fall. After one or two trees Jason looked at me and just said "what do ya think?" I told him where to cut it and then marked where it was gonna fall. Some of the nationals were convinced it was not gonna go in that direction, but when the tree fell, it was within a arms reach of my guess. After that I became the "official cutting consultant". We really got a lot done in the few hours we worked. All in all we had a profitable few days over in Komako and memories were made that I will not soon forget!

One more quick story before I finish. I mentioned above a man by the name of London. He was the first convert from Komako. He would make the 12 hour hike from Komako to Kotidonga every Sunday for services. At the time, Jack was in the Bible school as a student. When Jack graduated he decided to go to Komako. Jason Ottosen was also praying about Komako when he found out Jack was going to come here and Jason felt like it was confirmation from God. As Jack and Jason made the hikes and flights to Komako, London became a faithful helper and constant friend. He would faithfully witness and invite the locals to church for Jason and was always there for the services. He was so happy to finally be getting a church! But a few months ago, London's wife contracted a strange blister on her cheek that spread rapidly to here whole face. The pressure from the blister actually crushed her eyes in their sockets. She died within a week. News slowly made its way over the mountain to Kotidonga where Jason left immediately for Komako. At the same time, London was coming to Kotidonga to stay. The people from Komako had blamed him for the death of his wife. He was thought to have made her sick by going to Kotidonga for church with the white people. So he decided to leave Komako for good and move to Kotidonga. But Jason met him half way there and when London saw him, he broke down in tears. Jason talked with him for a little while and soon both of them where going to Komako where he has been a faithful witness for Christ and constant friend to Jason. I was truly blessed to get to take the trip out to Komako and will not forget it for quite a while!

Me and London

Pictures from Connor

  A sink and faucet that I helped Andrew put in.

 the ceiling of the bathroom

  All the ceilings had to be dropped down about two inches, so we are putting up strips to nail the ceiling to.

 what a ceiling looks like after we get done with it

The "apartment" where Collin and I are staying. We are both in the last room on the left.

Church

 Pastor Jack preaching.

A couple of the kids from church.

The church singing "I Surrender All"

Pictures from Connor! (Trip to Komako)

 Me eating sugar cane.

 My first true bush meal. Greens, field corn avocado, and kau kau, and taro.

 Marita tubes waiting to be cooked. 

 Jason taking pictures of kids, and showing them what they look like. 

The hut where Jason and I stayed. 

 The trail to the hut.

 Where we get our fresh water.

 Marking the corner posts of the house. 

 Marking the posts between the corner posts.

 The finished "wood shed" that was completed the morning we left. 

Pictures from Collin!

 

Bro. John & Ben in language school which I got to sit in on.

 Welcome to "Allen Town"! 

From left to right: 

Bro. John Allen's home, (behind his) the guesthouse, Bro. Matt's home, (the one with a large porch) the clinic. 

 Pastor James, pastor of Kotidonga baptist church. In the background Mrs. Rachel, Mrs. Becky and the girls duel it out in a vicious game of "Dutch Blitz"

Collin

As you probably have heard we all have finally arrived safe and sound in PNG. Drew made it to the Harrelson's place but still doesn't have his luggage. Connor and I arrived safely here in Kotidonga on Monday and he left with Bro. Jason Ottosen to help build Jason's home on the other side of the river. It is a 12 hour walk to his place but only a 7 minute flight! I have been amazed at just how much time Bro. Matt can save with the plane. I was able to see Connor today when I was flying with Bro. Matt. He looked a little tired but said he felt fine and has been having a good time with Bro. Jason. They had a rat get into their food supply last night and they have plans on catching it tonight. I didn't tell Connor that there are over 50 different kinds of rats here . . . and that some of them weight over 3 pounds! We will be going to pick them up Friday and bring them back to Kotidonga. Connor was a little winded when he got to the airplane (the building is a 30 minute walk from the airstrip) and he said that the trail was still a little wet when he was hurrying down to see us. As he turned around, I could see why! His whole backside was muddy from a fall that must have resembled a water coaster!

Yesterday I wasn't able to fly with Bro. Matt due to extra people showing up that needed a ride so I waited back with the "expert weather man" Ben. Ben is a Bible school student who will be graduating next year in January. He understands English well enough for us to converse. We hit it off good and now he is always coming up and saying "awi" or "kafina" (hello). He has introduced me to several of the Kameans and Kotidongans. (Just as a side note right here, Kanabea is where Bro. Matt keeps his plane and Kotidonga is where they live. He is working on a airstrip closer to his home but till it's finished he will be leaving his plane out at Kanabea.) I really look forward to getting to be better friends with Ben . . . especially if he keeps forecasting good weather!

We are leaving out every morning that we fly between 5:00 and 5:30 so Bro. Matt can preflight the plane before daybreak and be off the ground by first light. It is about a 45 minute ride on a "good" PNG road in a Kawasaki Mule. This was this morning's scenes. 

We had a very good day and Bro. Matt completed 7 legs on flying before we knocked of for the day. One of the airports we landed at was a short runway (only 1100 feet) with a dogleg in it! It was quite the interesting landing strip. 

On the way home from Kanabea airstrip we stopped on a ridge so Bro. Matt could send some SMS and calls to others about logistics of the next few days. While we set there a few kids walked up and after we shook hands I had the opportunity to get a quick picture with them before we headed home. 

We had services tonight that went really good, even though I had no clue what they were hearing. Andrew (one of the TTMK guys) preached. I'll be blunt and say it's different, but it was neat to watch those folks hearing preaching in their own language. I think one of the little guys thinks that I color in my Bible from the different color underlining I have in it! After church we had Mrs. Becky's dad's chili and were gonna get an easy rest of the night off but I guess there is just no telling what is gonna happen over here! 

We were eating and Brother John came in and said that some one had broken his arm. Evidently a boy was chopping wood and slipped, fell, and pinned his arm under his body! Tomorrow he has to make the 2 hour walk to Kamea for some more help but Mrs. Lena and Mrs. Rachel (Andrews wife who is a helper in the clinic) splint it up good enough for the night.

I think tomorrow we are not flying, but rather I may spend the day with Brother John Allen working on tok pigin. It is amazing how much English is intertwined with pigin and how quickly you can begin to "comprehend" it. I would say understand because right after they say it I couldn't repeat it, but I knew what was said. Not in every case of course, but surprising how many times it happens! Well it's been a long day and I need some sleep so Gut nait! 

-Collin

BBQ lamb, weird accents, and 11 hours in the airport

                                                                              

We had our flight canceled last night due to lack of organization on the crews part as well as mechanical failure (which ended up getting fixed). We were put up in a hotel which charged $30 (AUD) so we didn't have away to contact. We were shuttled out of the airport last night before I could send an email out letting all know. We are Lord willing departing at 7:00 this morning. Sorry for any inconvenience.
-Collin

Post title credit goes to Drew. :)

Once they land in Port Moresby, Collin and Connor have to hurry through customs and  exchanging their money into Kina to catch their flight with Matt Allen into Kotidanga.

Please pray that they arrive safely and all goes smoothly. Drew's luggage was lost somewhere between Nashville and Port Moresby, so please pray he gets it before he has to fly out to Mt. Hagen. He has the clothes on his back and the Sperry's on his feet - not much good for hiking! He's also going to have to figure out how to get to Mt. Hagen and the only pidgeon he knows is Bible verses.

Soon, the flying will be over (kind of) and the missionary work will begin!   

Tired in New Zealand

The boys are now on their way from New Zealand to Brisbane, Australia. After the 13 hour flight, we can assume getting on another airplane was not #1 on their list of fun things to do.

After the longest flight they've ever taken, this is all the information we get:

Subject: Hello from kiwi land!

Hey. We made it safe to NZ. We should be in PNG in 9 hours or so weather permitting. It is hazy and foggy here right now though. Here's another picture of the guys. Collin

This was just all they could muster.

It looks like they're beginning to wear down, but they're on the last legs of this journey - just a few more flights until they reach their destination!

L.A.!

  

The three boys from tiny-town, Tennessee labeled L.A. "Hollyweird".

 

Right now they are in the air headed toward New Zealand with several hours left on their flight.