What is in the Belim? The ladies carry their babies in the baby belim.
The baby sleeps and likes the ride. You see the women carrying all their items in a belim - vegetables, fruit, coolers, whatever is needing to be taken from one place to the next.
Sunday we drove to Tun with Jonathan and Dr. Erin. Jonathan is the chief of police who is taking care of the project security. We drove through beautiful country and saw lots of beautiful gardens.
At one point we crossed a river and then the road turned to a trail. We attended church with Jonathan and his family - Agnus, Morine, Darlene, and Sarah. We were to go on a hike up the mountain to the waterfalls but the weather didn’t permit us to go. We will plan on going at another time. We enjoyed attending church with the Pastor Samuel, Jonathan, and the local people.
Michael has played a few times on the basketball court with the doctors. He said that it is good exercise but he sure isn’t a bolt of lightening like in the younger days. I took pictures one day just so there is proof that he can still handle a basketball. It isn’t all work and no play. 
Friends, Family and Prayer Warriors,
Well it has been a wonderful week with the construction sites here in Kudjip!
We are real excited with the progress this week with the materials arriving, meetings with the contractor and support staff. Progress at this point, we finished pouring the last of the slabs on the floors yesterday! Yea, all of the flat work is complete.
At this time we are excited that most all of the walls on the buildings are complete 6 course’s high. The one exception is the Maternity ward this was the last slab and so Monday we will finish the block to the 6 courses. Three buildings are 80% complete on the core fill. We will be completing these buildings with core fill Monday or Tuesday. We will also be core filling one of the wards which we have built scaffolding getting ready for the next 6 courses of block.
The exciting news is Monday we will be starting a 10 minute devotion on site! Praise the Lord. Baru Dyire the NHM Secretary and I had been talking earlier in the week about that we need to start a bible study or devotion on site earlier in the week. On Thursday I was headed home for lunch and so I thought I would just stop by the project to see what was going on. It was an easy day in the job because of materials coming and not being on site yet. As I was let in the locked entrance gate I saw some men sitting around talking as usual over on the lumber. Some men were working scattered through the project. Then one of the men came up to me and asked that I would sit down and learn some Tok Pisen with them. You see they know I am learning and they like to help. Or at least that is what I think; maybe they like to laugh at me. Well I have not had much conversation with this man and so my first thought was no I think I am hungry. But at that time a second man arrived asking for me to come. Well maybe for a minute I said.
We then were sitting on the lumber and they began to ask of the American soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq. I told them a little of what I know, then they asked about the twin towers that were destroyed in New York. "Were they being built again?" From what I knew they were not going to build the same buildings but some new ones would be built. Then they got onto the terrorists’ that blow people up and asked what I knew. Well about all I said was that they need God.
From there we started talking about the men on site and what was there relationship with God? Why is it that we sometimes have to deal with sin and why we do not show God in all our lives at all times? Well talking in and out of Tok Pisen I ask them if we show Christ in our lives every minute of the day? Then one of the tribe’s men talked of how America was the world super power and they have "One Nation under God" on the coins in America. I then used that quickly to give the illustration that when we come together as Christians that we become one voice and a voice we need to use to show and tell all people the love of God and help our brother. Asking them, when was it you last helped another tribe? If we are brothers then why do you not help him? Or do you? Then went on to illustrate that Diane and I came here to help our fellow brother, then pointed at all of them. You our brothers is Christ that is why we come here working for no pay, but to do Gods work. This Hospital is a place that we help people to find Christ and save their souls for God.
Well I could keep going but I will stop there. At the end of the conversation I noticed 2 hours had passed and that the 25 to 30 that were there became 50 to 60. Realizing that I did not see them come and where from, but they were there when I looked around. This was all God this day I did not plan or want to when asked too. But I thank God for the opportunity to talk to the men and witness to them. I then asked if they would like a short devotional before work in the mornings. The response was overwhelming and with a good voice of "Yes" they then asked why does the Hospital do it and we do not? Well I had no good answer. Well we will start Monday I told them and they were real happy to hear me say that. So pray for God’s word to be heard and souls be saved.
Thanks again for your support and prayers,
Michael
Diane and I had the opportunity to go to the bible college to spend the day with Marvin & Patty Thrasher. We arrived in the morning and attended the church service at the college. It was a fun service to be in with lots of singing and testimony’s. One of the pastors of the college then preached. Diane and I had a hard time following him but we are getting better with or pigeon. 
After the service Patty told us she had a harder time also he was not being real clear. After the service we had a good time visiting with students from the college.
We then went to the Thrashers to have a good time eating lunch and getting to know Marvin and Patty. We were able to get out and take a walk around the campus in the afternoon. The campus is very well maintained and beautiful. Lots for flowers and greenery. While we were on a walk we met two pastors outside there homes. Marvin then introduced us from Alaska, then they told us that there homes were built by Alaska Work & Witness teams. There are 3 house’s and 1 bath/shower facility. They did not know what year they came but everybody seem to think that it was early 70’s. 
On February 2nd, Mike went to a Sing Sing (Celebration) in Ming. Just north of the Kudjip Station.There were dignitaries that came to speak to the tribes of Ming. I was able to take some pictures of people at the celebration. Apparently from what I was told is that the politicians give money for the celebration when coming. This pays for the expense. (Left click on picture to enlarge)
Lots of people came to see the celabration. Kids and adults!
The MK School kids are biking on the station every Tuesday. Uncle Mike took a picture of us on the way by his office. The kids love to fly around the corners and over the speed bumps. They leave Aunt Diane in the dust most of the time but will wait at the end for her to catch up. The rocky road does not encourage speed. Bike riding is a great way for outdoor activity. Erin does PE on Thursday - soccer, basketball, football, dodge ball.
Today is Teacher Shopping Day! I am off to Mt. Hagan for the once a month grocery shopping. There will be 6 plus the watchman going in the vehicle - Jeff, Erin, Nimi, Becky, Kristen, and myself. Today, we will run lots of errands and get all the items that we have been writing down on the list for the last month. The day will end by going to the open market for vegetables and fruits before coming home.
Sunday was a sad day in Mt. Hagan. Two tribes got into a terrible fight and several lives were taken. Monday all the stores and banks were closed. Tuesday they reopened most of the stores and business was back to normal. There are policemen on all the corners in town. Today, we will have to be very observant and stay together.
