Coffee makers?

I do not consider myself an "avid" coffee drinker but when I came to this country and tea was offered I realized how coffee addicted I actually was. Quit pretending Amanda, you're addicted.



While attending POC training for 14 weeks we had "Tea Time" at 10:00am and 3:00pm in addition to the normally scheduled meals. After a few weeks I noticed I was getting either tea or coffee four times a day! I know, this may not seem like that much to those of you who have coffee cups strewn about in your house, microwave, and counters on a regular basis each day, but for a person who claims to be different...this was a shocker for me! I had to make changes. I decided I would only have it during one tea time, that was the plan. WELL...then we had weekends where we had to learn to cook "bush style" over the fire. This was fine, I decided I could certainly go a WEEKEND without coffee, my two roommates could so why couldn't I. This decision was made BEFORE the weekend began. By the first Sunday...I needed something so started roaming around to see who would be a "Good Samaritan" and help a gal out! I wandered over to the two single guy's "haus kuk" (outdoor kitchen) and found that, though they did not make much to eat they did have a coffee plunger. Tyler generously shared his coffee with me each morning of our many "haus kuk" weekends. Thank you Tyler! For encouraging my additions? Maybe...or just making me a happier person to be around!


During the week we had coffee made in a regular coffee maker, but once we got the village things became a little more complicated. With no electricity and no coffee plunger (it belonged to the guys) we settled for instant coffee. I know, but what could you do?! I actually began to enjoy the instant coffee! In PNG they have something called Nescafe 3-in-1 (coffee, creamer, and sugar). This kept me going. Of course when my village partner pulled out the instant VIA singles we had a "Starbucks Moment". We drank our coffee (water boiled over the fire), closed our eyes and pretended we were listening to classical music! You do what you can!



When I arrived in Ukarumpa I thought, "Surely I will have my own coffee maker!", but this depends on whose house you are renting/staying in and whether they want to leave one for you to use. I live in group housing so this is not provided. I have to admit I began to go through "coffee withdrawal". We live in a country that is KNOWN for their coffee (though nothing will ever beat Colombian coffee!) I need a coffee maker. My roommate Joy pulled out the coffee maker. "This is how it works" she explained. "First you put water in the bottom part, then you fill the small metal strainer with coffee grounds. Then you take the top part and connect it to the bottom part, put it on the gas stove and wait for the water to boil up through the grounds and fill up the top section."

Yeah! I was not a fan....but now, I think it's pretty neat! This is what I do when I am home but for the most part I hope that the coffee maker is on at school, to fulfill my coffee cravings!



So, when you are sitting in the drive through waiting on your coffee and you start to get upset that it's taking "too long"...think of this blog, be glad you are not boiling your water over the fire, and take a sip for me! :)

Blasted Mosquito Nets!!

I am NOT a fan of Mosquito nets... though I respect the purpose of them.

How many times can a person get tangled up in the thing before they go CRAZY!

Pros and Cons of mosquito nets:

Pros:

- The obvious, they keep mosquitoes from having a midnight snack...of you!

- They give you a "sleeping boundary"
- They allow you to sleep well at night when spending the night in a strange village

Cons:

- I often found myself "forgetting" I was under one when I had to make a late night trip to the toilet, finding myself in a big mess! Amanda does not wake up easily.
- You have to find a place to hang it, from the bamboo woven wall, from some old rusty nail, on a chair...whatever works!

- You have to "arrange your bed" if you travel a lot so that the net can go up before the mosquitoes go in or come out. Putting up a net in the dark, is NOT fun!

- You must make sure it's tucked under the bedding ALL around the bed, otherwise...it's ineffective.

- Even WITH a mosquito net you can still get pooped on from other creatures climbing on the walls (once woke up to a HUGE gecko just staring at me. I told him, "If you stay their and I stay here, we won't have a problem tonight." he didn't move, so neither did I!), hear the little devils flying around the net at night, may get bit if you lay against the net or leave a corner open!

Thus is why I entitled this...blasted mosquito nets!

Goodbye and off to the Future

The last day of school...the final goodbyes...the roller coaster of emotions.
Today I witnessed this in Kindergarten and Grade 12.
Do you remember these times?
The scene holds the same feel. Moms and dads with tears in theirs eyes either from how far their child has come, how much heartache the child has brought, or uncertainty of the child's future. Teachers stand proud some with tears, many exhausted and ready to disappear before they start again, amazement at how far they have come, and all praising God for His help through out the year. The kids themselves are excited, nervous to be on stage and about what lies ahead, and possibly thinking about the after party ;)

But here in Ukarumpa, a few more elements are added to this picture. Unlike America where most children move to a new school or go off to college and see their school friends over breaks, our goodbye is more final. It doesn't have to be...in fact we encourage students to keep in touch with each other (which is easier now with Digicel phones, skype, Internet, text, etc) however, DISTANCE separates us. Each class is sprinkled with individuals from countries all around the world and when these kids graduate they return to these, as we call them "passport", countries which makes the goodbye even more difficult. Papua New Guinea, Ukarumpa, has become their home. The kids in their class...have become their family. And though the future may be wrapped in excitement it also brings uncertainty and more change.

As I hugged my Kindergarten students goodbye today I wondered what would become of them. Many of them have big changes coming up. Just this week three of them leave the country or province while many have to say goodbye to friends leaving for a few months to a year. Will they come back or go finish? Will they adjust well to the change they are about to have? Will they continue to do well in school? Do they understand what is happening?

This is the life of a missionary kid. Don't get me wrong, it is a great life, but it can be trying. I loved being a missionary kid! I loved mud sliding, running around barefoot, riding horses and motorcycles, swimming in the winter, and building forts in the jungle. We are exposed to a special kind of community. We are given opportunities to learn new languages, cultures, our worldview is widened, and are flexible.There are many wonderful things about being a missionary and a missionary kid but goodbyes...are not a party.

Tonight I sat and listened to one of the teachers stand up to give the Benediction. He stood their and looked at the graduates and said, "What can I say that I haven't said already?" It was obvious that this teacher loved his students. He reminded me again of why I am here. I am PASSIONATE about sharing God's love with these children, I am PASSIONATE about caring for, leading, and instructing them in the way of the Lord. In this community you are an important part of the lives of these children. When we send them on, wither from Kindergarten or 12th Grade we can only pray that we did our best to reflect Christ.

At the end they sang "I will Follow" by Chris Tomlin. Amen!

Oh the Power of Rain

As I sit on my couch under my blanket sipping my Good Earth tea I can hear the rain falling outside. Rain can bring about so many feelings and can affect a variety of things in this country, I thought I would share a few.

If I am sitting in my cozy little apartment, as I am right now, rain is peaceful. I can hear it filling up my water tank (which I use for cooking, cleaning, and washing). This is ALWAYS a good sound!

If I am at school and it is minutes before my wild Kindergarten class has recess or PE...it is not as wonderful and peaceful...it is a nuisance. Besides, all teachers know that children suddenly "loose it" when it rains. (Try teaching in a place where it rains half the year!)

If I am walking down the road and all the sudden I see it on the horizon I know I'm doomed. Rain in this country doesn't doddle...it's quick and it means business! So I begin to run up the hill, then down, then up again to get to my apartment that sits on the top of 30 million stairs...before it hits me. And more than likely I will be half soaked (umbrella or not) by the time I reach my porch. This kind of rain is NOT cool!

If you like mudsliding, you would like this rain! Pick the hill...we have plenty!

If I walk to school every morning tripping on the rocks and slick dry dirt and the next morning I wake up to a wet road...I will be pleased. Those ridiculous "bolders" are now pushed down into the road and my feet are happy!

If my roommate is out in the village and it rains for three days straight they might be stuck in a big mudbath, no electricty and a river flowing through what USE to be an airstrip...that kind of rain is not welcome.

If I have laundry out on the line and it begins to rain RIGHT before school finishes...Amanda's not a happy camper. Guess I'll just wait until the next sunny day.

BUT, at this moment ...I'm lik'n rain. FILL up my tank and water the gardens. Push those rocks down and let me not slip tomorrow morning.

rain rain go away, come again at night when I don't have to think about you!:)