A Golden Ticket

If you have ever watched Charlie and the Chocolate Factory you will connect with this story.

So I was walking home from school today trying to decide if I needed to do anything before I actually went to my house. Living on the top of the hill and working at the bottom of the hill lends to these questions (especially when you don't have a car). I decided to say hello to my mother first (to see if maybe she could drive me up the hill ;) use those connections baby) then check my mail.

I walked up to the finance office and called through her window. My four year old niece use to stand under the window and in her sweet high pitched voice say, "NANA, it's me, PIIIPPPPEERRR!" so adorable! So I tried it. Didn't have the same affect, but hey she opened the door and let me in anyways!

After a nice little chat she asked if I wanted a ride home...yep! She said, "That's probably why you stopped by huh?" Can't a daughter just say hi to her mothe...okay she's right. We who live on the "top" figure out ways to bypass the huff-and-puff of a walk each day! (who needs a gym!)

We walked out and mom decided to go to the post office. I was discouraged with the thought, seeing as I haven't gotten mail in a while, but was pleasantly surprised...okay I scream YESSSSSSSS, when I saw the little golden ticket in my mail box. I had an over sized package. (I am actually not surprised that I don't have much mail because I have just recently sent out my mailing address.)

My mom bugged me that it was probably for her and they had put it in the wrong "Wulff" box, which has happened before. BUT SHE WAS WRONG! It was a gift from my friend Elizabeth. I was so happy. I AM so happy!

I rushed home to see what goodies she had sent. The package even SMELLED good! Some people like to look on the green paper that is attached to the box that says what is enclosed...but not me. I like to be surprised. Each little gift was wrapped in the cutest tissue paper and being a "good missionary" I carefully unwrapped and folded it so I can reuse it. Seriously! Okay well I did for the first two then I couldn't wait! Give me a break, I'm new at this. In three years I will be a PRO at reusing paper! It's like Christmas in MAY!

She had sent Coffee (a story about the coffee pot to come), gum and candy, and a nice CD of Christian music...very pretty. She also sent me things for giving myself a pedicure. HOW perfect! My roommate Joy and I are having some friends over on Friday. We were brainstorming just last night about what we could do....now we know! Pedicures all around.

Well, thanks for making my day Elizabeth!

If you ever want to make a missionaries day, send them something in the mail...even a card will keep them going....plus they will probably cheer up others up by sharing!

over and out

From Mk to Mk

Tonight I shared at Soul Purpose (teen youth group). I shared about my experiences as an Missionary Kid (MK), how I dealt with transition, change, and claiming my faith for my own. I was told I could speak from 20-45 minutes. YIKES! I haven't talked that long in quite awhile...but as a good "Wulff" it wasn't hard to meet that goal.

It was strange to speak to the teens but very natural. Wasn't I just sitting there a few years ago? The seniors this year were completing fourth grade when I was finishing my senior year. All that to say, their faces are still pretty new to me. Time changes but we can still learn from each other.

This place brings back so many memories of high school. Good memories and difficult ones. High school was a hard time of life. Yeah it was great in many ways but there were so many transitions, changes, moves, relationship issues, and self-centeredness. When I was in high school I missed out on so many things because my focus was on me. I wonder what I could have accomplished if my focus was switched to Christ and others?

But if we're honest we would probably ALL say, my focus is not on Christ FIRST, then on others, then ourselves. It's a constant struggle isn't it!

It was a blessing to share what God has done in and through me. The more I shared the more I was in awe of the works of God. I shared about a time when God gave me strength when a friend was VERY sick, a time when I could not speak and the Holy Spirit spoke for me, and a time when I needed peace and it was given to me. ALL of these things were the acts of GOD. Yes I believed but God was at work. He is never far from me.

All I hope tonight is that the kids will not remember the stupid things I said like : "crap" and "high on peace" but rather the verses I read, the challenge, and my push for them to go to the thrown of Christ.

Two verses that I shared tonight that have impacted me over the years:

Mark 11:24 "Therefore I tell you whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. "

1 Peter 3:15-16 "But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect"

Praise God!

Lazy water

The other day I needed to fill up a water container. I decided I wanted it to be from our filter which is connected to our bathroom sink. This filter is VERY slow. I put the bottle under the filter spout and watched the water trickle in. Feeling lazy I called my roommate Joy in to help me figured out a way that I could leave it and not have to hold it...for a half hour!

So strategically wrapped the filter cord around the bottle and propped it up with the soap container. WOW, the things we come up with!

I'm in a different world now...

I thought I'd share some pretty funny things I have come in contact with in the last few days that have made me realize that I am "in a different world now".

While walking down the street I saw a little girl in super white shoes run to visit a friend. She yelled out "Hey, I got new shoes!". The little girl she was visiting yelled back, "I just took my malaria meds!".

A few nights ago I was invited to eat dinner at another teacher's house. She also invited a couple. The husband told me a story about when he was single. He had been watching a movie with a few others when they realized it was past the center curfew, 11:00 pm. They began to worry about how they would get home since none of them had a car and it was late. I thought to myself, "Wow, where else does a guy in his 30's NOT have a car and also WORRY about when he is out at night."

Last night my roommate and I had two families with little kids over for dinner. I was wondering what the kids would do since we don't have any toys, but they had no problem! They walked in and played for TWO HOURS with our two blankets. They became superheroes, babies, and so many other creative things. All that to say, missionary kids do not live on electronics. What a blessing!

Reading through "The Wycliffe International Cookbook" this morning I came across instructions for washing grains like rice and bean wheat. It said, "wash several times until the water runs clear. The chaff and the bugs will float and can be poured off." I laughed when I read BUGS! Only in a missionary cookbook.

Just thought I'd share. Hope you enjoy!

Sign of Life

Dear Readers,

I am sending you a "sign of life" message! I'm still over here in PNG even though at times it may seem as though I have fallen off the face of the earth...Papua New Guinea may seem like that to some of you! SOOOOOOO much has happened in the last 12 weeks that I can't HARDLY explain it all right now, but eventually I hope to share pictures and stories.

At this moment I am spending some time at the training center (POC) in Madang as my partner recovers from malaria (she is almost recovered) then we head back to our village for a few more days. We have spent four and a half weeks in this village, part of our practical training, and will say our farewells on Thursday.

We have grown so close to this family and have enjoyed learning, living, and building a relationship with them. The parents of this family are called "wasmama and waspapa" basically meaning "watchmom and watchdad". They are responsible for looking after us during our five weeks in the village. They have four wonderful children who I will miss dearly. Two of them remind me of my nieces and nephews. One of their daughters is 4 years old. As she dances, jumps, makes up songs, and transitions from sweet little angel to demanding little girl...I am reminded of my five nieces! Their one year old reminds me of Will and Boone as he talks constant gibberish, begs for freedom but then comes back for snuggles, and does what he can annoy and do everything his sisters do!

I will never forget my time in the village. The life lessons, relationships, mistakes, jokes, and triumphs will forever be imbedded in my heart and mind. I truly think everyone should experience living in a village where you are completely put out of your element. Where else will you realize that people who live on the complete opposite side of the world, speak a different language, and have a different culture are children of God just like you? Where else will you come to the realization that maybe your way is not the "best" way and that maybe there are other ways of life that work just as well? How else will you see the desires and heart of people you are serving unless you step into their life for a bit and make yourself available?

Well before I go I have two stories for you. Hopefully you will be able to visualize it even with out a picture attached.

One night my partner and I had to use the bathroom before bed. We left our house and walked to the out house "liklik haus". While my partner was in the "liklik haus" I heard a rustling then she darted out. "There's a HUGE spider in there! You have to kill it." Master at killing all kinds of spiders I walked in with confidence to see a spider seriously as big as my two hands put together! I considered taking off my flipflop but then realized I would have to walk on the dirt/questionable ground in order to do this. I walked out again and said, "That's a CRAZY huge spider!" Thinking for a bit I called out to my waspapa to come kill the spider. I said "Mi no inap pispis taim spaida i lukim mi!" which basically means "I can't go to the bathroom with a spider looking at me". My waspapa, without moving, called out, "Yu yet taitim bun, na kilim spaida." which basically means "You get a backbone and kill the spider!" hahah. We both started laughing but didn't move. Wasmama later came over and killed the spider. What would we do without her?

In Papua New Guinea it is customary to make an exchange when you visit someone or when someone visits you. It is a sign of relationship and respect. Well one day our family explained that we were going to see one of their relatives that lived at the top of the mountain. When we were at the training camp, which is on the top of a mountain, we had been training to walk up many tall mountains, so we agreed and followed their lead. The mountain was pretty steep, slippery and long. I had to stop a few times to catch my breath and drink some water. When we got there we exchanged some food with them and visited. When it was time for us to leave they made the traditional exchange. But since we are whiteskins and foreigners their exchange was very large. We ended up leaving with two bags full of papaya, coconuts, greens, and two huge stocks of sugarcane. Though we were grateful for their generosity we were not sure how we would do on the descent with the bag of food hanging from our foreheads. Let me correct that, I was not sure I would make it. I could hardly move my head! Walking out of the village with smiles I waited until we were out of their sight and told my family, "Mi no inap karim dispela kaikai. Mi bai pundaun." Which means, I can't carry this food. I'll fall down. So wasmama took it...along with carrying her one year old son, and her bag of food on her head! A little ways down the road my village partner stopped and said, "How about we just eat the papaya and coconuts here to lighten the load?" Papa laughed and told us to dig in! She pulled out her big knife and was about to cut it open when mama said she'd carry it too. We continued to walk down the hill. How fun would it have been to eat all the food before we got back to the village...all in order to lighten the load. It still amazes me how much these ladies in Papua New Guinea are able to carry on their heads!!!

Well that is all for now. More to come I assure you. I hope you are all well and have a blessed Easter!

Hello from San Francisco!

Well I made it from Charlotte, NC to San Francisco, CA! Uneventful for the most part, which is fine with me! It still surprises me how little you get on domestic flights. I flew clear across the US and I only got a drink...interesting! One time I flew domestic in Australia from Brisbane to Cairns, about an hour and a half or so flight and I got to watch sitcoms, a snack and an ice cream!

Traveling is such an interesting experience. I ended up sitting next to a lady whose father is a pastor here in California, but she does not seem to believe. I shared some about being a missionary and how my parents are missionaries. We talked about growing up and every time we talked about faith, I would say "faith" and she would say "religion". Believing in God and that He is the only way to heaven is not a "religion" to me...it is the TRUTH. It surprised me, again, how careful I was not to offend her by saying I was going to share the TRUTH with the people in Papua New Guinea. Sitting there I was kicking myself. Why am I so hesitant to "offend" someone when they are wrong? I should be screaming it from the roof tops! This is their life at stake. But there I sat.

We try so hard to be "politically correct" that we forget the urgency of salvation and eternity. God forgive me for my fear and hesitation.

I just recently received this picture from a friend of mine. A few weeks ago I visited a church family in Greensboro, NC where they allowed me to share with them and they prayed for me. I was so blessed by this experience. What was even more meaningful was that I was prayed for in English AND Spanish! How truly symbolic of my life so far. Confirmation!

Hope you are all well. Thanks for reading and feel free to comment or add what you are thinking.

Here I Go!

Well folks, this is it! My house is cleaned, my bags are packed, and my toes are freezing! Not for long though. Soon my sandals will be a WONDERFUL thing!

The last few days have been a whirlwind but very very good. My friend Elizabeth threw me a goodbye party. It was nice to relax and see everyone. Mks know how to say goodbye!

I also received a goodbye party from my friends who I use to teach with at Metrolina Christian Academy. It was nice to see them again and share a little more about what I will be doing. Thanks MCAers. I will miss and love you! I learned so much there and have great memories! My friends from my church small group took me to Buffalo Wild Wings. If you've never been...GO! It's amazing. Thanks guys. I will miss you very much. Thanks also for your encouraging letters. Thanks for challenging me in my faith and living life with me!

I love this picture of me with my car. My last time with my car filled to it's limits! It's probably very happy about that actually! In my car is all my stuff (except 2 things that my friend took) for my shipment to PNG. Oh boy! I know, it's weird for a single gal to have a wagon but I LOVE my wagon. She has done me well. Taking this picture I thought of all the things that could "bust" or "burst" like...my tires, my tears, my heart! Anyways. All that to say...let's go!

I love you all. I will do my best to put up more posts. Won't have pictures up for a few months cause it takes a long time to get them up and to download. Thanks for understanding!

Amanda