Independence Day (PNG)

September 16 is PNG’s 43rd birthday- Happy Birthday PNG and Happy Independence Day. The people are just as patriotic as in the States, but it’s hard not to say ‘Happy 4th. It’s not the fourth and it’s not America. September 16 also marks my 6 month anniversary since I arrived in PNG.

The town of Kimbe is so colorful with flags waving from stores, from cars and trucks and from people’s hair. They wore colorful clothes or traditional outfits, danced up the aisle at church and had a parade of people and vehicles cruise up and down the streets of Kimbe.  Unfortunately, there were no fireworks at night to mark the occasion.

The children were especially adorable dressed in Independence Day clothing. Our Caritas students marched this morning at 6am in a school parade - I guess the students wore their school uniforms. I didn’t go watch them, got up a little later and went to church instead.

September 17 is Monday and a holiday due to Independence Day on Sunday. Unlike the US, all the stores are closed- I guess they don’t capitalize on Independence Day sales so it is very quiet in town.

Term three ends next week, then we have a week vacation and term four begins in October. We had finals last week and have a day off for Independence Day on Monday and a short day next Friday. So it will be a short week and then a week off. Yeah! I’m not sure what to do for my week off. I wanted to go back to Rabaul, but might save my money for when Debbie (my sister) visits.

After term four ends in Nov/Dec, then it will be summer break. For those who may not know, our seasons are switched - summertime in the US is wintertime here and wintertime in the US is summertime here. So Christmas is during the summer and therefore, school break is during the summer also.

Debbie is coming to visit me in Dec/Jan and I’m starting to plan our agenda. We are planning to maybe go to the Highlands and maybe to Rabaul- depending on schedules, travel warnings and budget. It will be nice to have her visit no matter what we do.

Thank you again for your prayers and support. As I am phasing out of my honeymoon phase of mission, I really need your prayers as I encounter ordinary life here in Kimbe. After six months, I am still struggling with the language and really want to break out and join a group or two to become more acquainted with the people of PNG. (Beyond the Sisters, the staff and students and church)

I will continue to pray for you as you hopefully pray for me and my mission. Please leave a comment with suggestions or ideas on what you would like me to write about and I’ll do my best to write about it.  Or just say hello...

Thank you and God bless