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.
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
Hi Danita,
ReplyDeleteMy name is Maria Luisa Garcia but friends call me Marie or Maria. I am currently in the formation program here at the LMH Mission House in Los Angeles. Last Friday, Janice informed me that I would be going to PNG to serve in the Diocese of Kimbe and teach at Caritas where you currently teach. I was excited to learn that in a few months I will be joining you on this mission! :) This Saturday we will be attending the Gala event and found out I will be seated at the table with your sister. I look forward to meeting her! I really have enjoyed reading your blogs since I found out about LMH earlier this year. Thanks for posting px as well...no doubt that a px IS worth 1,000 words! Take care and know that I am holding you close in prayer. I know I will have tons of questions for you later as I prepare to travel to Kimbe. God bless you.
Marie :)