Relaxing in the Highlands!

 At the NTM Hangar in Wewak, waiting for the 206 airplane to arrive.

 Ready to go! Excited to get off the plane and walk into the air conditioned mountains. :)

 The plane was loud, so we all wore ear plugs. :)

 Heading into the town of Goroka to do some shopping, and swimming.

 Jonathan was excited about his new blue soccer ball and his new PNG backpack, just his size!

 The water was a bit colder here in Goroka compared to Wewak!

 But Jonathan still enjoyed the pool, and was excited to see a kiddy pool. :)

 After our morning of shopping and lunch at the pool, Jonathan was tired out!!

 Enjoying the Highland strawberries!

 Waiting patiently to eat the Highlands strawberries with yogurt. :)

 Cozy and warm, relaxing on the couch :)

 Relaxing on break!

 We went to watch a Ultimate Frisbee game and Jonathan said, 'go, run like the big people!' :) So Jacob and Jonathan went to run back and forth along the side lines. And they stopped to watch every so often.

 Jonathan loves the circle slide!

Dog training...

Jacob had a lot of fun training our NTM dog, Bear, to pull Jonathan around on his new scooter. :)

And Jonathan had a lot of fun on the scooter too! :)

Sepik Conference

 Jonathan helped me make the lasagna sauce for the Sepik Conference. I opened the cans and he poured the tomatoes into the measuring cup. :) I enjoyed doing a lot of prep ahead of time for the Sepik Conference. We cooked for about 120 people!

 Jonathan helped me mix the cornbread too. :) Before we came to the Sepik the ladies had the conference cooking very well organized. There is one person in charge of making the menu, ordering the food and giving instructions. (I was the point person this year.) And then each evening meal a different group of ladies cook for the conference. All the breakfasts and lunches are eaten in the individual homes where everyone is staying. And they have a large grill outside the kitchen so three out of the five dinners the guys grill steaks, chicken, fish or burgers.

It was a bit challenging to find enough large pans and bowls, etc but we did! And we enjoyed a great conference with wonderful teaching! And Jonathan enjoyed taking part in the kids conference too! He didn't seem to mind that we said goodbye and left him to play with the other kids each morning. :)

 Sometimes Jonathan didn't know what to think, there were so many people and kids around for the conference.

 And he would just watch and watch and watch.

Eventually he would join in!

Random every day life...

 Jonathan loves the tool apron that Grandma and Grandpa gave him for Christmas!

 Hanging out with dad on his new four wheeler trailer, ready for work because they both have their work hats on. :)

Learning the fine art of croquet. :)

 Relaxing with dad!

 Jonathan's way to play chess is a lot more fun!

The Waiting Game...

This is what the new boat house looks like right now... just waiting for the roof materials to come via ship so that we can finish the boat house.

Then this boat will have a new home!

In Memory of Toni Stuart

On March 6, 2015 many many people around the world prayed and fasted for Toni Stuart. These are two of our work ladies, Susan and Paula with Jonathan and I.  Just 10 days before this day we found out that she had stage four brain cancer and she was given just months to live. We wore orange in honor of Toni because that was one of her favorite colors. At the end of the day we received word that Toni had gone to be with Jesus. God answered our prayers and healed Toni and brought her home. It wasn't the healing that I was expecting but it was God's answer to all of our prayers. I am so thankful that she is with her Savior and that we had 1 1/2 years here in Wewak together.

 I first met Toni in 1997 when she came to Interface as an intern. We worked in the kitchen together! Here we are with Julie Koop, Keisa and Jen.

 We also hung out and played many games together in 1997... with Jen, Sarah, Rebekah, Deb and Mary.

This is the Stuart family the day before Toni went to be with Jesus. Please pray for Jason as he learns how to be a single parent. Please pray for wisdom and guidance for their future. Please pray for Jedidiah (9) and Ella Jo (7) as they adjust to a new life without their mum. And pray for Jason as he adjusts to a new life without Toni. They plan to return to Wewak in July so that Jason can continue his work as a Bible translator and teacher to many national believers.

Hard at work!

 Jacob sometimes does small projects on his days off... today he is making drawer dividers for us. And Jonathan loves to visit for a few minutes and explore the shop, don't worry I watch him carefully!

 Jonathan always loves to help sweep!

 

Hard at work with cement again... crazy guys... pushing a wheelbarrow full of cement up stairs!!!

 Willi, who works with Jacob, loves to make Jonathan laugh. :)

 They are pouring a cement slab for the dogs to sleep on... this will help with our tick infestation. The ticks can't live on cement but just breed in the ground, which will be sprayed with tick poison.

 Jacob is always excited to use his four-wheeler for work projects... pulling the cement mixer!

 The almost finished dog kennel! Jonathan inspecting his dad's work. :)

 Replacing a gate... first time using the new four-wheeler trailer!

 Stephen, here with Jacob, came to help out for a month. He is a welder and has been a great help! He built the trailer that Jacob now uses for his four-wheeler! Very handy!