Soren turns four!

I was relieved when Soren saw the spiderman cake in a shop and pronounced he would like it for his birthday. I didn't know where I would find all the needed ingredients for a lion cake! Good thing we had the spare chocolate cake, as 34 kids showed up, politely taking off their shoes and seating themselves expectantly on the porch.



Soren wants to be in charge of the music for pass-the-parcel.

Passing out his cake.

I'm four now!

Pass-the-parcel.

Down to the last two.

Jois, the happy winner.

In Indonesia, everyone shakes the hand of the birthday guest before they leave. Soren was a bit overwhelmed!

Language & learning centre

This is one of two buildings of the newly-established language and learning centre in the middle of the language area where we'll be working. We visited after Christmas last year. Hope to get some better pictures next time we're there.

Soren had some fun with the kids.

Language learning

The kids in the neighbourhod wanted to learn some English greetings, so we had a bit of a language exchange on the front porch.

Reuben & friends

Reuben.

Reuben with Ibu Kety, one of our helpers.

Reuben with immediate neighbour and Landlady Ibu Susana. She is a great cook, and has taught me how to cook bunga papaya with kangkung (both green vegetables)--delicious! Mie goreng (fried noodles) is next!

Another neighbour, Ibu Milka.

Playing in the garage.

Random house shots

The view from our street.
Psalm 121:
A song of ascents. I lift up my eyes to the hills--where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip--he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord watches over you--the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all harm--he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and for evermore.



The study.



Soren's room.



Making friends in the front yard.

Side porch.

The river which is right next to our house. Fantastic!

Soren playing with Uriah, his new buddy, in the guest room. In Indonesian houses (our house is quite Indonesian in style), this is the room at the front of the house where guests are received and entertained.



The view of the neighbourhood from the front porch.



We have two bathrooms, both with a bak, which is a kind of tub that you splash yourself from. Very refreshing!



The laundry is in the garage.



View of our house from the road.

Arriving

View of Lake Sentani from plane.



Sentani aiport, 10 minute drive from our house.



Arriving at our strange new home. Eeek! We look like early settlers or something! I remember feeling overwhelmed and more than a little queazy.

Getting here

Ready to go: Melbourne airport, November 2009.

Soren chilling out on the plane.

Breakfast at Bali resort. We stopped there for a few days on the way to Sentani. Mmmm, yum.

Reuben enjoying the beach.

The beach again.

Bali aiport, 1am, trying to sleep before 3am flight to Sentani. No success.