Neighbourhood Friends

Lawn Bowls

Lawn bowls, Papuan-style (they're coconuts).

A nice spot



The boys' new school is called Hillcrest International because it's on the top of a big hill--a nice walking and picnic spot with views of the lake and town below.

Ride around Lake Sentani

A while ago Phil joined some others for the day to take a motorbike ride around Lake Sentani. I was a teensy bit jealous. I had my own scooter-style bike until recently (though neither my bike nor I would have been up to this ride). We decided that my riding it wasn't worth the various risks that seem to have been on the increase around town over the last couple of years, so now I just use the car and we rent the bike out to raise some cash for our work here.

School pick up


Yes indeed, this is the trusty bridge I cross twice daily to pick up Soren from school. There was a detour set up for a while, until someone decided that it was safe enough to use again.

Reuben's playgroup

Reuben goes to playgroup a few times a week, 8-10am. Lately I have been staying for the duration, to help him engage and keep it a postive time for him before he heads to the international school in August. 

On this particular morning the children played being at the market. Ibu Esther who runs the group has a never-ending supply of creative play ideas. 



Burning rubbish.

With friends Mel and Mama Kin, who've also been conned by their kids to stay for the morning.

Rambutans

Eureka! Rambutans don't just look fantastic, they're also sweet and delicious.

We have a tree in our yard and apparently this is the first season that it has produced fruit.

Gaby

Soren's friend Gaby often comes over once Soren has finished homeschool. He's a lovely boy and they are very tight.

Soren says to me, Can Gaby pleeeease come in and play, I don't think he's ever played playdough before!

I'm not sure if he was just being polite but he seemed to like my risotto. I still have a precious little stash of arborio rice, which you can't get here.

Big Ruben & Little Reuben

Our house-helper's son Ruben had a day off school so he came along to work with her. He and Reuben play really well, seemingly without any need for conversation, as Ruben has no English and Reuben speaks little Indonesian. 



Hospital

This is the emergency ward at our local hospital. You bring your own sheets and pillows. And blood donor. But our neighbour who was dangerously sick with malaria was well looked-after and thankfully recovered.

Autumn is 2!


Now that Autumn is two we've put her to work at the market selling vegetables.

I put in a valiant effort at potty training for a couple of weeks before giving up. All it did was make her so terrified of pooing that she would hold on for hours. Maybe in 6 months I'll give it another shot.

One of my all-time favourite things is to see the boys loving their little sister well.

She had a very Spring-like flower cake for her brithday. When it came time to sing Happy Birthday, Reuben was melting down and didn't even want cake and Soren was lying feverish on the couch (all three were at some stage of malaria treatment). So Phil and I sang to her ourselves, ate some cake and had a laugh at how ridiculous it all was.

Bread


Once I showed Philip how incredibly easy it is to make bread, with a breadmaker to do the kneading bit and an oven the rest, he gave it a shot himself. He said it felt something like coming home from the hunt, providing for the family. By necessity, not choice, I also make our own yoghurt and breakfast cereal.

Afternoon light

I love the long shadows of the afternoon and the way the light streams through the swaying coconut palms as the kids play, riding bikes, soccer or whatever. Soccer is definitely the sport here; kids grow up constructing makeshift goals and kicking a ball around with each other.

Karate

I thought this was such a beautiful photo I had to post it. Before we left for furlough Phil and Soren were doing karate together with some other families. Pak Frans on the right is the Sensei.

Back in Papua

Back to Papua meant back to playing in the dirt..

..and worming everyone every few months..


..back to our lovely Indonesian home..

..and back to work. Here is Agus, Nehemia and Penina whom Phil is mentoring, at a Writer's Workshop, learning basic skills needed for translation work.

The Nimboran and Mlap crew.

These men are from the Mee people. They don't have a facilitator for their language, but through the generosity of a couple of friends we were able to help them get to this workshop.

Phil teaching computer skills to Agus.

Us Five

A friend recently said she wished there were more photos of our family on my blog. So, here we are: Phil and me at our neighbour's recent wedding..

Phil at work.

All glammed up..

..and sans 3-inch makeup.

Autumn's obsession with thumb continues.

Soren (6.5 years), self-portrait.

Autumn (15 months).

Reuben (4 years).

Reuben & I

Kakak-Adik (Big Brother-Little Brother)

Anything you can do..

..I can do too.