A Peek Way Across the Pacific (update added)

This past weekend Makenna turned eleven!
We sure would have loved to take her out on a date,
but what I am thankful for is that communication is so much
easier than it was when she was born!
This girl has started to email!
I just love her short sweet messages.

Today my thoughts are on Tehya and Paeton 

whom we facetimed with on Saturday

as they were preparing for their Outdoor Ed trip

to a village interior in West Papua.

The school plans a trip every year for the high school kids,
flying them (with MAF) into a remote place.

On these small planes, each student can only take 11 kilos.

This would be Paet's first time on this trip

and he packed his nine day supplies

 with great care ...

sleeping bag, mosquito net, towel, soap, 

TP, clothing, snacks, dishes, multi-tool knives ...

in pretty well vacuum sealed bags ...

ready to leave early Monday morning, 

(yesterday for us)

Tehya, our usual confident girl,

felt even more so, this being her third trip.

She told us about

 playing games with the children

and teaching Bible stories.

I know the children love the treats and the attention.

She was also quite excited about the 

aids awareness class she would be teaching. 

Brave girl.

They were not sure about what kind of conditions to expect,

but I know their dad has flown into this village

and most likely some preparations have been made.

Two cooks went along ... lots of rice on the menu.

You can imagine how we look forward to hearing of their adventures,

and praying for God's care and blessings on all.

I wish I could put on my rubber boots and spend a day there.

Probably not a night. =)

It's the end of the week and I've received some updates that have been passed along from a leader to the parents of the kids. They are keeping so busy there. Two MAF pilots are working with the students and locals to improve the airstrip. It is hard work, but said that there is good motivation to get the work completed as they would like the airstrip to re-open. =) 

The students are divided into groups to hike into smaller villages that can only be reached in this way. These hikes take about 3 - 4 hours. They are doing clubs and teaching simple math. Water tanks are being installed, the Jesus film is being shown and HIV/AIDS presentations are being given.  There has been great interaction. I have to ask how they communicate, language wise, as most probably speak their own dialect. Continuing to pray for health and protection.