Mike and Kathy Jelliffe at Coffs Harbor, Australia

As we were leaving Australia for the final trip home, we spent a few days south of Brisbane at Coffs Harbor with Dan's good friends, Mike and Kathy Jelliffe. Mike is a pilot and flew Dan and Karen in and out of the Samo village in the 1970s with MAF. Mike is now a flight instructor with his own little 'foxbat' and he took us for a flight around the Harbor. We stayed with Mike's folks, Dr. Robin and Jillian, and received a signed copy of Robin's new book, Sparrow in the Hall. They live in an area designated as the koala corridor but we didn't get to see any. However I did see kangaroos! As Mike drove us to catch the train back to Brisbane he pointed out the only place where the Great Dividing mountain range comes down to the ocean--fantastic!

Weathervanes updated

Yes, I have continued finding weathervanes as we travel, so have updated my visual page, have to say my favorite is the #30 and the mother hen feeding her four chicks, you can even see the worm in her beak!

Shaws on the Great Barrier Reef

Time with Ian and Nais Grant in Melbourne

We stayed with the Grants for two weeks in July and Dan taught a course at Harvest College where Ian is the Provost. Great time with the Grant family and attending their Hope Generation church, even got to meet Nais' aunt and uncle (Dulcie's sister from near Perth).

Samo tribe Western Province, PNG get reading glasses

When we returned to PNG in July friends in California and Michigan had supplied us with reading glasses and we were able to take 36 pair with cases to PNG and the remainder 12 dozen we gave to Empart mission in Melbourne, Australia for use in India. The Samo were so pleased and send their thanks to caring people in America.

Mellisa On Yarma

Mt. Hagen Show

Samo village Honinabi Western Province, PNG

Samo tribe PNG gave us a Farewell Party

visit with Gwen Gibson and David and Ruth Cummings in Melbourne

visit with Russell and Melva Stebbins in Melbourne

Time in Hong Kong

Smyrna ruins

Pergamum ruins

Visit to Miletus ruins

Time in Izmir with grandkids

Things I've noticed in England

Wycliffe Center in England 2010

Vuvuzelas for the World Cup 2010

FTS graduation 2010

View out a plane window

Shaws visit Usshers in Melbourne June 2010

Pepper in Papua New Guinea May 2010

Meeting Toni after 26 years

Dan at Ukarumpa

This morning Dan and I walked around Ukarumpa where he and Karen had a home from 1971-1981. Rob and Ryan were both born at Ukarumpa and this home has so many meaningful memories for the family. A young couple are renting it just now and Chris let us take a tour and Dan gave him all the history. Note the hutch that matches the one in our Altadena home, the fire place with the copper coils to heat water, the boys bunk beds and the shelving unit made with bricks. So many of the same things, like the tiles at the front door, and the shower in the master bedroom. Good memories.

Pastor Tom in Boluabi village

Yofu makes a gift for Dan

Samo teacher learns computer skills

Dan treks to Nomad

Posted April 29, 2010

Visit from John Sullivan

Some Samo faces 2010

Discussing map of Boluabi village

Samo in discussions

Dan's involvement with Samo 2010

Dan is finding he is in more of a 'learning posture' rather than the anthropologist mode here with the people he knows and loves so well. It is a joy to see how he is so dependent on the Lord to direct his thoughts and steps with the Samo.

Georgia's activities with Samo people

I have so much freedom here to just be myself and enjoy the people and activities. When there is a community gathering it is always ended with a big meal (so much like the 1st Nation people in Canada) and I've made noodles with green beans and tinned fish in a huge pot. I'll post some photos of such a meal!

Our home in the Boluabi village

Right, this is where we live in the village. It is actually Clyde Smith's village home and they are letting us live here during this adventure. When you trek up the trail to the top of the rise our house in on the immediate left and the old man of the village, Yofu, home is on the right.

Bird and butterfly shots I've taken on this trip so far

If you click on the collage it will be enlarged for viewing. Woops, forgot to include the white lipped tree frog!

School in Samo area

We arrived in Samo village in PNG

My sister Charlene is with the Lord

Auckland and Brisbane

Northern New Zealand

Bay of Islands, New Zealand

Glass House Mountains near Brisbane, Australia

Making sago from scratch

Sibialo shows us how to process the pulp from the middle of the sago palm tree into food. After all the juice is squeezed out of the pulp the water is drained off and a huge lump of pinkish floweris left that they cook or fry like rice cakes on the fire and eat with greens or coconut. The sago palm only grows in swampy areas so PNG is full of sego and it takes from 25 to 30 for the palm to bear fruit and be ready to harvest like this.

Where we stayed in Braibie Island, Australia

Paihia, New Zealand Jan 2010

This is a fantastic place,

arrival in Paihia, New Zealand Jan 11, 2010

Yes, we had a grand 13 hr flight on Qantas to Auckland and are now at the Heartland Beachcomber hotel. Visited the Treaty House today and will attend a cultural dance tomorrow night. This place reminds both Dan and I of Oregon, Washington and British Columbia, it is so beautiful.

Count down to take off

Yes, in two days we leave for New Zealand, get a needed break north of Auckland for 6 days, then start the venture back into Papua New Guinea. With the entrance of 2010 we have begun this new blog, trust you enjoy it and that we will have points in time to make entries while on sabbatical.

2010 Rose Parade

Yes, my goddaughter was on the Queen's float in the parade this year (far right front in photo). Way to go Ashley