Home group gift exchange 2013

Yard message about the meaning of this season...

Brunch with nephew David Bradford 2013

 

We arrived home to California in mid June to learn of  Ruth Ussher's death in Australia. We had just stayed with them in Melbourne enroute to Papua New Guinea in early May.

This morning we had the joy of a visit from Magdy, Suhita and Betsy Behman from Tucson, Arizona.

Dudley and Roberta Woodberry invited us to their home to hear their son, Bob, give a presentation of his recent research, according to Baylor University, that  looks at the long-term impact of missionaries and different colonial governments on education, economic development and democracy in post-colonial societies.  Paul Pierson responds to the historical significance of the research as Jim and Diane Butler look on...it was a very informative evening.

Sandi and Allen Brune hosted our home Bible Study group for an evening meal the end of July. Pictured here are Peggy and Frank Vicarro, Dan and Joannie Sanborn (also Joanie's brother), Steve and Kathy Matson, Dave Rose (Nancy came later) and Dan Shaw.

Final days at Laidlaw College in New Zealand

 

After our last meal with the students, several Samoan singers came in and sang for us plus gave us these gorgeous decorations they had made to honor us.

 

Several Maori friends gave us a farewell dinner on Monday April 22, 2013. Here Matt sang this song to begin the evening.

Kay Liddle book launce with John Hitchens and Dan Shaw at Laidlaw College

April 18, 2013 we participated in the book launch of two books by Kay Liddle at Laidlaw College near Auckland, NZ. Dan was the featured speaker (did a great job introducing 'transculturation') and John Hitchens interviewed Kay and his son Jeff (fantastic).

The books tell of Kay and Gwen's time in PNG from 1952 onward...get the books "Into the Heart of Papua New Guinea" and "Deeper into the Heart of Papua New Guinea". I am pictured with John's wife Ann Hitchens (I first met Ann in 2011 at CLTC in PNG).

 

 

 

 

Niagra Falls (New Zealand version)

Yes, that is the "falls" above the sign...little bit of Maori humor there!

Invercargill, NZ

Mt. Cook, New Zealand

Christchurch, New Zealand

Driving Creek Railway & Potteries

 

While touring the Coromandel Penisula near Auckland, NZ we visited the DCR and even met the 76 year old designer/owner Barry Brickell. It took him 32 years to get to this stage and it is amazing. After buying this 60 acre hilly scrub-covered land in 1973, he built major viaducts, 3 short tunnels, 2 spirals and 5 reversing points to elevate the railway up to the top at the Eyefull Tower (and has 3 trains).

 

In 1961 Barry became New Zealand's first Kiwi-born fulltime handcraft potter. All along the wooded train track he has placed pottery and glass art work, and recently had one of he workers (or train engineer) design and build a wooden waterwheel just because he wanted one! Barry is bent on reestablishing native trees and plants that have been destroyed by the foresting that has been done in the whole ares, so we saw new kauri trees of various sizes along the track. Initially they grow about a foot a  year from limb to limb, amazing and beautiful.

 

The DCR is a wonderful attraction of art, conservation and engineering

 

Maori welcome