In Papua we go on Air Trips (not Field Trips)

-

The weeks are just blending one into another as school dominates our schedule and demands routine and structure.  Mid term grades were all A’s and B’s to which the former home school Mom, takes a deep breath.  Because no matter what anyone else may say, she is sure her children’s performance is a direct reflection of her former teaching or lack thereof.  Mountains have been made out of Jell-O.  Aubrey is now doing the prep work to try out for the soccer team, which means on Tuesday and Thursday mornings he is leaving the house at 5:30 a.m. and heading to the school to condition.  He is riding in with Zach on his motorcycle (that alone, is a fun privilege).

Jacob and Nathaniel are picking up in their reading and writing skills, along with Math, spelling and many other subjects.  Yet, there is still the freedom to run out to the airstrip as they hear Uncle Bob approaching or taking off.  Last week, we had finished the bulk of their school work and they heard the blades of the helicopter chopping close to our airstrip.  Off they sped.  My friend Heidi was over using our internet.  It was a perfect opportunity to slow down, have some Chai tea and solve a few of life’s problems together.  Meanwhile, Jacob, Nathaniel and Jason were up, up and away on a helicopter ride.  There is no running to ask if it is ok with “Mom”….they just go!  They came running back to the house with flushed cheeks and wide eyed wonder….”Mom, Mom we just got to go on a helicopter ride.  We went on a field trip.  Ugggh, we mean ‘air trip’.”  Later the helicopter flew in for maintenance. 

IMG_7144

IMG_7171

It really could not be a more idyllic setting to go to school or home school.  So we count our blessings and look forward to the next “air trip”.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Last Flight

-
Image
Bob and his daughter, Stephanie, flying on a different day in Papua . Jan and Bob It was another ordinary Wednesday in Papua.  The rain had come down all night.  Leaving the runway soggy.  6 a.m. I had finished reading my Bible and I hear Bob take off on first flight.  I think, “Wow, he is early this morning!”  Then the typical morning craziness starts in my house.  The cooking of a hot breakfast.  Packing school lunches.  Signing forms.  Arranging pick ups.  Off to school.  Exercise.  Home. Unfortunately, the freezer has frozen over so much that the door is on longer sealing.  It’s a forced, defrost the freezer day.  Out comes all the food.  Towels are laid everywhere.  Drip. Drip.  Jacob is on his 3rd day of not feeling well.  It has been a week of no routine.  No home school.  POP a video into the DVD player for Jacob and lucky little brother to watch.  I go into the office. I hear the plane take off again, 2nd flight. BOOM .  A sickening feeling enters my stomach.  That wasn
Read more

Change Never Happens Fast, Except Today it Did

-
Image
Today (Wednesday, Nov. 1),  Darron and Gary were leaving on an afternoon flight to the Philippines.  The nicer of our two cars had just been picked up from the repair shop ( it was an alternator this time).  They are at that stage.  Always, something falling apart.  With the mission mobile, we can’t complain.  It is 21 years old!!!!  Darron just popped down to the hanger to fill up the tires with air and I heard him pip the horn at the gate, to indicate he was read to go to the airport.  Yet, he had a different message.  The tire needed repaired…..or more probably replaced. Groan.  There is ONE thing, I disdain as a woman and that is handling car problems.  It’s hard enough to do it in your home country and a language you are fluent in.  Try doing it in a foreign country.  Also to me, it is a MANS world.  If you want to plop me in my discomfort zone, tell me I have to get the car fixed. So off we drive.  Air hissing out of the tire.  The good news, my husband is by my side.  The bad ne
Read more

Anguished Hearts

-
Image after image flashes through my mind.  I see little but “growing bigger and stronger” two and half year old Azarya coming towards me on the gravel runway.  Wanting to give me a high five and nothing warms my heart more.  Knowing that this is the little boy who drank his way back to life with goats milk.  More images of all over campus this little boy waving at me and smiling shyly, running and playing like normal children should.  Every time I saw him, I rejoiced in the second chance that Jesus had given him.  More images of being with his Mommy and Daddy and their JOY and gratefulness in Ayarya’s strength and change as he transformed before their eyes from being severely malnourished to vibrant.  Ida, his Mommy, is my closest Papua friend, and I see so many images of her and I chatting and laughing together and enjoying her new fat little baby boy, now two months old.  Despite that Ida was still morning the unexpected loss of her father and still mourning the loss of her first ch
Read more