Back in the Village (+ Annie is Eight Months)
We have officially made it back to our village home. These last five days have been full of lots of work as we settle back into life here. I honestly don't even know what to write here. I could spend the blog talking about our coworkers, the Mitchells... how our whole way here was smoothed by them being in country before us, leaving food and gifts for us in Madang, cleaning our house up here in the village. And how, our transition back into the village has been so much easier this time because we had coworkers here. So any of our friends here in Mawerero who had a request, a spiritual question, etc... weren't waiting for our return. And how much better (infinitely better) it is to have fellowship with like-minded teammates than to come back on our own.
There is much to tell about the status of the work here, as well. Most obvious right now is the ongoing literacy program. While both of our families were gone, the local literacy teachers started and finished the third literacy class. Then, right before our return, the fourth literacy class was completed. I am SO proud of these guys for teaching faithfully! They waited for our return last week to do the fourth graduation ceremony and it was very sweet to hear one of the teachers, Namura, speak about how thankful he is that he gets to be a part of teaching literacy to his village.
Third literacy class graduates
Fourth literacy class graduates
The last significant aspect of our return that I'll mention is bringing a baby back!
All the people, especially the ladies here, were very excited to meet little Annie. Attention was most acute when we landed off the heli and has slowly waned, but seemingly everyone wants to hold and squeeze Annie, and she wants to be held and squeezed by almost no one. So Annie has spent more than usual of her last five days yelling.
In Annie news, she also turned 8 months yesterday. Gone are the days of bows and even pants and here are the days of big cloth diapers and sturdy clothes.
Her eighth month has been a big one. First international flight, first heli flight, and a move to a new house in a new climate in a new country with all new faces.
No crying on the heli = win.
Squeezing in a nap on the way.
No one can believe how fat her legs are.
First time sitting with someone without crying. Might have to do with the fact that Mananuwe didn't run away with her or pinch her... :)
I'll end here with a quick update on Jude and Oliver! These boys have been very happy to be back at their home. A big part of that is due to the Mitchells' kids with whom they have played for hours each day since returning. They also have found all their old toys, like the army men pictured above, and their legos. They are eager for us to get back to all our schedules here (When is family movie night? It is Friday, why aren't we having pancakes?), but I am a little too busy for now to commit to any of that for probably the next two weeks. But I LOVE that they love the routine here and that this home is comfortable for them... after leaving the US with all its desserts and amusements.
We must write another post soon on more aspects of the work and relationships here, but for now I will just say that we are so thankful to be back home and back to work!
