Happy, cute quints

Getting dressed for church in beautiful new clothes from Aunt Mickey and shoes from Aunt Carlene

Marcie's skin reacted to a bandaid on her forehead. Oops! But she's still super cute. ;)

Seth and David were sharing a chair (and cereal) and hugging and laughing, so I grabbed some photos of the moment. I don't know why David didn't have a shirt on; sorry!

Gavin and Will on an ice cream outing to our store

Marcie "helping" Daddy in the workshop

David loves these play protective glasses

Marcie with her bag on her head like PNG ladies

Seth and David on the tree swing platform


H

Hellos and Goodbyes

Life on the mission field sometimes feels like a revolving door of people leaving and people coming. There is joy and grief, usually mixed. These past few months we've had great joy in welcoming back the Leedahls, but also reluctantly said farewell to our friends Ryan and Crystal Pennington. They did 10 years of GREAT work with the Ma Manda people in Saut in the province of Morobe. (Ryan did his doctoral dissertation on the language.) We're sad to see them go but excited to see what God has for them! They will be a blessing wherever they go and whatever they do, they are so fun and genuine and gifted and eager to be used by God for His glory and the good of others.

The Penningtons and Leedahls after supper at our house a couple of weeks ago

Crystal took this photo on the road with David and Marcie.
David likes to hold my skirt sometimes when we're out and about - it's a security thing, I think. 

Gavin took Ryan and Crystal to Saut to say goodbye. He has LOVED flying them in and out of there over the years!

Our nighttime couples' Bible study ladies, minus a sick Mandy

To illustrate the revolving door: Of all the people who went through orientation with us, these are the only two families left. Ian (center) is a pastor and church-planter in the port city of Lae, and Larry is a translator and linguist with us here. Disclaimer: Some people come here only for a year or two, so it's completely to be expected that they will leave and others will come! Also, the average amount of time on the mission field between furloughs is 3 years, so approximately 1/3 of our population rotates in and out each year. We miss friends who leave, but we love new people! 

PNG city life

This video gives a good glimpse into a day in a PNG town, in this case, Goroka, a few hours' drive from here.  The man in the video, Ryan, is a pilot with New Tribes Mission.

Kids holding Seslyn's baby; Isaac and Aunt Cynthia

Our part-time cleaning lady and babysitter Seslyn had a baby, and while we miss having Seslyn here we're so happy to have met her gorgeous daughter! The kids LOVE babies and all wanted to hold her. 

David took it VERY seriously. Gracie anxiously awaited her turn.

Marcie is such a little mommy to everything small!
She still calls the quints and her little friend Noah "Honey"

I couldn't get a good one of Will, but the baby's expression is hilarious in this picture! "WHAT is going on??"

Seth was the most absolutely delighted to have his turn.

Isaac is now taller than Aunt Cynthia! He's grown another 1/2 inch in the past month. The Guest House here is "Aunt Cynthia's house" and a much-appreciated fun break for the kids. The girls and I had lunch there one day after church. Fun!