Tupperware, MKs, and Dirt

I was delighted to get a Christmas present this month (yes, in February). It was scheduled to arrive by January 1, but most things happen late in PNG, we’ve learned. Delayed gratification is our theme here. Anyway, I was overjoyed to receive a bunch of Tupperware containers from Craig’s brothers and their wives for Christmas. Okay, if you saw how many ants inhabit our kitchen, you would realize why this was such a special gift. I spent almost a whole day reorganizing my goods into these great storage containers. I was just thrilled. Never knew that something like Tupperware could be so exhilarating eh?! (Thanks, James & January, Trevor & Sarah!)

Missionary Kids (MKs) are blessed with the opportunity to explore the world. Hannah loves to travel (like us!) and often reminisces about our holiday to New Zealand after our furlough. Yesterday I walked into her room and found her and Craig playing ‘travel’. She had fake tickets, money, and a passport. Craig would ask her where she wanted to go, make her pay, and then pretend to fly somewhere. When she arrived in New Zealand, Budapest, Hong Kong, or wherever, he proceeded to pretend he was a customs officer. She can now state her country of citizenship, where she lives, and her birthday! (I don’t think they’ve ever asked our birthdays…) By the time our next furlough rolls around, we’ll let her handle all of the customs agents!

Gardening has never been easier. Well, I’ve never really had a garden and most plants I’ve owned in the past never survived very long. But here, I think nearly anyone can grow things! We haven’t even planted some things that are growing around our house. Obviously some seeds were just dropped, and surprise!!!, we have plants! We have all kinds of flowers, beans, pumpkin, watermelon, tomatoes, bananas… It’s so much fun. I must say a big thank you to our friends Susan and Pastola though, who have done a lot to help us out. In North America when someone visits your house, it’s not uncommon for them to comment on your lovely windows or choice of interior paint color. Here, everyone that comes to visit can’t say enough good about our amazing soil. Who cares what the house looks like – we have awesome dirt! Apparently, it’s very rich soil and perfect for gardening. And I believe it because it looks just like the dark colored potting soil we used to have to buy to grow anything when I was a kid.