An Afternoon at the Zoo...

Wonder if it cures malaria...

Our trip to Alberta...

We sure had a nice time visiting with family and friends on this trip! We're very thankful for the hospitality of the folks that we stayed with on this trip. We sure do appreciate it!

But we're glad to be home again and sleeping in our "own" beds. The kids'll be heading back to school again on Monday so thing's will be back to a regular routine.

Little update...

So here we are, back in Valemont, B.C. on our way back to the coast. First we plan to make a stop in Vernon to do a presentation. This will be the last one on this trip. We had a couple good presentations in Edmonton (where we enjoyed the hospitality of Rev and Mrs. Slomp-Thanks!) and in Neerlandia (land where all drivers wave to eachother upon passing); where we were able to use my aunt's house (she was in Aussie). We had a great turnout in both churches! It was neat to meet some supporters that we'd never met before and also talk with folks who've lived in Papua and know exactly what we're talking about!
In Neerlandia we enjoyed catching up with family, particularly my sister and her fam. Our kids thoroughly enjoyed the snow in Alberta and loved snowmobiling on the creek! (no photos yet, I'm on a computer at the hotel...) I think the kids are getting ready to return home and sleep in their own beds... and maybe the parents too...

Update...

Here's a little update on us and where we're at...
Hugo arrived safely back home yesterday. The kids and I drove down to Bellingham airport to pick him up.
This morning we picked up a rental van and loaded it up with stuff and kids and began our journey to northern Alberta. Right now we are staying in a hotel in Valemont. There's a pool with a crazy slide so the kids are happy campers. We encountered all sorts of weather during our 7 hour drive up here... snow... rain... sun... The kids were thrilled to see snow again for the first time since we've come back to Canada. They can't wait to play in it this weekend.
Tomorrow we make our way to Edmonton where we will do a presentation and then on Saturday we will drive to Neerlandia where we will do another presentation and visit with some family. After a few days there we will drive down to Vernon where we hope to do a presentation on Thursday evening and then on Friday make our way back home.

I see it has been a week since my last post...
Hugo has been in Spokane, Washington since last Saturday. So I've been solo parenting for the past week. Hugo is taking some courses related to the new Kodiak aircraft that we have just received. As this aircraft is completely different than our other aircraft in addition to being a newly designed aircraft, there is much to be learned about it. Hugo reports that the course has been very worthwhile and interesting.
He is scheduled to return on Wednesday and the following day we will begin our drive to Alberta to visit family and make a few presentations. If you are able to attend one we'd love to meet you!

As today was a school holiday, we made our way to Heineken House in Richmond. We were there early so there was no line-up to get in! Didn't need to use Hugo's passport after all. We had fun on the simulators. Aidan did a great job of driving our sled. Then made our way to the arena area where we ate kroket on a bun, a delicacy more appreciated by dad and mom than the kids.... We watched the first bunch of teams in the mens long track pursuit on the big screen there. Then we walked around a bit, unfortunately nothing else opens until 3:00 so we went to Ikea... The kids enjoyed checking out Ikea. When we go to stores like that you see that we've been living in a third world country for the past number of years.

Last Saturday we walked around Campbell Valley park. It was beautiful weather! As we see virtually no wildlife in Papua, the kids thought the chipmunks and ducks were very cool.

Olympic Curling....

It was a raucous night! Just getting to the Curling event location was an olympic event! Parking at skytrain was a nightmare leaving us begging permission from Home Depot to park in their parking lot. They acquiesed... (free parking!) Then a squishy skytrain ride to meet Chris at his building on Robson, right where the CTV live broadcast booth was located. Then we walked around a bit and saw the flame; behind fences. Apparently, Vancouver is allowing the public to get a lot closer to the cauldron then other cities have allowed in past Olympics. They have since replaced the fence with plexiglass. We grabbed a bite to eat at a crammed restaurant in Gastown, sitting beside some members of the Russian delegation, who took photos of everything. Then we made our way to the incredibly long line-up for the Canada Line. The line went extremely fast and soon we were on our way. Then we took a bus for a couple blocks and then walked a few more blocks before getting into line to have our bags screened. Finally, we were in! A whole 53 minutes before the event was to begin! There was an atmosphere not unlike one you'd encounter at a hockey game. Foot stomping was a favourite way to through off opponents of Canada while they were making crucial shots. Canada beat Denmark 4-3, needing an extra end to do it. After that we made our way back to Robson where the streets were loaded with people cheering and having a good time. We viewed the nightly laser light show and then made our way to this teeny tiny shewarma place where we joined the line-up for sustenance. I don't think they could have made this place any smaller! But the food was delish! Finally we made our way to the sky train station and home. What a fun Olympic experience!

Christiaan's birthday party...

The very happy b-day boy!

Nearly 10 years ago, our oldest son made his entrance into the world. Tomorrow, D.V., he will celebrate his 10th birthday. We held his party on Friday after school.

Four friends came over and after sending them on a "treasure" hunt ending in chocolate bars all around, they made their own pizzas and headed to the park while I baked them. Then they ate them while watching the Olympic opening ceremonies (of course!). Good times!

Extracurricular stuff...

This is totally not related to anything... but the guy who made this was my parents neighbour in Vernon. I've met him a few times....

Ontario

This past week Hugo and I went to Ontario. First we spent Friday evening til Monday noon with my folks in Owen Sound. There was a lot of snow there! My brother and his wife were there and my sister and her hubby and new baby came down from Burlington for a night too. It was fun to catch up with everyone! On Monday Hugo and I headed out to Guelph and on the way stopped in to visit my sister Marsha at her new home. Got to meet some of her fun roommates too! Monday and Tuesday we had meetings with some of the MAF staff. And on Tuesday we got to have lunch with Clarence and Jeanette Togeretz! So fun to catch up with them! It was an incredibly quick trip but a very good one.

Safe and Sound in Owen Sound...

Hugo and I, without our brood, flew from Abbotsford to Kitchener today and then drove from there to Owen Sound. It was an interesting drive in the dark on the somewhat snowy roads but we made it safely! It is great to see the folks again and catch up!

Kodiak...

MAF is sending one of our new kodiak aircraft to help out in Haiti. Avgas supply is an issue there and the Kodiak can just carry more stuff and people. There's a little news story about it here
If you click here you can follow the path of the airplane as it makes its way to Haiti.

Check out an interview with MAF pilot Jason Krul of B.C. who was in Haiti during the earthquake here

MAF in Haiti

You can read more about what MAF is doing to help in Haiti here
There's a family from BC that is with MAF in Haiti (they have been evacuated) and you can read about their experiences here

School Skating...

Yes, that is Mikah skating with a boy.... Yikes!! She doesn't even know his name! He's in a grade above her... SSSHHHH don't tell her I posted this shot... It's the only decent one I got of her skating...

Bits and Bites....

It has been a while since my last post. There's just not nearly as much excitement in our lives here in Canada as there is in Papua. Maybe that's a good thing...

Good news from Papua. Our long-awaited Kodiak landed safely the other day after a long flight across the ocean:

This is very exciting for our program. This aircraft can carry more people than the Cessna 206 but use a lot of the shorter strips that the Cessna Caravan can't use and it uses jet-fuel instead of the hard to get a hold of and super expensive avgas.

Things I'm enjoying about Canada: (In no particular order)

not havng to make bread/buns

buying pork that's nicely cut into chops and all packaged up and sometimes even already seasoned! I could never bring myself to buy a pig leg (skin, fat and all) from the guys that would come to my door with one in a wheel barrow haphazardly covered with banana leaves in a futile attempt to keep the flies off.

Milk!

Shopping... as my credit card bill will confirm... there is so incredibly much available here!!!

Big pails of ice cream...

Caramilk bars...

Wednesday morning Bible study with the ladies

Hamburgers! Being able to borrow a bbq has been such a lovely blessing!

Things I am missing: (in no particular order...)

pineapple

feely truly warm to the very core

friends

being outside in the sun

playing hockey

yellow rice with chicken (nasi kuning bungkus) wrapped up in paper-yummy!

Things I am not missing:

meeting drunk guys on the road

the noise

Buying chicken at the market

rotten eggs

dealing with people asking for money

Things the kids have commented on or noticed/observed:

Brynnie to me: `Why does it always rain here

Yesterday the older kids saw the aftermath of a serious accident and the subsequent arrival of emergency vehicles - ambulance and firetruck.... the only time I ever saw a firetruck not parked at the fire department in Sentani, was when they were using the firetruck to water the flowers in the median on the main road... As we drive quite slowly in Sentani, there are rarely major car accidents.

** MAF has been working in Haiti for a long time. The houses and walls around the base sustained damage in the quake making personal safety a real concern. The women and children were to be evacuated and 4 pilots were going to remain behind to help out with the relief efforts. Please continue to remember the people of Haiti and those helping them in your prayers.

First day of school!

Here is Marc, very proud on his first day of kindergarten!

The kids are still adjusting to the long bus ride that takes them to school each day and then the subsequent long ride home. It is also odd to get up to go to school when it is still dark outside...

We are still cold, but we are adjusting to life in Canada. It will take some time. Everything about life here is different in comparison to life in Papua. In the meantime, we are having fun enjoying the things we love about Canada.

Bits and Bites....

Wishing you all a blessed New Year! May you continue to find joy in God's presence each and every day!
We are settling in here. There's no real routine yet however, as school has yet to begin. It feels as though each day has involved at least one sort of shopping trip.... However, there is a light appearing at the end of the proverbial tunnel. We are all clothed in season-appropriate clothing and managing to keep warm.
The cooler temperatures have definitely curbed the children's desire to play in the outdoors. This morning however, in anticipation of the arrival of cousins to play with, they are requesting to go to the park. Progress is being made. We'll have to see how long we last at the park though...
We are enjoying reconnecting with family and friends and eating foods that we haven't had for the past 3.5 years. Like sausage and waffles for breakfast.... strawberry yogurt.... sour cream and nacho chips... waffle cones... bbq'ed pork chops... fresh milk... etc... etc...
One thing I have observed about Canada and maybe more specifically this area of Canada, is that there is such a diverse mix of people calling this beautiful country home. In Value Village I met a young woman from the Philipines who has lived here for one year. In front of me at the Sears check-out was a family from South America. The majority of the cashiers at the local Superstore are from Pakistan or India. The woman in the men's clothing store is of Japanese background. I'm not sure where the girl working in Mark's Workwearhouse was from but I think her name sounded Greek and she had a unique accent. A nearby church just sponsored a family from Ethiopia. The wonderful effect this melting pot has is that no one need feel different. We're all different! In Papua we are the minority, and are often stared at and watched. I love that I can go to the store here and no one looks at me twice. No one's looking in my cart to see what I'm purchasing or watching the cashier punch it all in to see how high the total will be.
We miss Papua. We miss our friends, we miss eating fresh pineapple; I even miss the smallness. In just a week and a half we have already driven over 400 kilometers! I miss feeling really really warm. I don't really miss all the people coming to the door yet. In the week and a half that we've been here, we've had people come to the door maybe 4 times and they were all expected. That would be one morning in Papua!
I miss being able to walk to church and passing by the locals in their colourful dress on their way to church and greeting the folks I know. I am enjoying sitting on comfortable benches and listening to sermons in my mother tongue along with singing and actually knowing what I am singing. The language of song is often quite different than the spoken language.