Vacationing in Papua New Guinea leaves you feeling like you need a vacation to recover from your vacation!! But, in spite of the heat and humidity and incredibly bumpy 7 hour drive to and from the coastal city of Madang, we had a good time with our friends, the Nachtigals. We enjoyed swimming at nice beaches, eating out and even watching some television.
The whole time brought back so many memories for me (Brena) of our years in the Solomon Islands, especially when we motor canoed out to a little island to swim. It was just like the beach we paddled across to every Saturday to spend time as a family. So it was a nostalgic time for me. In a way I felt like I was “home”.
And thankfully God kept us safe on our travels: a hold-up happened to a bus just ahead of us and a bridge that we passed over collapsed later that same day!
Some items for prayer:
- John is preparing for his trip to the Solomons in late February. He will be working with the Fataleka team on the final read-through of the New Testament. There are still some issues with a couple members of the team that need to be resolved or they won’t be allowed to participate in the final read-through so please pray for them.
- Joey and Kairu are helping out with a VBS program for the PNG kids that live around here. Pray that many kids will come to know Jesus this week.
- Next week the boys start the last half of the school year. These next few months are also the time when Joey and Kairu will decide on the schools they will attend next year.
- Grant has a very full load of math and engineering classes at John Brown University.
The Nachtigal family and us
Kairu, being a highlands boy, thoroughly enjoyed his time in the ocean
We had the privilege one day of driving up the mountain to revisit POC (the Pacific Orientation Course) where John and I (and baby Grant) spent 3 months in 1997 learning the ropes of life in the Pacific. These are the dorms.
the dining room
VBS!
Joey helping with games
To Be In Touch:
PO Box 1 (134), Ukarumpa EHP 444, Papua New Guinea
To Give:
johnandbrena 
Awwwww…your vacation sounds sweet! Love the pictures!!! Everyone looks healthy and happy!! ☺
“And thankfully God kept us safe on our travels: a hold-up happened to a bus just ahead of us and a bridge that we passed over collapsed later that same day!”
Oh my! I am sooooo glad you all are ok and safe. Both of those things are quite scary!
Brad was working with Grant, on the phone last night, trying to get him back to school. The flights were full. I don’t know if he got on the last flight or if he spent the night with your sister’s family. (I am up and out of the house well before Brad gets up). Hopefully, he got on that last flight.
Sending everyone hugs,
Glenys
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I remember when we were at Madang with the Lawrences on vacation, we took a boat out to a little island and I’ll bet it was the very same one you went to. Gosh, talk about deja ‘vu!
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Thanks for sharing. love the pics! So glad you were able to have a fun and trouble free vacation.
Blessings,
Helen and Jim
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Always love seeing your adventures. Especially pictures. Looks like a great trip.
Love, Sharon and Art
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So glad to hear you were able to take a break from the rigors of ministry.
May God bless you and keep you (and your boys) in 2016.
Doug Haag
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Great pictures! I was amazed at how many kids were at VBS, and also, in the first picture, John’s white feet with his tan legs – ha!! I s the water warm? Growing up in San Diego, I was always at the beach and never seemed to mind the cold water when I was young.
Betsy
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I am praying. Thank you so much for the up date. God is good all the time. Pat
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Too bad you can’t just push a button and be home after vacation, without that LONG ride.
More decisions to be made this year….those boys are growing up too quickly. May God
grant wisdom. And blessings on John in this final phase!
love,
Lorraine & Jim
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Great fun
Happy new year,
Jan
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Brena and John,
So happy for a good vacation to Madang and surroundings. I flew with JAARS to Madang. Great area for a vacation. I did do a road trip from Lae to Ukarumpa…Yes, quit a trip.
Thanks for the request of our annual Christmas. Sorry I just did not get this to all email friends.
Enjoy.
Blessings
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Wow! What a turnout for VBS. I love seeing the pictures of your boys. You must have had great memories o years past. Jeri S.
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Thanks for sharing your vacation with us. Glad you had a good and so close to home.
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Good to hear from you! Kim
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