The last two weeks have been extremely busy. The first week we got audited by the CAA (Civil Aviation Authorities). Legally they are required to give us a one month notice of the audit, but this being PNG, we only got a one week notice. Our team spent a frantic week cleaning, organizing, and ensuring all paperwork was in order. Carol and I even washed the walls which was almost as good as a new paint job! Our guys did an awesome job and our operating certificates have been renewed for another 2 years. PTL.
The weekend following the audit Bill had a flight to Rabaul and since there was room I decided to go along. Rabaul has a fascinating history. If you will look at a map you will see that the country of PNG is made up of not only the main island, but many outlaying islands as well, such as New Ireland, New Britain, Bougainville, and Manus just to name a few. The town of Rabaul is on the island of New Britain and sits at the base of two active volcanoes which means it is continually threatened by volcanic activity. There was an eruption back in 1878 before there was really a town established. Then, under the Australian administration, Rabaul developed into a regional base. In 1937 a volcanic eruption destroyed the town after the two volcanoes, Tavurvur and Vulcan, exploded killing over 500 people and causing widespread damage.
(The volcanoes today - still smoking!)
You have to ask the question why people have persisted in living in Rabaul due to the obvious danger! The best answer I can come up with is that Rabaul has a large, nearly perfect circular harbor - apparently one of the best in the South Pacific region for shipping.
During World War II Japan had its eye on Rabaul. After the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor it was apparent that Rabaul would also come under attack. In January 1942, Rabaul was heavily bombed, and on January 23 thousands of Japanese marines landed. It became the main base of Japanese military and naval activity in the South Pacific.
(WWII museum in Kokopo)
Here is a note of interest: On April 18, 1943, Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, the brains behind the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, was shot down and killed by United States aircraft over South Bougainville after taking off from Rabaul. Instead of capturing Rabaul, the Allied forces bypassed it by establishing a ring of airfields and naval bases on the islands around it. Cut off from re-supply and under continual air attacks the base became useless. The Japanese held Rabaul until they surrendered at the end of the war in August 1945.
In the meantime Rabaul grew in to a thriving town and became the provincial capital until 1994 when again Tavurvur and Vulcan erupted, destroying the airport and covering most of the town with heavy ash fall. Most of the buildings collapsed due to the weight of ash on their roofs. After the eruption the capital was moved to Kokopo, about 12 miles away. Nonetheless, Rabaul is slowly rebuilding in the danger zone. Some people just never learn! Vulcan has remained dormant since the eruption while Tavurvur continues to have occasional small eruptions.
(It was awesome to fly over the volcanoes and look down inside. The benefits of being a pilot's wife!) 
(Looking out towards Rabaul from Kokopo)The mission was hosting a large women’s retreat in Kokopo with women coming from all the surrounding islands for the event. The guest speakers were Heather-Dawn Small (General Conference Women’s Ministries director) Erna Johnson (South Pacific Division Women’s Ministries director), and Judy Ponduk (PNG Union Women’s Ministries director).
(Heather, Judy, & Erna)Judy Ponduk is a long time friend of mine from the first time we served in PNG. At that time her husband was the principle of Kabiufa .
When we landed in Kokopo a large delegation of women were waiting to greet our visitors.
We were treated to a special desplay by this group of marching ladies from Bougainville.
The women had made Meri blouses (the traditional dress) which they ceremoniously placed over the heads of the visitors.
The retreat was like a good old fashioned campmeeting with all the ladies staying in tents.
The Sabbath meetings were held in the local highschool gymnasium. It was packed out. I am estimating about 800 women were present.
The overflow sat outside under the trees.
On Sunday we flew the guest speakers back to Lae. We picked up some more passengers and took off for the village of Menyamya. I love this village as it is in the most beautiful valley.
Typical to many airstrips here in PNG, you often feel like you are flying straight into the side of a mountain before the pilot turns in on final approach.
Banking over a picturesque river on base to short final...
...and here we are at Menyamya.
From Menyamya we took off for Kanabea, just down the valley a way. See that little green line? That is the airstrip cut out from the side of the mountain.
Coming in for a landing at Kanabea...
As you can see, it is built right on the very edge of the mountain with a beautiful view looking out over the valley.
We picked up a load of pastors who had been holding some evangelistic meetings in the village.
After dropping them off in Menyamya we to off for Komako to pick up a load of coffee. At 370 meters, Komako is one of the shorter airstrips our guys fly in to. (Can you find it in the picture?)
Ah, there it is! Note the 45 degree dogleg on the right at the end of the strip. The strip was so short the villagers ended extending it a bit, but it is terribly crooked and you actually have to turn a corner!
Five seconds to touchdown...
Coffee waiting for pick-up.
Ready for takeoff....Once again, notice the corner you have to turn (on the left) as you take off. Once airborn you make a sharp turn to the right (to avoid that mountain) and out in to the valley. Who needs amusement parks and roller coasters when you can do this every day?
Tuesday this past week I was invited to give a health lecture at a private school that Dalena Spencer teaches at. I had great fun making all kinds of visual aids to keep the children's attention. Bill thinks I have more fun being creative and making all my props then actually teaching. I'm afraid it's true. It fun to have an excuse to just draw...
On Wednesday our container arrived from Australia. Roger had packed it up while on his year end leave with much needed aviation parts, tools, and equipment.
Bill unloading the new engine for our Cessna 206.
It takes many hands to quickly unload the container and get everything organized and put away before nightfall.
(Sharon and Carol)
(Dalena)
The next big event that we are looking forward to is the arrival of our second PAC-750XL. It just completed flight testing at the factory last week and we are currently waiting for the paper work to be finalized to take delivery of it. Standby for updates....
Meanwhile Betsy and I were doing our own mother/daughter bonding by both coming down with a miserable cold. In spite of this, we joined the AAS team for a two hour drive up to the town of Lufa on Sabbath, where another campmeeting was being held. Roger had been invited to preach and hold a baptism afterward. The town of Lufa sits at the base of Mt. Michael. At 12,303 feet it is the 2nd highest mountain in PNG.
The baptismal “tank” was a hole dug in the ground, lined with a tarp, and the water covered with flower pedals. Ingenious to be sure!
After the church service the pastor invited us to his home for lunch. As we were walking to his home this little old man took it upon himself to be Roger’s “bodyguard”, keeping everybody at bay with his stick and umbrella. If you got to close you got a good womping!
A feast was prepared for us.
There was no furniture in the house but we were graciously invited to sit on the floor to eat our lunch.
As we were leaving, the church members brought us more food to take home with us.
This old grandma just loved Betsy and kept kissing her hand.
Along the drive we passed many of these little “gas stations.” I guess it gives you enough fuel to make it to the next “gas station.”
Being the artistic person that I am, I always get great enjoyment out of seeing signs of creativity. I absolutely fell in love with this little hut with its heart shaped windows.
Thus ended a perfect Sabbath for all of us.
Things felt a bit lonely around our house after Sheba died so we decided to add this new addition as a surprise for our girls. Mishy was an extremely wild cat that started hanging out in our yard. At first I couldn't get even remotely close to him without him hissing and running away to hide. But after much patience we actually have him coming inside to eat and hanging around us all day - although we still don't dare touch him unless we want to risk some serious wounds!
They all arrived back Sunday afternoon and gathered at our home for a good old American 4th of July celebration. Well, it was the best we could do in a foreign country! We had a traditional picnic with potato salad, baked beans, roasted corn on the cob, lemonade, and home made ice cream.
