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February 2007HI there!
They came not only to visit but to assist where they could. We took them to 3 different missionary locations where they were able to help out by changing screens, cement work, painting, paneling and guttering…just to mention a few jobs they did. Their experiences were varied from having a green tree snake climb around their necks, eating grubs, chewing Beetle Nut which left their mouths red (like those little red pills we would eat in dental class at school) and drooling. The new graduate from nursing school, Candi, even got to do some doctoring on a toe (cut with an ax) and a head. (fell off the truck…ouch!)
They also did some fun things like water ski, night diving and fishing…although we couldn’t catch any fish other than barracuda. On their first day here, Steve did manage to cut his thumb while “showing” us how to filet a fish. I heard Steve say he’s too old to do cement work. When I asked how he was enjoying his vacation he said, “I don’t remember laying on the floor resting my back on other “vacations.” (He also required chiropractic treatment from dr. Mark so he could stand again.) They are back in Hawaii now recuperating, their bodies readjusting to cooler temperatures and their legs healing from sores. BUT, after all they endured, they want to come back! We’re not holding our breath and who knows, they just may! Another exciting event for us was our son Micah came to visit too. We so much enjoyed having him around and sitting after supper talking until midnight. (that’s what you do when you don’t have TVs) All was well until his last day when he decided to pop a wheelie a bit too far on his motorcycle and it landed on him leaving a 2&1/2 inch gash in his foot. We called in another missionary who had done some stitching 5 years ago to sew him up while Micah read up and gave instructions.
Of course it was sad to see him limp away the next day. He made his way home enjoying hopping around Sydney for a day on his way. The next day we had a big event up in the jungle which probably didn’t make the news. It’s been 25 years in the process but the Asingsing people now have the Bible in their own language. It was a joyous occasion for many who have been involved in the work and for thousands who have prayed and supported the work over the years. The festivities included speeches and much singing then a meal afterwards. However, myself and others missed the meal as rain clouds were looming overhead so the mission plane got us out before the weather closed in which would have had us all sleeping there till the weather cleared.
And the last bit of news here is that our daughter Mariko got another Hornbill. We call them “Kokomos” here in PNG. It’s pretty big although it’s still a baby. We kept him tethered for a couple weeks then let him go. To our delight, the next morning he came back and now flies around the house during the day dropping in for food at least 6 times a day. Nights he goes to sleep somewhere in the trees then comes back in the morning for breakfast. It’s pretty neat. What do we feed him? Well, we’re still experimenting but so far he eats bananas skin and all, papaya, berries, geckos and today he ate my cookie. The hornbills have a bizarre nesting habit. The mother finds a hole in a tree in which the male blocks her inside until the eggs hatch and are old enough to fly. He feeds them through a hole the entire period. Unfortunately for the hornbill, logging in the area wants those big trees so their natural habitat is diminishing and there is fear of them becoming an endangered species. In closing, we again want to Thank YOU for your prayers and support on our behalf. We really do appreciate you. Because He said, “GO,” Mark and Joan Reichman |
