Almost A Goner - Near drowning experience

This weekend we went to the locally famous Outer Beach.   It’s a fabulous beach protected from the fury of the Pacific Ocian  by only a coral reef. This 400 meter long strip of paradise is on the North shore of western New Guinea on the Indonesian side of this second largest Island in the world. It’s located just out side Dipapre Bay.   It took us 45 minutes by boat to reach this deserted section of beach. The waves were not the docile things they say they are in June-October.   There seemed to be a storm almost always brewing.   We strung tarps and hammocks and pitched tents with the Webbs, Lewis’s, Mr Scott Brady and 1 of our boys friends.   Ahh!   No cell phone!   No internet!  We were unplugged but maybe the lack of electronic energy was made up for by the 10 boys and 1 girl who made up the offspring of the Boyd, Lewis’s, Webbs and 1 friend.  

lots of drift wood on this day.

We woke up the next morning to discover the storm seemed to be building a little stronger off shore and waves were even greater.   Soon after 9:00 a.m. our good friends the Stubbs joined us for the day.   They are parents of 4 boys like us and for that amongst of ton of other reasons we relate to them as great friends.  

Aubrey standing in the boat with Susan (adjusting her hat) and Adam (their youngest son) and Brian (back turned to the camera.

Somewhere around 12:15 p.m. Mr Brady decided to go for a snorkel despite the foul waves crashing over the reef on the now low tide.   At low tide the water crashes with fury over the reef and fills the safer inner side with water that must go somewhere.   Through the years two small channels remain open as a means for this influx of water to exit.   At low tide the only way to exit to the open ocean is via these two channels.   Mr Brady a season swimmer who swims laps 3 times per week bravely headed to the break in the reef.   The waves that made it over the top reversed their course through a 10 foot wide channel.   Try as you may, you cannot swim against the flow when the waves are beating more than about 2 foot rollers.   It sucks you as if your being flushed into the Pacific.   But on this day Mr Brady was being equally pounded by 3-6 foot waves from the opposite way.   The result is a revolving, recycling, regurgitating, boiling mess in the passage way.

The women stood at the far west end of the beach talking when Susan Stubbs said, “Hey is that Mr Brady?”   About that same moment the rest of the ladies saw him raise 1 hand in desperation as he came up on one of the cycles of boiling mess.   I was about 150 yards down the beach sitting in the waters edge getting ready to go snorkeling to see God’s nature on the calm side of the reef   I’d just put my flippers on.   A boat had entered the inside passage just 10 minutes before and was located close to the exit passage 150 yards away from where I sat on the beach.   Susan Stubbs a woman born with ability to act quick when emergency demands.   Ran down the beach.  Yelled at her husband to grab his inflatable surf board and get to action.   Next she flew past all the “older boys” – The big bad 7th and 8th graders.   She instructed them to under no circumstance get into the water right now.   Ruth shouted at me.   “Mr Brady is drowning and needs help”   I grabbed a near by boogie board and swam for all my worth as Brian Stubbs took advantage of his feet and sprinted with surf board and a life jacket that someone gave him on the way.   He reached the vicinity of Mr Brady about 1 minute from the moment he was first spotted.  I was still swimming when I noticed the attempt Brian made at tossing the surf board for Mr Brady to catch hold of.   The wind caught the board and it went far short of it’s attempted target.   Then Brian threw the life jacket.   This time it was bingo dead on target but Mr Brady was becoming confused.   He couldn’t focus.   Come-on Mr Brady!   Lord help him.  I prayed silently!

I was now pulling close when suddenly an incredible tug of water sucked me out into the same mess.  I had fins and a boogie board but even with these I felt an incredible downward pull of the recirculating water and then deafening roar of waves pounding over the reef.   It was sucking me down.   “Hang on Darron!” I said to myself.   Then amazingly the long boat with outriggers seemed to fly toward us.   At that moment Mr Brady grabbed the surf board.   Praise God but even that was not enough.   Please Lord!   Help the boat get to us.   Another wave!   I’m breathing hard from my sprint through the water to this point.   Brian Stubbs is standing on the reef like a smart man.   Here is Mr Brady and me fighting for our lives.  Another wave and an incredibly long 15 seconds under water. Then blessed relief Mr Braddy catches the edge of the boat but for a brief moment I panic the boat is missing me.   I lung for all my worth and manage to catch the bamboo out-rigger.   Amazingly a 25 foot long out-rigger had managed to turn around and was headed to shore dragging me and Mr Brady.  

Then suddenly it all hits me.   Mr Brady is a much stronger swimmer and nearly drowned with out the aid of a boogie board.   I on the other hand had a boogie board but felt like I was nearly a goner in just 45 seconds in this perfect widow maker.

Mr Scott Brady with a bum knee from the scrapes on the reef.   He sat around the rest of the day.

Mr Scott Brady lay shaking on the beach as blood trickled down his legs from the nasty coral scrapes.   Then Ruth said, “Thank God your alive but you’ve got some nasty scrapes.“ I looked up from my spot on the beach near Mr Brady still breathing hard.   Ruth was looking at me! 

“Me have scrapes?”  Until now I hadn’t felt any of this!   Where did I get those scrapes?   I looked up to see Brian Stubbs still standing on the reef.   In the haste to rescue us from the exit passage everyone had forgotten him.   Soon he carefully got down and waded and swam through the shallower waters.   And everyone was talking at once.

Mr Brady lay back and said what I was thinking!   “I thought I was a goner.   I don’t think I’d have made it any longer if Brian hadn’t have pushed that surf board to me.”

Latter he turned to me and said, “How’d you get those nasty scrapes?”

He’d been so far gone that he didn’t know that we’d been caught in the same mess and that it was me who’d shoved him the surf board even though it was Brian who’d first thrown it to him.   Crazy thing was both of us were within 3 feet of the reef that we could have stood on if only we could have reached it.

There are so many miracles that happened.   1) the Stubbs came and he’s trained in life saving and a former policeman. 2) I had my fins on.   If I’d not had them on I’d have likely drowned.  3) I had a boogie board with me, 4) the boat was there at the right time and amazingly made it into the passage and turned around on a high wave at the last possible moment, 5) And lastly there had to be Angels pushing my hands up to catch the boat at just the right moment because I nearly missed it.

I lay awake in the middle of the night thinking.   What would my family have done had I drowned?   I’m ever so grateful for my 4 boys and 1 wonderful wife.   Thank you Brian and Susan Stubbs!   Thank you George the boat driver!   Thank you God for life!

Think I’ll stick to sitting in the hammock chair instead of a life in the passage way.

23 hour orthodontist Trip

A few months ago Andrew got braces.  About every 8 weeks we head off to Jakarta to the nearest American trained Orthodontist.    6.5 hours by Boeing 737-900 ER plane west.  Then appointment and shopping.   Latter 6.5 hours by plane headed back east.  Praise the Lord for insurance but it is still expensive even at 25% out of pocket.      Ruth accompanies Andrew one trip and I go the next trip.  Usually we spend the night in Jakarta.

This time as I was booking the trip I was trying to squeeze it between an incredibly busy travel schedule that was coming ahead and around an already day off from school for Andrew.   How can we do it?   As I looked at all the airlines that fly I noticed that one had a flight starting at 7:45 am and returning on the same day at 10:30 p.m. and arriving the next morning at 6:00 a.m.  Almost 23 hours – Yikes.    But it put us in Jakarta for just long enough to do the orthodontist appointment and a little bit of shopping and then we could jump back on the plane to be home for weekend appointments.   I’m not sure how functional I’ll be after spending 13 hours actually flying and more than 23 hours from home but fortunately the appointment were trying to make in Jayapura is a very relaxing one.   Stay tuned.

Andrew and me after only half way through.   I wonder what we’ll look like after a night on a very uncomfortable airplane ride?

Say No to Pre-Marital Sex

Warning this is not for children to read.   Parents may want to edit this one.

Ruth teaching on Dating.

As promised I’ll tell you what Ruth, myself and others are doing to help young people in Papua.   It started with a conversation with Pastor Desmond my good friend here.   He is the head of the College and the High School near our home.   I’d counseled with a  young man who had impregnated a girl and didn’t know what to do.   Pastor Desmond told me that he was aware that sometimes girls get abortions.    Together we agreed something needed to be done.  

Then the boys dean was appointed the coordinator of a seminar.   They appointed about 6 speakers to share on various things dealing with this subject. They asked Ruth to do a seminar about “Dating” and me to do a sermon for Sabbath morning.   They told me the title had to be “Sex is a Gift.”   Ruth and I are both great believers in Abstinence.

I shared that it is the little things that lead to trouble with the big thing.    First it’s the flirting look,  Then it’s the asking them out, next its holding hands, the peck on the cheek, the touches, the cuddles.   I gave the illustration of how when I was a kid I opened a Christmas present secretly and then re-wrapped it.   On Christmas day when we opened the gifts there was one gift that didn’t mean as much because I’d ruined the surprise.   I shared that those who wait have a greater likelihood of marriage success by more than double those who don’t wait.

The greatest part of the whole seminar was the “No Holds barred” question and answer session.   I was very surprised at the utter honesty.   The Young people almost never come to the afternoon in as many droves as they did on that Sabbath afternoon.    Nearly 300 of them jammed the chapel at SLA Advent Doyo Baru School.   The wrote down question after question.   The moderator had all the speakers come to the front panel discussion style.   The questions were grouped and the kids asked about: 1) When they should begin dating.  2) How they could overcome thought life issues and temptations and pressure.  3) They touched on cultural issues that are only found in Papua. 4) probably the shocker for us was dealing with the advertisement that is all over Papua “Increase your Maleness increase the length.”

The story came out that there are some peddlers selling “medicine” or herbs that are to be pounded onto the male anatomy.   The anatomy increases in size but not because of the herb but because of swelling.   The science teacher did a great job answering this one.   He said, “You’d be better off letting a bee bite you then to pound that area.   You risk damaging things for life.”  The evidence is the medical professionals say it it damaging men by the thousands every year.

Girls were interested in how to resist the boys advances.   Interesting boys were interested in how to resist pornography.    Porn has become a great curse to society around the world since the advent of the Internet especially.   I shared the principles of bouncing the eyes from looking at the girls.   Sealing the mind from dwelling on lustful thoughts by filling it with God’s word.   Asking other guys to pray for guys to have moral strength and seeking God’s guidance day by day.

In the end they had prepared a huge banner for all the kids to sign who wanted to be men and women of integrity.  

I’m praying that someone will fill called to help young people by writing books in Indonesian.   By producing seminars.   We will also be producing some audio material soon one the subject of dating and pre-marital sex.  

Young people sign in agreement that they will be faithful for their future spouse one day.

Papuan Weddings

Evangelism and weddings are two words rarely associated together  in America.   Within the Adventist Church in Indonesia Weddings often happen after evangelism meetings.   Why?   Because when I couple is living together outside the bounds of marriage they cannot be baptized unless there is a wedding planned on that day or within 24-48 hours – that is in Indonesia.  

In Papua the first thing one notices is that the bride is made up with white make-up on the face.   Why?   I’ve received a variety of explanations from Papuans.   Here are a few of the ideas I’ve heard:  1) White means more wealthy and since this is her day she should look more wealthy.  2) White means sadness that you have to leave your parents. 3) White means purity and the black face would mean impurity.  4) white is beautiful.

The Second thing I’ve noticed is that the bride often rarely cracks a smile.   Why?   I’ve received a variety of answers on this one too.    1) “To smile would mean I was happy to leave my parents home and that would be disrespectful.”  2) “To smile would mess up my make-up.”  3) “I’m nervous about this event.”

The Third thing I’ve noticed is that to kiss in public is embarrassing for the bride and groom.   Maybe that’s the reason she wears white make-up – to cover her red embarrassed face.    Pastors seem to delight in saying, “Where are you going to kiss her young man?   Are you going to kiss her up high or down low?”   The audience goads the groom on.   There is lots of laughter.   Clearly a public kiss is not a part of this culture.

Perhaps the funniest wedding I went to was the 5 couples who were married simultaneously in Sorong.   The man running the Audio-Visual equipment decided that the wedding would be more interesting if the British Royal Wedding were playing on the LCD projector at the same time the couples were exchanging vows.    In Papua they don’t kiss on the lips in public.   When the royal video clip arrived at the royal kiss, parents went scrambling to cover the eyes of their children.   They shouldn’t see a kiss between a married couple after all.    But the video wasn’t shut off.   They simply played it over again and again the same scrambling took place.

Another memorable wedding was the seven couples married along the Mimberamo river.   All seven women were well with child.   And the pastor said,   “In a few weeks there are going to be some miracles around here.”   I thought to myself, Yes it’s quite amazing to know that a 5 month old marriage produces 9 month – full term babies.   Is that the miracle he was talking about?

Then this Sabbath the musical selection for the song after the vow and prayer was “A shelter in the time of Storm.”   Hmm!   Let me see!   Is that prophetic of this new marriage?

Or what about the couple in Manokwari who when she wouldn’t  answer one of the questions of the vow loud enough the new groom hit her over the head with the pillow they were using to kneel on for the prayer?   This resulted in a small pillow fight until the minister basically said, “Now children, put your pillows back under your knees so I can finish these vows and have prayer so you can be married.”

Or the very pregnant one who obviously picked her wedding dress when she was less with child.   The now tight mid section revealed the moving and kicking feet of the little tike inside. 

Or the wedding rehearsal where the Pastor (not me) triple booked himself and we arrived 5 1/2 hours late.   The Bridal party were all sleeping on the front porch of the church.   In this case it was the Pastor who “tarrieth” not the bride-groom.

Maybe the saddest wedding was the one where the bride was asked to go change because her dress was white and someone felt she needed to “Be Honest” and wear the off white dress. Talk about humiliating to the poor girl.

Free weddings with the prayer done by the white missionary are a huge evangelistic tool used by a few of the pastors.    I’m trying to help people understand that it’s better to get married before you do the things that married people do to produce offspring.   In a future blog I’ll tell you what I’m doing to help with that goal.   Stay tuned!

Both Parents lead their “sad” daughter who cannot show happiness.   It might crack her make-up and might make her parents feel disrespected if she is happy.

35 souls Baptized in Biak.

Pastor Larry Evan and Pastor Arie Dien preach each night in Biak

Biak is a place similar to heaven – where time is no more.   There’s never a rush.   The answer to most problems is “Don’t worry – No Problem!”   For the past two years the church in Biak has been plagued with offshoots – Don’t Worry!   When the disgruntled  infiltrate or pilfer the ranks our focus must be on Someone Greater – Jesus.   Last year evangelism efforts is what brought many people back from the wrong focus – last years meetings were sweet with very little conflict.  When it comes to Soul-winning, the Devil may let you off easy once but he certainly won’t let you off easy twice.

The odds were tremendous.   From the very beginning we met with resistance.   First, the visa’s were denied for our speakers --  Pastor Larry Evans and Dr Jim Anderson.   Then when we got that worked out there was some internal problems.   Next ,the Translators were prevented from leaving their posts.   On and on it went but all of this we know only proved how powerful our God is.  Despite insurmountable problems God found a way.   Visa’s were obtained with heroic efforts.    Advertising was fabulous.   Pastor Arie Dien did an amazing job translating.   Pastor Ferry translated the health talks and children’s stories in the children’s tent.

And the result was that God added to the church another 35 people.    And there are about 75 people that are still being worked with by our 6 Bible workers who are employed to follow up for another 2 months.  We expect the 35 souls to grow to a greater number soon.

On Sabbath is was a blessed experience to step into the oceans 84 degree water and baptize 35 people.   Some of their stories are tremendous stories of sacrifice.   There was the family who came 6 hours by boat and car to live with their relatives while they sold their salted fish in the Fish market.   They intended on returning home but they stayed for every night of the meetings.   Pray for them as they are ones still who are still being followed up.   Another man traveled 55 miles across the ocean in a small single engine boat just to be at our meetings.

There were tremendous signs of encouragement that the leader of the offshoot group was willing to apologize and return back to the one world wide body of Seventh-day Adventist believers.   But then he seemed to go back on his word.   Pray for him that he will have courage to return.

35 Newly Baptized hold their Bibles high.   They are thrilled to have the word of God.

In a future blog I’ll explain why we almost always have weddings after Baptisms.   Here is 1 of 2 weddings we had right after the evangelism meeting

How Sweet are Gifts

Soon after we arrived to Papua we discovered that to receive a package from America via the mail was expensive business.   Not only did it cost the giver a lot but then there seemed to be a random charge for customs.   Memory fails me on exactly how much this cost us.   The  amounts seemed like $80 worth of things in a box would cost us somewhere around  $100 for customs and then the next time the same things would be $20.   That wasn’t even including the huge cost to mail the items.   We decided to tell our friends to not send things via the mail.   However, we miss those “Christmas like” surprises.   But not currently!!!!!   Ye-haw!  Read on!

I Love Hot Cereal but it’s not available here.

Imagine our delight when the Evans and the Andersons who are doing evangelism meetings in Biak brought a whole suit case of things for us.   Some things are for Ruth’s medical tasks  and a lot of things for our family.   We’ve never had so much Chocolate at one time.   And my favorite are the Reese – Peanut Butter Cups.   I think I need to make a stash of them somewhere for a rainy day.

Chocolate, Chocolate, Shhh!   Don’t tell!

 

Ruth was delighted with the medical supplies that Dr and Mrs Anderson collected with the help of their Sabbath School class.   Since I’m often traveling and miss the sweet desserts from home I’m delighted with the chocolate.   The boys too are happy with the good foods.   Oh and did I mention the new Bathroom rug to cover the problem where the tile workers messed up when they built the house.    What a Blessing!

Jacob and Nathaniel are wiggly with delight at all the stuff.

Thank you to the Evans and Andersons for your incredible sacrifice to come on a short term mission trip and sacrifice your limited suitcase space to bring things for us.   How incredibly thoughtful.   Thank you!   Thank You!  Thank YOU!

Gum anyone?

Now where can I hide those Reese – Peanut Butter cups?

One Sows -- Another Reaps

Pastor Son Rumbiak is our good Pastor in Raja Ampat.   He has been a missionary and Pastor for several years now.   Last September I was excited to learn that some Rumbiaks were coming to my evangelism meetings in Biak.   We went to visit them and I learned that these were the parents of Pastor Son.   Pastor Son became an Adventist and Christian probably more than a decade ago but his parents were satisfied in their way of life.   With his humble and persistent faith he kept encouraging his siblings and parents to accept Christ.   They came to our meetings and I invited them to join God’s side but they said, “No, not now but thank you!”

Imagine my delight to learn that our good Bible workers had decided to visit them.   When Pastor Larry Evans began his meetings Mrs Rumbiak was back at the meetings.   Because Mrs Rumbiak has had a stroke she was attended to by Pastor Son''s sister.   The two drank in the messages as if it were an oasis in a dry dessert.  

 

 

Left to Right: Pastor Son’s wife, 2nd child,Pastor Son, 1st child, Mother, Sister.

Pastor Rumbiak was called to witness the decision of his mother and sister joining God’s team as they gave their heart to Jesus and then celebrated with their new Adventist family by being Baptized as a public expression of what Jesus has said to their hearts.   In order to witness his mother and sisters baptism Pastor Son and his wife and children traveled on a small boat from their island home in Raja Ampat, then by a little larger boat and then a ship.    It took them about 3 days travel to witness this exciting experience.

One Sows and another Reaps!

When Doctors Come

Indonesia has difficult rules for foreigners who are Medical workers.   But for now, offering consultation or medical advise is still allowed.   Dr Jim and Mrs Barbara Anderson are a warm and caring couple in the retirement years of their life.   I’ve often heard it called the Sunset years of life but for them I believe it’s the Son-Rise years of their life.   They exude Christ’s character of Love to all people.   When Pastor Evans inquired if the Andersons would like to come and do nightly health talks I had no idea what a positive and dynamic couple this was.  

Each morning the Andersons finds positive things to say.   Each meal time they always find positive things to say.   Barbara is especially good at this.   That kind of positive energy has a way of spilling over to everyone.

Dr Jim is 81 years young and yet has the nimbleness of a much younger man. 

Each morning Dr Jim  and Barbara (who is 77 years young) go for a morning jog/walk.   With smiles on their face they greet each person.   You cannot help but love them.

Barbara helps teach the children in the nightly meetings.   And its with a huge smile and the energy of someone half her age.

Thanks for coming and sharing of yourself in such unselfish ways.   May others follow your positive example.   May your tribe increase.

The Deadly Killer

Billy (the straight haired Indonesian) Stands with me and Simon the Persecuted

Billy is one of at least one dozen student missionaries from 1,000 missionary Movement who are assigned to Papua Mission.    Billy is working along one of the deadliest river in the world.   I’ve already written several blogs about this area in the past.   Try reading my blogs about the Mamberamo River.   Here’s one called Super Eddies -- A river that Flushes Like a Toilet Bowel, also Simon the Persecuted comes from this River area,   and Snakes, Crocodiles, Malaria and Dengue Fever and finally The Sequel to Snakes, Crocs, Malaria and Dengue Fever.

Whenever Adventist Aviation gets a radio call that one of our Pastors or their family or Bible workers or student missionaries are sick with Malaria, or Dengue Fever it’s usually not good.   At 3:30pm this Friday afternoon I heard the plane take off from the runway just outside my office.   I thought to myself, “What’s Bob Roberts doing flying out of here at 3:30 on a Friday afternoon.”   Thunderheads were all the way around us and Aviation closes by 5:00 p.m. all days but even more so on Friday because Sabbath comes by 5:45 p.m..   To fly anywhere round trip is usually at minimum 2 hours.  But perhaps Bob had a short run and needed to go before the weekend.   I didn’t think of it any longer.

By 5:20 p.m. the airplane was landing again.   A few minutes later my Cell phone and my house phone and the campus intercom were all going off simultaneously.    “Pastor your missionary from Dabra is here.”    I scratched the back of my brain.    Was I expecting an missionary from Dabra?   “What Missionary were we expecting from Dabra?”  I asked.

“It’s Billy.   He’s really sick. . . You need to run him to the hospital and get a blood stick so you know what strand of Malaria to treat him for.”

Since I’m not a medical person I made him walk/hobble with me to my house.   Ruth decided that her own blood test using the kits we have would probably be more accurate.   Within 20 minutes the results were back – Tropica Malaria or Cerebral Malaria – the Deadly Killer.   If not treated it can do wonders on your imagination.    Read my posts from a while ago when I saw rainbows coming out of my sons neck.   Within an hour of him coming to us we had him on a bed with medicine in him.  

Now 24 hours later Billy is eating, playing our guitar, watching a video and looking like his old self.   We sent him into the jungle with Malaria medicine but it wasn’t for this strand of Malaria.   I said to Ruth,  “We really need to do a lot of training on how to treat for Malaria.”   You can get really sick really fast.    So glad Billy is fine but there have been 6 other of our workers along the Mamberamo River who didn’t fair so well.    We wait until resurrection morning to see them again because there’s still a Deadly Killer on the loose.   That’s why they still go to warn the world of the Deadliest of Killers who can be conquered by our King Jesus.

Pray for Billy and the dozens of other works we have in this and many other difficult places in Papua.

Pastor Larry Evan and Dr Jim Anderson Come to Biak

Starting with Pastor Larry Evans (the tall one in the middle) and his wife Carie, together with Dr Jim and Mrs Barbara Anderson and then Mrs Dien and Pastor Arie Dien.

When Pastor Larry Evans and I first began talking about the possibility of him coming to Papua I was thrilled.   Pastor Larry was the second Conference President I worked under in Georgia-Cumberland Conference back in America.    From Georgia-Cumberland he went on to become the assistant to the President for the NAD for 8 months and then on to the General Conference where he served as Undersecretary for the world church of Seventh-day Adventists.   Today he serves as associate for Stewardship and as the advocate for Deaf Ministries world wide.  

There have been a lot of miracles pulling together this important Evangelism meeting for our church in Biak.   The churches of Biak have 2 pastors covering 14 places of worship.   We hired 4 Bible workers to assist in preparation and follow-up as well as there were already 2 locally hired 1,000 missionary students.   This small army of people has been instrumental of building over 150 interests.

4 of the 28 member Signing Choir that welcomed us to the Opening night Ceremonies for Pastor Evans – Hope for a Broken World Evangelism meetings.

Biak is an Island of about 107,000 people.   It boasts some of the best snorkeling in the world.   It is host to about 79,000 Biakian people who speak their own Biak language and have a beautiful nature of welcoming hearts.   In their tradition truth was to come to their tribe via the white spirit from the east.   So when white missionaries came from America and other places they excepted the gospel with eagerness.  

Local Media from Radio and TV come for interviewing Pastor Evans on opening night.

Each night around 100-150 guests have been coming and that attendance will build as the meetings go on.   Please pray for these important Evangelism meetings.

Pastor Evans and Pastor Dien, his translator, call for a decision to follow Jesus on the opening night.   Imagine preaching in suits in 85 degree heat and 90% humidity.

Inner Beach with the expats

On Good Friday the boys were out of school.   Many of their friends were heading to the beach and we were invited to participate on this day, too.   For the first time since we’ve been in Papua we went from early am until after dark at the beach to the ‘Inner Beach’. 

The Inner Beach is loaded with good snorkeling and nice white sandy beaches but the one draw backs is you have to plan ahead and charter a speed boat because the trails leading to it are not much in the way of ADA accessible.  

Here I’m scouting for under water “boat sinkers” --  those bits of coral reef that sink boats if not avoiding them when coming through the passage ways to the beach.

We spent the day snorkeling, swimming, lobster-fying ourselves a.k.a. sun-burning, gabbing with the other expats that came along with us – approximately 68 others who had the same idea as we had.   But that’s not bad considering if this beach were somewhat easy to reach it would have several thousand on it because it’s so beautiful.

Aubrey and Andrew and friends coming in on the slower outrigger long boat.

Love the shade on this beach.

Those are real blue star fish on our boogie board that Aubrey dove and caught.

Grilling vegetables over the fire with Brian Stubbs and friends.

Me and my love at sundown.   Heaven is touching earth with rest!   “Thank you Lord for the Sabbath and for a wonderful woman and family to welcome it with.”

Hallelujah that He arose up so that I can spend eternity watching Sunsets like this one.

Father-Son Basketball

I Just finished reading the book Courageous – based on Sherwood Baptists movie called Courageous.   It’s a book and movie that inspire Fathers to be there for their sons.   I always feel challenged in this department as ball sports are a bit challenging because of my eye sight and the break-neck-pace of life.   Aubrey and Andrew, our two oldest, always like to play ball sports and have especially found it fun for them here in Papua.   Most days find Andrew out playing “football” on the airstrip after school.   Andrew and Aubrey love Sunday night soccer and then when the season hits they both love foots-all (indoor version of soccer).

Recently, I got asked if I was going to play basketball in the Father-Son game at the end of Basketball season.   The last time I’ve done more than shoot P-I-G or H-O-R-S-E resulted in me wearing glasses.  Back then I was playing in a mixed group of tweens when a 13 year old girls rather impressive finger-nail went into my right eyeball resulting in some strong advice by my eye doctor.    I’ve got an extremely lazy left eye so my the skewered right eye left me with triple vision for a week.   That was 2001 – the year I was ordained into the gospel ministry.   The year of the glasses.   The year of toddlers.   The year triple towers came down in New York City.   I don’t know why everyone else says it was the twin tower when I’m sure I saw three of every thing.  Three sets of toddlers, Three sets of all my church members, Three of my wife – thank the good Lord the ordination committee didn’t ask about that last one.    You get the picture I was seeing triple back then but thanks to glasses I’m back to seeing single with my four eyes.

Now fast forward 12 years latter.   Those two toddlers now have wingspans bigger than their dad.   They aren’t taller than me yet but probably will be within the year.   Their feet have been bigger than me for a year now.  While they weren’t looking I stood on my tip-toes for the picture at the end of the game – But don’t tell them that.    It somehow boosted my ego to look at the picture and think – “ha!   I’m still bigger!”    But don’t tell them that I know that within the year I’m wagering I’ll be the midget amongst two giants – Aubrey and Andrew.

Here’s the stats on this old dad at the Father-Son game:

-  I shot 17 bricks for 0 points.   There’s a reason the defense left me so wide open.

-- I caused one kid to nearly knock his front teeth out when I backed up without looking.   It resulted in a nice bite mark on my shoulder.   Someone said, “Hey sir! put your eyeballs on the back side if you’re going to run that fast in reverse.”

-- Even though I run for exercise I found the short sprints up and down the court to be winding.

-- Got 6 rebounds and 4 stolen passes.   Resulting in the guy I was defending against commenting, “Give me a chance. . . Your bigger than me!”   To which I thought – No-sir-ee-buddy this maybe this dads last chance to win.   There ain’t no way I’m being responsible for a team of mostly 13 year old Sons whipping a team of mostly 40 year olds Dads.   That would truly mean we were over the hill.   Let’s delay that pain for one more year.

Final score – Dads 28 Sons – 24 

Somehow I think I need to brush up for next year starting now.  If the score is that close now. . . by next year, when they equal  or surpass us in height, I predict a W by the Sons column.   That might call for desperate measures like inventing a remote-control laser-guided Basketball or something.   Imagine what the sons defensive strategy might be then.   “Quick, jam the trigger on Dad’s invisible hand-to-rim anti-miss basketball launcher.”   Now that would be a movie better than Flubber!

Until next years Father-Son Basketball game.  .  .  Go Hillcrest International Schools – Middle School basketball team!   May you win a bunch next year.   Trying to be courageous and spend more time with my sons.   Go Father-Son time!   “Want to shoot some hoops – Sons?”

Watching one of my 17 bricks bounce off the rim.  I’m sure that rim had an anti-dad button on it.

Rat-balls and Spaghetti anyone?

Could it be?. . . . Is it really?. . . What’s the Mystery-meat-on-a-stick that the man holds up for the picture.
I’m sure everyone has heard of meat-balls and spaghetti –but the other day at our breakfast table a different twist to meat-balls and spaghetti was discussed.   Ruth and Nancy (my secretary) went to the market the other morning.  Ruth asked Nancy what one product was it that everyone was so interested in at the market that day.   One man was selling small fried balls made of some mystery meat.  A smattering of people were gathered around waiting their turn to buy them hot out of the skillet.  The conversation lemay have gone something like this.

Nancy:  “Normally, they are a specialty meat ball from Manado (her home town) but in Papua they add other types of meat.”

Ruth: “What ‘other types of meat’ are you talking about?”
Nancy: “Well, I’m shy to tell you!”
Ruth: “Don’t be shy!”
Nancy: “Well, they add whatever meat they can get!   Maybe even rats!”
We Boyd men being boys, ran with the discussion.  One said, “You mean Rat-balls?”   Another bigger boy said, “Rat-balls and Spaghetti!”   Then everyone collectively said, “UUUUUUUGGGGGHHHHHH!!!”

For now I’ll stick with vegetarian Meat-balls and spaghetti.