PNG Pictures Part 4

I had the amazing opportunity to visit my friends, the Van Der Deckers on West Britain Island. I have written about this family before. They played a major part in my decision to go to PNG and have helped me immensely in my journey to go to PNG. I got to fly in a 9 passenger plane that was very fun. I spent 3 amazing days in Lavalus with the Van Der Deckers and the national believers there. We got to worship with the believers. I didn't understand a word once they switched from Pidgin to their tribal language. The service was maybe 2 hours and then we had a popcorn party and a christian singsing. On Monday we visited several literacy schools and the team went river tubing. The visit went way to fast but I'm so blessed and will treasure the memories forever.

PNG Pictures Part 3

Here's my language helper, Uriso. This is her baby James. The girls are making a bilum which is a purse.

PNG Pictures Part 2

Here are some pictures of the mumu we had with some nationals. We ate lamb, greens and sweet potato. It was cooked in a pit in the ground that had dirt piled on top of it. I also let a banana spider crawl all over me. It was a fun day and was topped off with a huge rain storm.

PNG Pictures Part 1

Here are some pictures of my time in PNG. It was an amazing time for sure. I miss it immensely but know that I'm where God has me for now.

Facing my Greatest Fear!!!

Hey,
So you all know that I am terrified of snakes, right? Well, I had 3 fears in going to PNG, my biggest being snakes. I was so scared that God would trap me somewhere where I wouldn't be able to run and He'd put a snake in with me and I'd be forced to get over my fear. Well, thankfully He didn't. Actually, I didn't see any snakes while I was Interface. But, toward the end of our trip, the team broke up into 3 smaller teams and went to different tribes in PNG. God worked it out so that I could visit the Van Der Deckers in Lavalus which is just a God thing because there'd have been no other way to see them unless He worked it out. So we got to Lavalus and I stayed with Nellie, an MK who's parents were in Hoskins for a few days. After I found out where I was sleeping she was like, "Oh, I hope you don't mind but I have a little pet..." Yes, it was a green tree python. So I had to sleep with that.... thing for 3 nights. On our last night at Lavalus, I was joking with the Van Der Deckers that I might hold the snake in the morning, not really believing I would. But I was thinking about it and I was like, why not? So I did and I'm still terrified of snakes but not as bad as I once was, Praise the Lord!

I'm Back!

Ok,
I've been back for almost a month and am just now updating this thing! I'm bad... The trip was very good for me. I learned soooo much and grew alot in the Lord. I'm going to upload a video of my presentation soon so I won't be saying much right now. But the Lord is amazing. Oh-- I'm also doing college now. I'm taking Cell Biology, Environmental Chemistry, Spanish 102, and Algebra I so please pray for me. I'm having a hard time learning biology and I need good grades to get into the nursing program. Thanks so much!

Last Post

Ok,
So this is gonna be my last post for awhile. I'm leaving in about 17 hours for the airport. So this time tomorrow morning I'll hopefully be on my way to LA. I can't believe this is the last day home for a month and a half! It seems so unreal to me. I'm finished with all my packing pretty much except for rearranging things so I can just concentrate on spending time with my family and friends today. Please pray for my team as they are all probably making last minute preparations too. I'm so excited to meet everyone but also really nervous. Please pray also that we will bond quickly and that everyone will get along well. Thank you all for praying for me all this time. I appreciate it so incredibly much! Have a great summer and don't forget to write me at: itf.abby.case@ntm.org.pg. Also, tell me about how your summer is going and what you're doing. Ok, this girl out for 5 weeks!

Fun with the Medinas

Tonight we had the Medina family and Kristy over for a Mexican BBQ. It was delicious and we had so much fun! I'm posting some picures of the night. The top one is us girls and the boys being silly, then Jason "driving" the RV, then him with Gretchen, then me with Dominic and Gretchen, then Elizabeth and Jason on the trampoling, then a great picture of the whole family, then Elizabeth and the boys with Kristy, then Mom and me and Jason watching everyone jump, then Kristy jumping with the boys, and finally, Jose and Elizabeth who cooked us an amazing meal! It was a great night. God has been bringing new people into our lives and it's so cool to build new relationships! God is great for sure!

7 Days Away!!!

Ok,
It's official: I'm freaked out right now because the trip that I've been waiting to go on for 7 years is now only 7 days away!!!! There's so much last minute stuff to do still. God is so good, though. He's guiding and directing me through all of this. The other day, I was reading in Philippians 4 and came across these verses:
"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."
Those verses encouraged me so much. It's amazing how you can read a verse 1,000 times, but just when you need it most, God uses it to speak to you.
We have had a chance this week to reconnect with some missionary friends so that's been great fun. My sister Katy is coming home from training week at Lamoka camp tonight. I can't wait to see her! Please continue to pray for me and my team. Thanks so much!

11 Days!!!

Wow-- it's getting closer and closer and closer!!! Sometimes I have to ask myself if this is really happening. Am I really going to Papua New Guinea for 5 weeks? I have been crazy busy trying to get things ready for my trip. Today I went clothes shopping and bought some much needed shirts. All I need to get now are some pictures to take with me and some yummy snacks to munch on the plane =)
Overall, I've been doing ok. These past few days I've felt extremely sick and haven't really eaten a whole lot. But today I'm feeling better. This trip has my emotions in a jumble for sure! But God is much bigger than my emotions and worries ever could be and He will take care of me!
I won't be traveling alone to LA which is a huge blessing since I've never flown before. Two heads are always better than one. It's so exciting to think about meeting my team! God will work amazing things in and through us this summer I think. Thanks so much for praying for me and please don't stop!!! My email address for the summer will be: itf.abby.case@ntm.org.pg. So if anyone wants to email me, I'd love to hear from you!

2 Weeks!!!

So many emotions are running through me at this moment. My trip is in two weeks and there is so much to do. So much to think and pray about! I am surprised at my emotions and thoughts concerning this trip. I thought that I would be ecstatic and chomping at the bit to get out of NY and go to PNG. But as my trip gets closer and closer, I'm getting more and more nervous and aprrehensive. I want to go; there's no doubt in my mind that this is where the Lord wants me this summer. But things are going on at home that I don't want to miss either. My sister and 4 really good friends are all working at a christian camp this summer together. I feel that I won't fit in when I get back. That they'll have such incredible memories that they can share and remind each other of and I won't. I mean, I know I'm gonna make amazing memories but I won't be able to share them with others. I will, but not like they'll have experienced it. The devil is trying to get me down with these thoughts and it's not good. Please pray for me that I will not be depressed and worried about this trip but that I will be used by the Lord for incredible things.
Mom and I went shopping for my trip yesterday and bought almost everything I need. It's really exciting!! The guy I'm flying to LA with has never flown either so it should be interesting to see how we manage the airport together =)The countdown's getting closer!!! So exciting. Thanks for praying for me.

17 Days 'Til PNG!!!!

Ok, my trip is getting really close! Only 17 more days!!! I got my itinerary and pictures of my teammates recently. It's so cool to see the people that I've been praying for. I'm departing from Buffalo, NY's airport on July 2 at 6:10 AM which means we have to be at the airport around 4:00 AM. Ugh! Then I'm flying to Atlanta, GA then to LA where I'll meet my team. We'll leave LA at around 11:00 PM that same night for PNG. A praise is that a college student from NY is flying with me so I won't have to navigate Atlanta alone. I've never flown before and get confused really easily so if you could pray for me that I'd get through the airports without any trouble. It seems so unreal to me that I'm leaving in less than 3 weeks! I've wanted to do this since I was 10, so why the apprehension? But the Lord is so faithful to me and He will take care of me and my teammates.
Onto other news. Well, not really news, just a recitation of what our family's been up to lately. This weekend was really busy. We had some friends over and went to a graduation party. We also cleaned up some of our church property that was really overgrown and even hung a swing up! Here are some pictures: