Look both ways before you cross the street...oh...and don't step on the food.

Just the other day I was reading to the boys from Richard Scarry’s Please and Thank You Book (Elias picked it out himself). The book basically consists of a series of settings (like a street setting) with characters being exhorted to do all the things moms and dads say to their kids (ie: ‘Don’t chase that ball into the street.’)

Anyway, as I was reading to the boys, I felt the need to add in a few PNG specific thoughts on manners and safety (yes, these were prompted by real-life situations).

·         Don’t suck on rocks from the village or market.

·         Don’t tear the leaves off of the tanget (shrub) fence.

·         Don’t step on or over the food in the market.

·         Let daddy wave down the right PMV, that one is going 50 miles in the wrong direction…

·         Make sure to go potty *before* we go to town, the village, etc

·         Don’t eat the carrot that that nice lady in the market dipped in the muddy water and handed you…we need to wash it first.

·         And many others…

Well, we are sorry that we have been awhile between updates. Thanks for praying for us and our partners. The Lockwoods have travelled to Manila and have had Mason’s hand surgically repaired. We are looking forward to their return in a week or two.

We also appreciate your prayers for us as we communicate with the Pal folks who have been coming regularly to see us. They have been very excited about our upcoming arrival and are planning a big party for us. Here is a picture of Mugumum and his wife when they came over Saturday.

Here are things that you can be praying for this week:

·         Wisdom as we balance family time with ministry. Last Saturday, our Pal friends just dropped in right at the time when I had promised the boys that we would be playing a game. Since Mugumum and Arundi had walked 4.5 miles to see us in the hot sun, we needed to change things for family time. Our boys did pretty well with the change in plans (praise God) and seem to understand the need for flexibility.

·         We are helping to orient the Lanier family who arrived in PNG last Saturday. We have been working to help them through all of the transitions that we remember facing two years ago. You can pray for them and their adjustment here.

·         Praise that work on cabinets and other interior pieces for our house has been progressing well. One of Nate’s students (from last year) has been staying here and helping out in the shop. Blake has fit in very well with the family and has been a great partner – we’ll miss him when he heads back to Goroka on Friday.

·         We are still seeking the Lord for a third family to share the load in Pal. There have been a couple of leads for us, but it will have to be the Lord working things out.

Again, thanks so very much for your prayers and encouragement. We miss you all very much.

The Claasens

Posted via email from PNG Time