Vacation

We are on school break and it is time to get away for a bit. Since January 7th I have only been out of Ukarumpa for one day. I am adding a map to this post so that you can see where I am headed. My good friend Marilyn is now working in Kavieng on New Ireland. I will go to visit her. So, tomorrow morning good friends are driving me from Ukarumpa to Lae, 3 hours away, where I will catch a flight to Port Moresby. After an hour there, I will fly to Kavieng. I will be in Kavieng until July 7th and then fly back to Moresby and then up to Goroka in the Highlands. Goroka is only 1 1/2 hours away. Other friends will meet me there. We plan on spending the night in Goroka and then returning to Ukarumpa on the 8th of July. I am not taking my computer, so will be out of touch until I return. It has been cold here lately, so it will be quite a switch to be in the warm islands. Miss you all.

Blessing

I mentioned my van on Facebook. It has been in the auto shop 3 times and I haven't even used the first tank of gas. The other day I got it out of the shop, then drove it to school and back. As I was turning at the top of the hill to come down and park by my place, I got stuck in the mud. I just left it and walked home. Two days later I saw Dr. Jeff as I walked home. He said to call him when I finished dinner and we would get the van out. I drank some juice and went out. We looked at the van and I said it is still too muddy, so just left it. An hour later, Dr. Jeff called and said he would be down in 5 minutes for the keys. He and another neighbor pulled it out in just a few minutes. What a blessing to be helped without even asking for help. And they were right, just because one day was sunny was no guarantee the next day would be sunny. With the van out of the mud I was even able to go to the market in the morning.

Here is a picture of the ruts left behind.

And here is my van parked where it belongs!

Moving

No, not my home, but my classroom. I have been teaching Kinder and this next school year I will be continuing on to first grade. So... that means changing rooms. The kinder room is long and lovely. It is also on the second floor. First grade is right next door, but down those stairs. As any teacher knows, I have accumulated lots of stuff. Which meant multiple trips up and down those stairs to cart it all next door. I mentioned this to a friend and she spoke to some boys on her way to school. They arrived eager to work. I got a call from school, "Mrs. Miller, there are some children here to help you." I came right over and in a short time, everything was moved. Now I still have to put it away, but it is in the right room. Many thanks to Joel, Jeremy, and Reuben, my eager workers.

Here you can see the kinder room upstairs with the first grade room next door.

Last Day of School

It was a fun end to the school year with a special bunch of kids. After watching a video of Hairy McLary, a dog (we have been reading the Hairy McLary books so ended the year with the video), we cleaned our room and had a party. Then it was time for goodbyes, but first we sang some of our favorite songs. The kids have learned the hand motions to "Scotland's Burning." They were eager to try it with partners. You can see the fun we were having.

Then it was time to say goodbye, with a special goodbye to Volter as he was going "finish" and returning to Finland.