My address

My address here is:

Melissa Yoder
P.O. Box 1 (349)
Ukarumpa, EHP 444
Papua New Guinea

How to eat a passionfruit

 Have you ever wondered how to each a passion fruit? Well, I'm here to give you a little demonstration! I've even provided pictures of the process. I can almost bet that by the end of this blog post, your mouth will be watering for one! :)

 

Step one: Choose the right passion fruit. It must be a bit firm, but can cave in easily to the touch. This one looks good...

 Step Two: Poke holes all around the middle of the fruit, making a cut through the outer layer with your thumbnail.

 Step Three: Peel off the outer shell on the bottom half of the passion fruit.

 Check out what it looks like inside!

 Step Four: Suck the yummy, gooey stuff out of the middle!

 Step Five: Keep sucking!

Getting a bit messy!

 Step Six: There's still some left! Keep going!

 

Step Seven: All done! Time to find another one!

Introducing Riggs!

I'd like to introduce you to a member of my household named Riggs. My roommates and I are keeping track of Riggs while his owners (Doctor Jeff and his family) are away from Ukarumpa. At first, you might not think that Riggs is a lovable pet, as he is prone to be less than friendly to anyone he does not know. Actually, this large German Shepherd does exactly what he is meant to do: keep our house safe!

Papua New Guineans and many "white skins" do not really like dogs. In fact, many of our friends and neighbors are leery of Riggs even from a distance or on a leash. We have trouble getting people to come to our house if they know Riggs is loose in the yard. I can't say that I blame them. I used to feel the same way about dogs. But not Riggs. He's made a spot for himself in my heart and here's why...

First of all, Riggs is a built-in piece of exercise equipment! Who needs a treadmill when you can walk/jog with a German Shepherd for 45 mins. every day? Even when Rebekah and I trade off the walking responsibilities each day, he still keeps us running!

Second, having a dog has been teaching me about my own relationship with the Lord. Watching "The Dog Whisperer," Rebekah and I have learned that dogs must be in a state of "calm submission" in order to be balanced, happy, and willing to obey. Dog owners must learn how to keep their pet's attention by making sounds and/or touching them in such a way as to say, "Hey! Don't pay attention to that! Stay focused!"

Isn't it the same with the Lord? I easily get tense and worried about many things but the Lord desires that I remain in a state of "calm submission" to the Holy Spirit. All too often I am like Riggs. I am distracted by all the sights and sounds (and smells!) of the world around me when I should be trotting happily close to my Savior's side. Sometimes the Lord must break my attention from whatever it is that I'm fixated on, whether by a gentle Word, a "nudge," or something stronger. I hope that over the years of walking with my Savior that I will learn to trot happily next to Him in calm submission.

My New House

"Blessed are you, O Lord, our God, King of the Universe, who has kept us alive until now, so that we may find joy in what has just come to us." – Jewish blessing

After a whirlwind of preparations and many precious goodbyes with friends and family, I am pleased to announce that I have arrived in Ukarumpa, Papua New Guinea! This new chapter in my life has started and I am settling in nicely. If you have a minute, I’d like to introduce you to some important parts of my life here. If you have other questions, please ask!

My Home: As I wrote in my last post, I am living with two young women, Rebekah Drew and Rachel Stanton. Rebekah has purchased an adorable Finnish-style house and has graciously asked Rachel and I to live with her. This is a huge blessing as single people often have to move around from place to place, wherever there is room. This way I can stay put as long as I need!

Here are some interesting things about our house…

Here’s where I get to remember all of you! I brought many pictures of friends and family and I look at them and pray for you every day. Miss you all!

In Finland, many houses have a neat feature that allows dishes to air dry out of view. After we wash our dishes, we set them above the sink and out of the way until they dry. I love this part of our house!

 Laundry takes MUCH longer than it did in the States. We do have a washing machine (which takes about 2 and a half hours for a cycle!) and then our dryer is pictured above. It took me almost 30 mins to hang these few items up. I guess I need some practice.

My housemate, Rebekah, is a wonderfully talented pianist. I get to hear her play all sorts of songs at random points throughout the evening. Although the only instrument I can play is the radio, I am happy to appreciate the music Rebekah can create!

Here is my first attempt at cooking (with the help of Rebekah!). I was very pleased with our veggie pizza...and it even tasted great!! You are all invited to come for dinner some time. :)

Security…our house has an alarm system and electricity running through our windows so that no one tampers with them. Unfortunately, break ins happen often here so anything we can do to deter “raskols” is wise. We make sure all of our valuables are put away out of sight whenever we are not home or are sleeping because the bad people are after our stuff, not us. Some people have even slept through a break in. As in the States, our confidence is in our Heavenly Protector, not our security systems or forethought. Of course, prayers for protection are always welcome!

In my next post, I will introduce you to another part of our security system named Riggs. Stay tuned for more…

The trip so far

Hey there everyone! I'm officially en route to Papua New Guinea to teach first grade missionary children at Ukarumpa International School! Right now I am sitting in the San Francisco airport, processing the blessings that have happened so far and the many that are still coming. Here are a few highlights so far...

• My extended family was able to come over to our house the night before I left and I said goodbye to them all. We planned a birthday party for my grandma before we realized it would be so close to my departure but it was perfect!
• My immediate family (mom, dad, Mike & Lora, and I) were able to have breakfast together before I went to the SEA-TAC airport and we had plenty of time to chat before I had to go through security. This was such a blessing! I love you guys!
• My second bag was checked for free. I was expecting to pay $50 for the second suitcase but Alaska checked it all the way through for free. Can't complain about that!
• My first flight was engaging and restful. I talked to two nice gentlemen for the first half hour and then fell asleep for the rest. Hopefully I can do the same thing on this next 14 hour flight...
• Free Internet has allowed me to document how things are going and to keep up with my friends and family. I miss them but feel very loved.
• Mary Doel sent me verses to read while on the plane. Here are my favorites: 

"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from Heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my Word that goes out from my mouth. It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. You will go out with joy and be led forth in peace, the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Instead of the thorn bush you will grow the pine tree, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the Lord's renown, for an everylasting sign, which will not be destroyed." - Isaiah 55:8-13

"The Lord is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear, or be dismayed." - Deuteronomy 31:8

I pray that your own journey is just as joyful as you are obedient to His call.

Melissa

This is it!!

Well this is it. I reach 100% of my financial partnership goal yesterday and I’m leaving for Papua New Guinea THIS Sunday, August 29th!! I am still in shock; it all happened so fast. I realized I had reached my goal by about 9am and by 11am I had a ticket reserved in my name to depart at 1:10pm this Sunday! The travel agent I used was such a blessing and God had it all planned out. Here’s how my next week looks:

Sunday, August 29th – Drive to Seattle, have breakfast with my family, fly to San Francisco at 1:10pm and from San Francisco to Auckland, New Zealand, leaving at 9:00pm.

Monday, August 30th – Flying (13 hours and 15 mins but with the time change, I lose a whole day!)

Tuesday, August 31st – Arrive in Aukland, New Zealand at 5:15am (their time)

Wednesday, September 1st – Recover from flying and explore Aukland (any ideas?)

Thursday, September 2nd – Depart Aukland for Brisbane, Australia at 6:35am, then on to Port Moresby at 10:25pm. Set foot in Papua New Guinea at 1:25pm! Stay the night in Port Moresby’s missionary guest house.

Friday, September 3rd – Take one of JAARS little planes (the Kodiak or the Cessna) from Port Moresby to Ukarumpa. ARRIVE IN UKARUMPA, my new home!!

Below are some pictures of my new house. I will be sharing with two other single women named Rebekah and Rachel. Please pray for traveling mercies, peace, and most of all, time in the Word as I start this new life.

The front of our house

The living room

The back door leads right into my room

My room (just wait until I've decorated it!)

My desk and door to the outside

Our kitchen and dining room

Camp Gilead

Welcome to Camp Gilead!

“Helloooooo Campers!”

This past week I sang more songs, got up earlier, laughed more often, and even dressed up sillier than I have in a long time. As “Missionary Melissa,” I had the opportunity to teach 5^th through 7^th graders about missions at Camp Gilead in Carnation, Washington. Topics ranged from what a missionary is, to why the Bible is so important and even how students can be involved in missions right NOW. 

The offices

One such chapel session went a bit like this, “Hello Dan. Thanks for coming up with me today. Can I ask you a question?”

“Sure.”

“Doesn’t everyone already have a Bible?”

“No.”

“Oh really? Well then, how many languages in the world do you think don’t have access to the Bible in their own language? …I’ll give you a clue. There are about 6,900 languages spoken around the world so the number without Bibles is less than that.”

“Uh…six?”

“You think there are six languages without a Bible translated into their language?”

“Yeah.”

The Chapel

“Okay. Dan, I’m going to show you something. After you’ve seen it, I will ask you the same question I just asked you again. Got it?”

“Yeah.”

“Alright. Dan, this is a list of the languages that do not have a Bible. The list shows the country, name of the language, number of people in the language group, and weather the need for a Bible is definite or likely. Now Dan, I’m going to ask you the same question I asked you earlier. ‘How many languages do you think STILL don’t have the Bible?’”

“Wow. Uh, six thousand?”

“Not quite that many. But it is a big number. There are approximately 2,200 languages in the world today without the Bible in their language...”

At the end of the week during campfire, Dan stood up and recalled the event. He said how much he had learned about Bibleless people groups and how lucky he felt to have a Bible. When he returned home, he hoped to begin reading his Bible more often.

This is why I went to camp. Please pray that many of these campers will choose to read their Bibles and serve God with their lives. He is so worthy!

Melissa