time for us to move on...

Just like that, we are done with the first part of our PNG journey.  Time flies!  It feels like we blinked and now here we are--we know Tok Pisin (sort of) and life in PNG feels pretty normal!  And it is time for us to leave Madang...

Our last couple of weeks here have been packed!  With good things :) 

Lots of fun with our group...we love these guys!

We are going to miss this sweet family so much!  And their little boy, Russell, is going to miss his four little Mueller friends :)

We chartered a (little) boat to take us out to an island nearby.  It was about 30 minutes away from land--and simply beautiful!  Nothing like spending an afternoon on a deserted island!

While we were on the island, Kaine spent almost the ENTIRE time snorkeling!  He has a homemade spear, and he was wanting to shoot some fish--he succeeded in spearing a couple of small ones--oh, and he accidentally speared Uncle Tanner, too...lol!  It's a good thing Tanner is such a good sport and loves our kids so much!  He was super gracious with Kaine, and now he has a great story to tell his friends back home, that he got speared in the arm by a ten year old in Papua New Guinea :) 

Our group also had something called "Bus Mangi Olympics"--basically just a lot of silly games and fun competition :)  Here, Kaine is bobbing for pineapple.  His competitive nature paid off, and he was our family's MVP! :)

We had to "row" our team across the cement on a "boat" using only these "oars"...haha!  It was pretty hilarious.  Bill and Kelley took Halle with them on their boat... I think she looks a bit concerned in this picture :)

Lots of fun with our friends from Susu Banis...

When we first walked into Susu Banis village, we had no idea that the people would grab ahold of our hearts so tightly.  We love these friends of ours.  It was sad to say goodbye to them yesterday :(  

A couple of weeks ago, we took some of them to a nearby beach (we packed 23 people into a Land Cruiser--which they call a "Ten-Seater"--Haha!)  I couldn't believe all the people we packed in there!

The kids had a blast in the water!

And so did us ladies!

The men sat under a tree and "storied" most of the time--it's funny, in our home culture, it would be us moms who sit and talk the whole time, while the dads play with the kids!  Not so, here.  It's different--not wrong!  Just different :)

After we swam, we all ate together--a PNG picnic!  Rice baskets, banana sak sak, and papaya.  Oh, and I brought coffee cake :)

Our friends from the area have taught us so much--Tok Pisin, PNG culture, and more.  They have given us SO MUCH of their time, so we wanted to tell them a big thank you.  We invited all of our language helpers and their families to the New Tribes base, where we cooked a huge meal for them and stood up and thanked each one of our helpers.  It was SUCH a neat evening!  

Me with some of the other rockstar cooks--Gerdine was amazing at organizing all the food!  And Amelia cooked 20 kilos of pork like a BOSS.

Here is Nathan with some of the men who have taught him so much.

Me and my friend Sophie.  She is a great teacher!  And she has become a sweet friend as well.

Tomorrow morning, we will leave on a New Tribes airplane and head up to Goroka--in the highlands!  Which means, cooler weather!  It should be fun.  I'll update you all when we get there!