Island Life! (Part 3)

Part Three:  The People of Biem...

There is so much more I want to say about our month on Biem Island.  So. Much.  So I will try to do it all in this one post--which you all know means there will be a TON of pictures!  Sorry in advance!

The Biem people were just amazing.  First of all, the believers.  Wow, just wow.  They loved us, and they were passionate about wanting to help us to finish up our Tok Pisin study, because they were so excited about the work that God has for us!  They helped us a ton--and they loved telling us their testimonies, and it was such a good chance for us to try telling our testimonies in another language.

ALL of the Biem people were so great.  We felt so welcomed, liked, and respected...and we felt the same toward all of them.

This is Tong.  She is the woman who I ended up spending most of my time with.  She is a super sweet mama of three kiddos, and I am so thankful I can call her my sister in Christ! 

This picture was taken the day Tong took me to her garden...her garden was up on the side of the mountain.  Not easy to get to!

Here Nathan and I are with Tong and her hubby, Isaac.  They are a fun couple to talk with and hang out with...Isaac took Nathan out night diving a couple of times, which was an interesting experience!  

Side story:  Nathan didn't realize it ahead of time, but when these guys go night diving, they are basically swimming in the ocean for HOURS.  Like, 3-4 hours straight!  Plus, it's in the middle of the night!  So when he went the first time, he was getting tired at one point, so he went up to sit in the canoe.  But then, with it just sitting there, bobbing up and down, he got seasick!  Lol...so he jumped back into the ocean and just started puking--hoping it wouldn't attract sharks.  Ha!  What an experience!  

We cooked and ate food with multiple groups of people...one of my fave things to do!  Peeling and cutting food gives us something to do with our hands as we talk, and then it's just always fun to eat no matter where you are :)

These ladies taught me how to make rice baskets made out of coconut leaves.  They make these baskets, and then put rice inside of the baskets and boil the whole thing in water--then when it's cooked, the rice keeps the shape of a ball and you just eat it with your hands!  So good!

Another interesting experience--actually, it was probably a once in a lifetime thing for me!  Hiking to the top of the volcano.  Wow.  First of all, WHAT A HIKE!  Ha!  It was so tiring.  But second of all, what a cool experience!  The hike was worth it for sure.  And I did it with Emily which just makes everything better :)

This was so funny...it caught me and Emily off guard!  We had only been hiking for like 5 minutes, when Esther went off the path, got a plant, and started breaking it up and rubbing it all over our faces and necks!  Which doesn't feel the greatest when you're all sweaty :)  But it's this plant that is supposed to make you smell good...natural perfume :)

Taking a little rest...whew!  Emily told me that day that she's never seen me sweat that much :)  

Kaine and his friend Brady (the Buser's son) went along with us!  They did great.  And this whole pack of kids came with us, too :) 

My friend Benu was worried about Kaine...she didn't want him falling in the volcano :) 

Kaine and Brady.  What a huge blessing that the Busers have a son who is Kaine's age!  These two had so much fun together while we lived on the island!

Nathan learned how to make the roof of our Biem friend's house...

Nathan also got the opportunity to go deep sea fishing with some Biem guys!  He has been wanting to do this for years--ever since we first saw an update video from the missionaries on Biem.  They had a blast...and Nathan said he caught the biggest fish he's ever caught!  A rainbow runner.

Our kids had a BLAST.  They absolutely loved living on Biem!  They didn't notice the extra dirt, or bugs, or rats, or the lack of electricity...they just loved living there!  We were so thankful for their attitudes, and for all the Biem kids who befriended them!

Rooster Patrol...don't mess with these kids!

The kids had fun with this octopus one day :)  Yuck! 

One day, a Biem lady brought us a sugar glider that her son had found.  They wanted to know if we wanted to keep it as a pet.  Our kids wanted it SO BAD!  (Google it--they're pretty cute little things!)  This one was a newborn, so here Brandon was teaching Halle how she was to hold it and feed it...

Our kids were super excited to have a pet!  I wasn't quite so sure about it, but it was cute to see how much they loved it!  They named it Solo... 

Sadly, Solo died about two hours after we got him.  Haha!  Thankfully our kids really didn't even care :)  But they did bury it and I just love this gravestone Halle made for it!

We also loved hanging out at the Buser's house.  What good memories.  The Buser family is just amazing--they have so much wisdom and experience with tribal missions, and plus they are just so much fun.  We loved being with them!  Halle was super good friends with their daughter, Gracie...we got to be there for her birthday! 

Me, Emily and Rachel Buser...I love these ladies so much!  Brandon and Rachel, thank you guys for being so awesome.  We love your family!

 

 What a month.  We learned so much--about missions, about ourselves, about God...it was just amazing!  Thank you for sticking with me through all these Biem pictures!