Heritage Bible Work Team

In July we had a work team visit from my church, Heritage Bible Church in Boise, ID.  We loved having them to talk and fellowship with, and were encouraged by them.  They got to know our local helpers and friends in the village, and helped out with a lot of projects we needed done as well!  We enjoyed Anderson so much, we told his dad we'd love to have him out again, so he spent Christmas with us too!

James, Houghton, Larry, Anderson, Gwen, Lynette, Kaiden, Gretch, Si, Addy, Eric

Our local translator Yanik's family had the team over for dinner a few times.

George and family hosted them a few times as well.

George's family (Jenita's mom from Ambae island, Jenita, and her 2 daughters Rrorrin and Gretchen.  Her 3 sons Edmon, Samsen, and Filemon not pictured.

Philip, our other local translator hosted them one night with his wife Sophia and son Jeson.

Lynette, Larry, James, Eric and Anderson eating rice, cabbage, local chicken, and yam at Elder Harre's house.
  

We spent the 4th of July together.  Fun for us to get to celebrate it with other Americans!!

They dug out areas for us to use for planting little gardens below our house.

They dug a line for a new tap so we can use it to water the garden.

 

The sanded and painted frames and set them up for the soccer field net for the soccer ministry.

  

They covered our chicken feed container with plastic so the food doesn't rot if it gets hit with rain.

They helped the church members for a day as they mixed block for a new building.

And got a couple loads of sand for the blocks.

 

They painted the walls of the office, and James also painted several walls in our houses as well.

We had a double wedding in the village while the team was all here, so they got to see the preparations and ceremony.

Wedding party getting ready to go in the church for the service.

Gwen and Addy were attendants for one of the brides.

Mounds of food heaped up to go to various members of the brides' families (as part of the bride price).  This is taro, banana, and yam.

The grooms family members calling forward members of the brides' families to receive their money for the bride price.  Note that some of them are covered in baby powder!

Eric, James, and Larry watching the bride price proceedings.

Noeline and Anies were the brides (the two with the most powder on their faces and hair) and Rose (also powder in her hair) is a fiance, but didn't want to go through the ceremony yet.  They all married brothers from our village, but the girls are all from different islands.  The other ladies are from our village and surrounding ones who are now related by marriage.

Putting food in ground ovens (laplap and bunia).

The men shifting hot stones on top of the largest ground oven.

More heaps of food for brides' families (cooking banana and water taro).  It has to have been a good garden year for a family to consider having a wedding because so much food is cooked for the event itself and so much is given out as part of the bride price.

Covering up the hot stones of the ground oven.

Brides and grooms don't smile at weddings.  It is not considered a happy occasion necessarily, but rather a separation of the bride from her family.

Wedding attendants Seera and Gwen.

Wedding cakes.

One of the grooms (middle right) with his bride (far right) sitting in the gift line for people to come and powder them, spray them with perfume, and give them their gifts.

Chief Job talking with Anderson and Jesiah.

After the wedding ceremony, everyone shakes hands with the wedding party.

Me talking with Lynette about the preparations being made for the gift giving.

Pigs and chunks of cow are added to the brides' family food portions.

The cow butchers distributing meat for eating and giving away.

    

We are so grateful to Heritage Bible for their sacrifice of funds and loan of great people to come and help and encourage us.