"Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous deeds among all peoples." This is the goal on this site and in my life.
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papaya, and canned meat for lunch and supper every day. That makes life predictable doesn't it? Lyndal said I was probably welcome to eat with staff so hopefully their fare includes vegetables. :) 
spaghetti sauce. They are a bit tart but pretty good. 
After I moved in here, I checked out where the easiest place would be to break into my apartment. Jumping onto this overhang would allow just a few steps walk to be right at my window so I was convinced that someone had done this. A part of the yard raises up so it's flush with the overhang so it wouldn't take an athletic person to just step from the grass to the overhang. Anyway, I shined my flashlight out but just got reflection off the window. After some personal debate, I went upstairs and woke up Ross and Lyndal (they go to bed early, like I should be doing every night) and asked if they'd help me check it out. They asked if I'd just felt the earthquake so I felt pretty sheepish, telling them that must have been the source of the banging overhang. Ross still was very nice and checked around outside. They were both very sweet about the whole interruption and I was embarrased, but thank goodness for no intruders. :) In looking online, I can't even find the earthquake I felt so I have no idea what the magnitude was, but it was short and not very strong. Houghton and Gretchen didn't even feel it, much like I'm sure there have been lots of other earthquakes here that I haven't felt. If you hear of earthquakes here, don't worry, we're probably ok unless it hits international news!
Praise God for His faithfulness to them in granting them grace to extend to each other in their marriage to keep it strong and growing over all these years. Congratulations mom and dad, and thanks for your example of a godly marriage pointing to the mystery of Christ and His relationship with the Church. Love you. (And thanks Kathy for this great recent shot of them!)
and Liz, my next door neighbors, head back home to Australia tomorrow. They've served as support staff with SIL for about 1 1/2 years now. Liz has been a great friend and she and Pete are fantastic comic relief within shouting distance across the hall. It's been super fun to get to know them and fellowship with them. We've had lots of conversations in doorways and in the hallway as well as chatting time over tea or food. Liz introduced me to exercise class which has been a fun place to of course get exercise, but also learn to Bislama and make Ni-Vanuatu friends. She and Pete brought me in on their secret favorite dive of a little Chinese take-away place with cheap but good food. They've patiently repeated back the good 20% of everything they say that I can't understand. They've taught me all sorts of weird Aussie phrases and words that I can't remember now but I'm sure I'll need to be able to use appropriately next year. (I know, I know - you guys are 
going to be indignant that I called Aussie-anything weird but I figure with all the American-bashing, it's only fair to dish it back out on my own blog...) :) It's been real - it's been fun - I will miss you guys! God's grace and wisdom be yours. (Oh, and that'll be $10.00 for the extra publicity given you on my blog... Feel free to wait and pay me when we see you in Sydney in December.) :)
Northern Minnesota was indeed a lovely place to visit in the fall! We shared in Karlstad, MN at David and Jen's church. Jen is the daughter of Houghton's high school pastor, Paul. Paul has 2 daughters we've visited now whose husbands are pastors. David and Jen have 4 very sweet kids: Caleb, Zach (who showed us all his breakdancing moves), Abby, and 
Grace. Jesiah and Gwen always love it when we can stay somewhere with kids they can play with.
in a rural retirement community in northern Minnesota. We ate supper with them and were introduced to our host couple - Betty and Harley.
had leveled out in the 13 acres of forest behind his and others' homes. Gweny missed out on the fun during her nap, but Jesiah loved riding with Houghton and Gretchen. Sunday we presented at the Marcell church and enjoyed a potluck with them, getting to meet mostly retirees who visit on the weekends, but a few families as well. They had a missions emphasis Sunday so it was fun to hear about missionaries they support as a church body and what God is doing in them around the 
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of Miles City, Montana, our sending church, officially commissioned us as their first homegrown missionaries on Sunday, October 7. The board of elders prayed over us and Jerry Coon, our pastor, gave us a biblical charge from Joshua 1 to be strong and courageous, as well as to the church body to "hold the ropes" for us and send us out in a manner worthy of the Lord (3 John). GBC has been a huge blessing to us in backing us not only financially, but also prayerfully and through encouragement, as well as in many practical ways. We are thankful to you, our Grace Bible family, a you send us out to Vanuatu!
service, we held a dessert presentation for those interested in learning more about Vanuatu and our ministry. Quite a few people returned for that and expressed interest in teaming up with us to reach Ni-Vanuatu for Christ!
we also had the privilege of participating in a friend, April's wedding. Houghton did the ceremony and Gretchen was the maid of honor. April attended high school with Gretchen so has been a long-term friend and it was fun to see her match up with a Christian guy, Caleb. 
My mom and I got to put out all the tasty little chocolate mini-cakes for the reception so it was hard not to sample them in advance. We did restrain 
ourselves for your sake though, April. :)
country. That's one of those things that seems impossible to make a good decision about in advance, but I'm trying to be faithful to have some ideas in place at least. It's been nice to be back again for a bit before we hit the road again! 
