Days 4 and 5

Well the last couple of days have been pretty full! We have really gotten into the meat of the training and it is exciting! It feels as though we are finally making concrete steps toward this goal of leaving for PNG.

We have been critical of the way that "The Organization" has handled our convoluted application and pre-field phases. Now that we find ourselves here in Orlando, at "Training HQ", we have been able to mend some of those misunderstandings, and confirm known problems in order to correct them.

To put it succinctly, we no longer feel as though we are spinning our wheels with the process! That makes us very happy, and confident in our current situation!

So, to update you for the last couple of days, I'm going to list some of the topics we've covered:

1. The Bible translation process
2. Language Work/Vision 2025
3. Partnership Development Model
4. Ministry Budgets
5. Moral Conduct and the Battle for Purity
6. Resilience
7. Children, Third Culture Kids, Family Issues
8. Critical Attitudes for Missionary Success.

We are learning a huge amount of information daily. The topics that have resonated the most with me have to be the ones dealing with relationships, attitudes, and dealing with the new stresses of overseas life. I feel much more confident that we can cope and even flourish in a challenging environment with this new set of skills and knowledge!

Here's some photos of the last couple days, including some shots of "PNG Night"!

Above is one of the staff, (a translator from PNG) doing a little show and tell.

The boys on the way to lunch!

Everyone gathered for the PNG presentations.

Ben looking the part of a little New Guinean!