Matt and Jacinda

New York City

Back in New York we had a day and a half with Luke before he headed home to Idaho. After not having any American Fast Food for nearly three weeks, Luke was craving a hamburger - here he enjoys a chocolate shake and fries (the hamburger disappeared instantly).

Later in the afternoon I took Luke on the Staten Island Ferry to see the Statue of Liberty.

On the way back we had a great view of the City and in the distance you can just make out the Brooklyn Bridge.

Later in the evening we walked back up to Time Square and visited the giant Toys 'R' Us store. On the top level is a huge T-Rex that moves.

Then Jacinda took Luke to the top of the Empire State Building.

The next day after sleeping in, Luke and I explored the city. We started off with a few hot dogs in front of the Empire State Building.

Then we spent a couple hours at the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Egyptian exhibits.

Next we walked through part of Central Park and then had some pizza for a snack.

And we walked to the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA).

At the MOMA we saw works from several famous painters - Picasso, Van Gogh, and Warhol, to name a few.

Outside Beach

For our final hurrah we made a two night three day beach trip to the outside beach. Here's a shot from the road driving up that shows the large bay. Just around the furthest point is the Outside Beach.

Its always more fun when Jared is around!

Andrew knows how to have a good time too.

Once we all arrived at the beach we started stringing ropes to hang tarps to make up our camp.

Luke climbed a tree to help move the tarps into position.

One of Jacinda's favorite activities is lighting the lanterns - she makes it look easy, but its a pretty complex art.

With the lanterns lit we could all gather to hang out into the evening. The Wiselys joined us, they brought smores which made the campfire experience complete.

After smores Wally, Jared, and Luke did some night snorkeling and got some lobster!

Here Luke holds up a two foot shark that Jared caught.

The next morning the waves were pretty big! It looked like at times they were 6 to 10 feet high, crashing on the reef a few dozen yards off the beach.

Dan Wisely played with his son Ransom on his surfboard.

Jacinda and I took a nap in the hammock...unfortunately we were rudely awakened when a rogue wave crashed on top of us, drenching us while we were deep in slumber!!

About 20 yards back from the beach a fresh water stream has been rigged up with some bamboo "pipes" to route freshwater to a nice accessible point for showering and cleaning off after fun in the surf.

The second night we I joined the team for night snorkeling. Wally & Luke partnered up and Jared and I stuck together.

Jared and I got a few lobster and I speared my first fish(es)!

Good thing we put up the tarps because it RAINED hard during the night. Here we all scramble to re-adjust the tarps to make sure everything is covered well.

Since the waves were so big (it was "wavy season" after all) for our last afternoon we packed up and headed into the Inside Beach for snorkeling.

Rob practices his Ninja moves in his dive skin / ninja suit.

Since Jacinda, Andrew, Luke and I would be leaving the next morning, on our way home from the beach we stopped by the Papua Harapan kids dorm to play with them a few minutes and say goodbye.

As we arrived back home on top of the HIS hill the sun was setting and we enjoyed some tasty street food we'd picked up.

Kali Biru

We spent the afternoon at Kali Biru (river blue) enjoying both floating down the slow flowing river, as well as jumping off ledges into the river. As we floated we remarked how much it felt like we were on the jungle boat ride at Disney Land...only better!

Half way down the float, we found a vine hanging above the water. It was hanging just high enough above the middle of the river that it posed a VERY FUN challenge to figure out how to grab it. It was too far from the bank to jump for from land, and a person by them self couldn't shoot out of the water high enough to grab it. Instead, team work was required. We found two methods that worked - climbing onto someone's shoulders near the bank and having them stand up suddenly catapulting you into the vine, or two people could start upstream, one person walked on the river floor with a mask on and another person balanced on their shoulders, then when they got to the vine the person on top just had to stand up and grab the vine.

You can only imagine how much fun we had figuring all this out. Eventually, just about everyone was able to grab onto the vine. When Luke did it, he would "run" on top of the water, splashing and making everyone laugh.

Here Jared perches on Rob's shoulders (below the water) and reaches for the vine.

After our jungle book float, we climbed out over some logs above the water and took turns jumping in. Here Luke and I prepare for a jump.

Luke and I mid air.

Luke made friends with a Papuan boy near his age, they had a lot of fun jumping into together.

Jared and Luke also had fun jumping in from the high bank together.

Jared dives in, with perfect form he almost floats far above the water in mid air.

Luke and Jared diving from the high point on the opposite bank.

Rob adds a quarter twist to his dive for good measure.

Rob gracefully dives in.

I jump feet first and Andrew does a flip (though it looks like he tripped in this picture, he's actually just mid flip).

Front flips became too easy for Andrew so he had to try a back flip (which he landed perfectly).

Andrew dives head first.

Jacinda and I hold hands as we jump in.

Luke jumps feet first while his new friend does a flip.

Since it was Saturday, there were a lot of people at the water hole. Luke was pretty popular, and after he dried off and started to climb into the car to leave, about a dozen junior high and high school age girls swarmed him asking to have their picture taken with him!

Black Sands

Black Sands is a beach near Jayapura with good boogie boarding waves. We took the Papua Harapan kids and enjoyed an afternoon in the surf.

Here look climbs out of the water with his dive skin (aka ninja suit) to help protect from a sun burn. The kids play in the background.

Maria enjoyed the water.

The kids had a blast boogie boarding in the shallower waves.

Anika helps some of the kids brave the waves.

The kids climb into the hammock for a picture with Andrew.

Andrew caught a lot of great waves on the boogie board.

Wally takes a break from helping the kids in the surf to enjoy some Nasi Bunkus for lunch.

Jacinda and I take a picture of ourselves.

Jared & Rob.

God's Awesome Falls

Throughout Jacinda's childhood Sunday afternoons meant exploring, adventure, and fun outings with her brother Jared and her dad. When Jared and Jacinda were little kids on one particular Sunday they "discovered" a water fall. Jacinda "named" the water fall God's Awesome Falls. For years throughout junior high and high school it was a favorite hike for her and friends.

We had a chance to hike up to God's Awesome Falls and enjoy the water fall, swimming in the pool below.

Here we are on the hike to the waterfall.

After about a 60 minute hike we caught our first glimpse of the falls.

Following Jared's example, Luke and I swim across the pools and climb up on the rocks to dive into the pool.

Rob climbs up the slick rocks, Luke floats in the pool, and I get ready to jump.

Rob climbs still higher under the falls.

Andrew with Rob in the background.

Jared dives in head first cannon ball.

Jared and I do a tandem jump.

Jacinda sores into the water.

Andrew plummets into the refreshing pool.

A graceful dive from Rob.

With arms wide open Rob prepares to embrace the cool water.

As we got ready to leave the pool to hike back Jared caught some tadpoles to...eat??!!

I guess its a kind of "see" food...?

Luke and Andrew joined in swallowing living tad poles. Andrew's was so big it was almost a frog - it had legs!! When asked how it tasted he said, "kind of like bubble tea!"

Ibele

From Wamena we took small MAF planes to a village called Ibele. We stayed with the Adams, a missionary family that lives and works in Ibele. It was such a delight to not only stay with Todd and his family, but his parents were visiting as well. Todd's parents had been missionaries for nearly 20 years in Ibele a generation ago in the 70's. It was inspiring to sit around their dinner table and listen to recent stories and 30 year old stories from the same community from the two generations of Adams.

We were shown around the area - here Andrew climbs over a pig fence.

It had just rained but we (Virgil Adams, Rob, Luke, and I) participated in a game of (mud) volleyball. It was a hoot - or I should say the awkward white people (us) were a hoot playing with the much more athletic Donnies.

A group of the kids also performed a traditional dance for us.

I was really excited to learn all about Todd's hydro system (utilizing an ST-3 generator head, very similar to what I have some experience with on my lister engines).

Luke and I slept in one of the Men's Honais. Here's a picture of the inside (bottom level) of one of the Honais. And below that Luke poses in the upstairs where we slept.

The photographer is often missing from pictures - here's a shot of Jacinda previewing a picture she must have just taken.

Digital camera's are so much fun - you can share the results instantly with new friends.

Jacinda organized a game of Duck-Duck-Goose with the Adams kids and some kids from the community.

Then some of the men showed us the traditional way to start a fire with nothing but wood, rope/twine, and some kindling.

After seeing how it was done Luke gave it a try, but it is harder then it looks.

I was able to get it started when I tried (took me a couple attempts) - here's a picture of my feet holding the stick like the Donnie men showed us.

Once the firer started I got a little more help in fanning it into a large flame.

In the spirit of starting fires, Luke then showed off some of his bottle rockets he had brought from the coast.

But alas, our time in Ibele was short (1 and a half days). It was close enough to Wamena to hike back out, so we loaded up our back packs and hiked back to Wamena...but as we passed the runway, Andrew couldn't help himself and decided to pretend to fly down the strip.

Here we are hiking out.

On our hike we encountered many several people in more traditional dress. This is a man wearing a gourd (and nothing much else).

Our trek near complete we pose for a shot overlooking the valley.

Spelunking

In Wamena we hiked to a cave at White Sands. Here's Luke standing on the hill just outside the entrance to the cave.

We decend into the bowels of the cavern.

Stalactites and stalagmites decorate our path.

Luke, me, and Andrew during our subterranean voyage.

We found what looked to be a throne - Wally poses for a picture...all hale King Wally.

Flying with MAF

We had a chance to spend a few days interior. We flew from Sentani to Wamena. Wamena is the largest city in the world that is only accessible via plane. Wally has worked for MAF in Papua for the last 32 years. Here's some shots of a Caravan plane we rode in.

This is the 206 plane (tiny 5 seater plane) we flew into the tiny landing strip in Ibele.

Luke in front of the MAF plane.

Inside the Caravan.

A good friend of Jared's from Seattle, Rob Willet joined us. Rob is on vacation from teaching in China. Rob is a LOT of fun, here he is looking very pilot-like.

Andrew had a chance to co-pilot the flight back from Wamena to Sentani. With his hands on the controls the flight was so smooth I slept most of the 45 minute flight.

From the air we were able to see huge "sink hole" that Jacinda and Jared have explored on many occassion.

Some more shots from the MAF airplanes.

The landing strip in Ibele.

Inside Beach

We were planning to spend two days at the beach but were rained out our first day. We did get a spectacular day on the second however. To get to the beach Wally drove our troup an hour around mount Cyclops. Then we commissioned a boat to take us and our gear out to the Inside Beach (as it is too wavey to land at the Outside Beach this time of year). Here we are on the boat ride out.

On the boat ride Luke and Andrew had a chance to trole for fish, unfortunately we didn't catch anything this time - but we know you're out there fish, and we're coming for you!

Here's a shot of the Inside Beach.

And here we've just landed, about to make camp.

We asked Andrew to pose for a mock-senior-photo - lookin' good.

Jacinda's toes as she enjoys the sun.

We spent most of the time snorkeling. I spotted a cuttle fish, and Wally was able to spear it. They are slimy guys. He gave it to some local villagers when returned. Here is Luke holding it. Check out those tentacles!

Wally is quite the underwater expert - a little later in the day he and Luke were snorkeling and he caught a puffer fish with his hands. Here is Luke holding it.

Just before we left to head home for the night we went night snorkeling. Wally was partnered with Luke and speared a fish and some lobster. Here's Luke holding them.

And since we were all in our nice dive suits (spandex) looking like ninjas, we thought it would be good to pose for a ninja shot.

Christmas eve and Christmas

For Christmas eve dinner we had BBQ lobster and fish - it was so good!!! Here's some pictures of us around the table, the lobster, and Luke enjoying the feast!

On Christmas morning we opened our stockings together and Jacinda and Joan had given Andrew, Luke and I some really fun and funny Indonesian snacks and trinkets. Here's an energy drink, and us posing - we pretty much look just like the guys on the box.

For Christmas dinner we had the Papua Harapan kids & teachers over for a spagetti feed and to celebrate the dorm mother's birthday. The kids had fun with spagetti - which can be a pretty entertaining finger food!

After dinner the kids performed the Christmas production they had put on for members of the community last week.

Then after dessert Luke and Wally entertained us all with fireworks. This time the kids got into the act as well - here they are enjoying the pull-type of firecracker.

All the Planes in the World

Wednesday our planned day at the beach was foiled by rain, so we took the chance to play a few board games during the morning. Then later in the afternoon Wally, Luke, Andrew and I took the Papuan Harapan kids to the airport to see the MAF hanger and commercial planes. Imagine – 3 months ago these kids had never seen or ridden in a car! As we sat looking at two commercial planes taxi and fuel, and a half dozen small missionary planes, one of the kids told Wally – “all of the planes in the world must be here!”

Enjoying the rambutans (a kind of fruit) we picked up on the way, Andrew used the husk to make a funny nose, which the kids LOVED and quickly imitated.

We were able to stay long enough to watch one of the planes take off. The kids were in awe.

Then it was back home for Christmas eve dinner.

Soto Ayam

Tuesday we relaxed for most of the day, catching up on some email and playing some networked computer games with some of the high schoolers at the computer lab. Then Wally brought the Papua Harapan kids over for the afternoon to play at the school. Here they are enjoying a snack.

Jacinda, Joan, and Annika made a delicious dinner, Soto Ayam (literally “soup chicken”).

The kids enjoyed the food and fun, even playing with the Christmas decorations (see Tinus entertaining baby Jesus below...not that we believe that Jesus had blond haired and blue eyes, please know!... A more culturally appropriate baby Jesus appeared on the scene a little later).

Then over dessert we headed out onto the front lawn where Luke and Wally dazzled the kids with some fireworks.

Base G

On Monday Joan and Wally had some business to take care off in the nearby city of Jayapura. We joined them, shopping for funny T-shirts and snacks while they ran their errands. Then we spent the afternoon at the Base G beach, playing in the surf and relaxing in the sand.

Luke had fun chasing and digging up crabs, and with Wally’s help was able to catch some.

Andrew, Luke and I decided to be silly for the camera.

But Jacinda got the best of us, asking us to stand right in front of where the waves were crashing in some nearby rocks. While she “experimented with her camera settings” we talked, not paying attention to the wave that was about to drench us! Here’s a before and after picture of the wave that surprised us.

The waves weren’t going to get the best of us. Here we are floating on the crest of large waves as they broke right onto the beach. We decided to act like whales and breach the water together.

After our afternoon at the beach we headed back into Jayapura to Ikan Bakar (literally “fish bake”) for dinner.

In Papua

Later Friday night (around 3am) we flew from Bali to Papua. Here is Luke meeting Sterling and Megan, Jacinda’s parent’s dogs.

Thoroughly burned from our day in Bali, Jacinda applied aloe to Luke’s face.

Later Saturday night Jacinda’s parents, Joan and Wally, joined by Annika, drove up to the military base, Ifar, to take in the sunset and the beautiful view of Sentani.

Sunday afternoon we took the Papua Harapan kids (the school Wally has started for Papuan children) to a nearby creek to cool off from the hot afternoon sun.

Then it was back home for a delicious street food dinner. Here vendors fry our meal.

Have a Holly-Bali-Christmas

We arrived in Bali late Thursday night. After collecting our bags Jacinda used her Indonesian skills to negotiate a price for a Taxi ride to our hotel. After dropping off our bags, even though it was past midnight we decided to explore a little. We were all hungry so we grabbed some Nasi Bunkus (literally “rice package”).

Back at the hotel Luke found a frog outside our door and was quick enough to grab it.

After a good night sleep we enjoyed the wonderful complimentary breakfast.

We then spent the morning walking around, exploring the shops, and playing in the waves. Once we were good and hungry we found a restaurant for lunch. Here Luke enjoys his whole grilled fish.

Rejuvenated by our tasty meal Andrew, Luke and I were ready to try our hand at surfing. Again Jacinda negotiated a good price for us for two hours of surfing with two instructors. Here we are with our boards.