Some of you have asked how we get around here in New Guinea. Well, when we go to the village (which is right outside the New Tribes gate) we always walk. Sometimes it's a 10 min walk and the longest has been about a 45 min walk depending on who we are going to visit. The town of Kimbe where we would do "shopping" (PNG style) is a 40 min drive away. The mission has a van we rent but it costs about $50 to get to town! I have only been twice since we've been here. We just went to Kimbe yesterday and it had been 6 weeks for me since I had been out last!!!
Earlier in the paragraph I mentioned the "New Tribes gate" so I thought I might explain that a bit. Basically New Tribes has a mission center where all the support role missionaries live and it is where we live until we will allocate to a tribe. All the houses are together and surrounded by a gate with guard dogs around the perimeter and a guard at the entrance. The reason for all the security is so our houses won't get broken into easily and so us women can walk around the center freely without danger.
Here is a picture of Jonathan sitting down with a man "storying". It is very cultural to sit around outside on these benches and visit. It is not cultural for them to invite us into their houses.