Bitter and the Sweet." This past weekend (Aug. 7-8) was filled with with three events. You must realize that we take any and every opportunity to get together and party. So, on Saturday (we start with the sweet) we loaded up just about everyone in the 3 Land Cruisers and headed to Hagen and the Highlander Hotel to celebrate Dr. Tom Staton. Tom and Lois, affectionately known has Uncle Tom and Aunt Lois, have been coming to Nazarene hospital here in PNG for 10 straight years and yes, they are family. They are loved and appreciated by both the missionaries and the nationals that they serve and work with. So, this year they planned a 
big birthday bash at the Highlander to celebrate Tom's 70th birthday. The Highlander provided a very nice and delicious buffet for all of us to partake of. It was a lot of fun! The kids and some adults took advantage of the Highlander's pool and spent time splashing and playing in the water. We appreciate all Uncle Tom and Aunt Lois do for us and the people of PNG.Next up, the MK's were asked by Pastor Phillip
to sing in church Sunday. So, Rachel and Jordan Thompson worked with the kids on a song. Rachel is the High School teacher for the MKs. The sang the song "Amazing Love" and Jordan played the guitar for the group. They did a very nice job singing for the congregation and for the Lord. We got some really great MKs here!Now comes the bitter. Although we like to get together we prefer to do it over happy times. One aspect of mission life that I will never get use to is missionaries (family) leaving. You are sure glad to
know and have spent time with them (sweet), but it is sad to see them go (bitter). So, this weekend we spent time at a Carnival in honor of the Riggins family. The Hospitality team organized the event in order to have fun and spend time with the Riggins; Scot, Jill, Aden, Wiley and little Noah. They will be heading home in a few weeks and we will all be sad to see them go but we know that they will go with the Lord and that He will be leading them. The Carnival was a fun time with all kinds of games. There was face painting, lawn bowling, a bubble gum blowing contest and all sorts of other games. We had a fire and roasted 
wieners. Also on the menu was popcorn and funnel cakes with powdered sugar and strawberries. The funnel cakes were very good. It has been very dry here in the Highlands of PNG and for the first time in nine years I am witnessing the grass turning brown. So, as the clouds began to gather Saturday afternoon we didn't complain but just moved the party to the McCoy's porch which is very close by and enjoyed the rain under cover. We took time to share stories and memories of the Riggins. It was a good time but not without a few tears. We thank the Lord for His love, good friends and family. We will miss Scot, Jill and the boys, but we know that God will lead them into the next adventure He has for them!
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