I knew from previous experience that recovery from burn-out takes time. I also knew I was in the beginning stages after a very tumultuous fall term, and so was Michelle. So, when school started up again, I decided to go part-time; just two classes. First, I picked up my Hebrew II studies after a long hiatus, and second, I added the class Theology of John. The Theology of John was a great class as it covered both the gospel and Revelation. Since I teach Revelation in PNG the course was very applicable and I can’t wait to use what I learned. Besides, it was only about 1,400 pages of reading and 50 pages of writing… only. Hebrew II has taken a bit longer…

If the exercises of physical therapy aid in the recovery from an injury to the body, then, to recover from my accident, I figured seminary was the equivalent of brain therapy! However, a series of events made my course of study much harder than I ever supposed. A date mix-up put me a week behind schedule from the very beginning of a very full semester. Then, just as I was catching up, tragedy struck…

A phone, a computer, a car, and a home… in that order. We arrived back in the United States June 28 and after a few days of recovery (especially for me), we got to work. The phone and computer were easy since we already knew what we wanted. A limited selection of used cars made the task of finding something suitable a bit easier but supply and demand made the price harder to swallow. The house was more difficult. We already have a house, but the last renters left holes in the walls, busted up doors, left graffiti on the walls and garage floor, and even took appliances…

The first leg of our trip back to the US was to begin with a six-hour journey from Ukarumpa to CLTC.  On the morning of the 23^rd we squeezed all our stuff into a small van, the family inserted themselves into the space that was left, and we took off for CLTC with me following on my motorcycle. We were about 40 miles from Ukarumpa, and I was about a mile behind the van, when a pig weighing about 200 – 250 lbs. darted in front of me. I remember nothing of the next 25 minutes…

I spent most of March and April teaching in Lae (see previous entry) and the last day of class was May 5^th. It was a time to celebrate and to say good-bye. The students gave me some wonderful gifts (which I’ll be bringing around when I visit churches) and we had a small feast. Then it was back to Ukarumpa for me - just in time to gear up for the festivities surrounding Daniel’s graduation. The first event was “Banquet” where the parents work together to transform the small gym into a dinner theater and small carnival….