Date: 8/3/04
Location: Ukarumpa, East Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea
This morning, I went to the finance office with Kristen so she could get pictures and say goodbyes. I got to meet Mrs. Berryman and another lady who has a daughter named Mandy who saw Tabitha briefly in Waxhaw, NC in June. Later in the morning, I had my interview with Jim and Ginny and, as usual, it was a blessing to talk with them. We talked about how I like to do things with someone I connect to, and how I have a hard time focusing on work if there's a lot of clutter around. We also talked about the good and bad of having a smaller team (seven instead of the normal about twenty!). We also talked about future plans and a lot of stuff!
This afternoon, I went to the horse paddocks, rode Firewood, and helped a bunch of people, especially Mrs. Enkvist with her horse, Stardust. Stardust isn't used to feeling someone's legs hugging her sides and probably thinks it's a predator! I got on her for one time around and at first she freaked out that my legs were on... so we did two halts using the fence and another one or two with a pulley rein, and then we walked much mmore calmly around the ring with my leg on. Helena Enkvist will have to work on the basics - keeping her leg on, walking, walk-halt transitions, etc. to get Stardust used to that before doing more. I wish I had a few months to help her! We also worked a little on lowering the head and touching places around the ears after Stardust was untacked. If you keep your hand gently on the horse's head no matter where they move, eventually they realize they aren't getting eaten and settle down. (It also helped that Stardust wasn't too tall for me, so she couldn't get away just by putting her head up!) I was surprised by the courage I had today... knowing I was doing everything to teach Helena and Stardust... and God gave me the strength to do what was necessary!
For supper, we had yummy tacos at the Boyds, and Ginny and I stayed after to help Christina, their daughter in high school, with the dishes. Then the three of us worked on decorating a gag gift pottery thing. We put really tacky, gaudy "bilas" (decorations) on it with colors that clashed and had so much fun and laughs doing it!
After that, we watched the tape from Menyamya - the fourwheeler trip, plane trip, and demonstrative games, some of which I helped tape! 
I'm going to miss Ginny!
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