Today, September 16th, is Papua New Guinea's Independence Day... from Australia, 35 years ago. It seems that for some nationals, it's a time to party (and drink) starting last night. It's a time for us expats to be a little more careful too. A call went out yesterday asking folks here on center to volunteer for extra patrols last night.
So, happy Independence Day, PNG!
(Late update: read the end of the blog for an odd ending to this entry.)
(Late update: read the end of the blog for an odd ending to this entry.)
Last night was also a time of wonderful entertainment and surprise for Julie and me. While Monday night was a time to see each of the schools' choral groups perform 3 or 4 numbers, last night was the Ukarumpa International School's Marching Band concert presented, of all places, inside the Meeting House rather than on a football field as one might expect.
Bruce MacFarland, the Ukarumpa music teacher we met 2 years ago when we were helping with a series of Wycliffe Associates banquets in New York State and New England, had returned to PNG. Each day on the way to our offices, Julie and I would hear the band practicing and, when returning home at the end of the day this past week, we'd get to hear snatches of after-school dress rehearsals.
We were expecting a great time. We were not disappointed at all. On the contrary...
The performance was 45 minutes long, filled with a wide variety of music, all choreographed to include moving all the marching band members throughout the room. That included up onto the stage, around the aisles front and back, and even exiting on side of the hall and re-entering from the opposite direction.
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| The Music Man and his band |
Bruce has told us that some of the kids have become part of their home national youth orchestras and a number have gone on to music conservatories (like the conservatory at Wheaton College which Julie was part of).
We are blessed to experience the fruits of Bruce's and the other music teachers labors. We also marvel at how God is gifting so many students here with both the musical talents as well as a dedication to investing and focusing on improving this skill.
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So, who is more surprised? Me or the large cockroach that came crawling around from behind the computer screen as I was trying to finish this entry at the kitchen table? Suffice it to say that memorial services for "not-very-smart-and-way-too-slow" will be held tomorrow at 7:30 am outside our home, should you care to attend.
:)
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