Wow!  We are safe and sound here in Sentani, Papua.  Thank you to all of you who prayed for us on the overnight journey to get here.  It was very obvious to us that you were praying!  We started the night at 7 pm, flying from Semarang to Jakarta.  Then we caught our long 7 hour flight to Jayapura/Sentani that left Jakarta at 9:30 PM.  The flight had two stops at other islands in Indonesia before getting to Jayapura.  So on that first flight, Elise fell asleep (and she slept  right on through till we landed in Jayapura at 7:30 am...we had to wake her up!).  Ian also fell asleep on that flight.  So as we descended to land at the first stop, Heather's head had a lot of pressure because of congestion!  Fortunately I was able to get off there and find some de-congestant medicine, and on the remaining two landings it didnt hurt her as bad. Ian only woke up for the first landing and was up about an hour....other than that he slept the whole flight too.  Also, it never seemed to occur to him that he could get out of our laps and walk around...he was happy sitting in our laps and was really good, he didnt cry much at all.  Again....thanks for your prayers!  So when we landed in Sentani/Jayapura at 7:30 AM, there was a group of several MAF staff here that greeted us and helped us with our bags.  We walked across the street at the airport to our new duplex that we will be in for the next several months (which we love).  Our first day we met many of our new friends here.  We also hung out with our old friends, the Geaslens and Perezes who were with us in Salatiga (we're really excited theyre here).  The Perez's also have two of Elise's good friends, Reece and Joe.  It was special yesterday when Elise got to see Reece and Joe again.  Oh yeah, and there's a huge playground across the grass from our front door!  And Reece and Joe live on the other side of it!  So Elise played a bunch yesterday with them.  MAF people took care of us all day, providing meals and showing us around.  We have a "go-to" couple (their names are David and Natalie Holsten).  They are fairly new here too, but they spent a decade before this on the island of Tarakan, Indonesia.  They drove us around town yesterday and showed us some of the main places we'll need to know.  A nice couple named Darren and Jana had us over for dinner last night.  They've been here for a long time, and they live "up the hill" from here.  The kids especially loved it because they had a puppy, snakes, and a baby crocodile!
So we slept a bunch yesterday too, and we get a few days to settle in before we start orientation here.

Some little things about Papua so far....

I've noticed that living in Java teaches you to smile and nod your head at just about everybody you walk by.  It's not exactly the same here.  Alot of people just look back at you like "who are you?"  However some folks do return the smile.

I borrowed a motorbike to go to the ATM.  On the way home, a Papuan guy pulled up next to me (at full speed on the street) and wanted me to give him a high five.  So I gave a guy a high five while motorbiking down the street.  That would never happen in Java!

Thanks again for the prayers!