Currently we reside in Doctor Guest Flat 1, a beautiful little apartment in the Highlands of PNG. When you first enter, it really looks like any American apartment. The main portion is one large room consisting of the living room (where you see Ryan sitting in the first picture) and the kitchen to the left. Beyond this area is the bedroom and bathroom. So far the only obvious difference is the lack of a TV, which I have to say I actually like.
The kitchen is very much like any other kitchen. We have a fridge, stove, microwave, and the all important coffee pot. But, first big difference – the water filter. The water here is actually rain water and is fairly clean. Some of the missionaries here drink it straight from the tap. However, having sterile American digestive tracts, we are choosing to also put everything we drink through the water filter.
The other massive difference in the kitchen, which drives Ryan crazy, is that we have to soak all our fresh fruits and vegetables from the market in bleach before we eat them. It’s an especially sad thing to do to strawberries…. The next big difference is our hot water. It is provided via solar power. So, if it’s too rainy, or we use too much, it disappears. Thankfully we have an electrical back-up if we’re all out of hot water and really don’t want a cold shower in the morning. Of course, we can’t be too picky about the shower in general.
We are really quite pampered here in our little home. We have a washing machine, and the dryer (which involves wooden clothespins) is actually faster than the dryer I used in my last apartment. Praise God for the strong sun that comes from altitude and being near the equator! So, despite all the differences, we are quite enjoying our temporary home and will probably even be sad to leave it when that day comes. But until then, it’s home sweet home. : )