April 5, 2006	STATESIDE TRAVEL Volume 1, Number 4
PNG: LAND OF THE UNEXPECTED Fast Facts Cost of Living: Can of Coke = $.35 US Roll of Film = $3 Cheap Motel Room=$20 Natural Resources: gold, copper ore, oil, natural gas, timber, and fish. Agriculture (major products) Coffee, cocoa, coconuts, palm oil, tea, vanilla. In the recent Commonwealth Games, PNG’s Ryan Pini won the country’s first gold medal in a swimming event. Craig and Jeri Ford 6920 Richardson Rd Houston, TX 77069 Phone (281) 440-5130 E-mail pngfords@gmail.com	Our new email address is: pngfords@gmail.com PNG News The big news for this month is that we finally have our work visas. For the last couple of months we thought the process was complete, but there was always ‘just one last thing’. We had planned to ship all our possessions before we left Houston, but we found out that if we did our goods would actually arrive before us. We have everything packed up and ready to go – all our worldly possession in 74 boxes. Since March 21^st we have been on the road visiting several of the churches that will be supporting us while we are in New Guinea. To date Craig has preached at Beatrice Church of Christ, Cheyenne Church of Christ, and Lander Church of Christ. We have enjoyed seeing old friends again and meeting all the congregations who will be partnering in our work. Personal Happenings: This has certainly been a month of exciting events. Hannah has learned to crawl and can easily pull herself up on furniture. She is making us all the more excited about flying all the way to New Guinea while she tries to show off all her new moves. J Since we were heading to Cheyenne and Beamsville we thought we would take as many bags as possible on the plane. We had so many bags that we forgot Hannah’s suitcase in Houston. Fortunately someone in Houston had a key to our house and UPS brought the bag to Cheyenne. Better now than on our trip to PNG. In March we had a garage sale and sold most everything we owned. We are now officially without a car or any furniture. The church in Houston has been very helpful with providing the things we have needed between now and the time we leave. o Visit our blog: pngfords.blogspot.com o Visit the church website: www.championschurch.org Travel Plans: Ø April 1 - April 7 – CO / WY Ø April 7-22 – Ontario, Canada Ø April 22-May 1 – back to Houston Ø May 2-6 - Memphis, TN (Craig’s graduation) Depart for Alotau May 7^th!