Michael & Lori Johnson’s Papua New Guinea Photo Gallery

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It’s a jungle out there...
Most places in PNG have no road access. You can, however, get there by helicopter... or maybe, if you are brave, fit, and very bold, by foot.
Thank God for helicopters and pilots dedicated to the work of Bible translation!
Some remote places have airstrips that allow fixed-wing aircraft to land.
This Kingair B200 has been used to save at least one girl’s life by taking her to Australia for medical help not available in PNG. It also shuttles many Bible translators and support workers around.
There are other modes of transportation in PNG, too, like hand-made canoes.
The Highlands Highway is paved and smooth in some places. You do need to drive carefully, however, expecting the unexpected. Normally, you drive on the left in PNG, but in some cases, you make exceptions.
Public Motor Vehicles (PMVs) may be busses, boats, or (more commonly) pickup trucks or flatbed trucks packed with people. This one is not filled to capacity. I know that because I took the picture just after one person got off of the truck. You might think that riding in the back of an unpadded pickup truck on bumpy dirt roads would be uncomfortable. You would be right. It sometimes beats walking, though. Usually there are more people on foot than driving on the roads in rural PNG.
The back of our truck is much more comfortable, with padded seats and a roof to keep the rain and hot sun off of our heads-- at least if 3 or fewer people ride in back. Nate, Ben, and Evan like it better there than in the twin cab.
Sometimes PMV boats get loaded like their pickup truck counterparts.
Here is Lori teaching a high school class at Ukarumpa International School (UIS). Here the teachers (including Lori) don’t get paid a salary for their work, but they must raise support just like the Bible translators and other support workers whose children they teach. This allows the MKs to get a quality education at a first-rate Christian school with reasonable tuition. It also enables Bible translators to focus more on their Bible translation work and less on the education of their own children.
Michael works on Bible translation software development while living with a community of Bible translators. He also provides consulting services related to linguistic and Bible translation software.
Lori leads a weekly Bible study for national women using the Tok Pisin trade language.
Here are some of our church friends at Dylup Station on the North Coast Road in Madang Province. Michael preaches there from time to time.
This couple named their little baby girl “Lori” in honor of the sweet lady on the left.
Between the local people and the missionaries from various countries, we live in a very culturally and racially diverse Christian community. We also have some cute kids for neighbors.
In the highlands, where we live, the major cash crop is coffee. It is usually grown on small, family-operated farms. Here is some of the early processing of coffee berries, done entirely without electricity.
Different people groups have different ideas of what “getting dressed up” means. The lady on the left is a good friend of ours. She is growing in her Christian walk.
This man is holding a New Testament in his own language (Nyndrou, Manus Island) on the day it was dedicated and distributed. There are hundreds more language groups in Papua New Guinea still waiting for the New Testament in their own language.
Dedication of a New Testament is cause for celebration, usually involving traditional “sing-sing” dancing. These dancers are celebrating the dedication of the New Testament in their own (Bargam) language in Madang Province.
Marta and her child, Bulal Village
Alek’s wife, Ba'e Village, Eastern Highlands Province
Augustine’s wife and child, Bulal Village, Madang Provice
Mountains near Ukarumpa with some of the morning mist still hanging around
Morning quiet time view, Ukarumpa

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