We know what you are thinking, you think we just watched Pinocchio, but we can assure you we have not watched that movie in almost a decade. We have been busy spending a lot of time in the nearby village with the people. Instead of comfortably taking one of the vehicles we have as a mission and going grocery shopping by ourselves (the American style), we went to the village, grabbed a friend and hopped on a PMV (Public Motorized Vehicle). We are trying to learn to do things the way the locals do. It was Nicole’s first time on a PMV, and it was fun! The driver goes as fast (no posted speed limits) as he wants and around whomever he likes. Some of the things we experienced while on the PMV: sitting with 24 people in a 15 passenger van, red betel-nut spit on the windows, no AC, typical PNG music playing, the smell of lots of sweaty bodies close to you, and people loving to “accidentally” bump into us to feel our white skin. This is a great way to travel, it is really inexpensive; to town cost’s about $.76 cents. We went to all of the stores our friend wanted to go to, he showed us all of the “local” stores, and we showed him some places we have found that we liked.
To show our gratitude to some of our friends/language helpers we bought some dough balls (which everyone loves, including us), and a carbonated beverage, he was very thankful. Food is a typical way to show you appreciate them and value their friendship. We walked all around the town taking in the many sights, and then got on another PMV to head home. Quite a fun trip, it was great to learn a more about their perspective of everyday life.
Whenever we have a mealtime free, we usually invite our language helpers here on the base, Joshua and Amelia (and baby Russell) over and introduce them to American food and cooking; they loved looking at Jell-O, it was funny to them. We even taught them how to play the games Battleship and left right center! That was fun as well. Other times we are free we go to the local market to buy some local greens and maybe some small fish, bring some rice, and then go to the house of one of our friends in the village to sit down, talk, and eat. Little by little we try to live like they live, cook like cook. Have you ever tried starting a fire with only wet wood and a close to dying lighter? Seth had to learn. Nicole got to carry a baby the traditional way (in a string bag on her forehead) then she carried the baby and a bag of groceries for close to 3 miles. This is what life is like for most people in PNG. Seth learned how to make a mat (used to sit down, sleep, or rest on) and a fan for the fire both made of coconut tree branches. Seth learned to climb trees and Nicole is learning to make string bags. Time and time again we learn a new skill, the people use a term and call us a “real boy or girl”, meaning: we are becoming like them. They love seeing that process and are genuinely happy to help.
We are making great relationships, and little by little as we learn their language and culture, we try to point them to God, help them with basic hygiene and medical, show a difference in our lives to make them want God, and overwhelm them with love. We will randomly bring things to them to bless them; their culture doesn’t really have the concept of a “gift”. When we give them something freely using words to show it is free and has no strings attached, that they don’t owe us, you can literally watch their face in shock because they have never seen something like that before. It is nothing major, we don’t know their language fluently yet, but each little thing we can do we pray “stokes the fire” inside of them toward our Loving Father.
Your feet to the unreached in PNG, Seth & Nicole Stokes
Making a Mat
Cooking a Traditional Meal
Making a String Bag-“Bilum”
A PMV in Town
Stoking The Fires 
Hey, guys. Praying that the Lord would use you to make a difference for eternity in the lives of those whom he brings across your path.
“REAL” is an important concept anywhere. When someone knows you are real than they can trust the message of the gospel. Congratulations on being a “real boy and girl.
Hi My Beloved Friends!!
It is great hearing from you and the Godly progress you are making with the local people. But most important, seeing and hearing of you becoming a part of the PNG family/community because “HE gave some…..pastors and teachers for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:11-12) in PNG. You are really our “Hands and Feet” there. Thank you for your life and godliness. You are continuously in my thoughts and prayers.
I love you both very much.
God’s continuous Blessings,
Louis
It’s always wonderful to hear from you. God bless you as you are real with the people there and show and tell them about our real Heavenly Father. Ann
Sent from my iPad
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I just love hearing your stories. May God bless you both with all the desires of your heart. We love you and are thrilled to have had the opportunity to get to know you a little before you left.
Becky and family
Sent from my Windows Phone ________________________________
What a great post. I can just see you both doing that. The fact that the missionaries lived such seperate lives from the people always bothered us, ofcourse we didnt see that in the bush. The missionies in the bush truly lived for the people…the were with them always. Thanks for sharing your stories …i love the. I remember so well discovering the “baby in the bag”…. What a fun day!!! Praying for you both.
loved reading this! we think of you often and lift you up! How is your support? are you needing something on the field to make you life/work more comfortable/effective?
Thank you for this wonderful, descriptive post! I could imagine it all. It made me smile and also gave me a tear in my eye. I miss you both so much but I couldn’t be more pleased that you are in the center of God’s will, doing what you love, and reaching these people for Christ. Your friends at Harvest love you and are praying for you! x
Keeping you in prayer. Know you are a blessing. And are having their love and showing tem God’s love
Stoking The Fires wrote: > a:hover { color: red; } a { text-decoration: none; color: #0088cc; } a.primaryactionlink:link, a.primaryactionlink:visited { background-color: #2585B2; color: #fff; } a.primaryactionlink:hover, a.primaryactionlink:active { background-color: #11729E !important; color: #fff !important; } /* @media only screen and (max-device-width: 480px) { .post { min-width: 700px !important; } } */ WordPress.com stokingthefires posted: “We know what you are thinking, you think we just watched Pinocchio, but we can assure you we have not watched that movie in almost a decade. We have been busy spending a lot of time in the nearby village with the people. Instead of comfortably taking one “