There are many unique things about the Mission Center where we live! First of all, there are around 250 people (70 family units) living here. Imagine now that many of them have come at different times throughout the year and may go on furlough in 2 to 4 years depending on their circumstances. There is a lot of turnover of personnell. This center is the main location for all NTM operations in PNG. There are many different ministries the missoinaries are involved in like: supply buyers, teachers, dorm parents, maintenance workers, lanaguage teachers, field leadership, administration, finances, store, shipping, medical, tech department, aviation, and more! Not only that but many of these people are not just from the U.S. but from places like Germany, Ireland, Australia, Canada, and more. There are also many nationals that live within a large radius of our location that work here as work merri’s, store clerks, maintenance, security, lawn-care, finances, mail room, and more. This is a diverse culture, a whole new world and community right outside our front door to build relationships with. While many people will come and go our unity is found in our purpose to help the gospel brought to the unreached.
How do we go shopping? There is a store (Open only Monday & Thursday) here on the center where we can buy many things that are difficult to find in PNG.
PMV (Public Motor Vehicle)
These items are imported and are rather expensive like cereal ($8-10 per box) (olive oil $20). Things we would buy here (baking supplies, toiletries, laundry supplies, packaged items). However, a can of Coke is only 80 cents and I have found Mountain Dew in town for 78 cents. There is a small market held just outside the gate. Many of the locals bring their fresh fruit & produce to sell to us on Mondays & Thursdays. This food is quite in-expensive but slightly more than you would pay at the large Market in Goroka.
A trip to Goroka is exciting! We can rent a vehicle from here to take in (I know have my license) or we can ride a (PMV-Public Motor Vehicle). Granted this is one of the top ten most dangerous roads in the world. Many people walk along the road and drivers zoom by and around. In town there are 3 decent grocery stores with similar prices and selection compared to our store. There is a hardware and appliance store. There is a large open market as well as people selling things on every street. It is always very busy and crowded in Goroka. The open market is huge (nationals ride in to town to sell the things they’ve grown in their gardens) and prices are cheap for examples: medium tomatoes 25 cents, medium pinapples 1 dollar, huge bunch of bananas 75 cents. In general all the fruit is delicous and full of flavor compared to the same found in the states.
Goroka Market
Their are many settlements (ghettos) of different language groups throughout town which make it a highly aggressive area. There are certain things you have to be watchful and careful about like where you walk, park, how you carry possessions, and never leaving things unattended. It is highly recommended that you go with someone else and that women never go to town by themselves. As we learn the language and have been to Goroka 3 times it is becoming more comfortable. Even though there are “rascals” around, the people in general are very friendly and kind especially to “white-skins”. They would give you their best seat, give your kids free food to try, smile at you, etc!
I hope this gives you a good picture of our “New World”
Jon and Katie Ruse Serving In Papua New Guinea 
