Time is Flying! - Month Eight and Nine

I cannot believe how quickly time goes. I feel like there is so much to do and so little time. Is that because I am getting older?

We're Independent and We're Free - Month Seven

The clinic now has one doctor, three full time nurses, a fourth nurse working one day per week, a physical therapist, a massage therapist :-), a radiology technician, two part-time receptionists, and me. I was the mission mate to one of the new nurses which basically means I got her apartment ready, arranged three days of meals for her, asked people to contribute breakfast and lunch items to stock her cabinets, and showed her around the center. She is from Northern Ireland and is a great addition to the clinic with her experience in an emergency department. Mercifully, we had no medical evacuations during the month of September but it was not an uneventful month.

Peaks and Valleys (Birthdays and Witches) - Month Six

This month has been one of highs and lows. I celebrated my birthday with great joy. I received birthday cards, wishes, and several boxes from home. That always makes my day!

Worry - Week Nineteen, Twenty, and Twenty

We watched a video series by Andy Stanley about “Why Worry.” He emphasized that no one can increase their life expectancy by worry and asked who has in fact decreased their life expectancy by worrying. He stated that the things to which we are most devoted are the things about which we worry. These are bidirectional, emotional reactions to each other. We should shift our devotion to the kingdom of God. We can face uncertainty and not worry if we have faith and trust that God will take care of us. We should not worry about the things we cannot change and work on the things we can change. Once we have done all we can do today, we should trust God with our tomorrow.

For Such a Time as This Revisited - Week Seventeen and Eighteen

The sermon on Sunday was about Esther, one of my absolute favorite Bible characters! She was such a role model for strength and courage as well as noble (while not perfect) characteristics. She answered the call to serve the kingdom for her appointed time.

Saying Goodbyes - Week Thirteen through Sixteen

Every person at pre-field orientation in Florida last November was going to Papua New Guinea and I wondered what God had in store for this country. Now, I know. We have said good-bye just at Lapilo to 17 families over the past four weeks. Some will return but many will not. They are moving to whatever God has next for their lives. Our message on May 30th was about Jesus’ transition plan for His disciples when He left earth to go to heaven. He sent the Holy Spirit as our comforter, teacher, helper, counselor, and advocate. We do not have to face our transitions alone. We are to be about God’s business, set apart for His purpose, and resting in His truth. We are to take our ordinary, everyday life and place it before God as an offering. I am excited that one of the members of my orientation class is now here and another family is expected next week. We all should be here by August. There are others coming from different countries. It is all in God’s timing and plans.

Tok Save, Aigir Cooking, and Finding Gold - Week Eleven and Twelve

Several of the clinic’s staff went to a mumu (where they kill a pig and cook it in the ground) on Sunday after church to celebrate a young girl’s beginning of her sikmun. The girl typically wears the traditional dress of their tribe. The girl at this celebration was basically wearing a fishnet-type outfit with bird feathers in her headdress. Apparently she was very embarrassed and kept asking to wear a tee shirt. The girls in this day and time and in this region are now not accustomed to this type of dress. Presents are given to family members who have helped to raise the girl and the girl is given gifts including feminine products. The celebration began the night before and some of the men were drunk by the day of the mumu. It is probably a good thing I was not there.

The Alpha and Omega - Week Ten

The message on Sunday was delivered by Iteve Amole who is an elder and Bible teacher from the Yagaria tribe where NTM has previously worked to establish churches. There are now 8 churches in Yagaria. Iteve has also gone to missionary school. He preached on knowing Jesus and quoted many scriptures that point to Christ to tell who He is.

Pizza and Beaver Tails - Week Nine

The message on Sunday was about a better altar of sacrifice, the grace of Jesus Christ, taken from Hebrews 13:10-24. The old altar, the Law given in the Old Testament, is insufficient to take away out sin. This new and better altar offers complete and eternal forgiveness. The sacrifice is finished and now we are to offer continual praise to God, follow the example of our spiritual leaders who watch over our souls, pray for each other, share in one another’s life, and care for one another. Jesus has equipped us to do these things.

Strength - Week Eight

The message on Sunday was on love taken from Hebrews 13: 1-9. Because of God’s love for us, we are to love others. The speaker emphasized that how well we listen to others is one measure of love. We should remember to take time to care for others; offer hospitality to others – even strangers; remember those in prison (a response, not a thought); remember those mistreated as if it were us being mistreated; honor marriage and home; be content with what we have (wanting what other’s have is a killer of love); do not be afraid since the Lord is our help; think of the riches we have in Christ (count your blessings); remember the good that has come from the lives of our spiritual leaders and the investment they have made in our lives, follow their example; know that Jesus is infinitely the same; and do not be carried away with strange teachings but find your strength in the grace of Jesus.

More Earthquakes, Poison Rope, and the PNG “Toll Road” - Week Seven

I woke up Sunday morning to another earthquake. The epicenter for this one was in Lae which is 135 miles from here. The magnitude was 6.9 at the epicenter. It did not do any damage here but one village in which NTM works was damaged.

Perseverance - Week Six

The message on Sunday was from Hebrews 12 where we are taught to remove any hindrance or sin that would keep us from completing what God has planned for us to do. We are to persevere and not be discouraged. We are to realize that God disciplines us so that we are molded to His holiness. We are not to let bitterness take root in our lives or trade an eternal inheritance for a brief moment of pleasure. Rather, we are to pursue holiness and unity with all people. What is God teaching me through the struggles I face?

It Has Been Just Over a Month, the Geckos Moved Out, and I Have Fallen Three Times - Day 32, 33, 34, 35, and 36

It has been five weeks since I left Texas. I am still settling in and things still seem new to me each day. I am really enjoying my time in the clinic and am grateful for the wonderful people who work there. One thing I do struggle with is the fact that many of the people I have meet will be leaving in June to go on home assignment for a few months up to a year.  Others will not be coming back.

Easter - Day 28, 29, 30, and 31

The clinic was closed on Good Friday. I spent that day cleaning the apartment, doing laundry, and watching DVDs; including The Passion of the Christ. It had been several years since I had watched it and it was good to reflect on the precious gift of eternal life our Savior gave to us through His death and resurrection.

The Bridge is Open - Day 25, 26, and 27

Eleven days after collapsing, the bridge on the Highlands Highway connecting us to our main suppliers was opened. A semi-truck with an over-sized load hit the side rail and the bridge collapsed. We had plenty of fuel for the generator but there were some shortages in local markets and the clinic ran out of liquid nitrogen.

Annual Conference - Day 21, 22, 23, and 24

I was blessed to arrive just before the annual conference which allowed me to gain a better perspective about mission life and the reason we live it. Conference began on Friday evening and concluded on Monday morning. We heard from several speakers, saw tribal updates, sang songs, prayed and, of course, ate.

My favorite sessions were the video updates on how works in the bush are going with the tribal people...

Babel - Day 17, 18, 19, 20, and 21

I spent an hour each morning this week with Kunik and Oksoo learning to “tok pisin” from Marcus. We learned a few nouns, verbs, common phrases, and commands. We really did not get too much into conversational pidgin, which is covered in another class. Dr. Bud has approached me about going to live for two weeks with a PNG family to immerse more into the language and culture. He will take me there to make sure I am comfortable with the family and living conditions before I make my decision. Several missionaries have lived with this particular family so I guess it is safe. It is important I learn pidgin in order to converse with the patients in the clinic and to build relationships with the people.

Church - Day 16

I went to Tama's church with several other NTM missionaries. The name of the church is Genoka Fellowship of National Bible Churches in Goroka (Acts 26:18).

In my mind, we would park by a sidewalk near the church and go in. No, that wasn’t quite right - it is very muddy and steep. Tama and his wife got up early to add some sand to the carved steps so we would not fall going down the mountain. The ground was very slippery from all the rain. The children handled it like mountain goats. Me, not so fast.

Work - Day 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15

Monday was my first day in the clinic and it was pretty hectic trying to get caught up after the medical evacuations. Plus, I was alone at the front desk on my first day!

Faith - Day 8 and 9

I spent all day Saturday going back and forth to the Hostess Center where they keep household items such as dishes, sheets, towels, furniture, and appliances. I was able to get some towels, another set of sheets, a few more dishes, a mop, and a broom. There is an extra front load washer in storage so the hostess center coordinator will check into switching it with my twin tub. The twin tub is quite tedious and is hard on clothes so I am told. (Have I mentioned the twin tub is tedious?)

Fellowship - Day 7

Today Marcus showed me a documentary of footage taken in 1930 when the Leahy brothers from Australia came to Papua New Guinea in search of gold. They discovered a million people living in the roughed mountain terrains of the highlands region. These people had stone axes and fire but no wheels. They were basically still living in the stone age and did not know there was a world beyond their own world.

Finding Life’s Purposes - Day 6

I didn’t make it to bed as soon I as thought last night. I felt something hit my back and then turned around to see this 1” creature bouncing up and down as high as the kitchen counter. It had legs and antenna like a roach, wings like I don’t know what, and a soft body shaped like a grasshopper.

I wish I had my electric bug zapper that the HealthTexas Compliance Committee gave to me. I will make sure Dad and Mom mail it to me! I threw my shoe at it but missed. It kept jumping up and down and I didn’t know which direction it would go next. My second attempt with the shoe worked and guts splattered everywhere. They told me today that it was a PNG cricket. After battling with this creature, I went to the shower to find a gecko. At least I am use to these from Dallas.

For Such A Time As This - Day 5

I woke up each hour at 4:30, 5:30, and 6:30 but managed to then sleep until the alarm went off at 7:45. There really isn’t much privacy here since you leave the windows and curtains open for air. My kitchen window has a lace curtain but no blind. I forget that sometimes when I am running between the bedroom and bathroom. Oops!

Hope for the Future - Day 4

Well, I didn’t make it make to bed this morning until 7:20 AM. I decided to do some more unpacking and then I slept for about an hour. Jahn took me to visit the grocery store where I hope to go tomorrow to pick up a couple of things. It is normally only open on Monday and Thursday, but new comers are allowed to go on closed days to stock up.

The rest of my morning was spent...

The Great Commission - Day 1 and 3

I am writing this at 4:30 AM on Tuesday because my body thinks it is 1:00 PM on Monday.

My parents, sister Elaine, and I left Springtown at 5:30 PM on Saturday, March 6th. My greatest emotion was feeling pressured that I had not completed all that I wanted before leaving.

Preparation

After 14 months of prayer, soul searching, Godly counsel, partnering with supporters, mountains of paperwork, visas, medical examinations, shots, pre-field orientation, quitting my job, packing and leasing my house, being commissioned, and saying good-byes; I have arrived in Papua New Guinea, the Land of the Unexpected, to work with New Tribes Mission to plant churches among tribal peoples.

"Then He said to them, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest."" Luke 10:2 (NKJ)