PNG Easter Conference Day 5: "Firsts!"

The opening day of our conference is here!  96 students attended! (Last year we had 40.)  81 of those students were first-years (new to our ministry.) Gail Puipui (George and Eva's daughter) even attended with 3 friends from her highschool.

Those 1000 biscuits (cookies) we bought?  That was a serious underestimate.  (Those students were not shy in helping themselves!)  We're sending out a couple of people to buy some more cookies tonight because the stores will be closed on Easter.  We don't want to be caught short!

My first devotional talk went OK.  (I put the finishing touches on tomorrow's talk during the afternoon sessions.  Hopefully it looked like I was taking good notes.)

As usual during these conferences, everyone trooped down to the beach for lunch, where we met our caterer.  (She's the mom of one of our students.)  It's only about a 10 minute walk...downhill to the beach, uphill after lunch for the rest of the sessions.  I think it was my first time to eat slippery greens in coconut milk with my fingers.

Before going home, the students received their orange Student Life T-shirts.  Wow...were those shirts a hit! The students were asked to wear their new shirts tomorrow, but we didn't tell them that they'd be going witnessing on the beach.   (It will be the first time to share their faith for most of the students.)

PNG Easter Conference Day 4: One Thousand Biscuits!"

Final preparations for 100 students to descend upon the Grand Papua Hotel are happening.  We actually don't know how many students will attend this training conference, but since around 100 came to the opening Student Life event, that's what we're aiming for.  (The uni year started too late for us to have time for a pre-registration.)

Dan, Greg, and I loaded up a shopping cart with 1000 biscuits (cookies) for the morning tea break for the three days of the conference. Also on the list was wrapping paper for the thank you gifts for those outside our ministry who will help out, pens for signing the certificates for completing the course, etc.

I think we're about ready! 

PNG Easter Conference Day 3: "Oops!"

Do you ever wonder why things don't go smoothly?  I think maybe it's a safety-check for us to realize that "God is God...and we are not."  Anyway, here are some examples of some "safety-checks":

Dan's view from back of truck

Paul, an older man on our CCC PNG ministry board, offered to give us a ride in his truck to get all the music sound equipment and instruments to our new office so that the students could practice.  There were only two seats in the cab, but the sun was really beating down on the back...so I suggested that Paul, Dan, and I all squish into the cab.  They humoured me.   The result was, there was a police check up the street a ways.  Paul pulled over and had Dan climb in the back.  It seems PNG is now serious about seat belts.  (However, they don't mind people riding in the open back of a truck.)  Unfortunately, the police saw our little manuver and Paul got a ticket.  I didn't know about the rule.  Those polite men (Dan and Paul) didn't tell me.  And yes, we did pay Paul back.  Oops.

Paul and Dan modelling our sunglasses "giveaway" for the conference

A couple of recent graduates who were going to teach some of our training seminars have pulled out.  Oops. This leaves holes that need to be filled by our team. 

I think that when I mess up or life gets complicated and I say, "I can't..." - God says, "Ah, at last.  She gets it.  She can't, but I can."  And then He makes beautiful things happen.

We worked again on T-shirts today...This time Dan took a photo!

 

PNG Easter Conference - Day 2: T-Shirts!

While Dan and Greg were trying to get the venue sorted for our Easter conference, I was on the silkscreen printing T-shirts team!  (I hadn't done anything like that since university days.)  Elton, Isaac, and I spent all afternoon in the hot sun working like a well-oiled machine, if I do say so myself.  I put the board inside the shirt (so the paint wouldn't go through to the other side.) Elton squeegeed on the paint, Isaac hung the shirts up to dry on the longest clothes line I'd ever seen in my life.  These T-shirts will be given away at the conference, and worn for our day of witnessing on the beach.  Each shirt needs five different screens for the five colours (with drying time between each screen.)  We got three screens done, so only two more to go!  (I was sweating like a pig when we were done.  Fortunately for everyone, there are no photos!)

PNG Easter Conference: Day 1: "The Longest Day!"

The alarm went off at 2:45 am.  My mind slowly started kicking in with all to be done before catching the shuttle to the airport at 3:30...like changing the bed for our house-and-dog-sitters.  (Who changes a bed at 3 in the morning?  Ah...the glamour of missionary life!)

We made it to the airport and went to the ticket counter...UH OH!  Big trouble.  Dan picked up his passport when we hurried out the door... and also Laurie's, not mine.  There was just enough time for Dan to catch a taxi, race home, collect the correct passport, and make it back to the airport and to me, waiting with the luggage. (We even had a little time left over for a hurried McDonald's breakfast before jumping on the plane.)

Leaving is always hard for me, emotionally, physically, mentally...and I wonder if God has the right person for the job.  (I'm giving 3 devotional talks at the conference and they're in a pretty fuzzy condition in my mind at the moment.) I always feel inadequate and torn.

Ah...but arriving is another story.  We got off the plane about 13 hours after waking up in New Zealand, and it was just after lunchtime in Papua New Guinea.  Breathing in the hot, humid, tropical air felt familiar and homelike.  My island self came to the fore and I am now arrived, body and spirit.  (Tired, yes, but arrived.)
My confidence begins to trickle back, that our big, majestic God can do anything He wants...even use the likes of me.

Next post will be in 5 days: on the 30th of March, when Kaylynn & I return to PNG!

Start of the Year - Day 10 "Going home"

Today's my last day - I leave for the airport at 11:30 this morning.

I had a great time with the 3 staff this morning.  They have been running around full speed for the past 2 months, so I told them that I want them to take this afternoon & tomorrow off.  But, then Greg had to go downtown to confirm the venue for our Easter conference (in a week and a half), and Elton needed to go to the Department of Labour tomorrow to (hopefully) pick up the Volunteer Work Permits for the 2 girls coming to help (with our ministry growing so fast, they are so desperately needed!) - so I said try to take some time off sometime.  Please pray that they won't burn out!

Lillian & Elton pretending that they didn't see me.

After I checked in at the airport, as is our custom, I bought everyone lunch.  There are no eating places in the International terminal (they are remodeling it), so we walked down to the Domestic terminal.  

While we were eating lunch, a little bee came along and wanted Greg's drink (and nobody else's).  So Greg was trying to swat it away.  Well it flew over his can and Greg ended up swatting it INTO his drink.  It was very funny!

He finally got the bee out (after drinking half of it). and it waddled across the table like he was drunk.  But I think it was okay.  And Greg's drink still tasted okay as well!

A few highlights this trip:

• We had a record number of first-year students fill our cards at orientation - more than 650 - most saying that they are interested in growing closer to God;
• We had a record number of students come to the first Splash (our weekly meeting) - 63!
• We ended last year with 11 movement Builders (students who lead Bible studies and disciple other students), yet we're starting this year with 16!
• Elton, Greg, & Lillian provided several opportunities for new students to be trained before the start of the university year, and these students are excited to trust God to use them as they disciple other students;
• We had a record number of students at our opening Alpha Party, and almost all said they wanted to be in a Bible Study (Discovery group).

Please pray for our staff to not get burned out and for these students to see God work through them!

Thanks for helping to make this ministry possible.  Together, we will help reach all 839 people groups in PNG!