PNG Mission Project Day 13: Regrouping with the staff.

Last night I was falling asleep writing the blog :-\ and I wasn't very hungry, so I ate my last 4 remaining bananas and went to bed early - it felt good.

Today is our day of rest (Sunday), but I had to meet the staff this afternoon because Elton is still a student and starts the 2nd semester tomorrow. We had a good time together (3 hours), and I admire the staff for giving up their Sunday - we were all pretty much wiped out. We debriefed the missions project (what was good, bad, & needs to be changed), and we set goals for the next 5 weeks.

After we finished our meeting, I had a good, but burdening conversation with one of our staff who stayed behind to talk.  We talked about some of the difficulties that our staff have been going through this year (and previous) and how hard it is for them to have focused time on campus with the students because of these. The difficulties that they have to work through are far greater than I ever had. Safety is a big issue for single ladies here in Port Moresby, and having enough funds to contribute to the family (not limited to those who helped pay for their university). And safe transport is also a problem.  If our staff ladies had a safe place to live on their own near the campus, they could focus on the students and on finding their ministry partners without all the conflict they receive from those who can't understand why they are doing ministry instead of a job that pays good money (PNG nationals in full-time ministry who have their own support base are extremely rare here).  Our financial policy allows our staff to receive extra salary to give to family members and family events (which are many), but they need to be able to find their ministry partners first. I asked this staff person to find out how much a place would cost that is secure for our female staff, and that we'll start trusting God for a good solution!  If we don't find something soon, we'll lose one staff girl who just cannot hang on any longer - and another 4th year student who wants to join may not be able. This place would just be until they get enough ministry partners to stand on their own feet.  This just breaks my heart, and it will break the hearts of thousands of UPNG girls who may not learn how to walk with God and trust Him to use them to build into others, if these ladies leave.

Can you help? Do you know someone who can help?  Please let me know if you do/can!! Thanks so much!

And please pray for this. We may talk to someone at the university tomorrow to see if they can rent us one of their houses!

Thanks so much! Sorry for dumping this on you, but it is killing my heart!
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Since today was a boring photo day, I'll quit with 2 photos of our staff & students from our final night, and 2 photos that show a nice advantage to living on a giant sand field. If you want to put up some poles, just dig a hole a foot deep stick the pole in and put the sand back in! :-)

Thanks so much for praying - God did great things because of you! And thanks to all who let me know how much you appreciate hearing about my grand adventures with God!

Dan