Goroka Mission Project Jun-19 "It's actually happening!"

I'm writing this from the domestic airport in Port Moresby. The last few days have been hectic trying to get ready for our mission project to Goroka. I had to buy all the tickets online and with poor Internet, it took a long time. We also were waiting for the students to turn in their money, the last of it came in yesterday.  We have 9 students, 7 guys & 2 girls.

Tanya & Beautlyn (2 of our staff) went ahead 2 days ago, which was good because the University of Goroka student services were thinking we were coming on July. PNG, "The Land of the unexpected" 😁  Everything is good now. I'm flying up there this morning with Seraphim and Florida (2 other staff) - see below for our photo.

Elidah (another staff) will be flying up this afternoon with all of the students.

Thanks for praying! I'll post a photo of us all from Goroka today or tomorrow.

Goroka Mission trip Jun-19 - "A grand adventure"

Good Morning! I'm writing this while I sit in the plane (they must be doing paperwork 😉) . I'm headed to Papua New Guinea for the next 15 days, and I would welcome your prayers!  This Friday (on the 7th), we are taking 10 students up to the highlands on a mission project for 8 days.

Please pray that God would:
•Significantly work in the student's lives to help them to become multipliers (disciple makers) on campus when we return.
•Keep us all safe and use us mightily in the lives of those in Goroka
•Give me the Wisdom, the Words, and the Wit while I'm here.
•Help me to keep my focus on Jesus and allow Him to use me any way He wants.
•Take care of Kaylynn at home in New Zealand while I’m gone.

Thanks so much for praying!
Dan

PNG Easter Conference Trip: "Dark and Light!"

There seems to be an increase in violence in Port Moresby.  There have been several snatchings of young girls just recently.  The motive seems to be organ harvesting.  

We heard gunshots not too far away today.

I don't know why evil surprises me, but it does.  After all, we're living in the domain of darkness where Satan rules.

When confronted with darkness, all those verses about "light" in the Bible thrill my soul.  Col. 1:12-13 - We share in the inheritance of the saints in light. We're transferred from the domain of darkness to the kingdom of His beloved Son.  Jn. 8:12  "...I am the light of the world;  he who follows Me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life."

Then another favorite verse:  "You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you then he who is in the world."  (1 Jn. 4:4)  I like this verse.  I like being called a little child and being reassured that God is bigger than the evil one.   Sometimes in the madness, that fact helps me not depair.  It gives me confidence that we're in the right job.           

PNG Easter Conference Trip: "Trained Fingers!"

We were just talking with another missionary at breakfast about how seemingly unrelated events of our past have prepared us for what we do now.

I had just been reading Psalm 144:1..."Blessed be the LORD, my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle."  Our friend said that he was involved in theatre work many years ago and learned to have a stage presence.  When he found himself at the podium in an Asian country, scared to death, speaking on the things of God, that former training came in handy.

It made me look back at my life and see experiences that maybe I didn't appreciate at the time, really helped develop me to be able to do what we do now.  Who would have thought that having a flatmate who cooked rice all the time at OSU would prepare me to live with Hawaiian housemates, then life in Micronesia.  Who would have thought that the uncomfortable position of being the only white female on a summer mission project in inner-city Detroit during my university years (a highly unusual and exceptional situation), was a foretaste of life in the islands. The list goes on. 

Only God could take an extremely quiet little girl who didn't like to venture off on her own, and turn her into a missionary to other cultures.  It gives me hope.  God can easily do the impossible.  He HAS done it, and will continue to reign magnificently over His children, growing us up.

I wonder what is happening now that will be my training for the future!

PNG Easter Conference Trip : "A Step Back!"

I'm finally feeling better.  (Getting sick right when you're supposed to be at your best is a bit of a challenge.)

I decided today that I need to take an emotional step back and just enjoy walking with God today.  It's so easy to get caught up in what we're suppose to accomplish on these trips (a seemingly impossible list of tasks to perform) when, bottom line, if our staff are experiencing joy in walking with God and encouraging others to do the same, everything will be alright.  I best be an example of that.

I need to enjoy walking with God, not comparing myself to the other missionaries at this guest house.  (It feels as though others have their act together and understand the culture here more than me.)

I need to enjoy walking with God with wonder in my heart at what He wants me to do, and what He wants me to discover.  By nature, I'm the sort of person who likes things clear cut and achievable...but there's nothing "by the book" in PNG.  And, I'm in a job that works with people...also not a "by the book" type of thing.  When under stress I need to remind myself to relax my grip on trying to force circumstances around me.  Look up, Kaylynn.  God isn't worried.  He's holding my hand.  Enjoy the walk!

PNG Easter Conference Trip: The Big Weekend: "Unlikely people!"

Yup, 3 talks.  I never dreamed I'd be a devotional speaker at a Student Life Conference...and probably neither did anyone else who knew me as a student.  God has a funny way of using the most unlikely people!

For the last few years, this devotional spot has been my responsibility in PNG.  This year, however, it was harder to get my thoughts organized than ever before.  (I don't know if it was a result of spiritual warfare or a virus I've been fighting.)  However, after breaking the ice on Friday, Saturday and Sunday went better.

I learn quite a bit doing this.  I try to share what God's been teaching me, and by trying to explain it to someone else, the lesson gets crystallized in my heart.
I've recently realized that maybe in exchanging my own outlook to God's outlook, I hit the same bumps as when adjusting to a new culture.   The kingdom of heaven that Jesus talked about presented many new and radical concepts to his listeners.   Anyway, I gave my talks and got to use some of my MANY cultural mishaps as illustrations.  (See...there's a purpose for even the most humiliating and silly times!)

The conference, of course, was full of teaching and training and experiences beyond my small role.  Dan and I just went through the evaluation forms.  It looks like 12 students became believers...and a further 28 people in the community came to Christ during our afternoon of witnessing in the nearby street market.  This was the first time many of our students had shared their faith.  They were just been newly trained, and some had just become Christians themselves. God can use anybody...and it just blows my mind!  

Look who's talkin'!

Here's a short google video of our day of witnessing.  (Let me know if it doesn't work...I'll let Dan figure something out! (tee hee)

Twelve Days of PNG - Day 12 and beyond: "The Reveal!"

We've been home a week now without reporting on the outcome of our big event.  (To tell the truth, we were so exhausted by the end of our trip that we flew home and have been fighting viruses all week.)  BUT, that's not to say that there's nothing to report!

Sure, it was a bit of a challenge.  When the decorating committee went to our venue the day of our party, they discovered the room was unusable because the ceiling had collapsed from all the rain that had bucketed down the last couple of days.  (We're talking about ceiling tiles on the floor and wires dangling down!  We had to quickly find another room.)  And sure, the barbecue that we hauled out of an upstairs apartment, into the van, and then onto the campus turned out to be missing the hose connecting the grill to the propane gas.  (Luckily the girls had precooked the sausages!)  And sure, the pastor who was to give a dedication didn't show...

...BUT...many new students DID show up, along with returning students, alumni, and our staff.  We were able to explain our ministry and invite everyone to be a part of our student movement of winning students to Christ, building them in their faith, training them in ministry skills, and then sending them out to win-build-train-and send others.  A testimony was given, food was eaten, and questions were answered.

This week, all those who signed up to be in small discipleship groups are being sorted out according to schedules and group leaders.  YAHOO!  Please pray with us that this year will have a profound effect on the students in their faith walk with God! 

 

Twelve Days of PNG - Day 11: "Getting Ready!"

Our big "Alpha Party" is tomorrow. This is the event where the first-year university students are invited to come for fun, games, and to hear what Student Life is all about.  It's also the time where we organize interested students into small discipleship groups.

We've purchased the sausages and onions for the BBQ, and our music group is practicing. Phone calls have been made to students who indicated an interest during their orientation day.  Alumni volunteers are helping, permission from the university security has been given, and decorating is still to come.

Calling 1st year students

Anticipation and wonder at what God will do is increasing. (Along with a little, "YIKES!" in my tum

Calling 1st year students

my.)  Tomorrow is almost here!

Calling 1st year students for Alpha Party

Twelve Days of PNG - Day 10: "Rain!"

Yes, it's rainy season here in PNG.  Up until today, it hasn't been too much of a bother.  However, today was a different story.

In rain like this, driving can be a bit of a challenge.  Portions of the road are flooded and it's hard to tell where the deepest potholes are...and some potholes are doozies!  We hit a particularly deep one and whacked the underside of the van pretty hard, but I think we escaped without noticeable damage.  We were driving to the airport to pick up Elidah, our fellow staff member, who was flying into town from her village.  We found a parking place not far from a covered walkway...and WAITED. 

Elidah texted that here flight was delayed.  We (3 staff girls and ourselves) waited in a steamy van because the chances of finding a seat inside the domestic terminal in this downpour were slim to none.  We flick on the air con every so often.

Elidah finally arrived and told us her airplane had overshot the runway (visibility?) and she looked out the window of the plane and saw that it was practically on top of the houses below.  The plane circled again and they landed safely.  We got her squared away inside the van only to discover that the van's battery was dead.  (We had mistakenly left the lights on after using them to see through the storm's gloom.)  A kind man gave us a jump start (a very wet endeavor, involving many tries and two different jumper cables).  We thanked him and gave him Jesus Film DVDs.  Oh, well.  At least the girls now know what to do if this should happen to them.

I'm so thankful for a van (and not having to get wet waiting for a taxi), and kind people, and safe girls, and to be back at our guest house, eating a hot meal cooked by someone else.  What an adventure!

  

Twelve Days of PNG - Day 9: Psalm 37

(Dan here) 

It's been very refreshing as Kaylynn & I meet as part of our PNG staff team every morning for devotions. We take turns leading and yesterday morning one of the girls led us through Psalm 37. It was a great time of reminding ourselves that as we Trust, Delight, and Commit ourselves to God, He is the one who will vindicate us - we don't have to promote ourselves: ⁶He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday sun (the hot PNG sun). 

Our PNG ministry has a partnership with our ministry in Australia where they send missionaries and students from time to time to PNG to help our staff & students on campus.  I've been writing back and forth this week with the person in charge trying to sort out a few issues and we were having trouble understanding each other.  We also were hoping that they would be able to send a team to PNG in July (which we despirately need). 

So, yesterday afternoon we scheduled a Skype call with myself, this person, and the person who would lead the project in July.  While I was waiting for this call, I found myself stressing out a bit because of a few issues and was not really looking forward to the call (I was a bit fretful). 

While I was waiting, I read Psalm 37 again and the first words hit me in the face: "Fret not yourself..." - I was fretting. 

As I reread Psalm 37, God reminded me that this is His ministry and He'll bring the help we need either from Australia or from somewhere else. And He reminded me that He will use me as needed (any way He wants).  I confessed my fretfulness and focused on God who is in control. 

I then had a great call with these 2 Aussie men and we all understood each other and the partnership is still going on. 

And God has already been bringing male students to sign up to come on the project in July - we desperately need men, and God knew that and God has already been recruiting for us.

Here are the first few verses of Psalm 37:

¹Fret not yourself because of evildoers... 

³Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.

⁴Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

⁵Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act.

⁶He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.

⁷Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who... 

Twelve Days of PNG - Day 8: "Be of Good Cheer!"

Have you ever noticed the Spirit of God uses choruses that you learned growing up or early in life to come back to your mind when you need them?

John 16:33 says, "These things I have spoken unto you that in me you might have peace.  In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world."  I can type this verse from memory because of a chorus someone taught me.  I read the verse this morning, and I'm still singing the song.

I like this verse because life is stressful.  It's a given.  I shouldn't be surprised by it...but mostly, I shouldn't be disheartened by it.  I can be cheerful if I'm looking at Jesus, knowing He's not stressed out and has it in control. Imagine what the world would look like if every Christian you knew was cheerful in spite of circumstances. Maybe if I sing this song enough I'll transform from an Eeyore to a Tigger!

Twelve Days of PNG - Day 7: "A Blast From the Past!"

Surprise!  The man sitting with us at the breakfast table this morning went to a Bible college in my hometown.  He knew my high school and the street where I grew up.  Here, in PNG, was this man who preached occasionally at a church Dan and I spoke in once during our furlough. What are the odds?

He also said he worked at Senn's Dairy at one point in time.  Senn's sold bottled milk right down the street from my high school.  The store was one which had a "drive-thru."  The customer ordered milk and a young man delivered it to your car.  It was run by a Christian man, and at one time the workers were ultra-conservative.  I have no idea when our breakfast companion worked there, but it brought back a memory that made me laugh.

I was riding in the car with my girlfriend when we were teens, getting milk.  My friend has a definite sense of mischief and she turned up the "rock" music station on her car radio, then rolled down her window...knowing that it would make our delivery boy a bit uncomfortable.  Truth be told, as a girl who avoided conflict, it made me a bit uncomfortable as well.

I thought to myself, "You've come a long way, baby!"  I think it's safe to say that working in other cultures, I've had occasion to unintentionally ruffle feathers!

Twelve Days of PNG - Day 6: "A Hard Day at the Office!"

In the early morning, Dan led our team in a great devotional about being men and women after God's heart.  Later in the day, we had occasion to talk about walking the path God has laid out for us.  God doesn't promise a "comfortable" life...just the opposite.

Having to bring up hard topics with someone isn't comfortable, and hearing hard topics isn't comfortable.  Moving forward from a hard place isn't always comfortable.  BUT...There is comfort, there is peace, and there is joy to be found in running to Jesus in our discomfort.  Eventually there's a bend in the road and the path eases. 

 But, at the end of the day, we're tired after a hard day at the office.

Twelve Days of PNG - Day 5: "Big Footprints!"

It's hard to go to church here without sticking out a bit.  We're just so blindingly white.  Luckily, we arrived after church had already started and they already had a PNG speaker lined up who had just written a book, so we weren't asked to speak.  (Even so, someone came up to us afterwards and apologized that he tried, but couldn't get us up front this Sunday.)  The songs were all unfamiliar and in another language, so I hope no one was offended that I didn't join in.  (Sticking out as we do, it's hard to go unnoticed.)  A dog roamed around, up front and under various seats.  The thing that ministered to me the most was watching another PNG mom there, with peace on her face, calmly singing songs to Jesus.  That's food for my soul.

It's easy to feel a little lost in another culture, never sure of exactly what to do.  I found myself praying that God would leave big footprints in the snow...that I could follow along to make walking a little easier in confusing situations.  Looking ahead at ministry, it's just a walk of faith, one step at a time.

Dan and Alex

In the afternoon we met up with Alex, an alumni that wants to be involved in discipleship.  I'm not sure how this will work out with his job situation, but ...one step at a time.

Twelve Days of PNG - Day 4: "A New Look!"

I just got new glasses before coming here...the kind that go dark in the sunlight.  I don't always notice that it's happening, but before seeing photos of myself taken outside, I was hoping that I'd look like a secret agent or a movie star or something...but, nah.  I look different, but don't feel different.

This year's ministry on campus is going to have a different look.  While the staff are working on finding ministry partners during the first part of this semester, we're considering ways to keep the ministry going on campus. We've been hearing that some of our alumni (students who we've trained in the past and who now have jobs in the area) have indicated a desire to maybe lead a discipleship group on campus.  We're thinking God is moving to give our ministry a new look this year.  Our goal is to keep the students focused on Jesus and the Great Commission...so while the look may be new, the focus will remain the same.  (I wonder how it will all come together, but as long as MY focus is secure, maybe my fear of the unknown will be conquered.)

Twelve Days of PNG - Day 3: "Sweet Meets!"

It seems odd that this introvert should find meeting up with people so fascinating.  I think it has something to do with the variety of people and seeing how God is working.

We had lunch with Beautlyn.  Because her dad is sick and is asking for her, and her mom needs help with him, Beautlyn will change her status to associate staff next month just for a time. But she will be kept in the loop and rejoin us full time when she is able.  She has such a big heart and a clear eye on following Jesus.  It'll be interesting to see how God will use her as she goes down this new road.  (It reminded me of when Dan was in pain for two years in the States before coming to New Zealand.  God used that time to build into his character.)

In the afternoon we had a meeting with staff and a few students on campus outside the chapel.  This involved me sitting on the ground.  (With my knees, it's a comical picture getting up and down!) As we planned the event inviting all the new students to find out about our ministry, I wondered what the year had in store...and what was God's plan for some of these new students.  Would they discover a relationship with Him?  Would they discover the wonder of following Him with all their heart?  (It reminded me of when I was a student and how I could never have dreamed of where following Him would take me.)

At dinner we talked with the woman running our guest house.  We found out she is in the middle of writing a couple of musicals and is entering one of them in a competition in Australia (where she is from.)  It's about the "flying doctor," who started a medical mission to reach people who were so remote in Australia that they couldn't get medical care back in the day.  Who'd imagine I meet such a person in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea!  

Twelve Days of PNG - Day 2: "It's the little things!"

After a day of trying to brush my teeth with a toothpick, toothpaste, and my finger, Dan arrived in our room with a new toothbrush in his hand.  I felt like he had just given me a bouquet of flowers.  Never had a toothbrush seemed so romantic.

We spent the morning with our PNG team for a time of singing, devotions and outlining the schedule for the next few days.  It's sure good to be with these beautiful people.  On top of that, Beautlyn had a computer charge cord that fits my computer and she let me take it home! I'm all charged up!

We decided to take each member of our PNG team to lunch each day.  Tanya was brave enough to go first.  It  was good to hear what's going on in her life and what she's learning and what she's trusting God for this year. God is growing her! These are things that we don't find out over a group phone call from New Zealand.  

Twelve Days of PNG - Day 1: "First Egg!"

I'm looking at this trip like an egg carton.  Twelve days, twelve little pockets of potential to fill.  However, after just one day, I feel like I've already laid an egg of goof-ups.  It turns out I (Kaylynn) forgot to bring my computer charge cord and my toothbrush.  My computer is already dead and I'm using Dan's little tablet computer.  I'm holding onto all those verses that say, "When I am weak, then I am strong." and "God uses the foolish things of the world to confound the wise." and "It's not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord."

But...in spite of a day of traveling and very little sleep and forgetful brains, here we are with the privilege of a front-row seat to see what God will do! 
 

In Brisbane, waiting for our connecting flight to PNG

PNG End of Year Celebration: Halfway!

We're halfway through our 10-day trip.  I think we'll make it!

It was a toss-up if we'd have to come home early, because Dan's pain medication was switched when he filled his prescription just before we left.  The new stuff doesn't work as effectively, which leaves him feeling a little "rough around the edges."  He's hanging in there, though, and I think he can endure until we get home and work for a better solution.

Andrea, with her mom and auntie

The big end of the university year celebration was yesterday.  We dedicated Andrea, who was our student president this year and is joining our staff team next year!  Yahoo!  We also met the father of another girl who intends (before we leave on Friday) to turn in her application to join our staff team as well.  The father "just happened" to be in town the day we met him.  He's very positive and encouraging!  (Kind of a new experience for us.)

In the next few days we'll be evaluating our year...what went well, and what can be improved upon for next year.  I woke up in the middle of the night and decided for the next end of year celebration, we need to work on sharing more stories of how God changed lives, what He taught us, etc...more personal interaction and growth stories that give God glory.  (As opposed to activities we've done.)  I feel like a child looking up at my Father and wanting to be just like Him RIGHT NOW...and our staff to be just like Him RIGHT NOW.  I had to remind myself this morning that it's OK to want to be better, but growth takes time.

I read this verse this morning:  (Luke 12:32)  "Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom."  I like it that Jesus calls us His little flock.  He knows we have a lot of growing to do, but He's pleased to call us His own and give us everything He has.  What's not to love about our Father?

UPNG Graduation trip - Day 6: "From God's Word"

After a relaxing Saturday & Sunday (writing emails & letters, processing our missionary's reimbursements, etc), I spent today with our missionaries and on campus.

We met as a staff team for a few hours in the morning - they asked me to give a devotion so I chose the topic of salvation.  I chose this topic because Kaylynn & I went to a funeral here in Port Moresby last month and a "super pastor" (that's what he called himself - I'm assuming that the super is from superintendent) preached that we become Christians by faith in Jesus, but then heaven is like a bank.  The good things we do add to the bank and the bad things we do withdraw from the bank - when we die, Jesus looks at the balance and if it's negative, then he will say, "I do not know you" and you will go to hell.  Then a few weeks ago, Dianne heard a sermon on the same topic and I thought that we should talk about salvation being a gift we receive by faith when we give our lives to Christ and it's always by faith and all our righteousness (that gets us into heaven) comes from Jesus.  Jesus' one sacrifice for all gets us into Heaven, not our works.  He does not have to die again if we sin. [I used the following scriptures if you'd like to have a look: Galatians 2:16 - 3:3, 1 John 5:11-13, Hebrews 9:27 - 10:25, and 2 Timothy 3:1-7, 3:13-17 & 4:1-4]

After the meeting, Elton & I went downtown to submit a paper for Elton's NZ visa application that we forgot to submit last Friday, and then to visit a good friend to talk about applying for land from the university to build a training facility and offices, etc.

In the afternoon, we went to campus.  We decided that since Elton needs to pull himself off campus to focus on finding more ministry partners (to financially support his ministry), that his 3 disciples will meet with Dianne's 4 disciples each week for Bible study and discussion on how the movement is going.  We had planned to meet these 7 students at 5:00 to introduce this... but through miscommunication and other factors, only 1 guy showed up.  We had a good yet brief discussion with him, but we'll have to leave the formation of the group to happen later.  Please be praying for the discipleship groups on campus, especially the men's groups!

At 6:30 or so (island time) our weekly meeting started.  We had a good time of singing and Beautlyn (one of the new missionaries) gave her testimony.  It was good, too, to see a first year student help as emcee - he did really well.

Then it was my turn to speak. I was asked to talk about having an Eternal perspective, and even though we (Campus Crusade) have several talks on this topic, I wanted to share from my experience and focus on scripture passages that have helped me focus my life own to live for eternity.  I started with a story of how the guy who discipled me at Penn State came up to me one day all excited saying that he discovered that the Bible talked about me.  I was a bit excited.  He then read Philippians 3:18-19, "For many walk... as enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and glory is in their shame", (this didn't seem very encouraging so far), "who set their mind on earthly things". "That's you", he said, "you set your mind on earthly things - you're an enemy of the cross!", he said with a big smile on his face.  This was a bit strong, but I knew he was right.  This was a turning point in my life, learning to set my mind on heavenly things, where I am a citizen already (verse 20).  I chose a lot of scripture, and some students faded, but several students were riveted on me as they wrote things down as fast as they could.  I know I am an earthen vessel (with flaws), yet God will still manifest himself to others through me & my humanness.  [These are the passages I shared: Romans 5:1-5, Romans 6:14-23, 1 Corinthians 3:16-17, 3:10-15, 2 Corinthians 4:6-10, 4:11-18, and Philippians 3:7-11, 12-14, 17-21]

After the meeting, 6 or 7 girls went up to the "Spider Chart" showing all the discipleship groups and wanted to be put into a group.  This was so encouraging!  And 1 guy (who was one who listened intently) also asked to be in a group!

It was a long day.  I went back to my guest house and ate dinner, 16 hours after I had eaten breakfast (with only some crackers in the middle of the day).  Things didn't all go as planned, but it still was a very satisfying good day.  Thanks for praying!