Our Two Weeks of February in PNG Adventure: "Back Again!"

When our PNG staff's airline tickets to Fiji got cancelled because of Cyclone Winston, the airline automatically changed the tickets to fly out of PNG today (which is the first flight out after the storm.)  However, after a discussion with our Fiji team, we learned that Nadi, the city in Fiji into which our staff are flying, is without power and water.  Also, the hotel in which we had reservations is closed. Therefore, today, we all arrived at the PNG airport bright and early (7 a.m.) to get new tickets for our three staff to fly out of PNG on Sunday. Didn't Bilbo Baggins write a story called, "There and Back Again"?  I feel like our staff are "back again" without ever having gone anywhere.  (The office looks a little like a refugee center.)  I told them I bet they just wanted ANOTHER going away party.

After getting the tickets straightened out, we had an impromptu staff meeting at the little cafe inside the airport.  Since you must order something for the privilege of sitting at their table and chairs, I told Dan I'd like a juice.  It turned out that the juice cost 2 and 1/2 times more that his banana bread.  (Oops!)  But my, was it good!  (Dan decided that since the juice was pricey, he'd order something unusual.)  I was handed a huge cup of orange/apple/carrot juice.  YUM!  Hey, my feeling is:  If you have to get up early, you might as well make it worth your while!

Our Two Weeks of February in PNG Adventure: "The Only Thing!"

As a missionary, I think there's a temptation to fly into any situation with a feeling that I will "fix" the problems surrounding me.  Not only is this a bit ridiculous considering I have issues myself which aren't "fixed," but there's that pride of thinking I have the power.  This only leads to discouragement and defeat.

I keep having to realize that God has put me here to help the best I can, and then let Him be the God He is.  After all, He is the ultimate Rescuer.  The best thing, and sometimes the only thing I can do in certain situations is pray.  This is a highly under-rated thing which is sometimes relegated to the last resort.  Now THAT'S ridiculous!  What an honour to come before our great and loving God on behalf of someone I care about...and what a joy to wait with anticipation to see  what He will do.

 

Our Two Weeks of February in PNG Adventure:"Who Needs TV?"

While Dan is busy working 2 phones and a notebook computer, I'm left with time to observe people around me.  The Mapang Missionary guest house is rich with stories that rival any TV soap.

I've gotten to know a couple (about our age) who are calm, solid, gentle folk, originally from Arkansas.  They are seasoned missionaries that have been in difficult situations all over the world.  They came here to be with their pregnant daughter and son-in-law, awaiting the arrival of their first grandbaby.  (The daughter is married to a PNGer, but they met in another country.  Fascinating.)  About 3 days ago she delivered a baby boy named Trevor Lawrence.  However, Trevor managed to swallow amniotic fluid which got into his lungs and he was on oxygen and antibiotics.  Yesterday, though, he was free from all his tubes, and they hope to bring him home.  I've been a prayer supporter all through this process.

To add to this drama, the daughter and husband brought with them to the guesthouse the husband's cousin's little boy, Bradley, whom they've been caring for.  Bradley was neglected in the village and thought to be mute.  He's six, and only began talking about 6 months ago.

I wish you were here, Julie Morris, because I bet you'd find his case fascinating.  This little guy definitely does not have an inside voice.  He yells everything... exuberantly!  ("Good morning!" or "Hi!")  He doesn't know much English, so repeats the same phrase over and over. He seems unnaturally animated and seems driven for people's attention.  My guess is that there's a little more going on here than the previous neglect.  Without warning, he may hit or bite or pinch...but not out of malice.  I think he just wants attention.  (He reminds me of Donnie in "The Wild Thornberries" cartoon.) 

Because the daughter and her husband have to travel to the hospital every 3 hours to feed the newborn, the new grandparents are caring for Bradley.  What a challenge: to try to keep him in their room most of the time and entertained and to try and not disturb the other guests. I must say, they are doing a wonderful job, and are maintaining their calm, and their patience.

I hope if the baby comes out of the hospital today that I'll be able to see him!

 

Our Two Weeks of February in PNG Adventure: "Grounded!"

OK.  Cyclone Winston, you really know how to derail a plan.  A category 5 storm...biggest in the history of the islands, is over the airport at which our staff were to land today.  All international flights in and out of Fiji are cancelled.  Huh.

Good news:  We heard from one of our Fiji staff, and they've weathered the storm.  There was good warning for this cyclone as it's traced its chaotic path around the Pacific, picking up momentum as it goes.

The question:  When should we reschedule the flights, where should our staff stay now that they're all packed up, when will Fiji be in good enough shape to receive our 3 travelers?

I wish I could be with our Fiji staff to make sure they're OK and sense how they are feeling.  I don't want to hand them 3 more people if it will bring stress to them right now.  (And I could help with the clean up!)

I'm sure the students will be overjoyed to see our 3 staff at the meeting this afternoon.  Won't they be surprised!

Our Two Weeks of February in PNG Adventure: "Getting Ready!"

We took our staff team out for dinner last night to a restaurant called "Hog's Breath."  We discussed last-minute details on their to-do lists before they head off to Fiji for a year of training.  They all have their bank cards now and will be able to access their salary while in Fiji (Yahoo!), and a passport and a long-lost SIM card were finally found.  Dan will follow-through on banking details that weren't completed.  (This is not for lack of trying on the part of our staff.  The banks here are notorious.) Lillian is still waiting for the people who bought her household goods to pick them up.

We have high hopes for these three young people.  God has seen them through some tough spots.  They've learned a lot as they've shouldered the ministry in PNG.  They've received excellent modelling and training from our Aussie friends.  As they do a brave thing in leaving the students, friends, and family here that they love, they go to Fiji to learn how they can serve those special people even better upon their return.  I think God has built a strength in these three that will help them in their new venture...and that the Fiji team will find our staff gems to be a great asset!

Today they finish packing and will spend time with family and friends...then tomorrow morning they catch the plane!  (We're praying that the cyclone that's just swinging into Fiji today won't give them any problems.)


 

Our Two Weeks of February in PNG Adventure: "Amazing!"

I just finished breakfast with 2 amazing people.

Person #1:  A young woman with long blond hair fit for a shampoo commercial, is waiting in town at our missionary guest house to meet her husband. They will then return to their village in the highlands.  She teaches all subjects at the high school, owns her own goats and chickens, and opened a medical clinic. ("Do you have medical training?" asked I.  "Oh no," said she.  "I just read a lot and ask a lot of questions.")  I think her husband opened a saw mill.  They are both involved in biblical literacy teaching.  She can't wait to get back to the village.

Her husband grew up in a PNG village as a missionary kid of Bible Translators.  The parents recruited the kids to help with the literacy work, and then had to leave before their translation was finished to take care of ailing parents.  This young woman seemed so at home with the culture, with the spiritual needs of the people, and had so much energy and enthusiasm!

Person #2:  A 65-year-old man who handed us his two workbook-sized bible studies...taking current hot topics from the newspaper and finding what the Bible says about it.

These topics range from chewing betelnut, to land wars, to polygamy, domestic violence, drugs, and more.  These books seem like an excellent resource for our students on campus.

After breakfast I returned to our room, feeling a little over-awed by the company I was keeping.  I opened my Bible and read again the story of Jesus telling Peter to let down his nets and the miracle of all those fish.  Peter's response was withdrawal because of the company he was in...and I could imagine his experience better.  If I felt the way I did around simple humans, how much more would I feel around God in human form doing miracles.  Jesus response was, "Don't be afraid..."

I guess the joy of walking with a miracle-working God and being around His people is that it's all about Him.  It doesn't matter if we have swishy hair, or can speak the language, or if we're a sort of pudgy grandmother.  The amazing thing is, that sinful as we are, He forgives us, loves us, and invites us along on a journey with Him.)


 

Our two weeks of February in PNG: "Getting the Lay of the Land!"

Today's goal:  Get the real scoop and scope of what's been happening in the ministry on the ground here.  (Our view from New Zealand is never quite accurate.)

First cause for rejoicing: Our smiling staff of three!  After hosting a joint Australian/PNG student project just as the university year kicks off (and just before our staff leave for a year of training in Fiji), this is an important measuring stick. 

When asked how this project compared to last year's, they all agreed it was even better.  The teaching covered was just what the students here needed.  As a bonus, one of the Aussie girls came from a campus that had no full time CCC staff.  Since the PNG students knew that they'd be on their own this year, they asked her lots of questions.

However, probing more deeply, it turns out the accommodations were not as wonderful as last year.  (The venue had been changed.)  Lillian had to wash the bed linen and towels for the whole project several times.  (That's wash by hand, ladies!)  The sewer line broke once.  The water was off and on.  And the bedding wasn't as comfortable.  What amazed me in all of this is that our staff didn't start with this information.  The lasting impression on them seemed to be the teaching and one of the Aussie guys named Michael, who picked up the Tok Pisin language quite easily.  (I'll have to investigate and find a picture of this guy!)

As I find myself once again humbled by our young staff, I feel a bit shallow when I think of one of my lasting impressions of the day:  a mouse.  A small black shadow raced towards me during our meeting and I must admit, I jumped.  (But I didn't shriek...I get points for that...right?)  The poor mouse did an abrupt about-turn and raced back from where he came:  behind the filing cabinet.  Note to self:  buy a mouse trap!