Archive for the '05-May-2008' Category
We drove the rest of the way to Madang. It took about 6 1/2 hours. This restroom was in Kainantu. It’s the nicest we’ve seen! Usually, it’s just a hole in the ground. Sometimes it has boards on either side for your feet. Madang is hot! But, the ocean is beautiful! Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone from Digicel Pacific
We drove back to Pangia today – home sweet home! It’s always nice to get back. On the way back we stopped at Ted and Lyn Mullens house (they are about 1 hour out of Hagen). She gave us 2 bags of strawberry plants for our garden and 7 raspberry bush starts! As strawberries bear fruit year round here, we are looking forward to a plentiful supply of fresh strawberries! It was a nice time of fellowship, although kept rather short since we needed to get back onto the road and finish another few hours of driving! We enjoy stopping at the Mullens when we can (not just when a quick bathroom break is needed).
About 2 hours into our drive I heard a loud clanking coming from the engine. Trying not to expect the worst we pulled over and found out that the air conditioning belt had come off and was clanking against the fan. According to Brad (whose vehicle we were in) the air conditioner hasn’t worked for quite awhile. So, we’ll have to get that checked and get a new belt as well (since we ended up just cutting that one off!).
We’ve finally finished at Brad and Deborah’s. We had some work to do in order for their home to be ready to sit empty, except for us coming in once a month. We are very thankful that Brad and Deborah are allowing us to stay here when we come into town, even in their absence!
We’ll be heading back to Pangia tomorrow. The plan is to bring back Brad’s 2 goats to take care of while he’s gone. He told us we could have any kids that were born. we asked him if there was a male and a female and he just laughed. So, we thought there was no chance of kids. However, as we moved them near the house to prepare for leaving tomorrow we can see that there will be kids. And, in the near future! The nanny goat looks like she’ll be having a kid or two very soon! Hopefully, not on the road to Pangia! The kids are so excited about having the goats. They are even more excited about the babies coming! They are trying to come up with names for the goats (we don’t know if they have names already or not). So far, none have been deemed worthy by everyone, so we’ll just keep trying!
Johnson is a Sri Lankan business man here, in Mt. Hagen. He runs a computer shop and is also the technical manager of one of the largest companies here, in New Guinea. He has been assisting me with some of the troubles that we’ve had with our computer. He could easily charge us lots of money for all of his work but has chosen to give his services to us for free. He has decided that it is the least he can do to help us and support our ministry. Johnson attends Hagen Baptist Temple and has a very good testimony in the community. We are very thankful for all of his help! Dad and I spent 3 hours this evening with him while he got one of Brad’s old laptops up and running for me to use while my computer is down.
Megan, Brad, Deborah, and the kids all left for the States this morning. It was definitely a tearful goodbye! Many church members and radio staff came to see them off. We could tell it was very difficult for them to part with the people they have grown to love so much! The kids were very sad, too, since they were finally starting to get to know their cousins. After the airport, we put our visa renewal package in the mail via DHL. It’s definitely hard to put our passports in the mail again! But, we have no choice unless we want to go back to the States in a few weeks! So, we’ll be trusting God to watch over those passports!
We were able to get our 3 year visa earlier, but, as we already knew was going to be the case, it’s not actually valid for 3 years! We are under a work structure and that work structure’s 3 years is up next month, so, therefore, is ours. Everyone under this work structure has to submit their paperwork and passports for renewal, no matter what! So, tonight we headed to the Mount Hagen Missionary Home to meet with Wayne Fair, the missionary whose work structure we are under.
On the way (of course it was pouring rain!) we got a flat tire. Thankfully, some church members from one of our sister churches here, in Hagen, just happened to be walking along and jumped in and changed the tire for us. So, with only minor delays, we were back on the road in no time! Once we got to the Missionary Home and finally finished all of our renewal paperwork, we were just thankful to be done! The packet of papers, along with our passports, will be off to Port Moresby tomorrow morning.
Dad and I were able to get a few things sorted out here, in town. We picked up a few supplies. We also spent some time with Brad, figuring out a few things that we would try to take care of in his absence. What a hard thing it must be for Brad, to leave his ministry. Even though he is turning the church and radio station over to good men, I can see that it is quite emotional and difficult for him. Please keep this work in Hagen in your prayers, that things would continue to go smoothly and the folks here would continue to be faithful.
Today the church that Brad started here, in Hagen, Bible Truth Baptist Church, had a big send-off for Brad, Deborah, and the kids. Brad preached a great message on continuing on, being faithful, and growing. As in all celebrations, special days, and any other out of the ordinary day, we had lots of food and speeches! Many of the men from the radio station, and also from the church, stood and gave testimonies on how much Brad and Deborah meant to them and their Christian growth, and what a change the area has seen because of their faithfulness here. They are truly loved and will be missed by this church, and this area, while they are on furlough. Many nice things were also said about Megan Johnson, who has been working here, with Brad and Deborah, helping Deborah with school as well as working in the various youth ministries of Bible Truth Baptist Church. Megan has been a huge help and blessing to Brad and Deborah, as well as Bible Truth Baptist Church. She will be truly missed as well.
While Kirsten and I were walking through town today we saw an interesting sight. A truck drove down the street and attached to the front bumper was a small log/large stick. Wrapped around the big stick was a live 10 foot python! Where’s your camera when you need it!?
We drove into Hagen today. No mishaps on the road – everything went nice and smooth! We left Pangia around noon and got into Hagen about 4:00pm. We had our first Mount Hagen Missionary Home meeting at 6:00pm. Mom, dad, and Brad are members of the board. I will take over Brad’s position while he is in the States. So, now Kirsten and I are members and are to attend the meetings.