1. Mt Hagen Airport
On this day three months ago I arrived in PNG . And celebrate three months of marriage, I mean three months of being in PNG. Yesterday was three months since I left Sydney, the longest amount of time i have been away from Sydney. The last three months have been really packed, full of a lot of experiences and have gone quickly. I look forward to hopefully many more months here in PNG, God willing.
I originally put his video together after the trip, to be used for debrief the following Monday at POC. I haven’t changed too much, there are a few in jokes in it and I can’t comment on different parts like we did at the debrief. But I hope it gives a bit of a look into the trip we had just days before the team from America arrived to build this home kit. If you have any questions just ask, and there’s more info on the previous month’s blog entry and in the last newsletter. On the first day and last day, there is some footage of us traveling to and from the village along the Rai Coast Highway (which is less than a normal suburban street back home!). The rest covers us at the two villages and traveling to them. Sangom where we picked up the home kit and the village Bang where we transported it too, worked and stayed. So in all it covers different parts of the trip, with plenty of River Crossings. It gives a real example of what transportation is like in PNG at its least challenging. From this trip I really gained more of an appreciation of the work we do and the need of MAF. And Mum I would probably encourage you not to watch this video.
Part A
Part B
Prior to coming to PNG and since being here, I have had so many CFC’s. Before coming here I had plenty of things I was looking forward to and plenty of challenges to face that I was aware of as well. Probably the main thing I was looking forward to in coming here, was not only serving God here and being where He wants me to be. But also being really stretched, maturing and really growing from that, especially spiritually.
1. Challenges, Frustrations & Concerns
But ironically enough, my biggest CFC being here in the first month and a half. And something that I have had to work through and continue to deal with. Is not having what I had back home and growing spiritually without it. In that not having a church and church family in my own language and culture, a youth group (everything that comes with WSAP), a group of Christians in my age group, people to pray with, close friends etc. I was quite aware of this prior to coming, something that I had experienced working shift work, while at transition training and last time I was here in PNG.
And despite not really having these things here and being difficult at times. God has really encouraged me with a particular verse. And reminded me that it is not these things that have brought me to where I am spiritually, but rather Him using them and it being Him alone.
“I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:3-6)
I am so blessed and grateful to be a child of God. He is so good and faithful to me, carrying me, enabling me to do all things. Leading me, revealing His will and bringing it all together. He has given me his Word, His Spirit, other brothers and sisters here (in whom I am developing good friendships with), work to serve Him with and everything I need. And I must make the most of what I have, to be grateful and not take it for granted. And I believe that God will continue His good work in me, as He promises despite my circumstances and will use them for my growth and His glory. It is such a blessing to be in God’s will and I would be a fool not to be here.
My challenge and strong encouragement to you back home at WSAC and WSAP, is not to take for granted what you have, to be grateful and to make the most of what has been given to you . Not just the physical things, but the spiritually blessings God has poured out onto you. You are so blessed just to be His children, but the church and youth group He has surrounded you with, you have more that what a lot of other Christians have, you are so blessed! I really do miss you guys, but my place for now is here.
