Weekend in Aminawa

This weekend Andrew and Rachel invited me to go with them to Aminawa.  Saturday the church members began putting the roof on their first church building, so we went to be of help and support.

We left early Saturday morning before the mist and fog had a chance to melt away. I rode in the back of the truck with Anteresa and Baimuri, and nearly all of their children. Me, two women, and a bundle of children all piled up in the back, with Andrew and Rachel in the front.  It was an interesting ride to say the least. Every now and then, I'd glance at a little face beaming with excitement at all the fun riding in a truck can bring.  Then we'd get jostled around a bit, and that expression would change. Usually that would result in laughter from me and the two mothers.

We made it to our parking spot, and began the hike into Aminawa. We arrived around 9am, as the men had already begun putting up the roof.  It was really neat to see all of the people come out to help, even those that don't attend church!  There were people all over the hill side all day long.  Men putting up the roof or digging a pit for the fire, and ladies preparing all kinds of food.  Rachel and I peeled lots of kao kao and bananas, but they had squash, tapioke, greens, pit pit, and more!  It was literally a dinner on the ground. Once all the food was ready, they brought it to us on banana leaves.  I was pretty hungry, but they must have brought me enough food for 3 large men, so I ended up sharing most of my meal. By the end of the day I was dubbed, Nani (Nah-nee). I'm unsure of the spelling, but it means big sister.  It made my heart smile:)

As it started to get dark we walked down to the community hall building, and Andrew and Rachel set up the projector so we could watch some films.  They showed the story of the serpent being lifted up in the wilderness, and it's connection to Jesus Christ being lifted up to die for us.  Afterwards we watched the life of Jesus in Pigin. There must have been up to 200 people there.  Many who have not placed their faith in Jesus Christ watched as the gospel was presented to them.  I couldn't help, but to look out at the faces aglow with the light of the projector, and wonder if God was tugging at their hearts.  I know we were all praying for those that might have been lost.  I have faith in God's promise that his word will not return void.

We stayed the night with Reuben, at his house along with Malasi, Phillip, and their families.  Reuben is a member of the church in Aminawa, and Malasi and Phillip are two of the bible school students here in Kunai. The next morning I woke up to pigs, roosters, and babies stirring around.  I left my little room to go sit near the fire in the big room.  Malasi and Phillip led a devotion for their families, and I just sat and listened as they sang hymns, and spoke from God's word.

Church began around 9am, and we sat under the tarp as the weather went back and forth from sunny and hot, to misty and cold. When you barely know Pigin and only a handful of Kamean words, it becomes increasingly difficult to stay focused on a message or conversation, when running on little sleep.  I couldn't help but think how nice it would have been to be sitting in a padded pew back home, listening to a message in English.  But then I remembered all the people who watched the video, who desperately needed to hear the Gospel, and I realized how much of a wimp I was being.  God commands us to go to the uttermost, and these people need Christ as much as we in America do.  I wonder what if no one had come to Aminawa or PNG because it was going to be uncomfortable.  I had to stop and think about that day when I come face to face with my Creator. When He asks me why I didn't tell my friend, my co-worker, or that stranger about His Son, Jesus Christ. What will I say to the One who bled and died for me.  The One who loves me with an incomprehensible love. "Umm, I didn't want to make things awkward?" My heart breaks at the thought of all my lost chances, and time that I've wasted.  I'm grateful for that reminder this weekend.  I needed it.

After church we hiked back home, and enjoyed a tasty pineapple along the way.  We stopped to visit with Benjamin for a little while, and storied with him about his new house and other things going on around here. He is always a blessing to visit with. He has such a sweet spirit that is sure to always put me in a better mood. We left from there, and made our way home in the truck safely.

It truly was a wonderful weekend.  Filled with new memories, and rekindled burdens.  I pray I don't forget them.

His Compassions Fail Not

They sit there on the clinic porch.  Mamas with their babies, old men with their walking sticks, and children with their cuts and bruises.  Sometimes it seems endless.  The work load becomes heavy, and the days become long.

Somehow now, my dreams have become reality.  The thing about dreams though, is that they can be perfect. They can be however you want them to be.

In my dreams, I didn't imagine myself struggling.  I imagined things perfectly.  I would be the best helper I could be.  I would love these people with all of my might.  I would have the best attitude all the time.  I would do this, and I would do that.  Do you get the picture?

What I've learned is, I can't do any of those things.  Only He can.

Sometimes I find that my compassion is lacking.  Sometimes I find that it becomes a mundane thing to stare at these faces day in and day out.  Faces that have come seeking help.  Yes, sometimes it's a simple scrape on the knee.  Sometimes it's more serious than that.  Every time it's deeper than that.  There is a need here so much greater than the physical.  They have a need to hear about the Man who came to set them free, the Man who loves them with an unending love, the Man who's compassions will never fail them.

My capacity to love them on my own is weak.  My compassion alone will fail them.  My prayer is that it won't be by my strength, or my love, or my compassion, but His while I serve and live here.  That I would love the way He does, unending, always giving, unselfish, and never prideful.

"because his compassions fail not.  They are new every morning."  Lamentations 3:22b - 23a

Babies, Birthdays, and Bible FM

What a wonderful and busy week this has been!

We got word Tuesday morning that Pastor Jack needed a med-evac flight for his wife, Esila, who was about to have a baby!  She stayed around the property all day Tuesday.  By night fall we thought we were going to have a baby, but ended up working around the clock.  Many prayers were prayed for Esila and their little one. At about 8am Wednesday morning, Rachel decided it was best for her to be flown to Port Moresby, where they have more options to help deliver her baby safely. At 4:30pm Wednesday evening, little baby Jack was born!  He is precious!

This weekend, Ariel, Hannah, Emily, Angel, and I took a nice hike up to the home of the future Bible FM tower. Lesson learned, I am out of shape!  Once we made it to the top we enjoyed some of the best biscuits I've ever put in my mouth! We had fun trying to throw rocks at the nearby palm trees, and carving our initials on almost every log we took a break at.  On our way down, we listened to the Star Wars theme song for some motivation. Towards the end of our hike we took a detour to go see a water fall.  It was nice to cool off in the icy water, and see home again.  

Today is my birthday, and it's already been so wonderful!  My sister Grace and friend Kelley, were so thoughtful in putting together a slideshow of my friends and family wishing me a happy birthday!  It was the best gift I could have gotten.  I can't help but feel overwhelmed from all of the love, support, and prayers of my family, church family, and friends back home!  You all made today wonderful!  I love you all so much and am thankful for each of you! Tonight Rachel made a delicious dinner, and the girls each made me a card. Today was wonderful.  Looking forward to what God has in store for year 22!

"God's been Good!"

Here are just a few things that have been going on recently...

This week Bro. John and Mrs. Lena left out early Tuesday morning.  They plan to run several errands in town before leaving for the states.  One of which, is buying all of my groceries for the next few months.  They will be sending those back in a week or so.  I'm looking forward to getting all of the new supplies and some peanut butter!  It was wonderful to stay with them while they were here, although it was short-lived.  I am thankful they are letting me use their house as my own while they are out!  Since they've been gone, Porsche their dog has been keeping me good company.  She's a great guard dog as well as Blue, she stays on the back porch and Porsche on the front.

We've had a great week in clinic.  Lots of the medicines that have been ordered have been delivered this week.  I know it sounds simple, but to get more than one order at a time is rare.  We've gotten so much, Rachel and I aren't sure where everything is going to go.  So much medicine, so little space.  I think we might be ready for Armageddon now ;)

I've been blessed this week to be able to Skype with my family and my friend Emmy all the way in Zimbabwe - Emmy, not my family.  Both times were wonderful.  I didn't even try Skype last summer so this was a great treat!  It was wonderful to hear their voices and see their faces, not just a few words on the computer screen.

My friend Kelley has been sending me some music to listen to.  I've downloaded all of them now, and can't quit replaying them.  I've felt like I'm back at home listening to Amie, Jacob and Christine, the Halls, the Cleghorns, and even my sister on the violin!  It has brightened my week so much!  I keep walking around with, "God's been good in my life! I've been blessed beyond my wildest dreams when I go to sleep each night!" playing in my head, and I don't mind it a bit!

Last night Ariel and Hannah came for a sleep-over.  We made pizza, and had orange kool-aid for dinner. After watching a movie and doing each others hair, we decided it was time for bed.  This morning we sat around the kitchen table laughing about memories from last summer, while enjoying some oatmeal.

A lot has been happening with the new vision God has given TTMK.  Bro. Matt has been in Port Moresby this week working out details over the land.  It has been exciting to be here as all of these things are falling into place.  I look forward to what is going to happen while I am here and in the years to come for TTMK. If you don't know what I'm talking about you can check out this blog, and you can definitely be praying!

I think that's enough rambling for now... Looking forward to what this next week holds!

Uriah's Story

His mom brought him up to the clinic porch.  It was nearly all he could do to keep his eyes open.  If there is anything finer than thread, he was hanging onto it.

Severely dehydrated from his sickness, we attempted to re-hydrate him.  Hours passed inside the clinic, and improvement seemed next to impossible.  His breathing became shallow, and he was barely arousable.  "This is it," I thought.  Pastor and the bible school students came with their wives to pray.  We prayed together, and we cried together.  Uriah just wasn't going to make it.

But still he hung on.  He would stay the night in Pastor's cookhouse.  We would check on him every two hours or so.  By this time he had a tube placed down his nose because he couldn't drink on his own.  Each visit would be different.  Deterioration to improvement to deterioration again.  My heart was aching. Throughout the night with each dog bark or rooster crow my mind would wonder, "Was that..?" or "I hope.."

Morning came.  He was still alive.  We would repeat ourselves until he was healed one way or another.  People were praying all over the world.  Praying for God to work a miracle.  It was up to God.  We knew nothing we could do would be successful without Him.  The Lord gives and He takes away, but we will always bless His name.

Day turned into night, and for four days he hung on.  It's all a blur now, but maybe it was Friday or Saturday I'm not sure.  Dad tells me he's been eating cucumbers and bananas plus he's keeping it all down.  Such a victory for this little guy.  We held him a day or two more just to be sure.  He went home on Sunday with his mom a completely different child.

So thankful for stories like these, and for the one true God who makes them possible.

Uriah's name means "the Lord is my light." - "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?"

I can't help but wonder if one day his mom will tell him the story of how he almost died, but God was the light that pulled them through.  I can't help but wonder if one day when Uriah is old and gray, that he'll look back on all the times that God was faithful to be his light - to be his strength.  I can't help but wonder if maybe one day I'll see Uriah's face again in Heaven.  I can't help but wonder, if all I'll be able to do is fall at His feet, and thank him for being my light - for being my strength - for being my God.

He is Enough

It's that place between sorrow and happiness.  One minute you feel your heart breaking in two.  The next minute it's about to burst from excitement.   It's hopelessness and hope simultaneously.  Sometimes I wonder if that can even be possible.

You work so hard until all your resources seem exhausted, and you are as well.  You've put forth everything. Mind, heart, soul.  You're empty.  

All you want to do is rest.  To recuperate, but chance just won't let you.  People are still sick, people are still hurting, people are still dying.  

It feels like an uphill battle, a constant struggle to keep your head above the water.  

Then I hear His reminder.  Find rest in me alone.  You can't do this on your own, quit fighting me.  

"He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty." - Psalm 91:1

When I feel inadequate, He equips.  When I feel exhausted, He gives strength.  When I feel lonely, He is my constant friend.  

He is enough.  

"But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and NOT of us."  - II Corinthians 4:7

Sundays

Sundays are my favorite, but then again I tend to say that about every day.  

I love the simplicity of life here, especially Sunday.  There's no rushing around making sure everyone has been fed, and has their hair just right.   It's not about the fancy music, padded pews, or "I can't believe they took my seat!"  It's nothing complex.  It's everything simple.

We walk to church at 9 am, shake hands with everyone, and sing praises to God just a few beats too slow.  I know He doesn't mind, and that makes me smile.  We listen to what God has to say, and then I'll go to Junior church with Mrs. Becky.  The kids are so animated when we sing, and join in with every hand motion.  They hang on to every word of each story.  Except for a few, that would rather chat.  It's time for prayer requests, and almost every hand pops up.  

Church let's out, and we know this means it's time for volleyball.  Most everyone comes out to either watch or play.  I  think I enjoy watching almost more than playing.  Usually I get a new hair do, and might play a "stone game" with some of the younger girls.  They beat me every time.  I love their light-hearted spirit.  Joy flows from their heart, and I love to be right in the middle of it.  

At the end of the day it will probably rain.  The sound it makes drowns out all other thoughts.  I can think about my day, and about what I've learned.  I can enjoy my Savior, and all He's done for me.  It was another wonderful Sunday.