Full Hearts, Full Schedule

Praise the Lord, we have returned safely to Papua New Guinea!

Dear Readers and Supporters all, Never has our travel half way around the world been smoother! Every leg of the journey we felt the peace and presence of the Lord - even with multiple flight delays causing many of our travel companions great frustration, our built-in layover times meant we never felt rushed or frazzled. And for the first time ever the airline in Port Moresby didn't require us to pay extra baggage fees. It's a modern miracle! Haha

After close to 40 hours in travel and only a few hours of sleep Uncle Don and his fantastic curled mustache greeted us at Mount Hagen airport and all our luggage was blessedly accounted for. The wonderfully familiar sights, sounds, and smells of the Highlands revived all our sleep deprived senses, and we kept the windows down for our drive to Kudjip Station until the land wept in joy for our return - OK, it down poured, but it was beautiful!

The rain stopped by the time we arrived on Station and our dear friends the Crouch family rolled in with hugs and helping hands to unload into our home for the next three months which was beautifully prepared for our arrival. Pennie and Solomon were amazing troopers for the entire trip and were rewarded with house pets! - a sweet cuddly cat named Hannah and two adorable bleating sheep named Neville and Minnie. 

Never ones to leave things undone, Rachel and I got the kids bathed and to bed, and then tackled unpacking the luggage - at least the most important items. Needless to say we all slept very soundly that night and awoke to jungle highlands birdsong and cicadas greeting a glowing dawn. Hot coffee paired perfectly with the cool damp morning and while Rachel was off to town early for a big grocery shopping trip the kids and I did some more unpacking and relaxing play time. 

This trip to PNG marks a 10 year anniversary of our first trip to PNG when we served at Kudjip for a year, and the kids and I had a wonderful walk down memory lane touring the entire Station and pointing out houses we have lived in previously, trees we've planted, and places we've had adventures. Pennie and Solomon were particularly excited to dip their toes in the cool fast flowing waters of the canal and to buy some treats at the little hospital canteen. 

Feeling extremely loved and welcomed, we stopped for countless conversations with old friends and new, and were invited to join the MK's (missionary kids) Art class. Aunt Genae did a lovely job reviewing the seven elements of Art and focused on "Texture" with the children making rooster pictures from torn pieces of magazines. Pennie loved every second of it while Solomon quietly mentioned he preferred his less crowded home school with Mama. Well, not wanting to miss the fun, I teamed up with Solomon and we made a Texture masterpiece that he is very proud of. 

Rachel returned later in the afternoon with a truckload of supplies and tirelessly set about cleaning and organizing all the groceries and household items. When asked if we could help unpack, she declared she "has a system" and sent us outside to play with a gang of neighbors and friends. It seems impossible, but while I sit here in the living room typing this post, within just 48 hours of arrival, Rachel has meticulously organized and cleaned everything to perfection. I am reminded every day what a blessing we have in Rachel/Mama - she is selfless, tireless, efficient, and mission-driven. Thank you Lord!!!

Today (Friday, Mar 7th) was my first day back in the hospital, which started with the Doctor's Prayer Meeting, then rounds with Jake (ER Doc) on the Pediatric Ward. I was again stopped at every turn for hugs and greetings by staff who I know and love well, and it reminded me of how deeply thankful I am to work with these amazing brothers and sisters serving the Lord. This joy contrasted sharply with a toddler taking his last agonal breaths during our rounds - a complex case of chronic heart and lung disease which had Jake and Abigail (Peds Doc) heartbroken after months of heroic efforts. If this wasn't bad enough we also rounded on a 6 year old female who had been admitted for bleeding after being raped by an older teen male. Talk about heartbreak. There is so much violence and brokenness in the PNG culture which can feel unbearable to witness - until I remember what Jesus has asked me to do here - to be His hands that reach out to console, His words of comfort and love and hope, His presence of peace and compassion. To be a missionary means to remain on mission, so please pray for me in this.

I found myself later this morning in the ER with Jake, doing whatever possible to remain helpful while still in a space of re-learning everything. The biggest change has been getting acquainted with the hospital's new EMR (Electronic Medical Record), which is a far cry from the way we have charted on paper for decades at Kudjip and will certainly take me some time getting used to. I slowly worked through seeing and admitted an infant for pneumonia, and then a lady came in with a massive machete wound on her left leg/buttock. It was tough to hear her story as this was not her first injury recently and raised some major red flags about whether she would be safe to return home. 

Jake and I set her up for closing the wound but half way into suturing the anesthesia wasn't sufficient and she became more active, almost coming off the exam table and grabbing at us. It took four of us to keep her still for another dose of anesthesia but praise God the wound was closed nicely and I retired home for a spot of lunch before helping Mark (Family Doc) lead the MK kids (including Pennie and Solomon) in playing soccer for a PE class. The exercise and bright sunshine felt amazing, even though I always find myself breathless here after even brief cardio as the Hospital is at fairly high altitude.

The full schedule may seem like madness, but it matches our full hearts as we remain on cloud nine celebrating each moment and experience being here again at Kudjip, our home away from home. We are deeply grateful to so many of you who have partnered with us to get here and continue to pray for our ministry. We covet your continued prayer for:

• Speedy jet lag recovery and remaining healthy to do God's work here
• Wisdom for me to remember all the complex medical management and quickly learning the new EMR system
• Divine Appointments - eyes open for us to see everyone with Jesus' perspective and time/opportunity to deepen relationships and share the Love of Jesus with them
• Rachel and the kids getting back onto their home school routine while balancing the many challenges and joys of living here

 

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.

And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, 

so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ.

Colossians 4:2-3