WonderFULL Days...

 ... a message from Rachel 

Greetings from Kudjip dearest friends and family!  
We pray that you are well as you read this post.  We have been healthy and safe throughout our time here, and we KNOW that is because of your steadfast prayers. Thank You!  

“When you call on Me, when you come and pray to Me, I will listen. 
When you come looking for me, you will find me…”    Jeremiah 29:12-13 MSG

Please keep us in prayer as we round the corner of our last lap here in Papua New Guinea.  We appreciate your prayers for continued health/safety, smooth travel preparations, and for God to prepare and protect our hearts for the transition home at the end of the month. 
Below you will find LOTS of pictures and videos of what we have been up to these past few weeks… Enjoy!  

I took my Music Class on a field trip up to the hospital where we visited the Pediatric Ward and sang a few songs to brighten the day of the patients and their families.  

My Music Class Crew

We had the privilege of leading an evening of Worship, Prayer and Communion for all of the missionary families.  We ended the time with what I like to call “pocket prayer” – groups of 2 or 3 people forming little pockets around the room to share needs and pray over one another.  I encouraged the children attending to participate and pray together as well.    

Pennie and her friends praying over each other. 

Playtime is ALWAYS inventive here in PNG ... no toys ... no problem! 

    Ted teaching Solomon how to safely climb down
a self-made daisy-chain rope made out of para cord. 

Solomon found a pet caterpillar that ate a TON, and is now currently resting in its cocoon 

When Pennie does not want to apply sunscreen, but still needs protection from the South Pacific blaze... this is how she dresses to play outside

Solomon has quickly mastered the art of woodcarving and walking stick embellishment...with many scrapes and nicks to show for it! 

We visited Mise Church of the Nazarene earlier this month.  This body of believers is very near and dear to our hearts.  Ted preached an awesome message (in Tok Pidgin!) about how “the church” is not a building or its programs, but the people who make up the family of God.  I led a reflective/response time at the end of the service with the worship song "Jesus at the Center." 

My friend has had it on her heart to create an educational partnership with the local primary school just outside the gates of Kudjip.  After hearing about my lectures at the local Teacher’s College, she asked if I would be willing to speak at a Teacher Inservice for the Missionary School teachers and PNG Primary School teachers – of course I said YES!  The Inservice was hosted in the Hospital Administration building, and I spoke about – you guessed it – classroom accommodations for children with learning differences… my FAVORITE topic!  The teachers were candid in sharing some of their struggles and were receptive to the idea that not all children learn at the same pace and in the same way.  

On Mother’s Day, we visited Konduk, another local church that is special to us. Ted preached (again) in Tok Pidgin (again!) about the Freedom we have in Christ.  He explained that God does not desire rule-following and box-checking, but He desires our HEARTS and relationship with Him.

At the end of the service, I gathered all the little children up to the front to sing a special song for the Mommas: “Sipos Yu Bilong Jisas” (If You’re Saved and You Know It). 

Later in the afternoon, we drove to Minj through a torrential rainstorm to go and visit with Pastor Ruth at her orphanage.  We filled the back of the cruiser with groceries, supplies, and some hand-me-down clothes as a surprise Mother’s Day Gift. 

The other morning, we took a field trip during recess to watch a helicopter load and carry supplies to a missionary in Sangapi - all the MKs were SO excited! 

On a particularly hot and sunny day walking across station, Solomon ripped a large leaf off of a nearby scrub tree to use as a shade umbrella... one persons's tree trash is another person's treasure! 

 

It was a JOY to lead worship for a Meri Bung (Women’s Meeting) this week. All of the local PNG women, as well as missionary women were invited. In spite of the pouring rain, it was a precious time of prayer, worship (in English and Tok Pidgin) and community-building. 

“Everything was created through Him; nothing – not one thing! – came into being without Him. What came into existence was Life, and the Life was Light to live by.
The Life-Light blazed out of the darkness; the darkness could not put it out.”   
- John 1:3-5 (MSG)