Wednesday
6/6/01
Lord, it is now just two days until I
go to PNG and to say I am a bit on the apprehensive side is a
gross understatement.
As I have been praying Lord I ask that you go before me
with your Holy Spirit and prepare that which you want me to
experience. Yes
Lord, I admit that I am quite concerned about comfort for my
body – but I trust you, and the people I’ll be with, to care
for me.
I ask for
opportunities to see you Lord -- to get closer to you and to
receive healing in the various areas I need it. Holy Spirit, touch me
and fill me afresh and anew with your power and purpose. Turn my confused mind
around Lord. Help
me to see how you see me, not through these sinful eyes of
mine that see so little and look so selfishly upon the
world.
Open up possibilities for me to use the
gifts you have given to me that I may honour you Lord, in all
I say and do.
I need some
time out. I
perhaps need to stop doing some things and start doing some
other things.
Speak to me Holy Spirit -- and clearly direct me to
what is best for both me and for the kingdom. Renew me Lord, even
though I don't feel, at this time, that I deserve to be
renewed.
Amen
Friday
8/6/01
Friday - I'm going to
PNG.
I didn't
sleep much, or very well, and was up at 5 AM. I'm feeling quite stressed
and I'm not sure whether it's nerves or excitement – perhaps a
bit of both.
We arrived
at the airport and checked in. As much as I love Chris and the kids with all my heart
I wish someone else had taken to the airport as it would have
made it easier for me – selfish I know.
Once I was
on the plane I realised that I was stressed about travelling
alone and going somewhere I’d never been before. I think it
would have been very different if Chris would have been with
me or I was going somewhere familiar. It never ceases to
amaze me just how insecure we really are. At 46 years of age I think I have just about stopped
seeking new experiences – this has to be
overturned.
All fears
dispersed when I arrived at
Port Moresby
airport only to be met by both
Sugam and Roland – I was totally blown away.
Roland had come down from the highlands
just to see me, and to seek my advice on a particular
issue.
What an amazing blessing, that he would
come all that way, not to mention the expense, just to spend
some time with me.
We went to
Sugam’s house – extremely humble, small and in poor
condition. In
Sydney
I
think it would be condemned.
We then
went to Bill and Corrie Page’s home, where I was to stay. They made me so very
welcome, they are truly wonderful people.
The climate
was a bit of a shock as soon as I got off the plane, from a
Sydney winter to the heat and
humidity of the tropics.
I settled in my room at Page’s and rested. Bill said, when he greeted
me, that he had been out praying for me that morning and he
was aware that I was worn out and in need of rest.
That was enough for me to come close to crying, as I
feel so worn out and near exhaustion. I
rested and went over several possible sermons for
tonight.
Sugam came for me at around 5pm and we went to his place for tea –
chicken, white sweet potato, banana and corn.
They have many varieties of corn, some of which aren’t
particularly nice. Bananas cooked was a bit different for me,
not since Norfolk
Island have I had cooked banana. One variety in
particular is beautiful while most I could easily forget.
Apparently they have some 15 various varieties.
After a quick dinner we went to the
paddock where Waigani Foursquare
Church is held.
There is a stage (of sorts), which they don’t use.
Rather they meet under a small grove of trees that
supply very much needed and appreciated shade.
For this night meeting however we were in the more open
area. For seating they use a
simple metal frame with hardwood planking, very practical but
very uncomfortable. This was a youth service and
there were around 40 people present.
The service consisted of lots of
singing, which was mostly in Pigeon but not all, and a few
testimonies. After which I was introduced
by Sugam and invited to preach, in English with no
translation. It was also very dark by
this time and the only light afforded was being given off in
the distance, about 40 feet away, by a single 40 watt
fluorescent tube. So my notes went back into
my Bible and I preached extemporaneously with great
passion.
Virtually everyone responded for
prayer and Sugam, Roland and I prayed over people for about an
hour.
After this it was back to Page’s
and watched football with Bill. He loves his footy and
enjoyed having someone around to watch the game with him.
Corrie doesn’t like football. I
think she is similar in many ways to Chris.
Saturday 9/6/01
It’s Saturday morning and Bill has
decided to take his boat out for a couple of hours. He
has a fibreglass boat that is around 16 feet long, it isn’t
flash but it’s a boat and a means of brief escape for
him.
We went out to an island not far from Port Moresby and swam and
relaxed. It was very peaceful and
extremely beautiful. Roland came along, as did
Bill’s right hand man, Pastor Margi as well as the mandatory
kids. Ps Margi is a very solid
national who speaks with a deep voice and has a definite
authority about him – I like him.
Back at Page’s we had lunch and I
was duly sent off to rest, which I needed after the morning
out.
I spent a fair amount of time on sermon preparation for
tomorrow.
At
4pm we all went off to Sugam’s church
where they had prepared a moo moo. A
moo moo is where they dig a hole and light a fire, which is
allowed to burn down and then the pit is lined with banana
leaves and food, chicken, potato, sweet potato, banana, corn,
choko leaves and bracken fern are placed in the pit and
covered with more banana leaves.
It is a native version of the slow cooker.
It was all very interesting and the choko leaves were
beautiful, I didn’t go much on the bracken fern
though.
Chicken
is the obvious meat choice in PNG for most people.
I’m very grateful that I happen to love chicken so
much; even so I think I’m going to cluck before I leave
here.
We sat
on the hardwood benches and ate looking out over the golf
course and lake. The lake is artificial and meant to stop rascals from
swimming across and robbing the golfers; there are crocodiles
in the lake. Even so it didn’t stop one
local from going in to rescue golf balls – I think I would
rather buy a new one. On the golf course is a
security guy armed with a bow and arrows.
Security is a big business here. Sadly too many people
are leaving the villages and locating themselves in the
settlements around the larger towns.
The unemployment rate is around 90% and so crime is
very high. Security guards can be seen at most shops and they
carry large battens, and use them.
Things got excited when we saw a
crocodile near where we were sitting. It
was in the lake amongst some weeds. We
walked around and climbed a fence to get a better look at the
croc, which was lying peacefully and motionless until a sudden
noise frightened it and the croc disappeared in less than a
blink. The circumstances were so
funny that I thought Bill was going to disgrace himself.
Tim Page, Bill and Corrie’s adopted 6 year old, laughed
and laughed. In fact he was still
laughing the following day.
Back to Pages and we watched the
local news, which I found very amusing, but I tried not to
laugh. I think the station bosses
had made the news reader watch hours and hours of ABC news
readers as they presented themselves without
personality.
After I played Lego with Tim, Bill
and I watched the Rugby Union.
Tim has more energy than any kid I
have ever known, but he is lovely and very respectful to me as
he calls me "Uncle Max."
I’m sitting at the dinning table
journaling as Bill sits on the lounge working on his sermon
for tomorrow. He has some nice Christian
music playing – he mostly does, he used to be a singer and
loves music with a great passion.
I’ve taken myself off the
anti-malaria medication I was on, Doxycycline, as my lips
swelled up. I went and read the
instructions sheet that came in the box and this is one
possible reaction listed under the severe column. My lips went
down a bit by around 9.30pm. I
emailed Chris and the kids this afternoon and asked for
prayer. Praise God for the swelling
going down as I doubt if I could have
preached.
I got a bit sunburned at the island
today. It was probably made a bit
worse for having doxycycline in my system, but it isn’t too
bad.
I’m a bit tired, I suppose I
expected to be totally worn out by now, but I’m not.
I’m not sure why, probably the prayers of my family and
church. Not being tired makes me
wonder if I’m allergic to our house, or to Sydney!
I don’t think I could even come up
with a depressive thought. I feel somehow whole – but very
much more that I’m actually totally out of my depth here and I
need the presence of God if I’m to get through this next
week.
I know God is doing something in me
– I pray that it is permanent as I don’t want to be the person
I’ve been lately. I want to be new –
different. I want to be the person I
know is really inside me and I don’t know what has kept it so
locked up.
Lord Jesus, release me I
pray.
Sunday 10/6/01
It is Sunday morning, nearly
7.30am and I have been awake for over 2
hours. It’s a bit hard to believe
but I feel fine. Pastor Margi and the single
boys who live in the compound started loading the truck at
5am. All the sound gear and
musical instruments are kept in a storeroom under the Pages
house. You can’t leave anything at
the church or it will simply disappear.
Bill was telling
me that they have even had the
face-plates of power points stolen. So
the boys begin what I have named “the truck-loading ceremony”
at 5am every Sunday
morning.
I’m now sitting under the house,
dressed for church, and sweating like a pig.
I am starting to seriously wonder
if I may be allergic to Sydney.
All the tiredness and lack of energy I constantly
experience at home, while I feel fine here.
It seems hotter today – a light
breeze just started – more please Lord.
Lord, be with Chris now as she gets
the kids organised and ready for church. Your rich blessings
be on Ernie and Eileen Wing as they minister at Bethel today. I
pray that church would be smooth today, that the anointing of
the Holy Spirit would be rich and full among the people – that
you Oh Lord would shake them from their complacency and that
their commitment is rekindled.
I still feel very much out of my
depth here Lord. All the years of training and my somewhat
mathematical way of sermonising doesn’t seem to be
appropriate. Help me Lord to be
appropriate to where these people are, to challenge and to
feel their situation and to respond with your word
accordingly.
Prepare my heart Lord for this
week, as I am feeling some inadequacy and tiredness I don’t
quite know what to think so I’m trying not to process
everything but to simply trust that you have brought me here
to learn and will, in the midst of my learning, use me to
bless.
I pray that you will open the door
to talk about the Bible College at Madang and
their need of leadership and how I might
help.
Lord, the lack of being needed is
one of our problems as western Christians, and a particular
problem to me at this time. I’m not talking about fixing
peoples unfixable problems but just being needed and seen as
an important part of their lives.
Sometimes I think that I just don’t
matter.
I believe I’m a man of broken and
contrite heart, and I want to serve you Lord with all my heart
for all my days. Chris and I have both been
feeling that maybe our time at Bethel is drawing to a
close. Maybe it is, maybe it
isn’t. I am very much unsure at
this time, but I do know that either way is OK with me, I just
want to know. I always start to worry
about money whereas I have to break free, in my mind, of debt
and not have that hanging over my head. It
would be so much easier if our needs were less and I know how
flawed that is – as if you O Lord are limited in your ability
to provide simply because our needs as a family seem
great.
I remember how, regardless of
circumstances, but no kids – just on the way, we trusted you
to provide for every need – and you did Lord – you did so
abundantly Father that we are still bearing testimony to your
faithfulness. May you do it again Lord as
I trust you as we embark on a new venture – even if that is
staying where we are, may we start again with renewed vision
and vigour. Lord, show us the way –
despite all that may appear to be in the way.
Clear our minds and set us straight to serve you and to
honour you regardless of where we live
physically.
4.50
pm.
Church this morning was great.
Waigani Foursquare church meets in a paddock, under a
section of beautiful shady trees. It is very shaded and very
cool considering the heat when you stand out in full sun.
Meeting without the shade wouldn’t be possible. People kept
coming up and greeting me, mostly in Pidgin, but a warm
handshake and a smile is universal.
The guys dress in what we would call casual dress, that
is if they have more than one set of clothes.
While the ladies mostly wear loose fitting clothes that
I have seen previously, a long skirt and a large top that
comes down to the knees, called a Meri blouse.
These Meri blouses are often very colourful.
Pastor Bill and Pastor Sugam don’t wear ties to church
any more; Pastor Roland did so I was very glad that I had worn
one, though I won’t bother in the future.
The only real pain I have is in my
back – that mid area really does smart.
Roland was introduced to the church
as the Foursquare Missions Director and he spoke for quite a
long time. I was able to grasp bits
here and there so I was more confident that my message on
Abraham was spot on, which it was. I
preached a greatly modified version than I had preached
previously. When you are being
translated into Pidgin you need to speak in a fairly simple
and straightforward way. I have never had to be
translated before, so it was a very interesting experience, if
not a little unnerving.
Many people responded to the
altar-call, which is so very refreshing and different from
preaching at home, where response is rare.
After church Sugam, Roland, another
guy who I really didn’t know and myself went to an Asian food
place, called Double Happiness, and had pork and rice, which
wasn’t very nice. I paid for the meals, a
total of K38, which is about $26 Australian. I
couldn’t let them pay for a meal for me when I could easily
pay for them. The café wasn’t what I would
call clean and the meal very plain.
We took Roland to the airport and
then went on to Page’s.
I then got some catch-up time with
Bill and Corrie regarding the Bible College at Madang. I
had already spoken to Roland and Sugam about helping the
college in some way. Bill and Corrie were very
excited, as they had already been talking about me going to
Madang to help out there. They both said separately
that there was an urgent need at Madang for “an expert”
(always a worrying term) to go in and organise both the
college at Madang and the one at Goroka.
When I told Bill and Corrie that I
was open to the idea they said that they would pray together
and seek God on my behalf. If I want to I could fly up
there this week and check it out. I
emailed Chris about this and I hope she rings tonight.
Just a thought, maybe I could come
up here 2 or 3 times a year and do some kind of teaching
intensives. Not necessarily all in Port
Moresby.
Chris’s email was very
welcome. She said that the pastors of
our Toronto
church have resigned. Funny but I still feel drawn
there; I suppose I feel this way because Toronto was “promised” to us
at the beginning of our involvement with Foursquare.
We’ll see.
I have been watching more football
with Bill – a re-run of the 1983 grand final, then the Footy
Show. Tonight is the State of
Origin. No
doubt that I had already seen an entire years worth of
football for me in just a few days. I
don’t mind and I like the fellowship with Bill, he is a
regular guy.
All the years I’ve talked about
community living and living simply – the Pages seem to have it
here. Port Moresby is not a nice
city, but there is something attractive about it. I’m not
being overly romantic about it, I fully understand the
difficulties in coming here are huge:
Ø
Schooling
(maybe home schooling)
Ø
All our
stuff (sell it all)
Ø
My
library??
Ø
How would
we survive financially?
Ø
Medically
I’d have concerns.
Ø
No future
for the kids – boarding them would be emotionally impossible
and financially inconceivable.
Maybe we need to think more
seriously about Toronto.
10.20
pm.
Lord, I’m still feeling like I
should go to Madang to check out the Bible
College. I feel that I
need to know quickly – tomorrow.
Lead me to the right word Lord and guide me in any way
you see fit.
Monday 11/6/01
We had pancakes for breakfast this
morning – delicious.
Right after breakfast Bill, Corrie,
Tim and Sugam took me to the Mission Farm.
The farm is a ministry of the Sydney City Mission.
They have around 60 “boys” in residence that have
basically all come from a very poor and mostly criminal
background. The guy who heads up this
ministry, Larry, was a commercial banker for many years and
does an excellent job running the farm.
The guy who does most of the work with the “boys” is
another Australian, Jim and his wife Carol.
Jim was a mining engineer for many years and has been
here for around 12 months. He teaches the boys all
manner of skills, from brick laying to carpentry, farming to
plumbing.
We received an extended tour of the
farm by Jim and Carol. It is a fantastic place and
these guys are doing a great job.
They speak English all the time and
teach literacy and numeracy on top of everything else.
The farm is approximately 30 hectares, with lots of
different crops, which they sell both locally and at
church. Everyone from the farm
goes into Port
Moresby every Sunday morning for church, to
Living
Light Foursquare
Church, where Pastor
Bill is senior pastor.
Virtually every boy who comes to
the farm gets saved. Already seven pastors have
been raised up through the ministry of the farm. I
talked all afternoon with Carol, Jim and Larry.
After dinner there is a praise time and I was invited
to speak. I spoke about my own life
and compared myself to Moses. My major emphasis was on
never giving up.
We had a great time and many of the
boys came out for prayer.
My lower lip has swollen up again,
really bad this time. I’ve taken two Polaramine
tablets and prayed that it goes down
overnight.
I’m very tired tonight; it has been
quite an exhausting day. Lord I pray that my lip will
go down and that I will sleep well.
Tuesday 12/6/01
I did not have a good night’s sleep
– maybe three hours in total. I was awake at 5am and spent the time praying and
reading for this morning’s meeting.
I spoke on three great truths: God
formed us, sin deformed us but only Jesus can transform
us.
It was well received by staff and the boys, not much
response though as they were eager to get off to start the
day’s work.
While talking with Jim afterwards I
thought I could build him a database to keep all his records
of all the boys on. He didn’t really like what I
did and I simply don’t know how to do what he wants –
frustrations that I just don’t need. I
started to stress-out about it and realised that these few
days of feeling relaxed, is just the beginning of recovery
from all the tiredness and months of little rest.
I’m tired today due to the lack of
sleep last night. I took many photos around
the farm and I think they should give a good interpretation of
the work they do here.
No matter where you are you can
smell smoke in this country – people burn stuff all the
time. Praise the Lord I’ve had
very little asthma.
I feel pretty useless out here on
the farm when it’s not devotions time, and it is incredibly
hot.
Why is it that I must feel useful?
Why can’t simply being be good
enough?
I’m not too sure about going to
Madang. But I have decided that if
Bill and Sugam agree that I should go and speak with the team
in Madang then I will do so. I can’t help thinking that
I’d like to go anyway.
Wednesday 13/6/01,
1.20pm
Yesterday afternoon we ate, still
at the farm, at around 4.30, which is far too early for
me.
Leadership training tonight so we needed to be ready to
leave at 5.30 as some of the guys are taking me into Living
Light for the meeting. Every Tuesday night all
leaders from the Foursquare Church's in
Port
Moresby gather together and undergo
training. At the moment there are around 180 people every
Tuesday night. Bill is using an excellent
teaching series on DVD that this is specially made for
interpretation. The lecturer pauses after
every phrase to allow for interpretation, which on this set is
turned off to allow for Pidgin. I was most impressed with
the quality of teaching – it’s called The Destiny
Project.
We went to Page’s to get my bags
and check my e-mail. Corrie had washed my dirty
clothes so I'm OK now to the end of my trip.
The e-mail wouldn't work which made me very upset (but
didn't show it) because I felt that I needed to hear from
Chris.
Back to Sugam’s place for the
night.
I'm really tired tonight -- tired
anyway. Especially after three hours
of hardwood seating at Living Light.
At the leadership meeting they
always start with worship and then the video, and small
groups. After the video, which was
on the Holy Spirit, Bill called for all those yet unbaptised
in the Holy Spirit and those who had not yet spoken in tongues
to come forward. Many came forward and all
the senior pastors were called to pray over them including
myself. The Lord has moved
mightily.
Needless to say -- small groups
went late which didn't help my backside.
In the morning we drank the
mandatory coffee and I have toast, bit of a treat really as
the nationals don’t really bother and it’s usually one meal a
day for many of them.
Back to Page’s place to check the
email which is now working correctly -
hallelujah.
It was so great to hear from Chris
and the stories regarding the kids. I
pray everything keeps going OK.
I had a brief discussion with Sugam
and Bill regarding Madang. I'm going Thursday afternoon
and come back on Friday afternoon in time to preach at the
youth service. This is very exciting for
me.
It was time to join the ambulance
and staff of Operation Parsim Sua, and go to the Erima
settlement. This is where Pastor Sugam
and Narni lived, with her mother.
They have a great deal of extended family in this
settlement. The nationals referred to extended family as
Wantoks. Sugam drove me around the
settlement and the photos I have taken will never show the
truth of the situation.
They go every fortnight to each
location with the ambulance (which is a huge drawcard as it's
the only real ambulance around and the only US ambulance in
PNG).
The children came with cuts, sores,
scabies etc. you name it they’ve got it.
After they set up they get everyone's attention and
pray. They explain exactly why
they are there and then there's the singing and treating the
sick and injured. After every second song, or
so, someone preaches and after the first two songs it was my
turn (two minutes notice). Sugam just leant towards me
and said “You preachim now.”
I did the best I could. I
feel so totally inadequate to share anything with these
people. I have no understanding of
the plight at all. I came close to bursting
into tears when I finished -- partly due to my feelings of
uselessness and partly because of the state these people were
in.
Sugam and I left Erima after my
tour of the settlement - I hope it wasn't because of me, but I
know it was. He is very sensitive to the
culture shock I’m experiencing and he knows I have a very soft
heart.
We went into the city and the post
office. He took me to a market and I
got some necklaces for the kids and my Pidgin Bible. Then we
bought lunch (I gave him 20K -- which would have covered most
of it) and went to the seaside to eat and enjoy the
breeze. Then home to Sugam’s house,
everyone else has gone off to sleep, Sugam's sitting at the
table writing and I'm in a “comfy” chair.
I'm really tired so I’m of to lie down soon. I
have to preach tonight.
Thursday 14/6/01
Last night I went to Bomana
Fellowship, which one of the “Stephens” looks after, which is
about a 30 minute drive from Page’s place.
Church was held in someone's backyard with everyone
sitting on mats. There were a few plastic
chairs for the main people -- like me. I
was very glad that I didn’t have to sit on the ground as my
legs, while behaving quite well, wouldn’t have liked that
much.
Stephen led the praise and worship
-- some in English but mostly in Pidgin.
Stephen gave me a big introduction and I preached. A
big guy named Daniel interpreted for me.
Most of the people were responding to the
English.
Daniel has worked as a prison
officer for the last 17 years. He is now the number 2
person in Port
Moresby prison. He
has guaranteed Pastor Bill that as long as he is working in
the prison that Foursquare has an open door for ministry --
they go every second week and minister there.
(I'm not sure whether they take Operation Parsim Sua
into the prison but they do go in and minister.
Daniel is a very big guy who is built like a block of
flats).
I started by telling stories of
Pastor Sugam’s visit with me in Sydney -- like the talking
parrot in Featherdale Wildlife Park etc., I also talked about
my call to the ministry and Moses -- all based on Philippians
4:13 with the punch line being “never give
up”.
The people loved it and I felt that
I was starting to get the hang of ministering here - but in
reality I am a long way off. After the service Stephen
took up the theme and he preached too, several times, he was
very excited. The Deacon also had a bit of
a preach too. It was
wonderful.
We had to drop off many people so I
didn't get back to Sugam’s until around 11
pm. I was so humbled by the
presentation of so many gifts -- mostly bilims (4 or 5), one
was the Madang style. One lady put a 10k note in
my hand - I was so humbled I nearly cried but I
held it back -- just. A Lady gave me a bottle of Fanta, one
litre, for walkabout.
I could hardly believe the depth of
the generosity and appreciation.
After seeing how they live and how little they have, 90
percent unemployment, I felt so guilty for taking anything
from them except the experience of being there and being
allowed to share with them.
Then they loaded up a table with
food (Kai Kai) and, at 9.30 pm we ate: chicken -- of
course, cowcow (yam), potato, more sweet potato and rice.
The leader Stephen asked if we have a chicken farm in
Australia, noting
“we have a chicken farm in Lai”. I
didn’t have the heart to tell him how much bigger Australia is than
PNG.
Although it was a late night it was
wonderful. I felt like a King and like
the most humbled person on earth at the same
time.
I had a forgettable nights sleep. I
ate breakfast, with the mandatory coffee, and was ready for
the day when Sugam asked me if I was going to shower (I was
trying to avoid it until later in the day when it would be a
bit warmer, the nights and early mornings are cool in Port
Moresby). So I endured a freezing cold
shower on a cool morning!
Anyway it was up to Ps Bill’s place
and some talk – there is always time for talk in PNG – and
then off to the Goilala settlement with Operation Parsim
Sua.
I got to ride in the front of the Ambulance, again
being treated like royalty.
The settlement is directly across
the road from the dump. The two communities are
separate and the people don’t much like each other.
Apparently no one likes the Goilala people.
These people are the fiercest tribal people in PNG –
mountain people. Most of the men and boys are
rascals. The infant mortality rate is
around 15% and the average life expectancy is just 42
years. Many children have no
parents and live with Booboo (grandparents) or anyone at all,
anywhere at all.
Many of these kids are malnourished
and naked. Their little bodies are
covered with sores and their heads are covered with
scabies.
There is NO water in this
settlement and of course no sanitation of any kind.
The women and children have to walk about 2 kilometres
for water, which they collect in plastic bottles and carry in
bilims. It appears that no one
washes in any way at all.
The first person I met was Stephen,
who was a leader of a rascal gang until he got saved. He
is still being treated medically as his body is swelling up –
the medical people seem to think its some kind of lead
poisoning as he still has bullets in his body despite the fact
the Operation Parsim Sua has cut many out.
Ps Margi is truly amazing.
The entire time that the team is working – they take no
rest breaks at all- he is playing his guitar and singing or
preaching – passionately. Other boys take turns at
playing at times and all workers sing along where
possible.
Sister Lyn is truly
unbelievable. She has been a nurse all her
adult life. Bill was telling me that she
used to take a team of boys – to carry all the equipment –
into the highlands, walking all the way.
When they got to a village, they would set up camp and
Lyn would treat everyone. Then she would simply pack
up and walk to the next village.
Bill said that she had done this for years and
years. She is now the backbone of
Operation Parsim Sua. She does everything – keeps
records, immunises the babies etc. etc.
and the whole time she sings and praises God.
What an inspiration.
Dr Fiona is an Aussie Paediatrician
married to a PNG national, who is a dentist; she leaves
Thursdays free to be involved in Operation Parsim Sua at the
worst locations.
I watched another of the girls,
Rosa, as she scraped scabies from a child’s head with a
disposable blade. The child was crying and the
whole procedure looked so very painful, but she explained to
me that every bit of the scabies has to come off to effect a
cure. Another child had to be held
while the scraping took place – screaming the whole time – her
entire hair-line had to be scraped.
Rascal boys with sores and
infections, cuts, broken limbs all treated and all prayed for,
and all left smiling.
It is impossible to comprehend the
amount of hardship and suffering. These people have nothing at
all – absolutely nothing.
I was very grateful that the team
didn’t ask me to preach; yesterday at Erima was hard enough,
as I would have cried for sure, and that would have done no
good at all as you must remain happy and filled with the joy
of the Lord.
When Bill and Sugam arrived Ps
Margi took me and Stephen to show us the block of ground that
the Stephen from the settlement has given for a church.
There were some pretty solid negations going on and I
found out later that the Stephen giving the land was expecting
to get a new house in the bargain.
When we all went and saw what he had, only 10 feet
square and made of tin and rubbish, Bill thought that it
wouldn’t take much effort to build the church and something
better for Stephen as well. This is the first church in
this settlement, simply because no one at all comes in here
with the exception of OPS.
Back to Pages for Lunch and more
talk.
Bill Page is so encouraging, Corrie
too, that I want to say more but I know I’ll end up crying – I
will process this further at home and write more
then.
Sugam dropped me at the airport for
my flight to Madang – I enjoyed being alone for the time, I
sat next to an Aussie expatriate on the plane and enjoyed
talking with him. He was the first person I’ve
talked to, in an extended way, in nearly a week that wasn’t a
Christian. He said something very
noteworthy regarding the presence of missionaries in PNG:
“These people wouldn’t have anything without you
guys.”
I thought that was an exceptional
statement.
I forgot – Yesterday afternoon Ps
Sugam took me downtown to pick up my ticket to Madang – he’s a
shocking driver.
I arrived at Madang about 5pm and was met by Ps Kario Veno who is
the senior pastor of Gospel Lighthouse. He
is a lovely man and drove me around town before going to his
home.
Madang obviously doesn’t have the
level of crime as does Port
Moresby. There was a lack of security
fencing and a feeling of peacefulness. It
has a population of around 40,000.
The climate is truly tropical –
everything is green, no brown hills here like in Port Moresby. As
we drove through the town the extent of the tropics hit me –
the fig trees with their aerial roots hanging from branches
slowly seeking to establish themselves in the fertile soil
below. The general plant life –
green and abundant. It is very cloudy here, but still
extremely humid. I don’t like to think what
it would be like here in December however.
I’m really tired and to tell the
truth I wouldn’t mind being on the plane on the way home – but
there is more to see and experience – Father you have me here
to learn and to broaden my horizons.
I feel like I need some good time
out, hopefully we can go away as a family and
escape.
I just met Ps Ruben. He
is a Jewish pastor, born in the USA and has
been living in Israel for the last 30
years. I’m looking forward to
hearing him share tonight.
7.10pm
We had tea with dozens of people –
they just kept coming – amazing community and
togetherness.
I am waiting for church to begin –
it’s very humid.
The worship is great – no one in
this country learns songs as we do – it doesn’t matter though
as the Spirit is what matters not
correctness.
Pastor Ruben is speaking as I
write, 20 minutes recapping last night! Oh
Lord may he please get on with it.
Pastor Ruben is finished –
Hallelujah.
We had a long wait and then dragged
off to Muma Alice’s, who has made us tea, which would have
been nice but she made us eat sandwiches as
well.
It’s now 11.20
pm and I’m in my room ready for bed just
journaling.
My initial gut feeling is that this
is not where God wants me, but I’m not closing any doors.
Kario tells me this is the coolest time of the year,
but it’s certainly hot right now. The only comfort is outside
or having the fan going full blast.
Even Ps Kario mentioned the difficulty of the wet
season and he’s a national.
While I was at Muma Alice’s I met a
Pastor Francis. This guy is amazing, he told
me all kinds of stories. Apparently he is going to Sydney in November or
December, I hope I can get him to Bethel.
He has been used of God to see 28
people raised from the dead. He has been instantly
transported many miles (Phillip transport he calls it) by the
Holy Spirit four times then used to pray for dead people who
God has raised up. Some of these very people
are still worshipping at Gospel Lighthouse.
There has to be a book in this, or there should
be.
Tomorrow will be busy talking with
3 different people about the Bible School and hopefully
getting a look around before the flight.
Please Lord, bless my sleep this
night.
Friday 15th
It’s about 6am and I have been awake since
5
am. I’m feeling OK though I know
I will tire quickly. It’s beautiful and cool at
the moment, thought I suspect not for too
long.
I want the wisdom to be able to ask
the right questions and enough of them to not look like an
idiot. Although I’m here to check
out, or at least begin to check out, if this is what you want
me to do Lord, I would like to at least appear like I know
something.
I’m glad to be away from Port Moresby for a
while, there’s a quiet here in Madang that doesn’t exist in
Port
Moresby.
Chris goes to Orange today. I
pray for safety and blessing in Jesus name. I
also pray for blessing on the kids to be OK and not
fret.
Ps Reuben finished OK last night
after all – maybe if I hadn’t been so excited and tired I
would have enjoyed what he had to share.
I will be very ready to get back
home and to familiar things in some ways.
Naturally to see and be with my family, but possessions
have changed for me.
I think it would be good to start
collecting stuff to send to PNG: eg clothes, appliances, tools
etc.
It shouldn’t be that hard to fill a 20ft
container. I need to talk to a contact
at Coffs
Harbour and pick his
brains about the practical side of shipping as he has been
doing this for a few years apparently.
It seems like having house girls up
here is easy and cheap. With no basic wage I suppose
coupled with 90% unemployment, it’s easier than at home. I
wish I could get Chris a house girl.
I’ve just gone over my message for
the Youth meeting tonight and I’m excited about talking with
them. Lord, I pray for the
empowerment of your Holy Spirit to speak through me (and the
interpreter if needed) to challenge the youth about living as
people of great integrity and character.
Saturday 16th
It’s 4.10 am and I have
been awake for more than an hour. It
seems I can’t sleep more than 5 hours a night in this
country. That’s obviously why I feel
like I’m fading after only a week – that coupled with the lack
of time alone.
Speaking of time alone yesterday
Pastor Kario took me to the airport, so I could return to
Port
Moresby. There I sat on hardwood
benches and waited and waited. At the due time of departure
they announced that the plane would arrive about 5
pm. Then just after 5
pm they announced that the plane was at Lai and was
unserviceable and that our flight would now be at 7
am tomorrow. My heart sank, not for being
held over as I knew that was in control, at the disappointment
about not preaching to the youth service at Living Light, as
it was my only chance to preach in that church. I was
physically distressed as my back was extremely sore, but more
worrying was my leg which was swollen up considerably and both
ankles were swollen, the left one was very swollen and I was a
bit concerned.
Anyway, all of us affected by this
unserviceable plane were put up at the Madang Island Resort
for the night, which was very comfortable (although I still
only slept for 5 hours) and we had been credited with 25K
towards our dinner (so I found out). I
had no intention of going to the restaurant to eat as I was
dirty and in pain. So I ordered a big dinner in
my room, which they made me pay 5K for room service.
I ate well, a prawn cocktail (nice
but not worth the money), a huge Tbone steak with vegetables
(quite nice though the quality of meat was not what I’m used
to) topped off with a serving of apple pie and ice cream,
which came sprinkled with chocolate sauce – most unusual and
most annoying.
With all that behind me we had to
be back at the airport by 6am. I
think I will feel better when I’m back in Port Moresby.
Maybe then this desire to go home will
pass.
Back to yesterday
….
At Friday morning breakfast I was
presented with rice, noodles and omelette – made from native
fowl egg which is very large and quite strong flavoured when
compared to chicken egg. I didn’t go much on
the rice but the noodles and the omelette were delicious.
Pastor Kario and his family are more tea drinkers than
I have yet encountered, so much so they didn’t even have any
coffee, which made for a nice change – I would like a coffee
though.
We talked near endlessly – both
sharing deeply. He is a Godly man who has
stepped into this place after the founders left – hardly an
enviable thing to do.
They only want an ‘expert’ to be
the Academic Dean and not the Principal, so as to fix up the
curriculum. The raising of the standard
is exceptionally important here as the numbers have dropped
off by about half.
They used to have both English and
Pidgin classes but now it’s all combined.
Pastor Burie is a beautiful saint of God – a very
gentle man with a magnificent spirit. He
is the Principal. I also met with Pastor Mark
a past graduate who teaches and he is also a lovely young
man.
He is from Bougainville and is very darked skinned
thought the palms of his hands are as white as
mine.
We talked for a couple of hours at
least and Pastor Burie gave me the cook’s tour of the
Bible
College.
The accommodation which would be for us is not what I
expected – even after seeing the things I’ve seen – half of
the top floor of a “block” of four, small three bedroom units,
having a small all-in living area.
For the six of us – I don’t think so.
The ladies of the church put on a
lovely lunch – much more than I expected, or wanted, so I ate
and enjoyed it all – even Paw Paw – I decided I like the Paw
Paw you get here.
Their Academic standard is low –
some students being illiterate have to have exams read to
them. The entire attitude to
education is in need of challenge and somehow the average
Papua New Guinean needs to be helped to see the need of
education. Even those who have achieved
grade 6 schooling see little need for any further
education. So Pastors are not in the
mindset of furthering their education and I feel that my love
of delving into Scripture would be seen as unnecessary and not
be wanted. I certainly don’t think it
would be understood.
Even though I say all this I still
want to pray, share and talk about it as a distinct
possibility.
I got told of lots of past
experiences and they should be well wary of missionaries in my
view. However, the local view is
that a missionary in the college raises the standard.
Pastor Burie sees himself as out of his depth and
holding the fort until a missionary comes along and earns his
stripes in order to take over fully.
I don’t want to go anywhere as the
token white man that is seen as making the college worthwhile
or a “good school.”
Madang is a very beautiful place.
Everything is green and you sure know you are in the
tropics. There is an easiness about
the place, a freedom and safeness that is not present in
Port
Moresby.
I really am tired and really would
like to go home. I am not feeling very on top
of the idea of December in Popendetta, but that’s nearly six
months away, so I’m sure I’ll be fine.
After all our talking at the
church, Pastor Kario took me down town to the bank and
shops. I couldn’t get any ASP film;
one more roll in my bag would make me feel a bit more
comfortable. It’s obvious that I need to
either replace the camera with a 35mm SLR or do some serious
stocking up.
After the film hunt we went to the
markets – I was able to get some more necklaces. I
was eyeing off a walking stick and some bows and arrows, but I
didn’t have the heart to spend such money in front of a
national. I will ask Jim if he could
advise Sugam where to take me, however as I would love to take
home some bows and arrows and my relentless hunt for
interesting walking sticks…
We returned to the house – got my
stuff and went to the airport- just before we left for the
airport mamma Alice offered to feed us again (just ‘lik lik’
she said) we both said a loud and quick NO. I was hoping Kario
would just drop me off at the airport as I was looking forward
to some time alone but he wanted to wait with me.
He is a good man – though I was
thinking he may be a little guarded at times.
But he talked and laughed openly with me.
Whether I could work with him I’m unsure at this
stage. I don’t know if I could
bring the family to PNG permanently.
The heat is extremely uncomfortable and the humidity in
the wet season must be crippling.
Anyway, that’s God’s problem not mine as if he does
lead us to come I’m positive he will enable in all
things.
It’s now 5:05
AM and I could sleep again now, but I can’t afford
to even lie down & maybe miss the bus to the airport, and
will feel better back in Port
Moresby with Sugam and
Bill.
It’s now 11:05
AM and I have safely arrived in Port Moresby 13 hours
late.
I was very much delighted to hear
Bill passionately share concerning the hassles of the
cancelled flight - including a high-speed dash back to church
in time to have a wonderful visitation of the Holy
Spirit.
I was greatly relieved to hear this
but I was not comforted when he shared with me that yesterday
had been his worst day in ministry ever.
A female staff member told him
yesterday that she is pregnant – she is to be married at the
end of this month. Bill had to stand her down
and her fiancée is some sort of leader in the church - he was
sacked. Very painful and difficult
situation for Bill and Corrie to have to deal with at any
point, but two days before holidays when they are so
tired!
Apparently Corrie left for
Cairns
and their annual holidays without having a shower changing her
clothes etc, just got to the plane.
It was great that I was there
during all this; it was also great that I was held over as
Bill needed time to himself this morning to cry out to God and
deal with the situation. The reality for today is
that this will take a good while to be dealt with as I sense
Bill’s need to talk.
I have talked and talked this
morning. Intermingled with my
sharing, Bill has poured out his heart - I thank God that I’ve
been here to listen and observe and to
learn.
I emailed Chris and the kids. I got
my bag from Sugam’s and repacked everything.
I’m on the run down now and
tomorrow will be great; I’m looking forward to church - our
padded seats at home would be nice – 4 to 5 hours of hardwood
seating is not particularly encouraging.
I can see that the situation in
Madang is a most difficult problem, but it isn’t necessarily
as straight forward as going there and working through some
issues, as there is still control from the founders. I
suppose I’d like to think that it can all be overcome with
some hard work.
I pray that Chris and the ladies
are having a great time in Orange and being mightily
blessed, challenged and encouraged.
One of my fears with Madang is the
distance from other people like Sugam and Bill etc. It’s only
a one hour flight but nearly 550K so it’s really expensive. An
equal distance in Australia is less
than half the price.
I’m going to ask Chris to fast and
pray with me about this. I certainly can’t stand much
of the political goings on that is thrown around at home. It
isn’t that I want to stay where we are either – I don’t think.
Although I would miss those friends.
Friends – it is so difficult to be
completely friends and remain their pastor as well. In
thinking about it perhaps being somewhere like Newcastle would be OK – I
could easily pop down and visit my parents and friends – it
isn’t so far as to be out of it.
There is also the feeling in my
heart that Toronto
is where we were destined – maybe that’s only in my mind.
Lord, step out and make your will
clear.
I’m feeling tired but I don’t want
to lay down as it is close to lunch time and we are going to
the yacht club. I hope I don’t have to
change clothes as I don’t feel like expending the
energy.
It would be so very nice to hold my
wife and kids right now, but all will be perfect on
Monday.
I’m praying for the opportunity to
get some more shopping in – things for the
family.
The compound here in Port Moresby is great. Living
like this would have it’s moments but, the sense of community
is brilliant. I’m not so sure about living
at the church in Madang, what with students, staff and the
elementary school on site. Quiet would be difficult to
find I think. A house like Kario’s would
be OK, but I don’t know how we could manage in one of the
smaller ones.
Speak Lord, speak to me clearly and
to Chris for I need the confirmation. I’m not prepared to make
a sole decision, not that I would want to.
My mind thinks on the craziest
things some times.
1.50pm
Bill took Sugam and me to lunch at
the yacht club. Very nice buffet, lots of
talk, laughing and joke telling. I
made Bill cry laughing at a particular joke. I
was nearly crying at his reaction. He
is a great bloke with a beautiful heart who is just getting on
with the job.
He needs this next two weeks in
Cairns
and I’ll keep praying for refreshment.
I disappeared to sleep for a
while. It’s now 3.30pm and I’m not feeling so
tired.
It’s been a pretty full-on day as
Bill has unloaded so much of yesterday and the grief and pain
it has and is causing.
When I was laying down I was
praying about Madang and I feel very uncomfortable in my
spirit about two things:
1.
The
negative influence of the founders on that
church
2.
The
unbalanced position of importance given to Israel
These are causing a veritable
plethora of warning signals flashing and moving in my
spirit. I’ll share it all with Chris
and we will pray.
Bill is giving me 15 minutes
tomorrow to share in the service – Praise God. I
can say a lot in 15 minutes.
4.20pm
I just wrote Bill & Corrie a
card – I hope it truly conveys my sentiments to
them.
I checked email again & I had
mistyped the home address earlier (listening to Bill whilst
typing) so I did a larger one to the kids. I
hope they check. Tomorrow after church will
be the last chance I get so I hope something is waiting for
me.
Bill has just made coffee – I think
I’m addicted.
It is now 6.10pm and we have been talking the
whole time – Bill is terrific, so down to earth. We
are both passionate men.
We are going to tea with Bob and
Hillary – Bill says it will be a curry. I just hope it’s not
too hot. Apart from the fact that
I’ve been awake since 3am I feel well rested. I
had about a half hour sleep around 3pm, but just couldn’t sleep any more –
the compound always has something going on and the road just
outside either has cars or people…
It’s beautiful and cool – really I
suppose it’s about 25 but the breeze makes it very
tolerable. Bill was saying that the wet
season in Madang you just lay on the bed at night with sweat
running off you, wetting the bed.
That kind of comment doesn’t endear me toward the place
at all.
Lord, protect Chris and the ladies
tonight as they drive back from Orange.
I really want to see her – hold her
– I love her so much.
I’ve come to realize that she is
doing stuff that she shouldn’t be doing and what we need is a
secretary and a house keeper.
I’d love that aspect of
PNG.
It would be great to see her freed
up more as she has too much on her plate too.
Lord, provide our every need.
Grant me a new anointing Lord of
your Holy Spirit. Take me to the next level
Father – help me Lord as I am just frail flesh and
bones.
Deepen my love for my family and in
fact for humanity. But grant me an equal level
of wisdom. Amen.
9.50pm
We just got home from Bob and
Hillary’s place. Wow, what a great couple to
have beside you. Hillary is wise as well as
funny and such lovely hosts – very relaxing.
Bill is now going over his message
for tomorrow and I’m tired and going to bed soon, though there
are plenty of dogs barking and the boys will start loading the
truck at around 5.30am, so Lord – help me
sleep.
I’m looking forward to church
tomorrow. Bill is trying to come to
terms with the Mriiam/Hubert problem – I don’t envy
him.
Due to the situation I think he
needs to tell them that he can’t do the wedding and that they
should postpone it. I believe he has all the
support here to handle any flack over the next two weeks while
he is on holidays.
Sunday
17th
7.25am
The truck loading ceremony began at
5am – Hallelujah!
I laid in bed and prayed – I have
no peace, at this stage, about Madang.
Those two main problems seem too
great.
Strange for me but I remember a
dream I had last night. A woman came to visit our
home, but we were not living in Doonside but Serria Place.
She was part of Orange Church of Christ and had written
a booklet about me – denouncing me and my whole time in
Orange. I
kept asking her why she would do such a thing but she would
not answer – just kept on referring to the
booklet.
All I can think of at this time is
that this is a warning that we will come under attack. So
I prayed for the Holy Spirit to revoke all attacks on us and
to protect us from the enemy.
Today will be a long day with 2
services this morning and 1 this evening and then a radio
program.
I must admit that I’m ready to go
home.
1.20pm
Back from two services, back to
back – wonderful. Fantastic services with
excellent music, the worship leaders were well balanced and
Bill’s preaching was top draw stuff.
The pidgin service, although smaller in number, has a
great spirit that is obviously more open and free. I
really think those people would die for Bill.
Their love for him is patently obvious. I was asked to
share briefly in both services. A little overwhelming
really, probably due to the tiredness I am
feeling.
I’m extremely tired and don’t
really want to go off to a settlement church to preach, nor do
I feel the least bit interested in the radio program at the
moment – even as much as I love doing radio. I would really
rather be getting on the plane with Bill around 4.00pm.
It’s after lunch and I’m hanging
out for 3pm to check email. I
need prayer for tonight as I really don’t want to preach and I
am so tired I don’t feel like spending another night with
anyone except my own family.
On the way home from church I
commented to Bill how beautiful it is here.
While I was gazing at the ocean Bill asked if I thought
I could live in Port
Moresby. I said yes I think I could –
I haven’t had any concerns about safety.
Bill said “we will need to pray about
that.”
I’m not sure what God is up to but
I do know there’s already a battle going on in me to simply
return to normal – I must not allow that to
happen.
Chris and I must fast and pray and
if the answer is stay put…
Anyway, it’s up to us to pray and
seek God and to accept that it is His business to make clear
what needs to be clarified.
Empower us Lord by your Holy
Spirit. As we desire to serve you in
the manner you want us to serve you.
10.35
pm
Sugam came at 4pm and took me and my stuff to his
place then we were off to the 9 mile church – once again a
church in a settlement village. The conditions of these
settlements is amazing to me, who grew up in middle class
Australia.
Yet, despite what I see as their material poverty they
are so incredibly happy. Which, says a great deal
about what we possess.
The people speak pidgin but also
sing in their own dialect, which Sugam does not understand nor
speak. Sometimes it really doesn’t
matter as you can feel what they are on
about.
I personally feel so inadequate to
speak to these people, yet they responded so warmly and
openly. A lady gave me a bilim – I
probably earn more in a day than she does in three months or
more. It’s very humbling to accept
their gifts. Their sheer joy that I would
come such a long way to spend some time with them has
astounded me – again much for me to learn.
Back to Sugam’s place for tea
before going off to the radio station for Bible Talk
Back. I must be learning as I
recognised the cooked banana, as one I don’t like so was able
to avoid it.
We went to FM100 Radio to do a
2hour program. Sugam isn’t particularly
good on radio and the other guy kept reading from a rather
boring book. Whenever I got the chance I
preached the Word – I loved it. Later I was told that I was
preaching to over a million people, possibly closer to 2
million. It’s the most popular radio
program in all PNG – Bible Talk Back.
There were only about 4 callers.
I’m very grateful to God that I
have actually got through the day. My
leg is swollen quite badly but amazingly there is no pain
associated with my bad knee – it’s been fantastic.
Due to the swelling my feet haven’t been so good, but I
have pushed through.
Home tomorrow.
Monday
18th June
6.50am
I have been awake for quite a long
time after a very broken night’s “sleep.”
I’m out of talk and would rather be
on the plane now – I pray there are no delays.
10.55
am
I have just checked in at the
airport and Sugam and I have said our goodbyes. I
gave him my good leather hat. I cried as we parted – the
impact these people have had on my life has been far too much
to be able to describe at this time.
Before we parted Narni (Sugam’s wife) gave me a bilim
for Chris and a timber carving for me. I am totally
embarrassed at the generosity of these poor
people.
I now have a 4-hour wait for my
flight – peace and relative quiet.
Sugam has been pushing me to come
back in December to attend a provincial Foursquare
Gospel Church conference in
Popendetta. I was a bit confused at
first and he kept persisting, so to get a proper answer I said
that I would not be able to afford to come back, to which he
responded, “You got to.” I knew at this point I was
going to get a better answer than the general answer I been
given up till now. So I followed up with a
simple “why?” He gave a rather cheeky grin
and said “because you are the guest speaker.” So
finally the truth came out – he had already told the people in
Oro province that for their Christmas conference I would be
coming as their guest speaker. Now that that was finally
established I was able to begin praying about
it.
Tuesday 19th June
7.15pm
Everyone is in bed accept me.
Everyone was so tired and stressed, obviously my
absence caused some frictions I was unaware of, but all is
quiet now.
There is so much to consider;
should we remain at Bethel; should we move to
another church or to PNG; how do I change my stressful life
around?
Time to pray and wait on the Lord
for guidance and opportunity in what my next step or phase
is.
