This will be our final post before we leave for the Balbol village in under two days. We will be there for 4 weeks and the chance for internet access is basically nonexistent. We are very excited to share the vision God has given us for our spare time at Ukarumpa which has nothing to do with medicine. Once we return to Uka in 5 weeks, we will begin making at least weekly treks off Ukarumpa Center to the surrounding huts and villages and start socializing and forming relationships. It is quite easy at Ukarumpa (given the large number of expats) to do your job during the day, and socialize with fellow expatriates during your off-time. We plan to spend a great deal of time with the surrounding nationals learning more about their culture and forming lasting relationships which will eventually give us the ability or the right to share Christ with them. This may not sound like a monumental vision to the casual reader, but to know me personally, this is a HUGE vision that pushes me miles outside of my comfort zone, but will allow me to share Christ in an environment that I would never encounter at the medical clinic. Forming relationships and sharing is most assuredly NOT a Tom “thing”, but IS more of a Jenny thing. This is what God has asked of us, so He will undoubtedly supply us with the courage and extroverted-ness needed to perform such a calling. When culturally stressed and overworked, it is easy to retreat to the safety of what is familiar or known. We see the peril of this happening to us, and ask for your prayers that no matter the cost, we remain true to this calling. Nothing is as important as spreading God’s Love, for how or why would they call on God if they don’t believe? And how can they believe if they’ve never heard of God? And how will they hear of God if nobody talks to them about God? And how can someone talk to them unless they are sent? Well… those of you who are teammates sent us, so you did your part. Thank you! Soon it will be time for us to do our part and bring them the good news in addition to medical care. In the past I’ve struggled with the efficacy of our mission trips to Ghana, West Africa. We walk around Soga Kope and see Jehovah’s garage, Our King’s bakery, etc… and I wonder, “What’s the point? They appear to have been missionaried to death.” But yet there are countless who still don’t believe. Why? One could argue that they’ve been given their chance, time to move on and give someone else a chance. That USED to be my argument. But I’m so glad that God gave ME a second and third and countless other chances instead of merely moving on to someone else. So too does everyone else deserve countless chances to hear the message of hope that brings life to the walking dead. So that is what we will do, until God tells us it is time to move on. On to other things, the photos below show the girls having a blast at the beach this weekend. Ellie was finally brave enough to withstand the horror of a blue starfish on top of her head, but this trip, they all went into hiding! She will get one more chance in just under 5 weeks. We started showing Elevation Church podcast sermons when we got here to Madang. Our first time, there was just us four, then there was 8, then there was 14, and last weekend we had 19 people at our little “church” service. Praise God for pastor Steven Furtick and his teaching style, it sure seems to attract people like a magnet! Everything here grows fast and large. The dead branches we used to make our Haus Kuk (house to cook in) started sprouting green leaves before we finally tore it down. Even little princesses like Ellie are growing fast here! We are greatly encouraged by your comments, so keep ’em coming! If you feel lead, please share our page with your friends. We plan to stay here in PNG for some time and will need to find new supporters to keep us here serving God. If anyone is interested, please go to this link. https://wycliffe.org/partner/FBC358 God blesses those who love Him!
Posted on: Mon, 06 Oct 2014 05:59:05 +0000