Tyler and Emily in PNG

There are some days where I just can’t wait to bust out of the office and do anything but IT computer related stuff. (Yes, shelling peanuts would be an alternative in the anything else category.) Well, last Thursday I turned to Tech Services and offered my help for the day. Tech Services is responsibility for all maintenance and grounds of all PBT property either vehicles or homes.

Bob, our head Tech Services man who oversees two national workmen had a job scheduled on Thursday to wash a house that was very long overdue. I met Bob and the guys at the workshop, got our gear ready and headed over to the Modilon house. This house is located along the main road/highway in town. It is a two story, white house most recently turned grunge and filthy.

Gosel and I got our brushes, water bucks, and hose along with ladders positioned to wash the house. I let Gosel, a national workman, climb the ladder to wash the upper half while I washed the bottom half. We started with bleach water but soon found out we were washing off the paint. We then just stuck with water and a brush. The house was plenty dirty and a good brush job was going to be just fine.

Once we finished one side, we broke for lunch, then after lunch we started on the backside. One particular spot was nearly completely black. I decided to capture a few and rather disgusting pictures of the house and project. I told Bob, I am ashamed and embarrassed to represent the Kingdom of God in this manner. What an embarrassment to Kingdom work.

As I washed and washed, I had a sense of accomplishment for that day. It doesn’t matter if I am serving missionaries and national translators by supporting computer issues or if I can lead my hand and energy to create a clean and representable atmosphere for Christ, the bottom line is helping others with a humble and contrite heart.

I find pleasure in the simple things. I also enjoy getting dirty from time to time and joining the workmen. As the labor is light and the demand is high for repairs, I will try to offer assistance to the Tech Services team once a week. On the mission field there are many needs and it seems less and less helping hands. Please continue to pray for me and the team based in Papua New Guinea to be the hands and feet of Christ no matter where they may go.

If you or a team from your church would be interested in helping one of the many ongoing projects here in Papua New Guinea, please let me know.