Tyler and Emily in PNG

Last month I gained another role outside my normal call of duty, Technical Services. As I become more and more aware of missionary life it is a fact that all missionaries will sometime take furlough or an extended time away from their field of assignment. Last month the person heading Tech Services left for a three month furlough back to the USA. With this role being unfilled, I was approached to step in for a three month fill in period. Let me explain what technical services is.

Tech Services is basically a fancy name for maintenance man. It includes keeping vehicles running, housing fixed, yards mowed, and well anything else that needs fixed. PBTPNG has two national work men who are laborers. They help with mowing of the 10 properties, keeping yards in good shape, and just all around hands for whatever needs arise.

In the past month I have helped with taking a washer machine to get serviced, moving a refrigerator and getting it serviced, painting ceiling fans, transporting the workmen to yard mowing, troubleshooting a car battery, replacing a battery for an automatic gate, plus many more other duties that come with the day.

Being responsible and supervising two other national men does increase the daily stress and adds complexity as I try to maintain my regular role in IT at the office. However, I have learned that being on a team everyone must pick up some slack and take on additional job duties as needed.

I do pray for Bob to return safely and quickly. In the meantime, I pray that God will empower me and strengthen me as I assume a temporary assignment leading technical services.

As I was sitting in church this morning and listening to around parable of Jesus I began to think. Yes, I have heard this parable many times. Yes, I have read it many times in all three Gospels. But today, it is in a different language. As I listened to the parable of Jesus calling his first disciples (Luke 5:1-11) I began to listen as it was my first time.

We all know the story of Jesus telling Simon Peter to let his net down even though he spent all night fishing and didn’t catch a thing. Peter gave in to Jesus and said I will let my nets down for you. As I was listening to the speaker in Tok Pisin I found myself listening attentively and following along the best I could. I followed the scripture reading with my Tok Pisin Nupela Testamen. At the conclusion of the message the speaker asked a question in the form of a statement: Jisas mas istap insait long bot bilong yu. Jesus must be in your boat.

A few other questions came to mind, is my net full or empty? Who am I listening to? Is Jesus leading my life or guiding my boat? If I try to solve the daily problems of life myself, I will indeed find my net empty. However if I follow God then my nets will be breaking with blessings.

Odd picture of the week: The building next to the PBT office has been torn down stick by stick and this week I caught last remaining item – stairs. I found it a bit odd and funny seeing the stairs leading to…well hot air.

Another picture is the preferred mode of water transportation from island to island to town. These ‘banana boats’ are water taxis with 40 hp outboard motors. Of course the man riding ‘shotgun’ has his feet dangling over the bow of the boat.

Praises:
Good Health

Prayer Requests:
New tentative role – Tech Services
2012 Budget preparation
Spiritual Warfare maintenance
Wisdom and discerning for God’s plan next year

As promised your video of my everyday drive along the beautiful South Pacific Ocean. I was riding in the back of a pickup and the road was a bit bumpy so I hope you don’t get motion sickness. On the left you will notice a golf course (Madang Country Club). Enjoy the music – “Don’t Worry Be Happy”.

First, I must apologize for no post last week. I am sure all of my faithful blog followers were disappointed. This week I will include a special ‘Don’t Worry Be Happy’ video of my everyday drive along the beautiful S. Pacific Ocean. I hope you enjoy it and don’t hail rocks my way or get car sick from the bumpy ride.

Last weekend, Emily, and I along with three others from POC (Pacific Orientation Course) in Madang went to Ukarumpa in the Eastern Highlands. A nice mountain drive that is about 5 hours. If you remember I made this trip solo back in July. We were wanting another getaway from Madang and seek cooler temperatures. Before we left on Friday morning, I prayed for safety and protection on the road. God was good and we arrived 30 minutes before the expected time. However, within a 1/4 mile of entering the SIL centre I noticed a thump, thump, thump…I asked Emily do we have a flat tire. Sure enough, a flat after traveling 250 km and 4.5 hours but we were safely at our destination.

Missy and I tag teamed to change the tire while Emily supervised our pit crew style work. Missy noted it only took us 12 minutes to change the tire…not to shabby for some missionary amateurs. I still praised God for a safe and speedy drive to Ukarumpa.

The weekend was very nice as I enjoyed a holiday away from work and much needed cooler weather. It was 59 degrees the morning I left and it was 90 degrees once we got back to Madang at 1 pm.

Also this week I finally got the care package my mother sent 4 weeks ago. For some reason the package spent two weeks vacationing in Australia before making its way north to Papua New Guinea. I got the package on Wednesday and was thrilled to open it and see what goodies were inside. I got some popcorn, M&M’s, magazines, and Combo’s along with other extras. I am already starting to enjoy the goodies and fast to read the news events even if the magazines are back in August.

Praises:
Good trip to Ukarumpa
Nice care package from home
Health

Prayer Requests:
New tentative role – Tech Services
2012 Budget preparation
Spiritual Warfare maintenance
Wisdom and discerning for God’s plan next year

Being in a foreign country there are just some things that are well, different. The obvious being language and culture. Being in the Asia-Pacific part of the world there is a big influence from Australia and SE Asia (Indonesia, China, India, Korea). It gets real fun when you go to the local store to purchase food.

What the Chinese and Asian companies try to accomplish is take an American product and spin it into an Asian product. Most of the time, I can’t be fooled by a spin of Pringles, sunflower seeds, or plain Saltines. Today I went to the store and found ‘Ding Dong’. Normally these are the chocolate Hostess cakes with cream filling inside. This ‘Ding Dong’ is made in the Philippines with mixed nuts. Hum…who would have thought of a Ding Dong with mixed nuts.

What else would you want to drink in the morning to wash down those pills than Pure Azz juice? Don’t worry they come in all varieties.

Oh the Hello Panda, those are just small bite size crackers filled with sweet cherry filling. Not a bad treat, just another random product from another random Asian country.

Nonetheless, going to the store is quite an adventure in more than just a few ways. Make sure you look good because you don’t want to miss a chance to wash down Ding Dong with Pure Azz.

If there is one thing that does not belong in Madang, it would be covers or blankets. Madang is located on the ocean just 6 degrees south of the Equator. Temperatures rarely go below the mid-70s, ever. I might use a light sheet to cover up with overnight but never have a need for a blanket or heavy cover.

This past weekend I attend the PBTPNG branch spiritual retreat at Madang Lodge. I opted to stay at the hotel and enjoy the comforts of using air conditioning as I wish. Being in a third world country, you experience and witness a lack of development and amenities everyday. Once I stepped in that hotel room, I had visions of stepping back into America. Nice clean tile floors, big beds with real mattresses, curtains, balcony, white towels, a small sink, refrigerator, and microwave. I felt like I was staying at Hilton. Then I looked out the window and saw I was still in Papua New Guinea. I quickly turned around to step back into America.

That night as I ran the air conditioning to the lowest setting of 18 degrees Celsius or about 65 degrees Fahrenheit, I joyfully slipped under my covers. As I got up during the night and then came back to bed I had a very weird feeling that I have not felt in over 9 months. My bed was warm. The temperature from my body was warming me under the covers. Wow…what a sensation and awkward feeling. On a normal night, I lay there without a bed sheet and I am still warm as I lay under a fan.

Even though the spiritual retreat was a great blessing to the branch, I enjoyed the small comforts of a hotel room. From the covers of a bed to the glass doors of a shower. Has it really been that long since I have experienced common amenities of home? Even having hot water on demand is another small token that one can appreciate. It may also be that factor that I can use such amenities and not have a guilty conscience as I would at my own flat. No water to worry about running out or electricity that I have to monitor and pay for every unit.

PS – Sorry I did not get this posted yesterday on the normal blog post update. The retreat spilled over onto Monday as the branch had extended meetings which were very profitable.

Once again, I took the opportunity to rent a kayak and paddle out to beautiful Krangket Island. I hope you can enjoy the views as much as I could.

This past week I started to read a popular book and a very much recommended reading by John Piper, Don’t Waste Your Life.

I have read the first two chapters and now need to pause, reflect, and mediate over the words of Piper. Here is a brief quote from Chapter 2:

God created us to live with a single passion: to joyfully display his supreme excellence in all spheres of life. The wasted life is the life without this passion. God calls us to pray and think and dream and plan and work, not to be made much of, but to make much of him in every part of our lives. Piper (Chapter 2)

One of the driving and repeated phrases Piper uses is: to bring honor, glory, value, and magnify the name of Jesus Christ. Piper recalls Paul’s ministry to the church:

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Cor 10:31 ESV

While searching for information on John Piper, I found this full length free sermon titled, Don’t Waste Your Life. John is a very passionate man and has an urgency to live a life not wasted, spun out of control, or spinning down the toilet. Rather, choose a life that is not wasted. What is a life not wasted? A life that displays the supreme value of Jesus Christ. John draws our attention to the works of Paul again in Philippians.

What does life mean to Paul?

Whether I live or die, I always want to be as brave as I am now and bring honor to Christ. If I live, it will be for Christ, and if I die, I will gain even more. v 20-21 CEV

Above all else, you must live in a way that brings honor to the good news about Christ. v 27 CEV

I look forward to spending the next few weeks and months, reading this book which challenges me to live a life not wasted but live a life to the glory of God in whatever I do.

Resources:

Full Sermon – MP3 Link You can download by clicking on the MP3 button

Desiring God blog

This date marks the Independence Day for Papua New Guinea. The 36th year of Independence from the Commonwealth of Australia. As PNG still remains a young, and developing country it has placed precedent on being called a Christian nation.

On Friday, I attend the Madang Technical School’s Cultural Show. It was very similar to the cultural show that I attend last month. However, this show was not as well organized. It was neat to observe how local people here celebrate their independence day. On Thursday, I saw many small PNG flags around town. Some were on car antennas, others on bikes, and some even stuck in the ladies thick black hair. I wanted to get a small flag so I went to Papindo the store apparently selling the flags. When I got there, they told me they just sold out. I went to two other stories and the same thing. No flags.

As I walked the streets, many of the businesses were flying flags, some had balloons and independence day sales. On Friday, as suspected businesses and the market was closed in observance. It seemed to me that people were taking time to celebrate and were proudly displaying their country colors (yellow, red, and black).

As I reflect, being outside the confines of the USA, you come to realize pretty fast that USA holidays that you once celebrated are not celebrated here. It gives you a sense of loneliness or abandonment. However, I strive to embrace the local culture and the host country’s national holidays.

Continue to pray for this country and for the national leaders. Currently we are in limbo between Prime Minister’s and next year is an election year. Pray for God to raise up Christian leaders who will stand strong against deceit and corruption.

Extras:

For your viewing pleasure: Wan Kantri. This is a hit song about PNG becoming one country, one nation, one family, one people. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEMBUrczQGs

US Dept of State releases diplomacy statement: http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2011/09/172465.htm

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.