I wrote this on the last Sunday of November 2020. I can’t say that I’ll be sad to see this year end. It’s been particularly difficult for (seemingly) everyone that I know. I’m not naive enough to think that this would mean that come January 2021 that we will all be trouble-free. I’ve come to realize without a doubt, that we are living in End Times. The whole world has been in more turmoil than most of us have ever seen. I long for Jesus’ return, but there is still much work to be done.

Too many people have not heard the word of God in their heart language; some don’t even know He exists, let alone that He is our only true Savior. You don’t need to be a Bible scholar – I certainly am not. Whatever your talent or passion is, we can use you here on our team in PNG – or elsewhere in the world. Contact me, I’d love to chat!

So many people are burdened under heavy loads; loads that maybe they aren’t even supposed to carry. This life has countless daily pressures. What if there was someone to help us carry that load? What if I tell you that there is someone who can help?

There IS Someone. His name is Jesus, and He would love nothing more than to be involved in your life. He knows the things you’ve done, and the things that have been done to you, and He loves you. I don’t say this lightly or with any offense toward Him, but if He can save me from who I was, He can save you, no doubt! Some people think, “I will get cleaned up, and then I’ll check out God,” but it doesn’t work that way. I was at my wits end, and I stepped off the cliff praying that He would be there to carry me to my next chapter of life, and He was. He is waiting for you to take a step toward Him. It doesn’t matter what your past was. It is behind you, just like the seconds that have passes as you’ve taken the time to read this. Thank you for reading this far.

We can’t do anything about our past, but we can change today and walk toward a brighter and grace-filled future.

Today as we walked through a settlement area we’ve not walked through before to get to the church, I had a deep longing for everyone to realize their need for Jesus. I also had a deep sense of guilt mixed with gratitude. My home is made of cinder block, theirs are cardboard and tin. I cook and shower inside. I am safe from the elements… things in my household don’t float away when the creek (filled with unimaginable things) rises… I invited the kids on our path to come to church with us because I recognized them. On our regular path through the bush, I’ve invited these same parents and kids to come worship with us. Today I felt pretty out of my element. It’s funny that I have my elements here now. That’s nice. The Lord has given me so much even when I feel that I’ve lost so much by not being with my family. I’m homesick.

One thing that He has given me here is a deep love for the beauty of Papua New Guinea. This is a beautiful country. The church that Diane and I attend is in the midst of the ApMa settlements. This is a heart language that PBT works with. Their morning greeting is “wapyalo” and they all giggle when us white ladies greet them with it. They are a beautiful people group. Please pray that they’ll (all) one day come to find Jesus.

Our church was decorated beautifully today. Bethany is a teenager who sits behind us every week. She has started decorating our little church weekly. They must have run out of communion elements, but the table on the right is where they typically are sitting.

The recordings below are of Bethany and her young aunt teaching her a new song in the row just behind me. The first one is without the guitar, the second snippet is with the aunt playing the guitar. I secretly recorded them. I wanted to share it with you. They are way too humble to have kept singing and playing if they knew I was recording them. I told Bethany that I was going to put the pictures of her beautiful decorations on Facebook. 😊 Next Sunday, I’ll show her and let them listen to the beautiful recording.

Pastor Steven Yamok from Gandep Bible College taught us about coming to Jesus so He can help us. Is your daily burden heavy? Are you tired of carrying the things of this life all on your own, in your own strength?

Matthew 11:28-30 records Jesus’ words, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Here it is in Tok Pisin,

“Yupela ol man i save hatwok tru na i karim ol bikpela hevi, yupela olgeta kam long mi na bai mi givim malolo long yupela. Yupela kisim save long mi na aninit long tok bilong mi, olsem yupela i kisim plang ol i save putim long nek bilong ol bulmakau bilong ol i ken pulim ol samting. Yupela kisim save long mi, long wanem, mi save mekim pasin isi long ol man na mi save daunim mi yet. Na bai ol samting i no ken givim hevi long yupela na bai yupela i kisim malolo. Dispela plang mi putim long nek bilong yupela, em i isi long karim, na samting mi givim yupela bilong karim, em i no hevi.”
Pretty cool, huh?

After church we slipped and slid our way back through the mud and muck and over the water as we passed through their settlement, and walked down the road to get to our car.

It was a nice morning… full of many different emotions. I am grateful for not only the good, but the bad, and yes even the ugly. I am so grateful that I’ve been saved from who I was. I’m not done being changed and molded into the person I was meant to be, but I thank God that I am not who I was!!

Are you ready for a life change too? It’s worth it.

Prayer requests and praises:

• Praises for a beautiful time of refreshment last weekend at our PBT annual Spiritual Retreat. We did an online study of Psalm 23. It was wonderful. We will continue it tonight when we meet. I’ve never felt so much a part of our team before. This has been a very difficult season, but it is not without many blessings sprinkled along the way. That is where I choose to dwell; among the blessings.
• Praise that I’ve stayed healthy and prayers that this good health trend continue.
• Prayers because I’ve had some joint pain (severe at times), especially in my hands. Please pray that it ends very soon. I kinda need my hands and fingers to be unhindered… 😏
• Praise that we have no confirmed cases of covid in Madang. It could be devastating if it is here as we do not have the capabilities to handle anything like you guys have had to endure. There is no way to be tested here.
• Prayers that we continue to be protected from covid and other serious illnesses. One teammate is still recovering from a bad case of malaria (and we are still dealing with the loss of Bethaney).
• Two PBTPNG teams are scheduled and hoping to leave America on 12 December to arrive here the 16th. Please pray that they make it!!

Thank you for walking through this journey with me. It’s been quite an adventure!