Hello again to our wonderful family and friends that are praying for us and our mission.
Sorry it has taken quite a while before writing again, but it isn’t because I am tired, it isn’t because the garden is taking all of my time, it isn’t because the bees are swarming around the house so I cannot get in, and it isn’t because I’m watching John rebuild the downstairs shower. Than what could it be that is taking all of your time, you might ask? Good question family and friends. It isn’t any of the above but the power inverter that has blown and shut down the system of communication. This is the real reason for my lack of writing. A kind village man has loaned us an AC automatic voltage regulator plugged into a generator and this is how we can charge up the computer and the satellite phone.
Since the previous letter we did finally leave Wewak after spending one month there. We were all ready to get on the PMV and travel to the river. One of the church members owns a PMV and we loaded our things on his truck and road in the front with him. After once again riding through the night with the birds, I might say, we arrived at the river safely. Elder Mika who is our boat pilot met us there and we loaded all of our supplies in the 40 foot canoe.
Close to an hour down the river the motor which was rebuilt began giving us problems again. We eventually found a little clay beach to pull next too while John and Elder Mika looked at the motor. They quickly decided it wasn’t wise to push the motor any further and we waited for another boat to pull us to ambunti where mechanics were located. The girls were so excited and begged to swim in the river. I had them change and for the next hour they had fun splashing and jumping in the cool water. I thought maybe the bird’s Ruth and Boaz wanted to play too. So I opened the cage door and out they came in a hurry. Getting in the water was a new experience for them but they soon learned to like it. Ruth was the first one that after walking out where it was too deep began swimming. We cheered her on. Boaz on the other hand stood in the shallow part but would roll over and over in the water. Animals and children alike had so much fun. But all fun eventually comes to an end. With the help of another motor we scooted off to the village of Ambunti and stayed there 5 days until the motor was fixed the second time.
Since we were in the village over the weekend we had the opportunity to visit a small church up in the mountains. Early Sabbath morning Elder Paul met us at the pathfinder boat where we were staying to lead us to the mountain church. Down the path, passed the airport and up the steep mountain we walked. Up, up and even higher we walked but the scenery behind was just beautiful. We could look over the river and swamps to other mountains beyond. After church we went to Elder Paul’s home where he fed us fruit, juice and crackers.
The following Tuesday morning we were up packed and ready to leave after the motor was tested for hopefully the last time. The rum, rum, of the motor was like music to our ears. It was great to be zooming across the water once again to May River station, our home. With our hats on for shade we could still feel the heat from the sun shining down upon us. This is the time we wish for some rain even though it makes a mess in the boat. As I sat listening, something wasn’t right again. I looked at John and he didn’t say anything. I knew he was tired of this whole thing with rented motors and the expense it took to keep fixing it. We all just wanted to get home. After making a few phone calls, John and Elder Mika worked on the engine a few more times and then we were once again on our way. We just kept praying that if it was the Lord’s will He would keep the motor running all the way to May River and to the owner in good running condition.
The sun was beginning to go down and darkness was creeping in all around us. The coolness felt wonderful after sitting in the hot sun all day. Since the moon was so bright we decided to keep going as long as we could see. As the clouds began rolling in and we could see lightening in the distance we decided it was best to pull over and spend the night. We found a nice little bush house (shelter with no walls) off the river and we set up our bug tents and all nine of us slept for the night. That is most of us slept through the night. With heavy rain and thunder and me worrying about the birds in the boat I didn’t get much sleep but I knew that the next day we would be arriving in May River and I had a nice bed waiting for me.
6am in the morning we left the little bush house and around 6 hours later we pulled into May River. I couldn’t wait to walk up the path to our home. After being away for a month I just knew that my garden would be producing vegetables to put on our table. The corn should be ready along with cucumbers and beans. Climbing out of the boat I looked up into the face of Boo Boo, the girls adopted grandma and one of the nurses at the clinic. She came close to me and whispered. “Pam”, she said. “Someone came into your garden last night and stole your corn, cucumbers and dug up some of your sweet potatoes”. As tired as I was, I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Maybe I heard wrong and she meant something else. But she repeated herself and then began speaking to all the boys standing around about how it was wrong to steal other peoples things, especially the missionary families.
A man in the crowd came hurrying up to Boo boo and grabbed her around the neck and pushed her down. I was scared for her and John had already gone up to the house with some supplies. I stayed by our supplies until they all were taken up to the house. With tears ready to spill out, I slowly made my way up to our house. The last place I wanted to go now was the garden but John went to have a look. All the corn was picked, sweet potato plants were dug around and roots pulled up, even though potatoes were not ready yet. Most of the cucumbers were gone and most of the peanut plants were pulled up. Boo Boo kept telling me to stay away from the garden and not plant anything more until we move to Ama.. They do not steal your things, she said. Which we have heard is very true from the people who live there. I have been sharing my seeds with Ama people when they come visit us because they have a hard time getting anything because they are so far away. I decided that God knows what happened in my garden and who the people were and that I need to pray for them.
We are now back getting settled and John has supplied a few villages with tools to fix churches, schools and airstrips with. We have also supplied them with a few Sabbath school supplies but there isn’t much of that here. Any old memory verse cards, picture rolls, quarterlies from all the divisions would be helpful. The conference here follows Grace Link. I have been attending the primary division and helping out with that. This Sabbath the leader did not show up because he couldn’t make it back from Ama where he was visiting. I led out and it turned out quite well. I have the children learning there memory verse each week by writing it on a piece of paper in Tok Pisin for them. This week 15 out of 22 children knew there memory verse. I would like to start a chart for them and at the end of the quarter they can earn points towards something special. It is so hard here though because I have no supplies. Everything I brought for this purpose is sitting in the crate which we will not get until next year. We might just have the crate sent straight to Ama by plane, we are not sure yet.
We have been praying for the people here in Papua New Guinea. We desperately need missionaries from their own people. Students that are graduating with a teaching degree are really needed. When visiting the Sepik Mission we found out that not all teachers that are chosen are Seventh-day Adventist. The Mission chooses anyone they can get or they wouldn’t have that many teachers at all. These teachers drink and smoke. We have one school that we are trying to open for this next year close to May River and we need 6 teachers for it. Please pray that the Lord will touch teacher’s hearts so they will come and serve the river people.
Also I would like you to keep my dad in your prayers. He is not doing well and a few weeks ago they didn’t think he would make it. He sleeps a lot and needs almost everything done for him. Hospice is working with him now which is really good. We have Francis, her husband and son who are helping take care of daddy. I called daddy today and he was so tired but heard everything I said. It is really hard being so far away and not being able to be with him and encourage him.
Well, I must go for now, but stay tuned and more news will be shared with you later. God bless you.
Pam
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