Reminders

This is my 2019 monthly planner that I bought because of the cover.  I love maps and globes because they remind me life is not all about me.  Everyday,  millions of people get up and breathe God created air just as I do.   Yet when they stop breathing air into their body many will not go to heaven.  I want to be reminded on a daily bases of this so I can be ready to give an answer for the hope that lives within me.  

Recently I did some updating in my living room. I put a big map over our fireplace, a couple globes, items that remind us of the needs of the world. The map has this quote on it,  "You will receive power  when the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem and in all of Judea and Samaria,  and even to the remotest part of the earth".  

Another thing I like to do occasionally to remind me of the lost in the uttermost parts of the world is to look at our pictures from our overseas mission days.  

The little girl is the pink name is, Betty Jo, after me.   

A trip into the village our daughter and family were in required a half hour ride in  a single engine plane. That is our oldest grand daughter beside her Grandpa, she was coming home for a break from boarding school.  Getting into the village is so much easier with an airstrip. The first time we went for a visit we flew into another village , got into canoes for a four hour river ride. And that is how we returned. So when the Yembi village built their own airstrip thanks to the generous people in different parts of the world we flew straight into the village.  It was amazing.  A four hour canoe trip might sound adventurous to you but once was enough for me.  I'll take a half hour single engine plane ride any time.  No alligators swimming in the sky. 

A visit in a village high in the mountains of Papua New Guinea.  These little kids loved showing me around. In this village we noticed the crosses on the grave were turned upside down.  In their belief after dying their spirit would be able to grab the upside down cross and come out of the grave.  These people have had the gospel presented in their own language and some translation of the Bible done. More is currently going on. 

 This was a surprise going away party from the men who worked on our base. They lived in the villages nearby.  They saved their money and bought us a store bought cake from town.  No ovens in their villages. It was a humbling time for us, lots of tears. 

Men and women in the Yembi village learning to read. 

Ace helping to build benches for a teaching house in a village. 

This is in the Yembi village where our daughter and family lived.  These gifts were made by hand by the folks sitting with us.  They told me to fill the basket  with food for Ace and hang it outside my house.

This last picture is the support base where we lived. From here we were able to supply food, fuel, mail, etc out to the remote villages where the missionaries lived.  On this base, we were able to provide housing for those coming out in need of a doctor, and a rest.  The Madang town was 20 miles from our base and from it we could catch a plane to a larger town or to Australia when it was serious.  Our helicopter  land right on our support center .  Surrounding us were villages where you can see the smoke from their cook fires.   We had our own generator for electricity.  The beauty of this place is being right on the ocean which has beautiful coral reefs and great fishing.  The most surprising thing for me was the sounds at night. As soon as the sun went down all the bugs, birds, reptiles, animals would start their own chatter which at times could be quite loud. It really did sound like jungle. 

People ask all the time if we miss it and we can say honestly, YES.  Oh not the rugged living but being a part of something bigger than ourselves, YES.  Papua New Guinea was and still is undeveloped in so many ways.  One learns quickly how to use what is available at the outdoor market and the few stores there.  You learn quickly how to plan ahead when you have to cook everything from scratch.  Ace and I would do it again if God said go again.  For now though, He has us in a stateside ministry helping our missionaries when they return to the states.  We are content.  One does not have to go overseas to find lost souls, they are all around us everyday wherever we live.     

"Mercy means I am so deeply grateful for the forgiveness I have received that I cannot help offering you the same. "

Paul Tripp

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