Forty-eight hours from now we will do what we've done so many times before: meet at the international lounge, hold hands with family, hug friends, cry and board.
Saturday the usual cleaners and movers were there to bail us out and toss the mustard and kill whatever new life form had hatched in the frig. Meanwhile others played "traffic jam" in the Joyner's basement. What are friends for? Loyalty in face of insanity. I am sure that is one of their many functions.
Indeed few people are as blessed as we are when it comes to friends. There are so many people who participate, move, haul, pray, fast, cry, love and stick with us that they are as much a part of this as we who physically show up in Papua. People see us. They don't see all of those who make it possible.
Truthfully, I hate the final hours. I would rather get on the plane and go. I don't want to cry any more. I don't want to say good-bye for the fifth term and pretend this gets easier. Actually, it gets harder the older I am. We have many things ahead which have their own challenges.
We got a bit of news yesterday, the minor stuff of logistical headaches. Our truck has been in a shop for six months and we didn't know. This is not extraordinary, but we have to replan every thing we just worked out for during the last few weeks for how we can possible get done all that needs to be done in the time we have. I am hyperventilating already.
There is a verse in Psalm 37 that says, "Do not fret, it only leads to sin". That verse gets me in trouble as I am laid back by US standards but a middle aged female international "fretter" in that incidentals like knowing where I might live in two weeks is a stress point to me. I was never big into camping. Give me Vivaldi, a nice restaurant and a fine book and I am right at home. This might prompt you to ask how we have managed to do what we've done for 21 years and the answer is 'grace'.
I have thought much lately about the personality of Jesus. What did He seem like to others? We have remade Him into our own model. We think He cleansed the temple without raising His voice. We think of the verse "For the joy set before Him , He endured the cross" and forget the joy is a perspective, not an emotion. Yes, I've heard it say it is an emotion, but I guess that it depends on how one percieves it. He sweat drops of blood and begged His Father for an alternative as He faced the "joy set before Him".
There are many questions I have for the Lord when we get home. For now, it's enough to say, He has gone ahead of me in every way. In every joy, sorrow, emotion, parting, transition, all this He has done. He has crowned me with His love, righteousness, loving kindness. He has blessed me with good family and good friends who have not faltered.
Well it's now 48 hours and 28 minutes till we leave for the airport. Maybe I will write again tommorow. I need to find my socks and the hair gel got tossed. See, I have a goal this afternoon.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Packing and Sorting
Today Neil is delivering: delivering boxes for storage and items for eBay. (We reason Tony will outgrow his snow board and want the money for those new basketball shoes he ordered last night). While I find moving more difficult the older I get, there is something to be said for packing and sorting. You look at something and ask, "Do I really NEED this?" or "Will I remember if I throw it out?". Traveling light is a priority as any seasoned traveler knows. It's good preparation for life.
These last two years have been full of uncertainty as to how we would proceed. We are thankful for the understanding, support and love you have shared with us as Neil returned to PNG, and we began to make the necessary adjustments to see this work completed in the manner we believe the Lord desires.
Door have opened, door have closed and a new picture has emerged as to how the Lord would have us minister in our remaining time with the Mesem. While truthfully, it would have been much simpler to keep doing what we've done in the past, it was not the most effective way to minister in the time that remains.
We will be relocating when we return. That will take time and involve a lot of energy we had hoped to save for something else. Yet we have a PNG friend who has already found a house with security, wired for electricity and handy enough to the transport routes we need to travel to the Mesem. Mesem men have begun translation checking in the village and this responsibility prepares them for continuing in that role and ultimately pursuing Old Testament translation in the future. We will have freedom to host Bible studies and engage in outreach in a way previoulsy not available. He has closed old doors, and opened new avenues.
We'll keep you posted on the sights we see on the journey and thank you for traveling with us this far. In 1987, we left home with these verses as a theme and I share them again here from the 84th Psalm:
Blessed are those whose strength is the Lord
Who have set their heart on pilgrimage
As they travel through the Valley of Bacca they make it a place of well watered springs
The autumn rains also cover it with pools
They go from strength to strength
Till each appears before God in Zion
These last two years have been full of uncertainty as to how we would proceed. We are thankful for the understanding, support and love you have shared with us as Neil returned to PNG, and we began to make the necessary adjustments to see this work completed in the manner we believe the Lord desires.
Door have opened, door have closed and a new picture has emerged as to how the Lord would have us minister in our remaining time with the Mesem. While truthfully, it would have been much simpler to keep doing what we've done in the past, it was not the most effective way to minister in the time that remains.
We will be relocating when we return. That will take time and involve a lot of energy we had hoped to save for something else. Yet we have a PNG friend who has already found a house with security, wired for electricity and handy enough to the transport routes we need to travel to the Mesem. Mesem men have begun translation checking in the village and this responsibility prepares them for continuing in that role and ultimately pursuing Old Testament translation in the future. We will have freedom to host Bible studies and engage in outreach in a way previoulsy not available. He has closed old doors, and opened new avenues.
We'll keep you posted on the sights we see on the journey and thank you for traveling with us this far. In 1987, we left home with these verses as a theme and I share them again here from the 84th Psalm:
Blessed are those whose strength is the Lord
Who have set their heart on pilgrimage
As they travel through the Valley of Bacca they make it a place of well watered springs
The autumn rains also cover it with pools
They go from strength to strength
Till each appears before God in Zion
Friday, August 14, 2009
It's a go
The good news: September 2 departure for Papua New Guinea with an arrival on the 4th.! We are really looking forward to returning to PNG and the subsequent visit of our nephews, Tony and Danny. They arrive on September 12 for a three week walk through Mesem wonderland. We'll be visiting Mesem friends as soon as they have recovered from jet lag and they get to see the glories of the 90 meter waterfall, a common site in that area.
We do need to set up house upon arrival and with the end of the New Testament work so close at hand we are taking a minimalist approach to "home decor". If we can set up enough so our nephews have mattresses on which to sleep and we've got a stove it will be a victory.
The work permit has not arrived and we checked with the embassy who encouraged us the process from this point out should be very swift so we are thankful for your prayers in this regard.
PNG, here we come...
We do need to set up house upon arrival and with the end of the New Testament work so close at hand we are taking a minimalist approach to "home decor". If we can set up enough so our nephews have mattresses on which to sleep and we've got a stove it will be a victory.
The work permit has not arrived and we checked with the embassy who encouraged us the process from this point out should be very swift so we are thankful for your prayers in this regard.
PNG, here we come...
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