The Scott Who Drew for the Rainforest People

God has an amazing way of weaving together threads of our lives with those we've never met.  Needing an illustration for the "armour of God", someone suggested I ask Karyn, a member of our Thursday Bible Study if she could illustrate the text.  Twenty-four hours later, the soldier here was ready and will be included in the Mesem New Testament. Now Karyn was born in Scotland. I was born in Winchester.  The Mesem who will use this picture for generations to come live in a remote rainforest area half a world away.  I don't think Karyn knew last month that God would use her gifts to bless a group of people who she has only recently learned existed, and whose knowledge of them is confined to what she can see on our website. But God has done just that.

Meanwhile in Papua New Guinea, the roofing iron for Susie's house has been purchased. Christians from Canada, the US, Brazil, and Vietnam have come together to help a woman they don't know but who is related by the blood of Christ.  There is something so powerful and beautiful in all of that.We're part of a family so big we don't know each other but we love and care for each other anyway. I know God smiles on that.  We pass along to Susie notes from everyone who writes. She is encouraged and that in itself is a gift to us.We're still going via Gapfill.org to help with her school fees but the house is the most immediate need and we are so, so thankful that so much has come together so quickly for her. A PNG sister wrote to express her thanks on behalf of  this "unseen" widow. I thought of that and smiled. No one is unseen. We might think we are, but God sees and He is not far fro any one of us.

Thanksgiving is next week. We are most blessed.

Fresh Pork and the House Blessing

House Blessing
Greetings again from Papua New Guinea where we are setting up once again to resume our work with the Mesem. We've moved from Ukarumpa to Bobiufa among the Bena Bena people where there is a gated area of 11 houses. A dear friend, Oprah Peter found the house for us and we were shocked at the size of the place which soon came in quite handy as we had 24 friends come for the "house blessing". In Papua New Guinea when you take up residence in a new house it must be "blessed" with prayer and food shared with friends and family. Twenty-four of our PNG friends from Ukarumpa came and prepared a mumu which was then served to an additional 33 Bena Bena men and women who live nearby.

At the conclusion of the meal it is normal for there to be speeches expressing appreciation and recognizing new friendships. One of the Bena Bena men got up and said, "When you came this week we thought you were just new white family. Now we see you have a very large family and we promise you that we will take very good care of them (us)". That sounded like good news.

Even as we set up we have some paperwork issues to still be sorted out. Neil's diploma was sent via DHL to PNG yesterday (Thank you Marybrigid) and we understand that is the last remaining paper to be needed. Neil is in the bush visiting with the Mesem and our nephews, Tony and Dan, who have been saving for the last couple of years to visit this beautiful country. They are both quick to adapt and people speak the trade language to them when they see them because they look like they've lived here all their lives.

Tony is at a retreat and will take a PMV back to Bobiufa on Wednesday. We plan to depart PNG on October 30th for Brisbane as we must be outside the country when the actual permit is issued. (Just as we were outside the country when the application was lodged). We have all our paperwork in order for the visas and this should be a simple transfer of permits as Neil has held a work permit for many years here.

As soon as I can edit the film footage we will post the way one gets "fresh pork" here. Those with a week stomach...beware!