Please pray for the government of Papua New Guinea as it is going
through a period of uncertainty. If you want more information regarding
recent events, please see the attached list of PNG's national
newspapers.
www.postcourier.com.pg
www.thenational.com.pg
It is Sunday morning here in PNG. It is actually a beautiful Sunday morning. These past few weeks, I have heard myself say over and over again, “I am just so sick of this dry season.” Meaning, I am sick of all the gloomy, cold, rainy days that we have had lately. Not my idea of a “dry” season.
But, like I said, it is a beautiful day today. Caleb has been surprisingly home most of this week-end. We even had a national holiday on Friday, so I was sure the long week-end would have been interrupted by security related work that he would feel obligated to attend to. But, I was wrong. Like the passing of the gloomy weather (for a time), God has gifted us with a period of “no interruptions” on the security front here.
Ben woke up in pretty good mood (fully clothed…always a plus….nothing like having to wash sheets first thing in the morning after an “oops”). We decided against church this morning…..and had our own devotional time over coffee and fresh fruit smoothies. We made a couple of Skype phone calls….which really made our day THAT much more special…..and we relaxed and enjoyed the sunshine.
After a glorious HOT shower (never know if it will be hot or cold), I find myself wanting to blog….but not quite sure what to write.
This past week, it is almost as if a memo went out which said something along the lines of “Adrienne is looking for a full-time job.” I am not sure if the 3 month mark at Ukarumpa and the 6 month mark in PNG as a country had anything to do with it. But, the e-mails and inquiries came a-flying towards me at a fast pace. I was a bit tired and worn out all week….which translates to a “not in her right mind to make that big of a decision” mindset. But, it got me thinking a bit.
I am struggling as to “what to do here”. What is my role? Initially, we knew that I would not have a “job”. We knew that the nature of Caleb’s job would be so challenging in and of itself, that it was probably best to just let me transition into life here before making any commitments. But, as I live here, I am becoming friends with people….and by becoming friends, it is easy to see the HUGE needs that abound here. I know that I wasn’t “called” (I really don’t like that word) to come to PNG just to watch Pride and Prejudice and to learn to sew…but I am struggling with what to do next. Sure, I just took on a role as bookkeeper for the security office and I am now the Daycare Manager….but I am wrestling with the idea of, “Do I pursue what I believe to be my spiritual gifts…my passions…what my heart beats for….or do I pursue a position where I can make SUCH a difference with my accounting and management skills….without even a blink of an eye?”
I do not have an answer to that question. And, honestly, I do not feel like it is a question that I will get an answer to anytime soon. But, I thought I would “voice” what I was feeling.
I have also been thinking about the idea that “Now I am a missionary”. I don’t feel any different. Sure, I live in a completely different place….a place I never even knew existed before meeting Caleb. And, I am still learning SO much. Life here is not easy….but it is not altogether hard and unbearable, either. Sometimes (again….my biggest struggle), I find myself comparing myself to other missionaries, whether here or elsewhere. I think about how they are “doing” the hands on work of their mission. Instead, we have signed on to a life of support ministry. We are here to support an overall mission that we believe in….getting God’s Word into the hands and minds of those who do not have it in a language that they can understand. Again, this is more than just Bible translation….the translators here have to learn the language, devise an alphabet, teach the people how to read and THEN begin the work of Bible translation.
We are (I would say) really close with 4 translation teams…all doing something a bit different. Our friend M is a language surveyor. She is an amazing lady (from Argentina) who does the physical hiking and trekking to the villages around PNG. It is her “job” to determine the language needs here in PNG. She goes from village to village asking questions and observing the people….and then reports back about where translators need to go. If I was single, this is SO up my alley of what I would want to do.
Our friend J, is a translator here who does not have a partner. She was hoping that there would be another single lady here that she would get along with….and then go with that lady to an allocation and begin translation work. Instead, she fills in where needed and puts on workshops all over the country as a mentor until she can determine where to go. Currently, she is struggling with the decision….do I allocate somewhere where I will be “alone” but where other translation teams are “around” or “close by”….or, do I wait on God to bring a partner here to PNG that I can work with? She is essentially making a decision that will have a HUGE impact on her life….since Bible translation can take a lifetime to complete…alone….if she so chooses.
Then, in our small group, we have two translation couples. The P’s work in a really difficult location. Not only do they have a 2-hours walk to their village, once they get there, they are a part of a HUGE language program. Their language is similar to 11 other different languages. They are working, essentially, on this many translations at the same time….in a place that is constantly under spiritual attack.
Did I mention they just had twins unexpectedly??
Our other friends, R & C are new translators. In fact, they are new translators with a new baby. The struggles they face are numerous…..and they are just “setting up”….and getting ready and laying all the groundwork….learning the language, etc, etc. They have been so open and honest with us, we feel privileged to know their inner thoughts and struggles.
Anyway….I digress…..I know that I am here for a reason…..but that reason is not very clear….even on a beautiful, sunny, dry season Sunday like today….
Ben and I have been making masks lately. Thought you would enjoy seeing the pictures!
The last picture is one of Caleb “securing” Ben’s diaper at night. No amount of tape, band-aids or threats of punishment in the morning have done the trick. The boy is still naked when he wakes up!
The community here on center is really great. They really go the “extra mile” to make this place a home…and not just a place to work and live. That being said, there are really creative people on center. You have to sort of “make your own fun” in a place like this! So, a couple of moms hosted a roller skating party for this afternoon. School starts again tomorrow, so we are looking forward to “more things to do”….things get a little boring around center when school is out and people are gone!
Ben was a little hesitant at first. I couldn’t even get the skates on his feet initially. But, he saw so many of his friends there that he soon joined in on all the fun. I didn’t get to take pictures of him actually skating….because I was holding him up!
If you remember (from our other blog), I learned how to make homemade tortillas while in Waxhaw, NC. While we attended our month long training there, my mother-in-law hosted a tortilla party where we learned how to make them from scratch. We had our friends Carl and Carol over….since they would be moving to PNG at the same time as us….and it was a blast. We promised to keep the tradition alive….and have had not one, but TWO tortilla parties since moving to Ukarumpa….WITH our friends Carl and Carol.
Above, you will see pictures of last night’s tortilla night. Carl and Carol are in a new house….so we really enjoyed their view….and a chance to get to the “top of the hill”. The last picture was taken a few months ago when we hosted the party at our house! Enjoy the pictures!