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“Happy noon!” This is a common greeting spoken in Papua New Guinea. The nationals are very friendly. We spoke this phrase a hundred times as we passed each person on our walks. We are greeted with smiles, sometimes warm handshakes and even a hug from an elderly woman in a village. Life here is very simple and slow-paced; though not rich in materials, they are rich in community.
Our hosts, Odessa and Raymond, have been amazing. They have been feeding us and driving us wherever we want and need to go. They’re so patient and kind and their Irish wit has been quite entertaining.
This picture shows us on top of a mountain overlooking the villages and the New Tribes Mission base in Lapilo. Raymond guided us on a hike Sunday afternoon. It was a three-hour round-trip hike. We passed through several villages on our way up the mountain, greeting nationals along the way, and even stopped at one woman’s home for a short visit. We crossed the river on a swaying wire bridge. It was a challenging hike, but the views were so breathtaking and unreal that it was worth the pain. We spent time praying at the top of the mountain before we headed back to the base. What a great place to give thanks to our Creator.
We’ve had the opportunity to meet with a few missionary families here on the base. It's been incredible hearing their stories and the work God is doing in the tribes through Bible translating, church planting, teaching opportunities at the school and the medical care in the clinic. The missionaries also have their own emotional and spiritual care available so they can be refreshed and healthy.
We are almost done with the demolition project, just in time for us to spend a few days in a remote bush tribe in Wahgi. Pray for continued protection as we travel four hours into the village.
As we’ve been studying Philippians for our group devotional, I think this prayer is fitting as we prepare to go to Wahgi:
And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ – to the glory and praise of God. ~ Phil 1:9-11