Martha's Mission!

We decided that one of the most needed ministries here is getting blankets to the families of Bung, the burned out village, where the people have lost everything. Then we found that many of the students here at CLTC sleep without blankets, and at this mountain elevation, it gets cold at night. Finding blankets to purchase and delivering them has become a joyful part of our work here, and our supporters are in it with us!

Blanketing with love!

You can't manufacture this kind of connection!

Martha had five single girls at the house tonight to show them
how to bake a pineapple upside down cake.

Visa extensions came through!

Ever the student, assistant professor and CEO of Hospitality

Delivering blankets to a burned out village. Michael is a newly
redeemed "raskol" (PNG thug) on fire for his Lord.

Good News!

Our visa extensions came through! So on to Ukarumpa Sept 14th.

Off to Sigri bush village church today. Women sit on one side.,..on the dirt floor, men on slat narrow benches on the other. But fellowship in Jesus is felt and sensed though language is not understood. Remarkable!

Mickey preaching last Sunday

 

Into week three

Classes are intensifying as we learn to read the students and catch the unique dynamics of serving in PNG where cultural norms dictate…even in the church.

The Bung village violence we spoke of ended when Bung villagers rounded up a large sum of money, a small herd of pigs, and handed that over to the other village. A Bel-Kol ceremony concludes the affair, when all the elders and fighting men of both villages gather in a circle, take the chest of a freshly cooked-in-the-ground (mumu) pig, each one takes a bite as it is passed round the circle then they all open a canned coke (old times…broke sugar cane) and down it in one big guzzle. And it’s all over. So Bung can rest…at least for a while.

Martha the cook is busy. Lots of company and people in for meals. Three temporary Aussie workers Wed night, a house full of students Friday night for dinner. But we love those gatherings. 

Mick preaches at the campus church Sunday. Luke 15, the Prodigal son. They love stories. Going to preach it like a story.

A little rain has shown up. Lots of dark clouds in the late afternoon,  but nothing of relief. Some on campus a hauling water.  We’re blessed with a tank still half full.

Your prayers, notes on email, and support is our stay. Thank you all. Pray for rain!

Singing with the village church choir!

Students enjoying Martha's hospitality

Martha with Trumpet flowers

Jolt!

We had a good shaking today around 4 PM.  First a tremor, then a minute later a solid shaking where we felt the house vibrate. Don't know if there were any major quakes in this neck of the woods, but we had our rattling.

Walking to work!

Up and Running!

One week of work is under our belt. The trip over was tiring but uneventful...which makes it a good trip. The only glitch was our hotel reservation our first night here... even with a confirmation... did not work. Spent the night in a mission lodge... and did we ever sleep after 32 hours of sleepless travel.

Classes are encouraging. Students seem to be connecting with me. Martha and I are both mentoring a small group of students while here... we love that. Already had our  first dinner guests, so Martha's hosting talents are underway.  She is also helping in the Library... quite a facility for such a remote place.

You may have heard of the ruckus in a village nearby where we went last Sunday. It has died down for now. We live on the Center and such activities haven't affected us....thankfully.

Thanks for praying. We count on it. This pic is Martha talking to the Pastoral Students. She was a star.

Safe and sound!

Thanks for all the concern.  But we are OK and safe. Keep praying for resolution of the issues. The national pastor of the church we attended Sunday (pictured below) is in the village where the tensions exist. Pray for the physical and spiritual protection of Pastor Michael, his family and the Christians there. 

 

Taught my first classes today. Martha came with me to meet the students, and was the star!

 

 

Early our Monday morning..full day ahead. Teaching tomorrow. Mom still stacking Z's

 

First day in PNG - Going to Church

Mickey says "Me-luk-em-yu" {See you later!} Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oM0eQgJmSs

Martha says goodbye at the airport...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gl9LlsQO0Go

PNG RETURN & PEOPLE MATTER

Looking ahead to a three month return to Papua New Guinea in July, our days in the meantime are full of people… and they are what matter. From long distance counseling - even overseas via email - to coffee dialogues, to hour long phone calls, to a number of enjoyable visitors in our home, our lives are full of people. God could not have given us our hearts desires more than that. Struggles and challenges abound in the Body of Christ, even in His Servants. By the grace of God, we want to be there for those wounded warriors and hidden heroes.

Sharing in two missions conferences and a number of preaching engagements over these past weeks kept us busy as well…time well spent with some wonderful folks.

We’ve even gotten in a bit of landscaping and yard work. Good for the soul.

Our gratitude to God for all of you, your prayers, support, and concern. Medically, all systems are go. Thank you, Lord.

Getting Ready to Head Out Again!

What's Happening Now...

FAREWELL FELLOWSHIP

WHEN? Sunday night, July 11, 2010 @ 6:00 p.m.
WHERE? Our house: 71 Auburn Road, Pelham, AL 35124
WHAT? Pot Luck... always good!
Along with meaningful fellowship and time to commit ourselves, with you as our partners, to the Lord as we go. We would love to have you all.

RETURNING TO PNG FOR 3 MONTHS.... TRIP NO. ELEVEN!!

Tickets purchased - $6900 Round trip (the Lord willing) for two!

Preparation for classes to be taught is well on the way. Double-checking passports, medicines, limiting the clothes to be taken, packing to begin shortly. House matters, mail, bills to pay while absent - covered. July 14th we begin the 36 hour journey to the other side of the world. All this because some beloved brothers and sisters of another culture, another race, in another land asked us to come over and help them. We are privileged to answer that call.

Mick will lead two classes at the Christian Leaders Training College while Martha interacts with the women, hosts many meal gatherings, and simply graces the place. In Sept. we are scheduled to move to the Wycliffe Center at Ukarumpa to serve as a pastoral couple for those 700 missionaries for a month. Our ticketed return date is Oct. 13th.

This is our ELEVENTH trip to PNG! Those folks hold a special place in our hearts. Thank you all who pray, who support us financially, and who in a true sense are serving our Lord with us in that place because of your partnership.





THESE WEEKS...

Since our last letter home has been full of people. We love it. Mick preached most of March, all of April, some in May, and all of June. Squeezed in between were two trips to Dallas, two to Tenn. one to GA and MS. Before we leave in July there's a two-family 4th of July reunion - the Park and Nelson clans - at Camp Ponderosa and a wedding in Cleveland, TN July 10th. But such is the good stuff of life God pours out on us. Our passion... people.

{A DESIRE} The students, their families and resident faculty of CLT (Mick is designated: Permanent Adjunct Professor) live meagerly, working to pay their way, eating mostly vegetables grown there. We've long wished we could throw a barbecue for the campus. It would cost approximately $1000 to feed the 400 folks. Pork, their favorite meat, is available. If anyone shares our BBQ bent to honor these sacrificing servants, let us know. They would be so grateful and so would we. Their sacrifice is one of the heart tugs we wrestle with.

THE DUNNS: Joe and Joannie left June 16th for Kazakhstan. Pray especially for Joe and his pain problem and for their work with teen orphans there. They are choice servants of our Lord.