Ministry Entry

It has been difficult and some what discouraging over the past couple of months, feeling as though we were not getting anywhere with regard to “ministry opportunities”. People had seemed to be a little stand-offish, even bordering on apathetic, and to be honest it was all getting a little frustrating. However, in the last couple of weeks we have finally seen doors opening and relationships forming. I guess in typical PNG fashion; people have been standing back and observing the way in which Natalie and I relate, with each other and other people, and just generally trying to work us out. It is a very Papua New Guinean “thing” to relate to new people by initially being “diplomatic”, so as not to offend anyone, whilst continuing to observe them. Once they feel safe with you, then they will allow you to integrate into their lives (I guess, you could kind of equate it to being quarantined). It is kind of amusing because, looking back; I know this is how I related to a lot of you when we first met. I guess coming “home”; I didn’t expect to be viewed as an outsider. Then again, I know that I am not the same person now, as I was when I left three years ago.

Natalie and I went to Waigani United Church Youth Group on Friday night and met the youth leader, who by chance, I know. It is funny because when I knew him, he was anything but a “Christian Youth Leader”. We had a really good time and they seemed like a really hungry bunch of young people. This Friday night Natalie and I have been invited to meet with youth leadership of Boroko Baptist Church, and I spoke with the new youth leader earlier on in the week and he seemed to be a really good guy and was really interested in what Natalie and I have to say. We also met another young American couple that are here Pasturing the Church of Christ here in Port Moresby. We had dinner with them last week and had a really good time. They are a black American couple from Virginia and have to young boys. When we first met them and they said they are from the “Church of Christ”, I automatically thought….. Mormons! And Nats thought…..the religious church her mum grew up in. We were glad when we came to discover they are neither Mormon nor religious.

It is exciting to see God going before us, and His plan and order being laid out for us. I think for a while there I was hoping God would conform to mine.