Return to the Land of the Unexpected

People have suggested we will know what to expect in PNG since it is our second time serving there. But PNG is “The Land of the Unexpected.”  Even before we left home unexpected things happened.

On Sunday morning I jogged up and down to the 4^th floor to Sunday School. But later after packing for hours on the floor, I awoke Monday with tight muscles in my right leg, hip and thigh. I tried to walk it off; but by Tuesday when we left for the airport, I could hardly walk. 

On the flight to LA, my heart was touched by my young Cambodian American seatmate who was hoping to reach her father before he died. She had a 24 hour flight ahead of her and was distraught. The Lord gave me opportunity to share and pray with her. When we parted, she asked to hug me.

At the LA Airport, my noise-canceling headphones were stolen from Jon's carry-on bag. In PNG I wear headphones 6-8 hours a day while recording and editing scripture. I need headphones that don’t press in on my ears.

After 24 hours of flying plus lay-overs, we reached Cairns, Australia. By then I was in so much pain I could barely hobble. And I was coughing and congested.  I emailed asking for prayer, but there was no internet connection. The email finally went out the next morning (Thursday night NC time) and within an hour, I was walking pain-free and breathing again. Just in time for our flight to PNG.

Many people were praying that we would not be asked to pay Duty (up to 40% of the value) on the 500 donated micro SD cards we were bringing to PNG. At the airport in Australia, we met a missionary family headed back to Ukarumpa. They recognized us from 3 years ago (though we hadn’t known them before). Noel told us Customs only charges duty on the value above a certain amount. They offered to take some of the SD cards with them.  This put the value of the remaining cards under the amount on which duty is charged. When we went through PNG Customs, we declared the micro SD cards.  The agent asked, “Who are they from? How will they be distributed? Who specifically will get them? How much did they cost?”  We told him they are for SIL (Wycliffe) PNG and listed some of the people groups that will get scripture in their own languages on these cards. The agent said, “Have a good day,” and waved us through.

2nd hardest PNG airstrip.  Must fly over ridge just before landing.

People were also praying about our weekend visit to Kanabea--John and Lena Allen’s village. Flights to Kanabea use JAARS/SIL planes which fly out of Ukarumpa. Thick afternoon clouds and steep mountains make takeoff and landing in Kanabea, the second most challenging airstrip in PNG. SIL could get us into the village in the morning May 9^th, but they were doubtful they could ever get us out because of afternoon weather conditions. 


Planes always draw a crowd

 

Church in lower left, clinic in lower center right, housing on far right

Finally, they decided that the plane would pick us up Monday morning on the way to the capital and then to Ukarumpa (to avoid Kanabea’s afternoon clouds). But something better and very surprising happened instead.

John Allen got a call that an SIL helicopter would be delivering a fiberglass water tank on Monday to a nearby village and picking up a portable sawmill to deliver to the Allens. After that the helicopter would return to Ukarumpa. This project had been “on the books” for about 7 months and "just happened" to come about now.  (Yeah, right!)  John asked if they could take two passengers and suitcases. SIL was relieved. The plane would not need to stop for us. The approach and flight, though challenging, was much safer and easier in the helicopter. There would be no extra charge.

Everyone loves to see pictures of themselves

So we left the village like dignitaries.

We probably can’t know what to expect in “the land of the unexpected”; but in every situation, we are confidently assured of the faithfulness and providence of God.