One of the families reviewing over some notes
August 12, 2001:
With the stops along the way, it had been three days of travel. Jumping time zones, standing in customs lines, and squeezing in crowded airplanes made sleep a bit of a luxury. Most of our luggage had been lost in transit, but at least it made it easier to carry our now one year old baby girl. For so long we had been praying for this day. We were hungry to get into a tribe learn their language, translate the Bible, and teach them the truth of God’s Word.
I remember leading my wife down the stairs and off the plane into the heat and humidity. The airplanes had gotten successively smaller with each step towards our destination. The last one had been filled with unfamiliar smells, sights, and sounds, but that was only an appetizer to what was awaiting our arrival. We had finally made it to Papua New Guinea. It was a strange combination of exhaustion and excitement at the same time. I wanted nothing more than to find a place to finally unpack my bags and go to sleep while at the same time wanting to go do what we had come to do.
We didn’t know what God was going to do with our family in the coming years but were excited to see.
August 12, 2011:
I fumbled around for quite awhile to try to turn off the alarm clock. It had been the third night in a row that I had been in the village and in my office, finalizing all the sessions for the seminar, printing and compiling booklets, and visiting with Patpatar believers until the early hours of the morning. They were hungry for the truth of God’s Word for their family and we were so excited when all 16 families showed up on the first day. For so long I had been praying for the families in the Patpatar church and the fact that many of them had an unbelieving spouse who wasn’t even interested in hearing the Bible. Upon the completion of our study of the book of Ephesians the believers wanted to know even more.
The details had finally come together last minute and God had answered so many prayers. This was the second day of the 3 day workshop about God’s plan for the family. Once again the attendance was great. I ended the day of teaching and Lori with the help of our 3 girls finished her sharing, cooking for 60, and caring for the little children so their mothers could be taught. I was exhausted and excited at the same time. I wanted nothing more than to shower off the dirt and sweat and crawl in bed while at the same time wanting to visit more, teach more, and be with the families that so badly needed help from God’s Word.
We don’t know what God is going to do with these families, but we are excited to see.
Ten years older,
Aaron
Fact – Great news about our co-workers! Madonna Yates is back in Australia getting her 6 month scan after her cancer treatment. She has just received a good report and will once again be able to rejoin us in the tribe. And that’s not all! This next week Butch and Tammy Kunzer will be returning to the tribe after an extended time away. This will be the first time in over two years that our whole team has been together. We are looking forward to it.