We knew it was coming, at least we were pretty sure it was coming, well, 99.9% sure, and you can’t be much more sure than that. It wasn’t super dramatic, not dramatic at all really, I mean if you had in mind there might be a media player of some sort announcing a mission (should we choose to accept it) and then self-destructing seconds later, it was nothing like that. Nonetheless Monday morning we heard the long anticipated words from our leadership team, “we’re assigning your family to Papua New Guinea.”
Cue the Hallelujah Chorus…that’s just about how our hearts felt. We’ve labored toward this end for more than 18 years and the Lord has worked so incredibly to bring us to this point. Though it wasn’t a fancy message, it was one we’d longed to hear and at last, having heard it, the floodgates opened and joy came spilling through the causeways. We actually have an assignment! Not only that, we have a target timeframe to be in country—August. Not 2017, 1 Aug 2016, just under 5 months from today.
Could we take longer to get there? Yes, we could, and probably no one would bat an eye. But here’s the deal, that song, the Hallelujah Chorus, the message it proclaims, that’s a message that countless millions have never heard. The tribes of Papua New Guinea (PNG) live in fear and bondage to the animistic spirits they believe control their lives. From the spirits of animals and dead ancestors to a host of impersonal forces, there are a myriad of powers to whom the people give thanks, and honor, and to whom they attribute power and strength to influence every aspect of their lives.
Truth is, there is ONE God and His Son, Jesus Christ, is “King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, and He shall reign forever and ever.” We are compelled, therefore by Christ’s love to act in keeping with the sense of urgency the situation demands of us. There are unnumbered lost souls, teetering on the brink of a Christless eternity and we deeply desire that the Lord should use us to do all that we can to support those reaching the unreached and least reached peoples of PNG that they should have the opportunity to hear and respond to His Truth. It is our heartfelt prayer they too might find themselves in eternity standing ‘round the throne and joining in the chorus to the ONE, TRUE God to whom alone shall be ascribed “Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and strength…forever and ever.” (Rev 7:9)
We’re excited (you’ve probably pick up on that by now) but that’s tempered with a sense of the tremendous amount of work which stands between us and reaching PNG. 5 months…that’s it. Would you join us in prayer as we tackle mountains of paperwork, a calendar full of doctor’s visits, more shots than a Final Four game, paring down & packing up, and trusting the Lord for the resources still needed to make the trip and provide for our family’s monthly needs. Thanks for walking this journey with us, to God be the glory!
It’s been great to watch your progress Imy and Amy. Praying for you and cheering you on!
It was beyond wonderful to meet your family on our visit to McNeal this winter. God bless as you continue to prepare and as God continues to prepare you for this adventure. May His favor and blessing rest on you and prepare the hearts of your children. We are excited for you. The end goal of a country is only the beginning. We have had the privilege of meeting some of the others in the aviation family there and they are incredible people as are you. God’s best! Wayne and Jude
Hallelujah! Wonderful tangible news- count us in for prayer support!