Hello everyone! I apologize for never
posting my blog about PNG! I was so busy and sick the last week in Australia and totally forgot to post. I have been home now for two weeks and it is weird.
I am happy to be home and see my family and friends, but I miss my DTS family.
It has been easy being home, but also interesting at times having to adjust
back at home to my old life. I am so happy and blessed that I had this opportunity to finally do a DTS. This DTS was amazing, challenging, and
life-changing! We graduated on June 20 (my birthday) and we all got our certificate in Discipleship.
My team left for our major outreach
to Papua New Guinea on May 3rd. We flew into Port Moresby, which is
the capitol city and located in the central province. When we arrived, you
could tell that others around knew we were from a different country and some
knew we were missionaries due to our YWAM polo’s that we wore. It was crazy to
see the immediate difference when we got off the plane compared to Australia,
yet alone America.
The first few days of outreach I
dealt with adjusting to another third-world country (other then Mexico) and
just trusting God and knowing that I was here for a reason. PNG and Mexico are
both third-world countries, but so different. I had to adjust to the “island
culture” and Australia did help me, but PNG was very different and on their own
“island time”, etc. We rode in the back of trucks, PMV (personal motor vehicles);
we saw many animals roaming around, and tons of rubbish (trash). The traffic
there reminded me somewhat of Mexico; lots of traffic and crazy drivers! The
weather there was sooo hot, worse than Australia! I was sweating all the time
and we had to drink heaps of water to stay hydrated!
I was so excited to see what God had
in store for all of us during our time here. The first three weeks we stayed at
one of our leader’ old church in the city. Us girls stayed in an old shipping
container (yes this is true) and the boys stayed in a house. This shipping
container was part of their office and storage. At first I was shocked and not
excited about sleeping in there, but for the five of us girls it worked out
perfect. Bonus, we didn’t need to use our mosquito nets and we got Air Con (air
conditioning). At the church there were 12 boys who helped us. The boys would
help with some programs and just be there to make sure we were safe. They were
so sweet. During our time here in the city, we did tons of school programs,
sport programs and worked in the churches school as teacher assistants. We had
a cool opportunity to work with a group called Scripture Union, which is like
Christian clubs/groups in the schools today. We went to a scripture union camp
and we had the opportunity to be their leaders, lead small groups, devotions,
etc. Katie and I stayed in a schoolroom with some girls, as did the others. At
the camp we did a day of sports, it was great! It was amazing to know that the
leaders in charge trusted us who they recently met to help alongside and lead
the camp. It was an honor to be able to pray over a few middle-high schoolgirls
and encourage them. We had the option to lead Sunday church services along with
some youth services. At those services we had to program what we wanted to do.
Many times it was similar with worship songs, dances, testimonies, and a skit.
God moved during those times and many others.
The first three weeks of outreach was
pretty packed on a day-to-day basis (which was amazing). I loved being able to
do all the programs and different opportunities we had in order to help the
city as best we could. It went by fast and then we were on to the next province
of Milne Bay! Milne Bay is located on the east side of PNG. We stayed in a city
called Alotau. It was gorgeous and we were closer to the ocean there. Port
Moresby and Alotau are both on the ocean but the locations where we stayed made
it easier for us to reach the ocean in Alotau. This province was very different
then central. It is funny how you go to one province to the next and it can be
very different; it is similar to the states. Alotau was beautiful with amazing
flowers and agriculture. It was very much “island time” here and laid back. It
reminded me of Mexico with the time and just doing your own thing and go on
your time. The first few days we stayed with an American Christian organization
at their house. Then we went to the Pastor’s house and stayed there for almost
two weeks with his family. During our time there we did more school and sport
programs, just like in Port Moresby. We had the chance to get out of their city
life and go into a village called Sagari. We were there for five days. This
village wasn’t as remote compared to where other teams went, but for us living
in the city it was. We helped at school programs again and did sport programs
as well. We got to help run a big soccer tournament, which was cool. At the
soccer tournament we handed out many soccer cleats. It was so sad to see the
guys play with no cleats on and since we had many donated to us we got to hand
them out and spread God’s love. In the village we did a lot of walking to get
to the programs and other places. The village was a palm oil land that went on
for many, many miles. The first school program was about 30 minutes away we
heard and come to know we walked about 70 minutes each way through heavy rain!
It was fun and an adventure through mud-piles and a river. When we got to the
school we were all muddy and drenched in water. We also got to do some health
teachings, which consisted of basic health like washing hands, bathing,
laundry, etc. We got to go to East Cape, which is the more eastern tip of PNG.
It was beautiful there! When we were there we played volleyball with the locals
and they had one team come before us, so that was cool to be the second team
there. After that we got to go to two schools and do health teachings. It was
cool to see the schools in the villages and the differences between them and
the city schools. We did so many programs that it was hard to remember where we
went, whom we met, and what we did. One last thing we did was go to a
hospital and we made them encouragement and get well cards. This was one of my
favorite memories. Katie and I got to pray for five patients and just talk life
into them. We are so lucky to have the health-care we do and need to remember
that.
Outreach was amazing! Yes, it had its
challenges but God moved through us as individuals, a team and the people
there. Outreach really taught me a lot. I had many times that I was out of my
comfort-zone and had to lean on God to guide me. As a team we had quite a few
intercessions and prayer time. During this, God spoke things to me then and for
my future and it was great. I always loved serving others like I have done in Mexico
and at home, but now after this I want to continue to serve others for the
glory of God! This experience was a once in a lifetime opportunity and I have
no regrets and loved it. I
encourage anyone who wants to do a DTS to go do it and not wait. I wanted to do
one for two years on and off but was too scared to leave for 5-6 months. If God
is calling you to one, go do it!
Home is great. I missed my family and
friends heaps! I do really miss my DTS family though and the country of
Australia and Papua New Guinea! I am still praying for what God has called me
to do next, so if you have time I would really appreciate your prayers. I have
a few ideas on what is next, but need to hear more from God what is the best. Thank
you for all your prayers, love and support when I was gone during my DTS.
I will post a blog with a few pictures of outreach and graduation!
