Outreach & Home

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 3^rd. 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!