We were given this leg of pork, hair, hoof and all, for dinner this week!  I couldn’t wait to see the look on our kids faces when they came home from school and saw this sitting on the table!  Our kids spend long days at school. They get up at 6 am, get ready for school and pack a lunch. They are out the door “catching the school bus” by 7 am. It takes about 20 minutes for them to get from Interface to Lapilo depending on the road conditions and weather. After school is out at 3pm, they have work detail, homework, and sports or other activities. Most days they don’t get home until 6pm (except Kelsey she comes home earlier)  Sometimes our kids will call us from school just to catch up and ask mom, “What is for dinner tonight?”  They are excited to hear of some scrumptious dinner prepared….

So, you can imagine how excited we were to have them come home this day…to see the look on their faces!  We all had a good laugh!  The kids thought it would be fun to take the leg of pork to school and throw it on the table and say, “Well, I brought my lunch, anyone want to join me?” 

Even though we had a good laugh about the leg of pork, we do appreciate the generosity of our neighbors. They like to give us what they can. This particular piece of meat was part of the dinner that they prepared for a funeral. It sure makes you appreciate our grocery stores back home….neat,& clean packages of whatever cut you would like. We can be thankful for whatever food comes our way!  Food for thought for sure……! 

     We all know that a picture is worth a thousand words…we won’t take that many to describe to you what is happening here among the Bena people. God is still at work. That’s right. Even though this small, infant church doesn’t have a missionary working along side, that doesn’t mean that God is finished with them. He really has just begun. 

    Heti is eager to teach thru the Chronological lessons again. These past few months its been exciting to see at least two new men coming to hear the teaching.  Those who have already believed continue to meet together for prayer and fellowship. 

     We may not know the Bena language. We may not know how to finish the work that has been started here. But we do know how to encourage by attending, by spending time with the people and most of all thru prayer.  Yes, we all can pray that God will open the eyes of the Bena to understand their lost state, and to come to Christ for salvation. Yes, we know the Lord of the Harvest…we can pray!  Will you join us?

Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.  Acts 4:12

May we never lose the wonder of Christmas and the tremendous gift of Salvation. At this time of year we reflect on all that God has done. Praise the Lord for giving us a great year here at Interface. Continue reading →

The story of Uriay believers baptism: (as told by missionaries in Wabaku)

There was early morning rain and lots of overcast so we wondered if it was going to happen. We knew of at least a dozen folks that wanted to get baptized and a few others that were thinking about it but slow to commit. Elias, Jose and I had met the day before to lay out all the logistics so we had a plan in mind – just not sure how reality would actually play out. The tree gong was hit and we were over by the edge of the river waiting on everyone to show up. There were three guys trying to get organized to get their two songs ready – the first time the church would sing together. We waited….and waited… and waited. You know it’s been a long wait when the Uriay men are starting to complain. It was definitely going to happen in Uriay time, not according to the tree gongs even! So after about an hour and a half, the three guys finally gathered with their guitars but they still weren’t quite ready. But finally…..Elias had asked me to pray so I thanked the Lord for His Son – for having a reason to be baptized and for all the ones that were stepping in obedience in baptism. Then we sang a song – “God loves us so he put his son in his enemies’ hands. They hung Jesus on the cross and his blood poured out for sinners.” Then Elias spoke a bit about salvation and mostly about baptism. We had heard that they’ve been taught previously that when they get baptized the river washes away their sins and their sin nature so they’ll not sin again – if they really believed God’s talk. He had taught on this previously but he reminded them again that their sin nature would still be there after baptism. We sang another song about Jesus’ baptism by John and then it was time to start the dunking!

 Fabel was the first to come. His testimony was short and sweet but oh so clear, “I am coming to be baptized because I believe God’s talk. Jesus died on the cross for my sins and I am marking (imitating) His death through baptism. Baptism doesn’t wash away my old nature or my sins, only Jesus took away my sins. My old nature is still there but the punishment is gone.” One after another entered the water and shared very clear testimonies. Aendrien, Tyems, Stenri, Markus, Aendru, Noel and Paetrik all stepped forward to be baptized. Then it was time for the ladies. Imi came first and she preached a sermon! She went on and on – talking about Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross – his resurrection, how we’ve been united with Him, how the Spirit came on the day of Pentecost and now lives within us to strengthen and teach us. She talked about how He could strengthen us to follow God’s talk but that this water would not remove our old nature. It would remain even though Christ had paid for our sins. She just can’t help herself – she has to share what she’s thinking – it’s just an overflow of her heart! Amazing, eh! Then Maria, Keyne, Dakruma, Fena, Nawiyem, Tabe, Makret, and Tayna all joined the ranks of the newly baptized. Dakruma, Jose’s sister, came into the water with the biggest smile on her face – she was beaming! The ladies testimonies were just as clear and sweet! It was super encouraging to see Fena step up while her husband chose not to. She normally doesn’t do anything that he doesn’t and it was evidence to us of God’s Spirit at work – watching her step out on her own! What an incredible privilege to witness this first step of faith in front of others that don’t understand the real meaning of baptism! I couldn’t get the smile off my face!  I thought I would cry tears of joy yesterday but I couldn’t stop smiling! I hugged all the ladies and told them how long I had been praying for them. While they were teaching me their language, I was praying for this day! After we were done, all of those that got baptized stood around in a circle while three of the men and two of the ladies prayed – thanking the Lord for His grace, love, mercy and provision. We prayed for their growth and that those that didn’t get baptized would be pushing for another one soon! It was such a special time with the church! Praise the Lord with us for these 17 folks that are so clear on salvation and want to grow in Him!

We had the privilege of visiting for one weekend the Yagaria people of Papua New Guinea.  We went with 25 others, staff, students & kids.  We all piled in three different vehicles early Saturday morning despite the rain.  We were all so excited to be going on an overnight adventure! I have to admit I was a little worried about our overnight accommodations but I left it in the Lord’s hands. If He wanted me to get wet, fleas or head lice then that’s what it would be.  We drove for about two hours until we arrived at the old NTM base.  It’s long deserted by missionaries but it is used as a training camp for Yagaria pastors and language/culture excursions. I looked around and wondered how many missionaries had come and gone long ago. How many lives they had impacted for the Lord?  We didn’t wait around long for our guides to take us to another village for us to witness the baptisms. What we didn’t know at that point was that we would be hiking  (it had rained quite a bit) straight up a mountain for one and a half hours!!  Boy was that an adventure!  Slipping and sliding up and down the mountain not knowing how much farther to go.  We all carried backpacks with our sack lunch & water. Some of the national ladies were carrying the little girls on their backs.  When we arrived the celebration had already began!  The ladies met us at the village with singing and dancing. It wasn’t just a whatever song…it was a song of love & gratitude to Jesus!  So cool.  They had made a special grass hut for the elders/pastors to share from. All the ladies were dressed so colorfully in red, green, blue and white. They danced and sang for us.  At one point someone pointed out that all the people dressed in red were to be baptized, I think there were 32 in all.  Wow!  The elders gave a powerful message in which they repeated over and over that it wasn’t getting baptized that saved you…it was the blood of Jesus!  We all went to the waters edge to witness the baptisms.  Most gave a testimony, some sang a song… There must’ve been over 300 people there that day.

Our group packed up, said our goodbyes and prepared to head back down the mountain. It was easier to slide down then climb up!  We arrived back at the base around 5 pm. Just enough time to get some water, use the “restrooms” and grab our overnight gear. We were headed to another village to spend the night and hang out with some Yagaria believers for church and “potluck” the next day. It was about an hour hike to the next stop. We were very muddy and tired when we arrived.  We were greeted warmly by Itava and Lydia, the Yagaria pastor & wife.  They had the church and another roundhouse cleaned out for us to spend the night. They quickly prepared a meal of rice, maggai noodles and tin fish for us over an open fire. We familiarized ourselves with the surroundings and visited for the evening. By 9pm, most of us were in our huts ready for sleep.  The ladies all slept in the roundhouse with 6 national ladies. The guys slept in the church building. Us gals sang songs and talked…with an fire burning inside the hut.  Morning came quickly and we were served rice and noodles again. We also had some bananas and tangerines. Some of the ladies went to wash at the nearest water hole, some of us stayed behind to help get the Mumu meal ready. It was going to be a big feast with sweet potato, pumpkin, greens, onions, sak sak, pork, chicken and lamp flaps. They were giving us their best!

People started to gather from everywhere…not sure where they all came from. Before church I was introduced to Itava’s mother~ The Sweet Yagaria Grandma!  She was barely 4’7 with a sweet smile on her face. ( I missed my grandma when I met her) She was so excited we were there and gave everyone the traditional hug or shake.  She was dressed in her finest but it wasn’t her dress that caught my eye. It was her Yagaria Bible!  It was big and black and looked so well taken care of. She held it like it was her only prized possession. I thought of all the dear folks who had spent years learning the Yagaria language, then all those years translating the scriptures into Yagaria.  We were ushered into the church and sat on the floor. I sat at the end of a row beside a young woman and her toddler. Singing and praying, preaching and more singing….it was a great service. All the while this young mother picked lice and picked scabs and picked noses…you get the picture!  I was just chuckling…glad that I didn’t have lice. Itava shared how we have been brought from darkness to light…praising God all the while. The Interface girls sang a song that Lydia had taught them the night before in the smokey dark hut. It was beautiful…sweet, sweet Jesus.  Another lady stood up and sang. Simple faith. 

We enjoyed a huge Mumu (traditional PNG meal served on the ground) with everyone. It was delicious. Our hosts prepared a place in the church for us to eat…like the place of honor. After lunch we hung out and talked with everyone.  It was so exciting to see a group of believers work together and serve one another!  We began cleaning up and packing our belongings for the hike home.  We thanked our hosts and some were given new string bags as memories of their time with the Yagaria.  I didn’t need a string bag…my heart was full enough with thanksgiving to the Lord for the work He had done among the Yagaria.  From darkness to light….the gospel of Jesus Christ changing men, women, children…grandmas! 

Most of us enjoy a good cup of coffee…but have we thought about the work that goes into getting it?  We really didn’t until we moved here to Papua New Guinea, where coffee is one of the main cash crops.  We had a chance to go coffee picking last week with one of our Bena friends. We saw how coffee is grown, picked, washed, the shell taken off, and dried.
 Coffee is grown on trees. Living in these mountains, we are surrounded by coffee plants.  When the seed is ready, turns a red color. It’s pretty easy to pick the coffee off the tree but it takes alot of tedious work to get a full bag!  Once we had a full bag, we went to our friends house where he washed it and put it into his coffee machine. This special hand cranked machine takes the outer shell off the coffee bean. As it goes thru the machine the outer shell falls behind and the bean drops into the bag. Once there is enough coffee in the bag, it’s washed again and then laid out to dry. It usually takes about 2 days to dry the beans. A large 50 kilo coffee bag will sell for roughly $60 USD. The coffee prices fluctuate alot but for the most part the citizens here can make a good living off of coffee! 
  Our Bena neighbors have trucks coming in and out taking coffee to Goroka to sell. Goroka has about 5 coffee factories. They sent the coffee around the world. Sometimes they flavor the coffee too. We like to drink the medium roasted Organic coffee. So next time you drink a cup of coffee at Starbucks…you maybe drinking coffee picked from the Highlands of Papua New Guinea! And who knows…we may have picked it!