Quick Trip

Once upon a time, there was a need for someone to go to PNG for a week. And given that there was no handsome young prince to go, I (Phil) went. Yep – a week in PNG. I think I found out on the Wednesday, and headed to Brisbane on the Sunday. This was a great time to see Craig and Jason for a night before heading off very early Monday morning.

The reason for the trip was to try and figure out how to use short-term trips to get more people into training. It’s what we call a part of mobilisation. I went up to the Highlands of PNG and spent some time there at a facility that we can use for short-term teams, and to meet with a couple out from the US mobilisation department.

It was great to pick their brains and to discuss ways forward that are suitable for Australia.

It was also an opportunity to catch up with some people I hadn’t seen in over a decade. I got to spend a few nights with good friends too, and to sit down and talk about issues for the mission both in PNG and Australia (as well as watch a movie, eat, laugh and talk about other things).

There were a couple of major surprises for me, that I wasn’t expecting – I think that’s why they call them surprises!!!. One was to see a family with whom we worked in West New Britain, and last saw in 1994, and another was a guy who visited from the States in 1989 on a short-term trip. He is now married (to a girl he met on that team), and is working in the Sepik. I just couldn’t believe it when he bowled up to me.

I was also able to be present for the dedication of the New Testament in Yagaria. It was amazing to be there with between 2 and 3 thousand others for the event. They were overjoyed to be able to have it in their own language. It makes a difference to them to be able to understand concepts in their heart language.

I could go on for ages about my time in PNG, but I will yield not to the temptation of boring you to tears.

Catch you next time - oh, and they all lived happily ever after.