Outside the Church

At church in PNG, there aren't any nurseries to drop off the kiddos.  It's just me, Jordan, Miles, and a big open area filled with other people sitting on the floor.  So, once Miles gets to a point where the temptation to...poke every baby in the eye (while proudly saying "EEEIII YE" very loudly), pat everyone else on the head, and perform a thorough investigation of the breast-feeding lady next to us...is just too great to resist, we have to head out of the church building.  We usually find a few other children outside, around Miles's age, who also just couldn't sit still any more.  

This last church experience we found some children to share our cereal snacks with...however Miles decided the best way to share is if he were able to place the treat directly into their mouth.

They were obviously a bit confused...but to my surprise, they let him.









Once church was over, we were joined by a few more children who all found Miles quite entertaining! Many enjoyed watching, but were terrified when he got too close.  Others just enjoyed following him around.

No, church doesn't go the way it used to or the way I thought it might.

Yes, I know he'll eventually learn.

But for now, my prayer is that God will use us as a blessing even outside the church building.

Yeah...he can do that.

 Being a maintenance man on a hospital mission station means you have your hands in pretty much every aspect of keeping the hospital running.  Power is a huge necessity for the hospital and a welcome commodity for the surrounding staff houses.  Recently, we’ve received the amazing gift of a finished hydro-electric plant, which is now Jordan’s responsibility to maintain.

How does one go from having NO experience with hydro-electric plants to being able to maintain one?

 You may ask.  I asked… probably with too much doubt and fear in my voice (not my best “wife moment”).  

It turns out, it takes spending hours with the man who designed it, spending hours after work reading about it, and then being forced to wire most of the thing together yourself!  VOILA! 

After that…you find someone brave enough to climb up a pole with just a couple little spikes strapped to your feet (I’m not sure where Jordan actually learned this skill himself), you teach them how to maintain the power poles and security lights (not sure when he acquired that skill either), and you’re good to go.  Bring on the hydro power!  

Below is one of my favorite pictures because, clearly, the best place to sit and watch Jordan up on a pole was right in the middle of the road.  No worries!  :)

"Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of inheritance.  It is the Lord Christ whom you serve."

Colossians 3:23-24