-Elna
We are in Madang! It still seems a bit surreal. But the Lehmans, Canns, Mitchells and Amelia are finally all together as a team in Madang. We have spent the last few days in sweet fellowship, getting to know each other better.
We cherish any opportunity to spend time with our supporting churches. It is always such a joy to get to know our rope-holders. Add to that the chance to be encouraged by other speakers, and have some family time at the beach, and you end up with a pretty perfect weekend!
Elna
Our first applications for work permits to enter PNG, were submitted in March 2017. In August 2017, we were told that these applications were lost somewhere at the Department of Labour. We had a second application ready in country, so we sent these to our agent for resubmission. The last 8 months we have waited eagerly for news, but none has come. We have placed increasing pressure on our agent in PNG for feedback with the result that he was forced to admit that he never submitted our applications. We are back to step 1 in the work permit application process, but with reliable agents this time.
-Elna-
Being in ministry often means arriving at church a little earlier than most people – sometimes Daddy has a prayer meeting or a counselling session. Sometimes we arrive early just to make sure that we arrive on time! We’ve learned to include ‘waiting time’ in our planning – our kids often have a picnic dinner before church on a Sunday evening, or I finally read them that book they’ve been asking for… I often ask them: “What will you do while you are waiting?” You see, waiting time does not have to be wasted time.
(Elna)
If you’ve asked me how you can pray for me in the the last few months, chances are good that ‘wisdom for us as we plan’ was on my list. And I can give you a heads up: it will probably stay high up on the list. Soon, we will have no more ‘Oops, I forgot to get brown sugar!’ emergency grocery runs. Or even ‘Guess we need to get an ointment for that!’ trips. Those times when all your socks seem to get a hole at exactly the same time? Those moments will mean waiting a month or so for new socks (that is, if there are even socks available in town!).
-Elna-
Ryan recently got to join some of the men of GBC Tempe on a retreat. They started the retreat with a round of golf (because, really, that is the best way to start it, right?). When playing a less than desirable ball, Ryan said “Eish!”. A while ago, one of the kids got hurt because of rushing to be first – I had to explain what “ ’n blinde sambok” means, because it just doesn’t sound right in anything but Afrikaans.
Here, flapjacks are pancakes, pancakes are crepes, tomato sauce is ketchup, tomato paste is tomato sauce, full cream milk is whole milk (or Vitamin D milk – what’s up with that?), single beds are twin beds (again, what?), double beds are full size beds, a serviette is a napkin…
-Elna-
Since we last wrote, a lot has happened! We packed all we own into a small storage space. We (with lots of help!) cleaned out our home, and sold it. We said many sad good byes. We packed what was left into a couple of suitcases and crates. We flew to the other side of the planet. We spent a wonderful week in LA, reconnecting with friends, mentors, and the traffic on the I-5. We drove to Arizona and moved in with the Yates family. We started school again. For the kids, and for the grown-ups: we finally started our training! So much has happened and so much is happening… It is tempting to lose focus. But we are called to keep our eyes on the ball!
