After about 30 hours of travel we have safely arrived here in beautiful Papua New Guinea. We were greeted by temperatures in the 80s, the curious eyes of the nationals and the team of 12 missionaries that serve here at Interface. Our team of 15 includes folks from all over the USA, Germany, and the UK ranging in age from 19 to 32. Two nights ago, we shared with each other about how the Lord provided a way for each of us to come here. You were part of our story and for that we are so grateful. Many others here praised God because of your prayers, your financial gifts, and your encouragement to us along the way. Thank you!
Amy: We're over our jet lag and are settling into some routine here. It feels a little like camp in some senses. We live in a cabin, have community bathrooms, and eat all of our meals together in the dining hall. We are in class part of the day--it's a classroom with open windows that look out over the mountains. We're living at about 5,000 feet. Oh yeah, back to what's going on in class...we've begun some lessons in phonetics and chronological Bible teaching. Phonetics? you may ask. It's because we're getting a small taste of what it takes to learn a tribal language. As for the chronological Bible teaching...that is how missionaries in the tribes begin to teach nationals the gospel.
Today we visited the local village for the first time. Thatch roofs, women hand-washing clothes, and pigs running around included a few of the sites. There is a small handful of believers in this village. Many others have confused "Christian" (aka Mormon, Jehova Witness) beliefs with their own animistic beliefs and have come up with a whole new religion. To get past this confusion the current missionaries are re-teaching the basics of the gospel in the heart language of the people every morning right now. Pray for new believers by the end of next week. As for my own heart, the Lord is telling me not to fear and to truly to ask Him for a deepened passion for only Him. He is to be number one and there are not to be any number two's, three's, or four's. "I am the LORD your God...you shall have no other gods before me." Pray that I would readily receive His answer.
From Ryan: I am still finding it hard to believe that this is real, and that we are here, thank you all for being a part of this over the past three years. Without each one of you this wouldn't be a reality. As we were in the plane flying from Port Moresby to Goroka I was overwhelmed with it all. The past three years have been very bittersweet. It was so hard to prepare to go only to have health issues derail what I was certain God had called me to. On the other hand I am sitting here in New Guinea looking to God for direction with an amazing wife by my side. I can only say thank you Lord. Even though I haven't been here in over 15 years the sights and smells are so familiar and bring back many childhood memories, it is good to see and feel it all around. Even as all this is happening my heart is heavy with the number of people here who have still to hear the gospel. We went to the village today to meet people and look around. The air heavy with smell of wood fires mixed with the faint sweet smell of coffee beans drying and tobacco smoke greeted as as we climed the slippery and muddy clay trail to the village. Bamboo and grass huts of various age and construction along with things like pig jawbones from hunts long past hanging from trees surrounded us.
I was quickly reminded how far from Texas and the US I was as three small childeren ran by playing in the mud, while men walked around carrying bows and machetes as if on guard. One woman walked by with a twelve foot tree trunk on her head and a bag of sweet potatoes over her shoulders. This place is so unlike home in every way except for one. These are people without Christ and they need Him just as much as we do. God is stirring my heart it is so good to be here learning how to make a difference and how to touch lives with my own. What is our place in this need? What does God have for Amy and I? We are both looking to God to bring us a clear picture of that while e are here. Please pray with us that we would see clearly what He has and not mix his message with our own faulty beliefs as is seen so often here. Once again I am thankful for all of you helping us get here God is moving in both of us and it is because of your help that that is possible. God is so GOOD and I am glad He is in control of this all. All in His time I keep reminding myself. Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be added unto you. I am in awe of it all, and extremely grateful. Thank you.
Please write to us at this email address while we are here! We'd love to hear from you :) We will write again as soon as we can.
The Carpenters
Ephesians 3:14-21
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