Made it!  When I, Patrick,  began my journey home in March, circumstances changed so quickly I did not make it out of the PNG in time to fly through Australia.  Australia closed its boarders so there was no way forward.  Two days later all PNG domestic flights were cancelled so there was no way back.  I found myself stranded in Port Moresby (PNG’s capital).  About 11 other Americans and I spent 4 days at the airport trying to get out.  We changed tickets numerous times as everyone applied and reapplied for a special exemption to transit through Australia.  Alice, one of the Qantas employees, was especially empathetic and compassionate.  When she discovered that I was from CLTC  she told me her story (written below). Wow!  Talk about a small world!  When I emailed her to let her know that I had safely arrived home, she sweetly wrote back that she missed her “airport family.” 🙂

Alice was brought up in Topopulhu village near Ialibu in the Southern Highlands of Papua New Guinea which is about 100 miles from CLTC.  Even though her parents were devout Catholics she knew nothing about having a personal relationship with God until she went  to high school. (Most high schools are boarding schools in PNG.) While in high school Alice began attending Religious Instruction classes that were taught by evangelical missionaries from Denmark.  In 1977 a group from her school attended an Easter Camp that was held at CLTC.  Alice wrote “…attending a camp was my 1st ever experience.  CLTC was ‘heaven…’”   Toward the end of the week Alice accepted Christ as her Savior.  She wrote,  “It was overwhelmingly joyful but with a sense of sorrow  (knowing I was living in sin- no one ever told me what sin does….)…I knew deep within me, something extraordinary happened.”  Alice writes “My heartfelt gratitude goes out to the CLTC Campus for hosting the Camp the year I got saved and also to the Late Rev J & S Sode for taking the WORD of GOD from across the world to my village in the 60’s.”

Alice has continued her journey walking with Christ and is active in Boroko Baptist Church in Port Moresby and in a ministry called The Fellowship of Christian Airline Personnel. She was definitely a bright light for Patrick and the other stranded Americans.  They were thankful to have her “in their corner” as they were trying to get home.

Alice was not the only one helping the stranded travelers.  One of the Americans had a daughter who knew an Australian diplomat working in Washington, DC.  This diplomat contacted Australian Border Patrol and  the exemption applications to travel through Australia were finally approved!  Thank the Lord!

TEACHING

Before the pandemic began I had a great time of teaching at the College.  As mentioned in the previous post I taught 2 classes – Romans and Bible Interpretation.

I have been teaching the students in my Romans class for 4 years and they are like family – especially since I really miss my family when I am at CLTC.  Now that I am back in the U.S. I am really missing my students. Please pray that classes will continue so that this group can graduate in December.

Mary Jane (MJ), one of my Bible Interpretation students,   has a special connection to our family.  Her parents, who are now missionaries in West Papua, Indonesia, attended CLTC when she was young, so we helped raise her. 🙂  Jan especially remembers MJ and her sister  being involved in AWANA.  MJ attended Toccoa Falls College (where Karis attends) and spent her Christmas break 2014 with us here in Georgia.

OUTREACH

This is the ministry group I worked with as they went on outreach once a month.

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PREACHING

AWANA

It was a joy to visit the AWANA club one night.  As you can see (and hear!) they are still going strong and enjoying the game time. 🙂

PNG and COVID-19

At the present time there have been only 9 confirmed cases of  the coronavirus in Papua New Guinea. Kudjip Hospital (20 mins from CLTC), set up a screening tent and is involved in education and increasing awareness, but thankfully the virus has not really spread.

Because of limited COVID cases CLTC is continuing with classes. They are taking precautions with an adapted schedule  and  meeting in large rooms in order to social distance.  However, social distancing is very difficult in a communal culture!!

PRAISE GOD

1. For making a way for Patrick to return to the U.S. when all doors seemed closed.
2. For very few confirmed COVID-19 cases in PNG
3. CLTC has been able to resume classes.
4. Clarkston Bible Institute (here in Georgia) has been able to continue with classes so Patrick is teaching using Zoom.

PLEASE PRAY

1. There will be no more spread of the virus in PNG.
2. Patrick is scheduled to return to PNG on July 15 for Term 3. Pray that it will be safe for the country to open up by that time.
3. For classes to safely continue until the end of the school year so that students can graduate in December.
4. The College (CLTC) is really struggling financially due to various reasons.  Please pray for God’s miraculous provision  and for a new finance manager and for expatriate help with the farm and business arm of the College.
5. Patrick had cataract surgery on his right eye on May 14 and is having the left eye done May 21.  Please pray the surgery will go well and for a smooth recovery. (May 29 update…All is well. :))