Hello Friends!
I have now been in PNG for two weeks, and I have already learned so much. Thank you for all your prayers and replies to my first update. It was and is so good to hear from you!!
The time with my teammates in the past several days has been a lot of fun, and I have really enjoyed fellowship with them! Wednesday afternoon my team and I took a hike together to a nearby river. Here's another picture for you of what life in PNG is like... The road that runs past the New Tribes Mission Interface campus is what many people in PNG consider a well-cared for road. To them, it would be like one of our nicely paved, well traveled roads in the United States. However, in the U.S., we'd likely have some kind of sign posted along a road like this one (the one near the Interface campus) saying that the road doesn't receive much attention or care, and drivers should be cautious and reduce their speed because of potholes, debree on the road, etc. Branching from this main road are lots of foot paths just a foot or so wide and used solely for walking. These are main transportation routes for families to their homes. There is no such thing as a "driveway" for most of these people, and anything they want to take to or from their houses must be carried, including the 60 kg sacks of coffee they harvest. It is definitely a different world! Aside from their physical setting, I have had the chance to look and talk with these people. It is so obvious that they need to hear the love of Jesus. Here is why...
Yesterday, on a village visit, one of our leader's told us that the women do most of the hard work of gardening, harvesting coffee, etc. We often see women carrying large sacks (called beelems) full of wood, coffee beans, or garden produce on their heads. The men work too, but the survival of the family depends on the work a woman does.
However, the value of women here in PNG is comparable to that of a pig, and women are often beaten and abused by their husbands. This leader I was with said that people have come and tried to teach them that violence is harmful and that all people should be valued and treated fairly.
However, what happens is people then hide their violence and abuse, and they take precautions to avoid the people who have taught them these things. On the outside it appears they have changed, but they simply hide what they are doing and the violence and abuse still continues.
Without hearing the gospel and receiving the message of Jesus, the hearts of these people do not change. When they understand that they are sinners, are in need of a Savior, and that God has a better plan and design for mankind, their lives change. Abuse, violence, and distrust disappear, and their lives are full of a wonderful joy received from Jesus Christ!
Pray for me and my team. Because we do not know the language of this tribal people, (the Benabena tribe) New Tribes has asked that we do not attempt to share the gospel, but they asked that we would allow the missionaries who are learning the language to share the message with them. This is incredible challenging when I see so many who do not know the Good News that I have! But I also have seen and heard about the gospel being shared in English or Pidgin; because they don't fully understand English and because Pidgin is such a simple language, hearers aren't able to fully understand the message.
Without truly understanding the gospel (which happens best in their own language) they mix their old beliefs with the new and simply "add on" Christ's teaching to their own. It never touches the heart, and their lives never change.
Pray that God would send laborers to share His Good News so people's hearts and lives might be changed for the better!!! Also, please pray that I might be focusing on HIM and what He would have me to learn while I am here.
Above any experience or adventure that this trip might be, it is HIM that I truly desire, and it is HIM alone who will truly fulfill!
In Christ,
Liz