The trip so far

Hey there everyone! I'm officially en route to Papua New Guinea to teach first grade missionary children at Ukarumpa International School! Right now I am sitting in the San Francisco airport, processing the blessings that have happened so far and the many that are still coming. Here are a few highlights so far...

• My extended family was able to come over to our house the night before I left and I said goodbye to them all. We planned a birthday party for my grandma before we realized it would be so close to my departure but it was perfect!
• My immediate family (mom, dad, Mike & Lora, and I) were able to have breakfast together before I went to the SEA-TAC airport and we had plenty of time to chat before I had to go through security. This was such a blessing! I love you guys!
• My second bag was checked for free. I was expecting to pay $50 for the second suitcase but Alaska checked it all the way through for free. Can't complain about that!
• My first flight was engaging and restful. I talked to two nice gentlemen for the first half hour and then fell asleep for the rest. Hopefully I can do the same thing on this next 14 hour flight...
• Free Internet has allowed me to document how things are going and to keep up with my friends and family. I miss them but feel very loved.
• Mary Doel sent me verses to read while on the plane. Here are my favorites: 

"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from Heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my Word that goes out from my mouth. It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. You will go out with joy and be led forth in peace, the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Instead of the thorn bush you will grow the pine tree, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the Lord's renown, for an everylasting sign, which will not be destroyed." - Isaiah 55:8-13

"The Lord is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear, or be dismayed." - Deuteronomy 31:8

I pray that your own journey is just as joyful as you are obedient to His call.

Melissa

This is it!!

Well this is it. I reach 100% of my financial partnership goal yesterday and I’m leaving for Papua New Guinea THIS Sunday, August 29th!! I am still in shock; it all happened so fast. I realized I had reached my goal by about 9am and by 11am I had a ticket reserved in my name to depart at 1:10pm this Sunday! The travel agent I used was such a blessing and God had it all planned out. Here’s how my next week looks:

Sunday, August 29th – Drive to Seattle, have breakfast with my family, fly to San Francisco at 1:10pm and from San Francisco to Auckland, New Zealand, leaving at 9:00pm.

Monday, August 30th – Flying (13 hours and 15 mins but with the time change, I lose a whole day!)

Tuesday, August 31st – Arrive in Aukland, New Zealand at 5:15am (their time)

Wednesday, September 1st – Recover from flying and explore Aukland (any ideas?)

Thursday, September 2nd – Depart Aukland for Brisbane, Australia at 6:35am, then on to Port Moresby at 10:25pm. Set foot in Papua New Guinea at 1:25pm! Stay the night in Port Moresby’s missionary guest house.

Friday, September 3rd – Take one of JAARS little planes (the Kodiak or the Cessna) from Port Moresby to Ukarumpa. ARRIVE IN UKARUMPA, my new home!!

Below are some pictures of my new house. I will be sharing with two other single women named Rebekah and Rachel. Please pray for traveling mercies, peace, and most of all, time in the Word as I start this new life.

The front of our house

The living room

The back door leads right into my room

My room (just wait until I've decorated it!)

My desk and door to the outside

Our kitchen and dining room

Camp Gilead

Welcome to Camp Gilead!

“Helloooooo Campers!”

This past week I sang more songs, got up earlier, laughed more often, and even dressed up sillier than I have in a long time. As “Missionary Melissa,” I had the opportunity to teach 5^th through 7^th graders about missions at Camp Gilead in Carnation, Washington. Topics ranged from what a missionary is, to why the Bible is so important and even how students can be involved in missions right NOW. 

The offices

One such chapel session went a bit like this, “Hello Dan. Thanks for coming up with me today. Can I ask you a question?”

“Sure.”

“Doesn’t everyone already have a Bible?”

“No.”

“Oh really? Well then, how many languages in the world do you think don’t have access to the Bible in their own language? …I’ll give you a clue. There are about 6,900 languages spoken around the world so the number without Bibles is less than that.”

“Uh…six?”

“You think there are six languages without a Bible translated into their language?”

“Yeah.”

The Chapel

“Okay. Dan, I’m going to show you something. After you’ve seen it, I will ask you the same question I just asked you again. Got it?”

“Yeah.”

“Alright. Dan, this is a list of the languages that do not have a Bible. The list shows the country, name of the language, number of people in the language group, and weather the need for a Bible is definite or likely. Now Dan, I’m going to ask you the same question I asked you earlier. ‘How many languages do you think STILL don’t have the Bible?’”

“Wow. Uh, six thousand?”

“Not quite that many. But it is a big number. There are approximately 2,200 languages in the world today without the Bible in their language...”

At the end of the week during campfire, Dan stood up and recalled the event. He said how much he had learned about Bibleless people groups and how lucky he felt to have a Bible. When he returned home, he hoped to begin reading his Bible more often.

This is why I went to camp. Please pray that many of these campers will choose to read their Bibles and serve God with their lives. He is so worthy!

Melissa