Still on the Adventure!

This has been a jam packed week starting with church on Sunday, reception with Jesse Middendorf and his wife Susan, Beauty Salon being opened three days this week, making strawberry jam, attending the ladies Luncheon, Attending the pastors Conference, and a special time with the grandchildren as we send Jeff and Susan away for an overnight stay at the Highlander”.
We attended the Emmanuel church Sunday morning. There were a group of pastors that had come in for The National Pastors Conference that was taking place this week. In the testimony of one pastor he had walked five days to get here. Are we as committed to attending God’s house in the States as this young man who walked for five days…its fuel for thought…isn’t it?
A reception was held at the College of Nursing for General Superintendent Jesse Middendorf and his wife Susan who were here to speak at the Pastor’s Conference. The ladies here at Kudjip planned a delicious meal of lasagna, several different salads, home made bread and dessert. Dr. Middendorf brought words of greeting, encouragement and appreciation to the missionaries for their service.
Jeffrey had to leave Monday as he was the videographer for the event and would be back late Tuesday. The Salon opened early to give him a hair cut before he left. My thought was, I’m open, and I might as well cut John s hair while I’m at it. Susan went to join him after work on Monday and I would meet up with her on Tuesday for the ladies luncheon at the “Highlander” in Mt. Hagen with Mrs. Middendorf and Natalie Ward. In the meantime, John and I held down the fort. We made freezer Strawberry jam until we ran out of Sugar. Finished up just as the children were coming home from school. Jeffrey had six gallon bags of strawberry’s all ready for us in the freezer to use. We have one week, to find the time, to do the last bag.
The ladies luncheon, on Tuesday, was enjoyed by all. Mrs. Middendorf shared from her heart. At the end she told the ladies that they could ask any question that they wanted to and they did!
On Wednesday, the Beauty Salon was opened all day. We are just finishing up with Becky Morsch. The Barnesville Zone on the East Ohio District has her for their Link’s Missionary.
On Thursday morning John and I enjoyed visiting Jessica and Ethan’s school. We arrived at Ethan’s school for the third act of a play they were doing and was invited to stay and have stone soup with them. They did the first two acts earlier in the morning. The story goes that a peddler wanted to sell kettles but no one was interested in buying. He decided to make soup, so he started with stones and thought it would be better if all contributed…one brought potatoes, one brought carrots and so on until the pot was full. When the soup was done they all sat down and ate. He sold lots of kettles. The children did a super job! They are enjoying their new teacher Mrs. Diane Chapman
We went to the Pastors Conference Thursday evening. It was held on the Togaba School grounds in a big white and yellow stripped tent. It took me back to the beginning of the East Ohio District. The service was scheduled for 6:00 but began at 6:45, becuase not all of the pastors had been able to make it through the food line. They began to trickle in by 7:15 the tent was packed with people elbow to elbow. Harmon Schmelzenbach brought the message through an interpreter. He is quite a story teller…he held them spell bound. They made a great team! During his message the electric went off and on several times then completely off…stayed off approximately 45 minutes. It was pitch black…that didn’t stop the service they just regrouped and kept going. We saw car lights come on and begin to drive around and a car ended up at each side with their lights shining into the tent. Toward the end of his message the lights played with us a bit more then stayed on. We thought we were back in Kudjip. I love to hear the nationals pray. They do not pray quietly. It sounds like a roar as they send their prayers up to the Throne. They are all praying out loud. During the invitation, they were eight, nine rows deep …completely around the alter praying for those who went forward. This went on for twenty five minutes and was still going on when we left to return home. The presence of the Holy Spirit was very real. Normally the missionaries do not travel after dark but we arrived home safely. I’m so glad we went…I wouldn’t have missed it for the world. It’s a very special memory of PNG that I will take home with me. Till our final chapter next week, take care.

Blessings

John and Hilda