Aussie Visitors

Last week Monday, five visitors from WA, Australia joined us here in Lae. Their main purpose in coming was to help with a couple work projects, namely a concrete floor in the church and finishing off a room in the pastor’s house. But I think it’s become much more than that. Yes, the work’s getting done but the team is gaining so much more. They’ve become acquainted with the people, culture, climate, and road conditions of PNG! Their patience has been tested as they waited an hour to buy a roll of plastic at a hardware store and then 3 hours for the cement truck to come. They’ve gotten used to breathing the thick, humid air. They’ve taken in God’s beautiful creation in lush vegetation, mountains and waterfalls. They’ve endured the bumpy roads with ease. And last but not least, their hearts have been touched by the people they’ve met. They have tasted PNG!

And it’s been good for us to have their company too. Here are the kids with "Uncle" Len Vandyk.

We worshipped at the church with the new floor today and wow, does it make a difference. The church building looks nicely finished off now, there’s lots of space for people to sit down, better acoustics for singing, and our kids didn’t come home covered in dirt!!

The team was deeply thanked for the work they did as the people have wanted to finish the flooring for a long time. As a gift of appreciation, they were each given a traditional PNG bag, called a “bilum”. It was said, these bilums symbolize us giving our hearts to you in thanks for what you’ve done.

This is Andrea Strating and her husband Henry in the background.

And of course, there was food to enjoy too! Here's Korinda Bruning and Andrea savouring the PNG kaikai!

The team will be with us until Friday and will work at completing the room at the pastor’s house and spending time with the people, and with us too! They will then fly to Port Moresby for the weekend before heading back home to WA.

They will be remembered here by the people for years to come!