OE Pictures

You guys, so much has happened since the last time I wrote. I am bursting with miracles and answers to prayer!

I just got back from 2 weeks in the village of Pogapa. I went with the high school (99 total) for Outdoor Education - OE. Every year the students go to a different village to serve. It was such an amazing time. God showed up in so many ways.  My group and another group hiked from Pogapa 6 1/2 hours to the village of Mapa. An hour from the village one of our boys, J, fell and twisted his ankle quite badly. Some of the locals cut down two trees and made a stretcher to carry him in. 

In the village our second day a fight erupted when we tried to do our HIV/AIDS presentation for the people. God used the Jesus film we brought to calm the people down. God just kept showing up and bringing peace. Peace when a large snake showed up in our path, peace when two kids had their shoes stolen, peace when one of our boys had a panic attack and passed out, peace as the villagers carried J all the way back to Pogapa on our last day, peace when it was too foggy for the planes to land on our airstrip, peace when a man with a badly cut hand came to our clinic and when two scared parents brought their little boy dying of meningitis and we were able to save his life...I could go on and on. It was such a beautiful time. I feel so blessed that God used me.

Above -This is the boy that would have died from meningitis if we weren't there.

Below- this is him a few days after receiving the meds

I love hanging out with the kids!


This was a good-bye feast. The people were so thankful to have us there. I have so many stories, but can't put them all in one email. If you want to see more pictures, check out my Facebook page.

In other news, Garth's step-mom, Priscilla, passed away and he made a quick trip to New York to see his Dad. We are all feeling the loss of such a remarkable woman. On the way back, Garth stopped in Singapore to have surgery on his knee. He is still recovering from that. Two of our dorm kids left to return to their home country of South Africa.

Emma has less than 9 weeks until Graduation and is still undecided for sure where she should go to school. We are planning a quick summer trip to the U.S. after two years away, to get all of our dental, medical, eye check ups, see family and friends, have a memorial for Priscilla, see Wyatt and hopefully get Emma settled somewhere before heading back here to start another year. Please continue to pray for us and all that we have going on.

We are very thankful for you and the part you have in making this ministry happen. God has blessed us with you!

Rachel

OE Update 4

I just received this OE update as I'm about to head down to the airport to pick Rachel up.  Thanks for praying.

Garth

Darren woke up at 4:30 AM to the sound of pouring rain.  By 6 AM the airstrip was covered in fog and the first of many prayers went up “Lord please lift the fog so groups 1 -5 can get out of Pogapa today”. 

By 8 AM they could hear two airplanes circling, but could not see them.  (I understand that one pilot eventually landed elsewhere to wait for the fog to lift!) 

By 10  (or there abouts) three flights had landed in Timika.

By 11:06 all 6 flights had picked up everyone in groups 1 -5 and had headed to Timika.  Thanks for answered prayers.

Currently groups 6 -10 are in Pogapa doing work projects and trying to complete their anthropology papers.

Last night they had a debrief as a whole group and the students shared how God had worked on them and through them during this time.  There were some struggles, but “we could see how God was molding and shaping us”. 

People are starting to get sniffles and colds.  Most are doing all right.  Thomas Barber has been in sick bay resting today as his sore throat came with a slight fever as well.

Darren praises the Lord for a fairly healthy OE. 

For groups 1 -5 – they have enjoyed the wonderful hospitality of the Latumahinas in Timika.  One group did an English class before lunch and then later this afternoon they will head to the church for a big kids club which they will split into TK, lower elementary and upper elementary/SMP.  They will have their final night meeting before heading to bed to get up bright and early to catch their flight to Sentani.

OE Update 3

Sorry that this is getting to you so late.  I've been having computer issues.  And really, it's the only update we've received since the last one I sent to you.  At the end of this email it says we will receive more communication on Monday, but we didn't.  I'll let you know as soon as I hear something.  Thanks for praying - Garth

From Darren – We are ½ way done and God has been working.

This morning Groups 7 – 10 left on their hikes to their villages where they will be until Monday.

Groups 1 – 6 arrived back from their villages and are in Pogapa.  A few groups had a very long hike.

Jonny twisted an ankle on the way to the village on Thursday.  He managed to make it back to Pogapa today where Dr. Di examined his ankle and determined it was just a sprain.  The sick bay remains empty!

The students are recovering from their hikes and enjoying each other’s company. 

Dan and John (John Cutts, the missionary hosting this OE) have been taking turns speaking each evening.  It has been powerful.  To hear about how God has opened up the area is a testament to how God works.  Dan has been sharing about the characteristics of God.

The students have shown an exceptional work ethic and spiritual maturity.  It has been a joy to see.

Please continue to pray.  In particular  that the HIV/AIDS presentations would be well received and understood

Next communication is scheduled for Monday afternoon. 

OE Update 2

From Pogapa:

Wednesday evening the HIV/AIDS video that had been translated into Moni by some of the SPH* kids was shown to a crowd of 700 people in the church.  The crowd was engaged and identified with the characters and that was a big encouragement to see.

Today groups 1 – 6 (Rachel is in group 2) hiked out to their villages.  They were all on the trail by 7 AM!

Please pray for safety and that their lives would be touched by those around them and that they would show love to those people they encounter.

Groups 7 – 10 (Sophie is in group 7, Emma is in group 10) have stayed in Pogapa and they have been involved in teaching English and music to the TK, SD and SMP** classes.  They have also been planting seeds, working on the airstrip and helping with a water project.

All the kids are doing well and working hard.

The sick bay is empty!!!

Thanks for your continued prayers.

*If you don't know about SPH yet, please go to their website and check it out.  It's a vibrant ministry that is making a difference here in Papua.  There are 10 students from SPH joining our kids on OE this year.  This is a first.

**TK = Kindergarten, SD = Elementary, SMP = Middle School

More

Here's one of the first updates from OE.  I will forward these to you unless you don't want them.  And I'll also try to fill in some details that you wouldn't otherwise know.  Thanks for praying.

Hello from Pogapa.  Everyone made it in by 10 AM.  We are all together and we are all well.  Thanks to the pilots who flew us in and thank you to the families that hosted us in Timika and Nabire

​ (If you look at the map of Pogapa that I sent in the last email, you will see Timika and Nabire in close proximity to Pogapa.  These are bigger towns that have paved airports that can handle large commercial airliners.  Groups flew there from Sentani on commercial jets and then were ferried in on MAFs smaller planes)​

.  Thanks be to God for the good weather which allowed everyone to be flown in. 

​(Weather is a major factor when flying into remote villages.  Clouds often move in every day and make flying either dangerous or impossible)​

The group that flew to Nabire yesterday spent the afternoon cleaning garbage from the beach and around the MAF base.  They then did an HIV/AIDS presentation.  It was very encouraging to have the people request that they do the presentation again.  Plans are being made to do another presentation when they pass through there next week!

​This is a photo taken by the MAF pilot of his daughter as she arrived in Pogapa.  The man on the right in the blue shirt is John Cutts.  He is hosting OE this year.  He grew up in this village.

​

Arriving in Pogapa the planes were met with dancing and smiling friends.  The kids have great attitudes and will be working hard.  This evening we will have a talk from Dan Wisley

​ (Dan Wisley is the Bible teacher who will be speaking at the daily meetings with the kids)​

Another OE-Woohoooo

These three cuties just departed, along with the rest of the high school, for OE.  Rachel flew out on Sunday.  She flew with several others on a commercial airliner to Timika, stayed overnight and then MAF ferried them into Pogapa the next day.  Emma and Sophie flew with the rest of the group the next day.  Here's a link to where they are.

Please be praying for them.  Lots of ministry ahead of them.  Pray for restful sleep.  This is always difficult on OE as they are sleeping on hard floor surfaces.  Thanks so much.

​