Friday, April 11, 2014 - posted by Tom Garber

It's Friday morning here in PNG and marks one week since the first team left home.  The work has been progressing even better than expected and we should be able to start setting poles soon in preparation of the second team's EXPECTED arrival on Tuesday.

Bill and Jackie Wright finally arrived yesterday afternoon after having flights cancelled due to mechanical issues with Air Nuigini and arriving one day later than planned.  Because there have been many changes to this job over this past year, Bill has been trying to keep up with the engineered master plan.  His arrival enables us to fill in gaps between the materials on hand and the infrastructure plan that will meet the future needs of the hospital.    

Heavy rains each evening have added a few challenges.  Holes dug for our poles and anchors the day before become six foot deep swimming pools for various small critters roaming about at night.  Rains have also damaged a bridge on the way to town causing a detour that will add about an hour to the trip when the ladies go for additional groceries and supplies next week.  They have been doing an awesome job of feeding us and we are SO glad that at least there is an alternate route to the grocery store!  J

 Local men have been digging trenches for our underground wire as well as the pole holes.  They are doing an excellent job.  We have enjoyed working with them.  Today is pay day and many of the workers that have been working on the construction of the Hydro dam will be getting their last pay check as the final concrete pour was completed this week.  At noon their work week will be finished and they will assemble in the chapel where the movie “The Passion of Christ” will be shown.  There will be an evangelistic message following the movie so please pray that this final opportunity for many of these 100+ workers to hear the good news that their sin has been paid for.  Pray that they understand and even though they will now be un-employed, that Christ provides hope for the future.     

A patient died at the hospital yesterday and the family surrounded the body in a small building right next to where our material is staged.  For hours, we experienced how this foreign culture mourns.  The whaling of the family members brought home the reality of sorrow experienced for those who perish without Christ.  Last year through the ministry of those serving here at the Hospital, approximately 500 people accepted Christ.  The hospital Chaplin follows up with each one to be sure they are introduced to a church family somewhere in or near their home village. 

That’s really why we are here, to enable these Doctors and hospital staff to be the hands of Christ to those suffering both physically and spiritually.  They are all desperately looking forward to the day when they no longer experience those daily power outages.

Thank you for following our Blog and remembering us in prayer.