I realized that I haven't sat down to write for awhile, and after sitting through my first PNG service today at the Nazarene Bible College, I thought it was a good time. It's been 8 hours since we were released from the church service, but I still can't seem to wrap my mind around the experience. It was completely humbling/eye openeing. I'm going to try and put into words everything I felt, but I know I will fail to do the church any justice- so bear with me...It's better than nothing. :) From the moment we walked into the service, we were welcomed with warm smiles and hand shakes. People were genuinely happy to have us. Many of the songs were the same as you would hear in the states, just translated to tok pisin. (I think my favorite phrase that they use is "Papa God".) During the worship, the leader of music in an attempt to humble himself, sang with his back to the congregation and facing the cross. It was clear that no one on stage was looking for personal edification.
At the beginning of the service, two people came forward to give testimonies. (I'm not sure if this is something that happens regularly or not because I didn't understand what the pastor said before they came forward. Their testimonies were translated for us by the missionaries who brought us.) The man talked about how he used to fight all of the time. He was running around with nothing to do but cause trouble and was in a major argument with his brother. At that time, he was invited to church where a missionary from the hospital was preaching. He decided to give his life to God and now is studying to be a pastor at the Nazarene Bible College. He talked about how he had no joy when he was doing all of that running around- and now he has complete joy. The next person to talk was a woman. She talked about how she was living her life without peace, from the moment she woke up to the moment she laid down at night. Then Calvary found her and she now lives with peace. Joy and Peace. During both of the testimonies, my mind went to the other stories I have been hearing. Regarding the men, there are multiple cases a week in the hospital where meaningless fighting has led to serious injury. As for the women, the missionaries tell me that each and every woman on the compound have faced their own struggles. From domestic violence to the common occurance of losing children. (I'm losing count as to how many times Ben or Josh has come home to say that they lost a baby that day.) There is one woman who was kidnapped from her family and forced to marry a man many years her elder. She, however, has stuck by his side and become a strong Christian witness in their tribe. So when these people talk about peace and joy amidst their situations, it is certainly something that surpasses my understanding. It is not just a happy feeling that they get in church on Sunday that keeps them through the week. These are life changing concepts to them.
I think what moved me the most was when the pastor stood up at the end of the service and read Romans 10:14-15. He thanked the missionaries for their coming to Papua New Guinea. Then he started to cry and talked about how he would be lost without Calvary, but they took the time to bring it to sinners like him. The pastor of this church is a direct result of missionaries> mission budgets> our tithe. I saw it in action today, and even though the Nazarene church is far from perfect. (Very Far...hehe) I am proud to be a part of a denomination that believes in the great need for missions.
P.S. The subject line of this e-mail means "Please call a taxi for me". You never know when you will need to know that information. I hope it is life changing for you.
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