Life in PNG

We arrived in PNG on Saturday July 19^th, 2014.  It is exciting to be in the South Pacific.  PNG is truly a unique place in the world.  The absolute extremes of culture and diversity are amazing.  Of course there is much need here.  Crime and violence, abuse against women and unemployment are all fueled by illiteracy. 

A recent study revealed:

1.       The median age in PNG is 20. 

2.       40% of the population have no education

3.       About 40% have completed up to 6^th grade.

4.       Less than 20% have finished 7-12th grades

5.       Sexual heath education and STD/AIDS education starts in 7^th grade (do you see a problem?)

6.       PNG has the highest population with AIDS of all of Asia Pacific Countries

7.       Girls 15-19 have 4 times the rate of AIDS as boys in the same age group.

The gospel has made a tremendous impact in PNG and continues to do so, but as Jesus said, "The harvest is plentiful, the laborers are few."  We encourage you to get involved in the harvest field in PNG in any way your feel led of the Lord.

Many have asked about our daily life here. 

Weather: Currently we are in the winter season which is dry and cool.   This morning I am wearing a long sleeved shirt   Temp low 70s-low 80s. 

Mission Compound and Housing: We have a small furnished 2 bedroom apartment.  Stove fridge, microwave, coffee pot, Sat. TV.  We live on the New Life Training Center compound about 18 miles outside of Port Moresby.  The compound is fenced and gated with 24 hour security  The compound consist of married and single staff housing, dorms for the boys (current population of about 170), the CEO’s house, vocational ed building, kitchen, elementary school and we have a public coffee shop on the highway.  New Life Training Center teaches basic education in the midst of Christian discipleship, vocational training, job skills and has a working farm with pigs, rabbits, wallaby, chickens and a variety of fruit trees and tended gardens, with corn, peanuts, and some other crops for local use.

Church: We also have a chapel on the compound with about 200 in attendance, including the boys, staff and local village people. I will work with the pastor doing services, bible studies and discipleship.

Transportation: I drive a Honda CRV 4WD, a small SUV provided by the Mission.  They drive on the left side of the road-which takes a little getting used to. Mostly roundabouts with very few traffic lights and NO stop signs, very few road rules – defensive driving is a matter of extreme importance.  Driving anywhere after dark is not safe, so we are always home by 6 pm.

My job:  Still a bit unclear.  I will generally drive into the Koki office 4 or 5 days a week.  About a 30 minute drive with road conditions and traffic.  I leave about 7 am, home by 5.  My title is Administrative Manager.  I oversee all the services and staff in Port Moresby including: the Koki headquarters, Haus (house) Ruth, a single women’s hostel, Meri’s (woman’s) safe house, a temporary shelter for abused (or about to be abused) women and the Men’s hostel. I will also provide pastoral care to the men and women in the Koki facilities. Marketing and fundraising will  also fall under my area,  Brooke will counsel the women in Koki a couple of days a week as well as provide administrative services in the realm of grant writing, Human Resources and other duties as needed.

Food: We can get typical food at the modern grocery store but at 1.5 to 2 times the price in America.  We will have to learn how to shop and have already decided to cut out many of the non-essential extras we typically buy in the USA.

Contacting us: We do have cell phones.  Incoming calls are free for us, so you can call our USA based SKYPE NUMBER 417-283-4664 and it should forward to my cell phone.  This should not be an international long distance call for you. You can also contact us via SKYPE and email.  We are also finding that the Internet service VIBER allows us to voice chat for free. You may want to sign up with VIBER to contact us occasionally. For all contact info or in case of emergencies please refer to our numbers on www.stevehighlander.com.

The Clock Started Ticking Today

Monday, April 21, 2014 is a day that will live in infamy (at least for me).  Today we sent off the visa application and related paperwork for the move to PNG.  Literally the clock started ticking for our pending move.

 

I have had many changes in my life over the years, changes like: jobs, careers, spouses, geographical locations.  There was a time when everything that defined me was gone.  However I can truly say that I have yet to have the "life as you know it is about to change" experience that looms on the horizon for us.  We will be selling most of our possessions, leaving jobs and businesses, friends and family and moving to a totally different culture. 

 

People have started asking us "how do you feel about the move?'  I share the following from a perspective of what it means to follow the Lord. 

 

We are excited about this new (ad)venture in our lives.  We are not naïve enough to think there won't be faith issues and problems along the way.  A lot of things have to happen, including raising around $5000 in upfront money for the move.  This includes tickets, and things like medicals, physicals, immunizations, background checks, photos, etc.

 

Another issue is selling our stuff.  The rubber really meets the road when you start to divest of stuff you just knew you had to have 5 years (or more) ago.  One very strange feeling is to have no reason to go shopping.  Typically Brooke and I might make a trip to Wal Mart or, if we are in another town, we usually stop in at a local store or flea market. Now we look at each other and realize we have absolutely no need to buy anything - even if we wanted to.  Honestly as I began to go through things to sell or give away, I haven't had an significant sense of loss or sacrifice.  The thing I will miss the most (of my stuff) is my dog, Sam.  He's been a great friend for 8 years - we're buds.  :(

 

People say things like, "I just can't imagine leaving the USA and living in a developing country."  Leaving the USA is not really an issue for me or Brooke.  I love the USA and, with all its problems, still think it is the best country in the world, however when God calls there is also a grace for the change.  Frankly I am looking forward to living overseas.  I'm sure there are things I will miss, however the trade-off is the significance of the Lord's work.  There are so many needs in developing countries around the world. While we have needs here too, the felt needs are much more urgent in the areas of extreme poverty and hopelessness.  It takes a lot to make a difference in the USA, while every little thing you do can make a difference to someone overseas. 

We are looking forward to be able to concentrate on a single ministry.  I have almost always been a bi-vocational minister.  I have maintained my career in multi-media  areas while I was ministering.  First newspapers, then Cable TV and finally the Internet.  It is really hard at times to give multiple tasks your best.  About the time you want to pour into ministry the job calls, and vive versa.  Accepting the position with City mission will allow us to concentrate more fully on the ministry. 

When people understand the conditions in PNG they sometimes wonder if we shouldn't be scared to go.  Truthfully, the conditions are rough.  The climate is tropical (read that hot and humid) and poverty, violence and crime are significant social issues.  Throw in 67 active volcanoes, earthquakes, typhoons and the largest crocodiles in the world and it is not the safest place on earth.  However we are firmly convinced that if comfort, convenience, security and safety is our first concern we will never doing anything significant for the Lord.  I like to say that the Gospel was wrought in sacrifice and will be perpetuated in sacrifice.  Again we are not naïve, but we know that we have to trust the Lord no matter where we are - missionaries just have to trust a little more.

My biggest thing to overcome is my loathing of hassle.  Making the decisions, getting the paperwork in order, spending time and effort going through stuff and having garage sales, worrying about selling cars and  (possibly the house), are the things that occasionally pop into my mind as reason not to go.  However they are small things and very temporary - after all in a couple of months all those things will over and we will be in PNG. 

I encourage you, my friend to resist the urge to embrace comfort, convenience and security to embark on a spiritual quest of your own.  I have often said that God doesn't live on the edge, He lives 5 feet on the other side of the edge and if you want to see the power of God in significant and consistent ways, you need to be where He is.  We covet your prayers and appreciate any encouragement and support you many give.  May the Lord richly bless you as you seek and serve Him, Steve

 

 

Faith of the Heart

Following God has never been a straight path.  There are usually many twists and turns along the way.   In the fact the Celtic Christians had a pet name for the Holy Spirit - they called him the "wild goose."  Ever chase a goose?  They don't run in a straight line.  I have found the Spirit to "blow where it wants," in my life.

 

This year the "wild goose chase" will lead Brooke and I to Papua New Guinea.  It has been a long time coming.  For the 18 years we've been together we have longed to go to the mission field.

Being a Star Trek fan, we've watched almost every episode of every show.  This past year we watched Enterprise again.  The theme song speaks volumes to me and the words resonates strongly in my spirit.  We too have waited a long time, have endured setbacks and disappointments and have continued to try to balance being faithful in patience and dreaming of the future.  So, if you want to know what's in my heart right now, just listen to the word of this song and you will get a real glimpse of what I am feeling.  I have "faith of the heart, and strength of the soul," through Jesus Christ.