Currency in Papua New Guinea

The currency of Papua New Guinea is Kina (keena) and toea (toya).  Toea and 1 Kina are found in coins, while designations large than 1Kina are in notes (bills).

The current exchange rate is always changing but it can be found on Google as seen below.  1 Kina has a current exchange of $.44 cents in USD, or $.44 cents in USD has an exchange rate of 1 Kina in PNG.

Kina photo by: Curtis Gregory Perry

Preparation Trip to PNG

There is a small team that is planning a trip to PNG the first two weeks in August 2013.  Not a long trip but enough to to establish contacts and make preparations for our pursued departure in 2014.  This is a crucial step in our family's part of taking the gospel of Jesus Christ to the tribal people in PNG.

This will be the first time that I will step foot in Papua New Guinea, and needless to say... I am looking forward to the experience.  I can't help but think on the food that will be there, the people that I will meet, having to speak Tok Pisin and deal with not being able to communicate as I would like.  Being able to grasp on the things that are starkly different than what I experience daily in The States will be priceless.

The itinerary includes 3 cities, and 1 visit to a remote tribe.  I plan to collect some of the following information:  Establish contacts (organizations and people), look for housing, create a true cost of living, meet with doctors on Belle's asthma, taste the food, drink the water, experience the heat, check availability of furniture, survey the layout of the towns, take TONS of photos, capture video, see if there is a local representation of the church.

I would covet your prayers as the date of departure approaches.  There is a long list of things that I am desiring to do when there, and I will need diligence to accomplish it.

image by: Nic McPhee

Where in the world?

Where is the mysterious land of Papua New Guinea?  This is a common question that people have when we tell them that we are going to PNG as missionaries.  Papua New Guinea is just above the NE corner of Australia.

Some fun facts about the distance to Papua New Guinea:

• Distance from Gilbert, AZ to Madang:  7141miles
• That's 172,373,233 toothpicks lengthwise
• Or...  37,704,480 pieces of spagetti lengthwise
• Or...  13,001,544 steps if you were able to walk
• Or...  4,713,330 standard 8ft 2x4's lengthwise
• Or...  2,231,034 Honda Odysseys

So, the next time a person asks you how far away Papua New Guinea is from Gilbert, just tell them is 172,373,233 toothpicks away!

1 Peter 1:1-5

The book of 1 Peter opens with Peter's audience.  He is writing to a scattered group of chosen believers that have come under persecution.  These are people that no longer resided in their former places of birth or common place of residence.  No doubt they were discouraged, downcast, and sorrowful.

1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen 2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, [a]to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace [b]be yours in the fullest measure.

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

This section of scripture is a prayer of Peter; praising God for his work in the salvation of his people.  It reminds believers that God is the one that: Chooses, sanctifies, causes new birth, gives believers an inheritance in his son, places this inheritance of salvation in heaven, and guards us with faith for future final salvation.

I cannot help but see how involved God is in the salvation of His people.  There are no active roles played by the saved sinner in their salvation, God is doing everything.  If you are a believer in Christ it is not your doing - it pleased God to save you.

God has called people for himself and he preserves them to the end because he determined it from the beginning.  This section of scripture is humiliating for my proud heart, but God humbles me so I can see his immense glory.  I hope this section of scripture is as much of an encouragement to you as it is to me.

photo by:  Toni Verdú Carbó

Flying foxes of PNG

All over Papua New Guinea there are flying foxes.  These flying critters can have a wingspan of up to 4 feet and greater.  Thankfully their diet is not the blood of the locals as they are fruit bats!  Swarms of these bats can be seen daily:  Hanging upside down in trees, flying, and roosting as a group.  There are so many that roost at certain times during the day, it causes planes to be grounded from flying.

More fun facts can be found at Wikipedia

Photo by:  By Tarique Sani

Home Schooling

It's inevitable; the kids are going to be home-schooled.

Since this is a new world for Lorie and I, we are on the road to get prepared.  We will be attending the AFHE home-schooling conference being held June 14th - 15th.  This conference will be a helpful tool in purchasing a curriculum, generating contacts, and knowing where to start.

Greer is going to be our Papua New (Guinea pig).  He has already been doing school prep with simple workbooks that can be purchased from local stores.  He is also reading simple books and learning many sight words - we are excited to see how fast he learns new things.

We are again seeing our continued dependence on Jesus Christ.  Who would have thought that we would be doing home-schooling with our kids, and who would have thought that home-schooling would play a role in the gospel going to remote tribes in PNG?

Please comment on this if you have helpful resources on home-schooling!

Numbers 15:30-31

Question to think on:  Are you thankful for Jesus Christ?

The book of Numbers was written to the Israelites by Moses over 3400 years ago.  God's law had been given to Israel, the tent of meeting had been built, worship of the Lord was underway, and yet the people continued to rebel against God.  When they arrived at the promise land, spies were sent out and the majority of the spy's reported back that they would not be able to defeat those in the land.  As a result of hearing this Israel continued to grumble at the Lord.  God's response was 40 years of wandering in the desert for Israel rather than entering the promise land.

Israel was commanded to love the Lord and obey His commandments - but their hearts were far from Him.

Numbers 15:30-31
30 But the person who does anything defiantly, whether he is native or an alien, that one is blaspheming the Lord; and that person shall be cut off from among his people. 31 Because he has despised the word of the Lord and has broken His commandment, that person shall be completely cut off; his guilt will be on him.’”

This commandment is directed towards a particular individual "the person who does anything defiantly".  This is a person that knows the commandments of the Lord but chooses to disobey them.  The consequence of this persons actions when caught, is being cut off (death).  If you read just two verses down there is an example of this command being carried out.

I could not help but identify myself with the one that is deserving of death; choosing sin rather than God's commandments and incurring judgement.  This is the place where all of mankind walks - knowing what is right but choosing wrong (sin).  Rest assured that God WILL judge all for their individual sin before Him and condemnation will follow.

But... for those that are sorrowful of their sin, desire to turn from it, and trust in Jesus Christ's death, burial and resurrection on their behalf WILL be saved.  I am more thankful for the Gospel after reading Numbers 15 - because Christ bore my defiant willful sins on the cross in my place.

photo by:  ryk neethling

Many Transitions Ahead

We recently moved out of the place we called home for the last 3.5 years.  A couple at Grace Bible Church asked us if we would like to move in with them.  After considering this option and meeting with them before taking the plunge, we decided to accept.  We started moving two weeks ago this Friday, and finished this last Monday (4-29-13).

We had so much support from the body at GBC that it was a little overwhelming trying to find things for people to do.  The majority of our things went into storage, with immediate living items going to the new place.  We are now learning to use what belongs to someone else and the Holy Spirit is using this to produce humility.

This is one transition in the midst of many that are ahead.  It has been interesting to see how our family has responded to this change in the following ways:  Sickness, doubt, encouragement, change in former schedules, and others.  It has taught me one overarching thing - I have no control over what will happen in the future, but I must still be diligent to prepare for it.

Be sure to follow the rest of Team PNG's websites here:  The Dodd's, and The Cann's