Since Thomas told me the only place they can get reception for the cell phone is down near the church in Kiari, I've been hoping that perhaps the guys could call before or after their Sunday services. Sure enough! A little while ago I FINALLY got to talk with Thomas, after a full week!
However - apparently they were in a big cloud on the mountaintop, and the call was breaking up very badly. I could hear him enough to learn that they got alot accomplished on Saturday, and enjoyed some nice rain Saturday evening and a great night's sleep. It's a beautiful Sunday morning and they're preparing for Sunday School, then a break, then Morning Service and a service in the afternoon.
The call was so bad that we were wasting expensive cell minutes exchanging "can you hear me?" so we gave up - he'll try to call again later if the clouds clear.
They have an email typed up to send out - maybe even with pictures! - but the satellite service is down and they can't connect to the internet currently. I'll post it once it comes through...
The plan
Thomas and Jonathan Rodgers are preparing for
a 3-week mission trip this August 7-28
a 3-week mission trip this August 7-28
to Papua New Guinea (a small island located north of Australia).
Both Jonathan and Thomas have experience using such heavy equipment; Jonathan owned a large landscaping company for a number of years, before entering the ministry himself in North Carolina. Thomas learned to operate the equipment while working for Jonathan, and has gone on to use bobcats and bulldozers frequently with his own renovation and property maintenance business. While the runway in Aibai has been "started", it needs to be graded, extended, and then topped with soil from another property to encourage a grass surface and prevent washout.
It will take the men all of their 2.5 weeks on the ground to complete the task, and hopefully will allow the Berbins to see the answer to 15 years of work and prayer, when they fly in and land on the new airstrip. For the first time they will be able to avoid the hazardous road trip to the village when they travel back to Aibai early this fall after their current furlough in the US.
The brothers will be working with some heavy equipment the Lord has miraculously provided to finish installing a runway on the side of a mountain at the missionary compound in Aibai, PNG. Aibai is a small village where our friends the Mike Berbin family and a team of other missionaries lead medical, educational, and church ministries.
Both Jonathan and Thomas have experience using such heavy equipment; Jonathan owned a large landscaping company for a number of years, before entering the ministry himself in North Carolina. Thomas learned to operate the equipment while working for Jonathan, and has gone on to use bobcats and bulldozers frequently with his own renovation and property maintenance business. While the runway in Aibai has been "started", it needs to be graded, extended, and then topped with soil from another property to encourage a grass surface and prevent washout.
(the airstrip is located to the left of the Aibai mission compound; note the goats and man standing on the near end of the large airstrip, and the washout lines currently crossing the property)
the current method of reaching the Aibai village:
a hazardous mountain trip over washed-out roads
a hazardous mountain trip over washed-out roads
and precarious bridges, through areas favored by theives;
this trip takes 6-8 hours *on a good day*.
this trip takes 6-8 hours *on a good day*.
The trip is highlighted by the raw beauty of the Papua New Guinea mountains.
How can you help?
Please pray!
-for Thomas and Jonathan to have safety as they travel and work
-for the equipment to work efficiently (no breakdowns!) during the short time alotted for the trip
-for preaching opportunities while the brothers are there - teaching the gospel to some who've never heard
-for safety of their wives and children staying behind in the States
-for financial provision - each brother is raising $4500 to cover trip expenses
Want more information? Email us
1 comment:
I forgot to mention an answer to prayer! The Smith's rain supply was down to "200 showers" - with 13 people in the mission housing to supply. But the rain on Saturday evening increased the supplies sufficiently! The barrel rose from 10% full to over 45% full in about 2 hours, which is a good rain for the area. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, and they're not counting down the showers anymore. :)
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