Our Awesome family have traveled halfway around the world to learn a new language, culture, and a bunch of real life lessons in order to bring Gods word and work to the Sepik region of Papua New Guinea. They left the US in July of 2011 and have been learning the language and getting to know the local community since. They have had lots to keep them busy and have been learning to adjust to a different culture and a whole new world when it comes to food and local produce. There have been lots of fun stories about their “wild life” and the insects as well. They have been diligent to learn as much as they can and they’ve been diligent in their planning for their futures there. We are at the point in their ministry where they are fund raising for their home, and ministry equipment.
Last year before they left we had a busy round of fund raisers to get them to the jungle. The first was a yard sale that consisted of about 8-9 families generous offerings. It was followed by a Dinner and silent auction and topped off with an octagon match between Justin and an old friend, (now local Pastor) Justice. Lots of great learning experience came from each of the fund raisers.
In honor of the first yard sale fund raiser we decided to make another attempt this year. So on April 21 we attempted the second annual PNG fund raising Yard sale. We brought in $1,348.32 and were able to buy a bunch of items for both their home building project and items for their home. We had lots of donations this year and a large amount of donors where from my work.
I was very hesitant to share the need with my co-workers but was convicted and realized that God has me at the VC for a reason. The response to my little e-mail was awesome and even now I still have people at work asking how my family in PNG is doing!! People donated money others donated yard sale items and others purchased items for the PNGers from their on-line wish list. One of my co-workers even had their spouse deliver old furniture to Moms house the morning of.
The following weekend was the shipping weekend and though I turned into a seriously CRAZY person it was still an awesome experience and one I wish I could have done over. Everybody helped in so many different ways. Chavonne and Gabe actually got everything to build the crate and litterally built it. Shannon came over and packed up a bunch of boxes with Mom. Johnny helped me keep my head on straight by being my muscle the whole time and Jer came by just in time to get me back on point and helped us wrap some giant solar panels into the wee hours of the evening. We had lots of items to fit into a Crate only to find out that we could add as many additional boxes outside of the crate that we needed. A little mis-communication here and there can make for a long day. Wish I would have taken more pics it was hilariously funny after the fact.
John, Matt and myself took a uhaul to Santa Fe Springs to deliver the goods, where they would be loaded up with another couples crate and sent to Long Beach to be shipped out to PNG! What an experience!
John, Matt and myself took a uhaul to Santa Fe Springs to deliver the goods, where they would be loaded up with another couples crate and sent to Long Beach to be shipped out to PNG! What an experience!
And Yeah I wish this picture could have been cropped, Man those legs need to see some sun!!!
