Blessings and Work

 We had a wonderful gift of having some visitors from home for a couple weeks!  It was jam packed with all kinds of activities and adventures.  We were able to start the time off with a milestone event at Goroka Baptist Bible College.  We had a 50-year anniversary to celebrate the faithfulness of God in this small part of the world.  We were then able to go right into the 41st graduation and celebrate with those who are being launched into the ministries God has called them to. 

Nolan, Bre, Doug, & Pastor Gene

They were able to see some of our landscape.....

They were able to experience some culture....

They had "epic adventures" with games, movie, pizza, beef jerky, popcorn with chocolate
and fun that our children will not forget!!

One of the big goals of the team was to start work on our new clinic project.  While the building materials are still in process and things are not ready yet for the main structure, they were able to start another part, the septic system.  

While it "should" be dry season here, God had different plans and it rained almost everyday the team was here.

While rain is not a bad thing, it does make things very difficult when we are trying to dig a big, deep hole in very saturated ground.  A structure had to be built around the outside to keep the sides form caving in constantly.  

By God's grace we were able to keep the water pumped out long enough to pour cement and begin construction of the tank!

Once the block was all done the inside and outside were coated.

A cement lid was then poured on top to complete the tank.

This project is one example of how the many members of the body of Christ can work together and accomplish much even in the midst of challenges (rain, mud, language barriers, cultural barriers, and different understandings).

The area where the septic drain field was too wet to install the drain field, so the team not wanting to waste any time helped us start digging the foundations for a new Powerhouse Building.

This building will house a large diesel fuel tank, a diesel power generator, and a 20' container that is filled with batteries and solar controllers.

While there was much physical work done here over the last month, it pales in comparison to the eternal work that God is doing in the hearts and minds of people all around us…including ourselves.  How has God been working in your life?  Are you in a construction season of life.... building for eternity or do you need to do some demolition to make space?  The grass is always greener on the other side.... or things always look more appealing in someone else life .... the grass is always greenest over a septic tank ;)