My friend
I am finding that I don’t have any problem with being bored here. There is so much to do and so many opportunities for ministry.
I have found one area that I really enjoy. When some of the families at the international church learned that I could play the piano they asked me if I would be willing to organize a children’s choir. I thought what a great way to combine two things, my experience working with children in the past and my love for music. So we began and had about 16 kids in the choir. It was a very multicultural group with mk’s from around the world and children from our churches in the area.
The concert was well attended and they said I should plan on doing another concert for Christmas. Now we have almost 30 kids involved and another lady has volunteered to help me. We are busy designing a set and perry has agreed to build choir risers for us to use.
And this has resulted in the adults wanting to form a choir for special events. I suggested they talk to Perry. He led the choir when we were pastoring in Minneapolis, and he organized a number of youth choirs during that time as a ministry opportunity for the youth in our district. So I am working on a children’s choir and he has about 20 people in the adult choir.
But now for another adventure. When John was home for the school break between terms we decided to climb Mt. Hagen which is 12,500 feet tall. Course we started at about 8000 ft. but none-the-less, it was quite a climb. The first three hours was a gradual uphill climb, surrounded by large trees, moss covered vines, and huge stumps to climb over. Very jungle-y. The next hour was tough. Both Jessie and I were quite sure we’d have to be buried (in pidgin –“planted”) on the mountain side, but we made it to the edge of the tree line (about 11500 ft.) The view was spectacular! A group of us were quite content to stay there and enjoy the scenery. Perry and the others climbed another hour to the very top. We’re already planning our next trek up a mountain, and plan to spend the night, maybe.
Back at home we have another mountain to scale and overcome. We have a mountain of books stacked along the walls in the living room and our bedroom. Over 2500 have come as a gift from the B’s. That and the school has agreed to use some gift money to allow Perry to buy key resource books that are not in the mountains of books. I am beginning to wonder when I will get my house back.
Every spare moment he has he is cataloguing the books and then getting all of us involved in different aspects of making file cards, stamping the books with a stamp that says property of WBC. Once that is all done we load them into bags for transport to the classroom building to await shelving. Actually, I am beginning to see my walls again.
John will be back in just a couple of weeks. We visit him at least once a term and more if possible. The last visit was to go watch the annual sports day competition between the houses. Every student is assigned to a house for this competition and other events during the school year. It was a lot of fun to be there with him.
On a final note Perry has been elected to the school board where Jeff and Jess attend. And I am volunteering a couple days a week as the music teacher. Never a dull moment and so many ways to minister. Pray for us that we will be a positive Christian witness to the broader community through our involvement in the school.
Love
Nancy
Do you realize that you can have an impact in your community? Are you willing to explore how your skills and interests may be a bridge to reach people in your community?