Last adventure club in PNG
We have had so much fun with our different trips and somehow, they always manage to involve a fish. Continue reading “Letter 132 Adventure club West New Britain”
Letter 131 Another Move
Another change
Perry: Nancy I went to the mailbox and found a letter from headquarters. Are you busy or should we wait until later to open?
Nancy: No, I am not busy. Let’s open it now. After that meeting a couple of weeks ago, I would like to know what HQ is thinking.
Perry: Yes, that meeting upset me a bit. Maybe the letter will tell us something and then we will have some idea of what will be next.
Nancy: Yes, so open it.
Pause to read
Nancy: So, they are asking us to relocate again. But I have so enjoyed our time here. I have so many exciting and fun areas of ministry with the student wives, the international school, and the children’s choir.
Perry: Quite a switch from your comment in 1985 about never wanting to go to PNG because the people appear so strange.
Nancy: Yes, I have had to apologize to the Lord about that one. Even when we accepted the move to come here, I was still uncomfortable in many ways. God has helped me in so many ways to overcome those negative thoughts and attitudes. It is hard to imagine or even consider such a change.
Perry: This request makes me a bit concerned about the Bible school. They don’t have another person who can act as principal. It is one thing to cover a year while we are gone, but for years is a bigger issue and I have not heard that there is anyone being considered to come here.
Nancy: If there was, it would be several years before they could start working at the school. It takes time to learn the language and adjust to all the cultural differences.
Perry: And this time it is not just about us and the work we do. When we went to Sierra Leone, the kids were at an age where they could adapt easily to the new environment.
Nancy: But that depended on us, and fortunately it all went well. And the change to PNG was pretty easy to deal with. It was more of an adventure for them. But this time they are older, and they have become established here. They have friends and activities and seem to enjoy living here as much as we do.
Perry: And did you see where they are asking us to go?
Nancy: Guyana? Where is that?
Perry: Well, if I remember my geography, it used to be called British Guiana and is a small English-speaking country in the northern part of South America.
Nancy: English-speaking country in South America?
Perry: Sounds strange but yes, and it is the only one.
Nancy: Well that means there will be one thing we won’t have to deal with and that is learning a language.
Perry: Don’t be too sure. It is a different type of English. Kind of like learning to understand British and Australian English. Same basic language but very different accents and vocabulary.
Nancy: I get that, but it will not be like learning a whole new vocabulary and grammar. But back to the kids. You are right in the past we made the decisions, informed them, and then did what was necessary to help them adapt to the new language and culture. This time we can’t do that. They need to be part of the decision.
Perry: I agree, and that will be quite a step of faith for us. We will meet and talk tonight. And I think we should only talk about the content of the letter, not the other meeting.
Nancy: I think that is the right way to present the request.
Later that night:
Perry: Well kids that is what the letter is asking us to do. To move to Guyana so we can help in the construction of a new bible school building, so I can teach in the master’s program there, and work with all the churches in the region in developing missions, so they can send missionaries.
Nancy: It will mean another change, and Dad and I want you to be part of this decision. If you have any questions, we would like to hear them.
Time of discussion:
Perry: Now here is what we want to do. Over the next two weeks each of us is going to pray about this. We will not talk about it again until then. That way God can speak to each of us and then we will talk and hear what each person thinks before we decide.
Two weeks later
Nancy: It has been two weeks. I think today we will start with the youngest and see what Jess has to say
Jess: Mom and dad I have only one thing to say, I wish it wasn’t the right thing to do, but we need to go.
Jeff: Yep, that is what I think too
John: Sounds like we are in agreement.
Perry: Thanks kids. That is what your mom and I have been thinking as well, but it is great to see how God has brought us to this place of agreement without a lot of discussion.
Nancy: Well, it looks like we are starting another adventure, moving to Guyana.
How do you involve your children in major decisions related to the family? Do you think they should have the right to share their opinion? How will you respond if they are not happy about the decisions that are made?