The Land of the Unexpected...

Papua New Guinea is sometimes called “The Land of the Unexpected,” and our experience has proven that title to be true again and again. Last month we traveled to Madang, the coastal city where we did our initial training back in January of 2014. Scott was conducting some site security assessments and training for other missionaries and, since it was school break, Kathy came along so we could visit with friends from another mission. One night after dinner, our friend Joni received a call from a village sister who was going into labor. Since there is no national emergency medical services in PNG, she asked if Joni and her husband, Jim, could drive out to the village, pick her up and take her to the hospital. Within minutes, we all piled into the Land Cruiser and began traveling out of the city and into the jungle. After an hour and a half of driving off-road on small bush trails in the pitch darkness, we picked up their friend and drove her to a remote mission hospital where she gave birth 30 minutes later. It wasn't how we expected to spend the night, but God had much more exciting plans for us in the Land of the Unexpected, and we had the opportunity to be part of a blessing to a national family in need.