“For I know that the Lord is great and that our Lord is above all gods. Whatever the Lord pleases, He does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and in all the ocean depths. He causes the mist to ascend from the ends of the earth, He makes lightning for the rain; He brings forth the wind from His treasuries.” -Psalm 135:5-7 (NASB)
The current drought in Papua New Guinea is projected to continue through April of 2027. Here in Ukarumpa, we were blessed with two days of rain last week, but otherwise we haven’t seen any significant rainfall since May. The drought not only impacts the water supply on our center, but also the food supply of our neighbors in the surrounding communities. This, in turn, impacts people’s health and contributes to increased security and safety issues in the Aiyura Valley. Our Crisis Management Team has worked with leadership to implement water conservation measures while our Construction and Maintenance Department has been working with a team from the U.S. to dig wells in Ukarumpa. One well, located near the entrance to our center, is producing approximately 4 Liters of water a minute and we have set up a system where our neighbors can bring their containers to fill. The other wells are still being dug in a search for additional sources of water for both our operations and to bless the surrounding communities. In addition to the drought, PNG is also experiencing a fuel and medical supply shortage, which are being actively managed through the combined efforts our leadership, the Crisis Management Team, Aviation partners and our Clinic. We know that it is God who brings all good things, including rain, fuel and medical supplies. While we wait upon His perfect timing, we continue to be good stewards of our current blessings.
