A Special Sunday

Susanna starting the church service

Susanna with Pastor Robert and his wife

This past Sunday, I had the honor of attending my friend Susanna’s church. Susanna has worked in my house once a week for the past year and a half. She is also a lay-pastor and has been leading this church for the past year. This Sunday, she was turning over the church to a new pastor and his wife. The church was all decorated and special music items were presented. Dr. Mark, one of my co-workers from Kudjip, gave the message. 

Ribbon-cutting for new pastor house

New pastor house

Then we dedicated the newly built pastor’s house. As Susanna so aptly quoted: “one plants, another waters, and another reaps the harvest.” What a joy to co-labor with these PNG brothers and sisters to build God’s Kingdom. 

Congregation at Endu

All the sheep wandered off during the
shepherd scene

The star was waving and dancing
quite enthusiastically to make sure the
wisemen and camels found Bethlehem

              

Afterwards, we raced back to Kudjp for the MK Christmas program. Once a month, ex-pat missionaries from several organizations join together for an English church service or potluck. In December, the kids present their Christmas drama. This year they put on a lovely production with a “behind the scenes” look at all the characters of the Christmas story including the inn-keeper and his wife, the shepherds, the wisemen, and the angels that proclaimed the good news. All the kids did a great job, but I think the sheep and the star of Bethlehem stole the show. It was a great start to the Christmas season and a good reminder that everyone has an important role to play in proclaiming the good news of Christmas.