Trying to leave the mission station, where we have been the last month, has proved to be more difficult than it was getting there. Our flight was scheduled to depart at 12:50pm. It, of course didn’t, things run on their own time in PNG. We spent the afternoon showing our housemate the shops, and checking for our plane, back at the airport. When we actually left, it was after 5pm. Our ride, email confirmed yet never met, was due to pick us up around 3:30pm. We arrived at 8pm. So naturally, there was no ride for us. As we waited outside the airport in Port Morseby, we both had peace and trust in God that it would work out.
Craig started chatting with a fellow Tau, who had been on the same flight as us. It happened to be Independence Day weekend in PNG (it’s hard to find a hotel in port Moresby at the best of times), so all the hotel rooms were inevitably booked up. People started leaving the airport, including the flight attendants and pilots. Tau's son came to pick him up. Craig asked him if he could borrow his phone for one last try at the one number we had. After no response, they, seeing our rideless position, asked about us, and who was supposed to pick us up. Low and behold Tau’s son happened to actually know who the people were and where they lived. He made some calls and waited for a call back. Seeing no other option, and having peace about the decision, we hopped in the back of the truck and went with them to the place.
As we rode in the truck, I was just laughing to myself. Are we crazy? Here we are in Port Morseby. We don’t know the city. We don’t know where we’re staying, and we’re riding around with complete strangers! Yet, I knew that the Lord would provide a way for us, and indeed He did! Our acquaintance met us at the apartment and her husband took us to a very nice hotel! Nicer even than most of the places we stayed in Australia! AND, it had air conditioning!
It’s really amazing how you can just trust God. We had made all the arrangements before we left, but they didn’t work out. But as we waited, and rode with perfect strangers, we both had peace and were even laughing about it individually. God is good and He is faithful!! And all of our good Samaritans were so gracious!!
When you have prayed something through, and God has shown you that this is clearly where He wants you at this point in time, it’s truly amazing! Now we don’t recommend just hopping in with any stranger, but if things are in God’s will, there is no safer place to be, even then being back in Canada. We know we are going to many places where things aren’t considered safe. But what safer place to be then in God’s hands. We believe that where God leads we will go, even if things aren’t as planned. And not that we expect everything to always work out like it did this time, but even in the hard times we can trust in God.
Luke 12:28 “And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?” (NLT)
