Arrival, part 2

It is our first morning here in Madang. I was awakened around 4:45 a.m. by the girls with the hall light on. I turned over to see Sally in bed with me instead of Richard. Guess he really wanted that top bunk! We all slept well which was a blessing. Hopefully we can make it tonight till 9 p.m. and sleep till at least 6 a.m. Breakfast was Australian Corn Flakes with boxed milk. Yummy! Sugar is in the fridge to keep the ants out. The coffee is delicious and amazingly hot.

Yesterday morning began around 4 a.m. for most of us. We slept well but were still adjusting to the time difference. Richard and Mary headed out to find dad some coffee while the rest of us gave the sleeping a go for another hour or so. Finally, we all got out of bed, repacked and headed to the restaurant. We decided to share plates of toast and fruit for our morning meal. New food adventure for the day: Richard put a little Vegemite on his toast as it was offered in little packets along with the jelly. He and Sally were the only ones to take a taste. No more was spread on toast.

We checked out and headed to he airport around 7 a.m. for a 10 a.m. flight. Five minutes later we were in the mass of people at the front of the Domestic Terminal. I don't know if we got any pictures which would help describe the unique nature of the place. Everyone is moving enmasse toward the entrance. There is a guy speaking on a megaphone in Pidgen-english so we understand about 1/3 of what he is saying. Once inside, we stand in line for "security". We put all 12 suitcases through and make our way to the other end quickly so none of our bags ends up with another customer. The problem is that the people are bottlenecked again as there is another funnell we have to go through to get to the actual ticket counters. I shove my way to the front and the girls file in behind me, Richard bringing up the rear. We finally get to the front and are waved through to stand in another line to get to the counter for our boarding passes.

We had another 1/2 hour ahead of us that was highlighted by a scuffle between a guy and "security". That resulted in tears from Betty and Sally while the other folks around us tried to console the girls. Just another day in the domestic terminal.

Once Richard got our boarding passes, the girls and I headed to the secure area, for people with boarding passes, and settled in. We found ourselves the center of attention as the only whites in the room. We felt a little more safe for the moment while we waited for Richard to go investigate the missing bag. There were still a few tears as Betty especially was concerned to be without Dad.

I sat there looking at my girls who had just seen something very scary for them. They felt unsafe even if just for a moment. I began to rethink our previous uneventful journeys and wonder if we were willing to do this if things were not always easy. Did God call us to serve Him only if things went well? If they didn't go well was that a sign of some sort? Interestingly the following paragraph was in a book that I am reading along with the ladies here in Madang: "(Christians) tend to see our lives as a series of hurdles, which, if we trust God and jump high enough, we can get through without scraping our knees. If we miss a hurdle, though-or come through bloody and bruised-we must have done it wrong. We have failed in some way. Or worse, God has failed us."

To make a long story long, Richard returned soon after with a smile and a claim check for our lost and now checked 13th suitcase. Betty and Bonnie had their clothes and their Daddy. We got on the little puddle jumper that only held about 50 people and took off. All 13 bags made it to Madang and to our house where all but 2 have been unpacked. (One of them because the zipper is broken and the other one belongs to a certain male who will go unnamed.)

We spend the day with our friends, Larissa and Joe, who fed us with food for lunch and dinner and with conversation and fellowship so sweet and longed for.

Grateful for your intercession,
Tracie