For an Audience of One

Once again, the Interface campus has come alive and it’s as if every one here is bursting with the expectation of what God is going to do in the lives of these young people. We are already 10 days into the IF2 program. As usual, I am running myself ragged. I want to do everything with the students, plus keep up with all of my official Admin duties. I have a hard time just chilling out at home and enjoying any quality down-time. I think the rest of the staff is going to force me to take a nap soon. But so far things are going well! It’s our first attempt at running a program without Emerson as director, plus Peter (the new bossman) and I had to prep without Janie, while battling sickness, but it all fell into place (Thank the Lord!) I’ve already taught 4 classes, and teach another 1 tomorrow morning. I had major technical difficulties (aka – my powerpoint was possessed) for my first classes, but I remained calm and rolled with it. I didn’t think it was possible, but I’m starting to feel a lot more comfortable speaking/teaching. It probably helps that my friends sit in the back of class and make signs like “You Rock” or stand up & cheer for me. HA! I definitely think the coolest thing about being a teacher is how much you learn while preparing the classes. Not to mention the discussions I’m then able to have with the students during meals or open houses. It’s also been a huge encouragement to have my friends Curt, Don & Kristina here. They were on my ITF team when I was a student and have returned to PNG to serve in Hospitality (the kitchen) for the whole summer. It’s so much fun having “old friends” around again. Plus, one of the students is a girl that I will be working with in FL. She’s here to experience Interface so that when we are back in the states we can work together to mobilize more harvesters to the field! I’m leading “Village Exposure” time with this group, and have been in the village with them twice already. On our first trip I made a new friend – Karufe. She speaks English very well, but mostly spoke Pigin because she wants me learn so that I’m able to speak to her people better. She also informed me that she was going to pray that Papa God brings me a “Gutpela Husband” and “Planti Pikininis” (Good husband & lots of kids). Oh boy, sounds like she’s been talking to my mom. During our second trip together, the students were surprised (and by that I mean several of them screamed and almost took off running) by pigs charging across our trail in the bush. I forgot to warn them that the people in the village often let their pigs run around during the day. Ah Culture Shock! Thankfully I teach my Culture Stress (Part 2 in a 2 part series) class tomorrow… Too often we say, "I have no talent to teach a Sunday school class." "My home is not nice enough to have a Bible study here." "I don't cook well enough to help with Meals on Wheels." "I'm a businessman, not a carpenter. I wouldn't know the first thing about building a house for Habitat for Humanity." When we step out in faith and offer all we have, God will use it in powerful ways. How much is enough? Just what we have when God is with us! *Photos in this entry were provided by my good friend Curt Sharp