Where the Palm Trees Sway

 Each year conferences are held around Papua New Guinea to help encourage and refresh the NTM missionaries that work within the different regions of the country.  In September I had the opportunity to fly to the coastal town of Madang to help with their annual conference, and it was one of the highlights of my year.  NTM's gorgeous property in Madang ("Tagog") sits right on the ocean, and I enjoyed watching village life out on the water - people out in their canoes or fishing with their nets, and little kids playing in the water.  Above is the kitchen/dining/meeting hall on the Tagog center.

 

 

Lena Chapman was asked to head up the cooking during conference and invited me along to assist (I got to help do the same at the Madang Conference in 2009).  We enjoyed working together and had a great time in the kitchen all week. 

 

 For one meal a day different missionary families were responsibile for cooking the meals for everyone (there were 84 people altogether), so there were a loooot of cooks in the kitchen.  Although most of the missionaries in the Madang Region work far away from eachother in various tribal areas, they're still like one big family and it was a lot of fun to see them interact with and enjoy each other.  I enjoyed getting to know them better, too, as I don't often get the chance to interact with this group.

 

 The main speaker and kid's program leaders came from the home church in the States of one of the missionaries.  The kitchen was right at the back of the meeting center so as we worked we got to take part in what was going on and enjoy the sessions.

 

 For lunch one day we all headed to Malolo Resort ("malolo" means "rest" or "break" in Melanesian Pidgin).

 

 I talked to several missionaries that day who said that places like Malolo have been one of the biggest blessings and surprises for them working here.  They often work for months at a time alone in the bush, some in helicopter-only locations, and to be able to come out for a break and enjoy a beautiful resort is a perk they never expected. 

 

 Conference is done and it's time to get the plane loaded and head back home.  We have a phenomenal group of pilots/mechanics here with NTM.  These are hard working men who fly, fix, and load the planes, as well as play flight attendant....all with smiles on their faces as they serve us.  We are so hugely grateful for the amazing work and ministry of our pilots here.

 

Farewell Madang!