Hello Kudjip!

Before I begin…we tried our hand at something new – check out the podcast we recorded with my brother (and now producer/editor?!), Jason! We wanted another way to keep in touch with all of you that felt a little more personal than written posts. This first episode is a little bit of an intro to us, our story, and what brought us here. Keep an eye out for the next episode!

Episode 3 – Settling In – Myatts In The Midst

Building projects, a new doctor mentor and vacation! Listener questions/comments: Myattsinthemidst@gmail.com

1. Episode 3 – Settling In 39:53
2. Episode 2 – Arrival 36:30
3. Episode 1 – The Journey Begins 46:26

After many months of waiting and organizing paperwork and logistics, we finally found ourselves flying across the pacific and arriving to PNG soil. What a relief it was!

All of the necessary details seemed to fall into place at the last moments. We were scheduled to fly from the US to Malaysia, where we would catch a World Food Program flight into Papua New Guinea. Commercial flights were extremely limited and even more expensive, and with this being the final foreseeable monthly WFP flight into PNG, we were excited it was finally happening! Tickets were purchased. And then, my passport – which should have made it to us on overnight express shipping from the PNG embassy in DC – got stuck on a grounded plane in an unprecedented ice storm in Tennessee. For an entire week, we made phone call after phone call – to the USPS, to FedEx (it’s a long story), to our team at Samaritan’s Purse, and to our travel agency. We ended up canceling our flights the day we were set to depart. My passport arrived 24 hours later. Sometimes, when I think we will never know God’s ways, I remember we aren’t meant to in this life.

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are My ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts…”
Isaiah 55: 8-9

We were just settling in to the idea that it might be several more weeks before we could find a viable commercial option. But then, a commercial option opened up; it was Thursday, and by Monday we were actually beginning our long journey and flying out of the Cincinnati airport. Our set route was CVG>ORD>LAX>HKG>POM>HGU. With commercial travel so tumultuous right now, we knew that simply having the flights booked was not a guarantee of being able to actually board them. Once our boarding passes were printed and in hand in the Los Angeles airport, we both breathed a massive sigh of relief. It was finally really happening!

Our last flight from the capital of PNG, Port Moresby, to Mount Hagen in the highlands, was the perfect end to our 85+ hour (and many month-long) journey to simply get here. We had sweeping views of much of the west coast and the mainland of the country itself.

Once we arrived, we began a strict 14 day quarantine inside our new home. It has been a blessing in disguise, as we have had plenty of time to settle in, begin learning Tok Pisin, and adjust to the 16 hour time change. Our quarantine time should end later this week, and we are excited to get to work!

Thank you to everyone who has followed along for your prayers, encouraging comments, financial support, and love – we have felt so blessed and humbled in this process. We look forward to sharing more in the coming days!

-Laura