May 1977
Dear Brethren;
We left Papua New Guinea May 16 and landed in the Philippines
where we spent 10 days visiting the brethren there. While there
I had to got a smallpox vaccination. This shot become infected
and I had to go to the hospital at Clark AB for treatment. It
has since healed up but at the time all I could think of was of
me getting smallpox and being quarantined there for several weeks.
Travel tip! make sure you have all your shots before you leave
for overseas.
While in the Philippines we showed slides of the Now
Guinea work to the military congregation at Clark A.B. Also we
met with some of the missionaries who work on the Island. They
were conducting a missions seminar with Ed Matthews from Abilene
Christian University.
After 21 years in bush work, to see and move in a town
of 3 million (Manila was definitely a shock to the system.) We
flow from Manila via Guam, Hawaii and San Francisco arriving in
Tulsa at 6:5O am Friday May 27. 11,000 miles- 25 hours flying
time.
Wow, how everything has changed. We already miss the
peace and quiet as well as a slower pace of !life. But be it as
it may, we strive on.
Kathy's folks met us in Tulsa and drove us, back to Joplin
Mo. where we have a house to live in while here. Nora Zinc moved
from Joplin and gave all her furniture to benevolence. The owner
of the house agreed that we could just move in while we are here
in the states and continue with the $40 a month rent. (Real shocker-
we paid $260 in New Guinea for rent) This fall Teresa will be
able to attend school which is 3 blocks down the street.
Our plans call for us to travel until January next year
to congregations showing the Papua New Guinea work in action.
Our visas to return say we have to be back in New Guinea by February
1978. We will be visiting all the congregations who have had fellowship
with us in the Lord's work while we were there in PNG. We will
be securing an additional $500 a month work fund so as to enable
us to expand the existing work in Kundiawa. We will also be raising
$20,000 to build a house and meeting place there in Kundiawa (or
if possible buy). If you'll recall we were evicted from the flats
by the new owners and no housing was available in our area.
Notes from Kathy:
Whiz - boy, we arrived In Manila, which has more people
then the whole of Papua Now Guinea, end I think we met or passed
them an the way to Clark Air Base where we stayed (90 miles away).
While there visiting with Larry and Janet Crone I was asked to
talk with the Ladies class. It was my first experience of speaking
to a Ladies Class other than our home congregation.
Terasa couldn't got over all the decorations on the cars
there in Manila, but then whom we got to the states here I couldn't
believe the size and luxury of the cars, vans and trucks. The
kids also couldn't believe that they have "banana flavored"
ketchup there.
In the lost couple of weeks I've been able to visit with
some of my relatives that I haven't seen for six years. It's been
great getting to see everyone. Mom and I talk and talk about everything
and everyone.
We're getting ready to "go on the road" for
the next 3-4 weeks. We're looking forward to telling everyone
about PNG and maybe to encourage some of you to come to PNG in
the near future.
Take care and we hope to see all of you soon.
If you would like to contact us and see if we can set
a specific date to hear of the Now Guinea work you can contact
us through;
Church or Christ
Boy 231
Joplin Mo. 6480I
Tel: (417) or 624-4016
This way you can advertise our intended visit well in
advance to your congregation on your time schedule. This would
also allow us to work out our schedule to the best utilization
of our available time.