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The First School of Christ Graduates from Papua New Guinea

Well, its a completely different world I can tell you that much! when I first stepped off the plane and placed my two feet on Papua New Guinea soil, I knew that this was a world totally different from my own. The airport's in PNG are about fifty years behind in technology, and I guess I can say the same about everything else as well. I remember reading about Canadian and American history in school, about how there was no power, no telephones, no running water, only gravel roads, and markets where farmers would bring all their vegetables and animals and sell to the people,and very few vehicles, if there were any.

Well, I never ever imagined myself stepping back in time, but that is exactly what I did. This country is about seventy-five years behind in its infrastructure, although they do have power (main cities and area), and they do have phones (only in the main cities), but everywhere else there is nothing. Just a people surviving off the land. I am fortunate, because where we are holding the school (PFM Center), we do have running water. Now its not a water system with pipes under the ground, but they have two-thousand gallon tanks beside each home, and the rain fills it up! It rains every night here during the rainy season, and some during the day. In the dry season, it rains every few days. But it rains so much, arid the water is so clean we use it for cooking, drinking, washing ect. Now I am truly blessed to be at the PFM center because I have my own room. I also have a little kitchen and a bathroom!

There are other rooms in the house but its used by the owners for office space and a copy room. Now your probably thinking of this PFM center as some modern type building, really nice! Well, it is nice in a lot of ways, like the property is beautiful, surrounded by mountains and trees, but its no where near the city. Well, were about twenty minutes outside the city, which is great because we don't get any of the outside disturbance! We try to keep the students minds totally consumed with the school, so being away from everything is a bonus.

There are cockroaches everywhere, but I put up my mosquito net so it's not so bad! I'm loving it actually! As I said before, we do use the water for washing, and I'm fortunate enough to have a shower in the bathroom! Now it is cold water, but you get used to it after a while. Brother Chamblee taught me to take a shower in the afternoon, when the water is warmer. It gets pretty warm here in the afternoons, so the water warms up a little! But being up in the mountains, it does get chilly in the night! But I am so blessed to have a shower. The rest of my students have to walk about half a kilometer to get to the river to wash, and if its been raining alot, the river is really muddy! So Praise God that He's keeping me a little bit sanitary!

The people here are really what amazes me! Just driving down the road you feel like a king, because everyone waves and smiles, such friendly people. They are such open people as well. Every Saturday I take the students to the market to preach. Literally hundreds gather around to hear the Word of God. It has to be the most intense thing, watching sinners come and totally amazed by the message of Christ.

This past Sunday I preached in a church that is pastured by one of my students. I preached on 2 Chronicles 7:14..."If my people who are called by my name," we all know the scripture, but I preached that to the congregation, and there were about two hundred and fifty, and after the sermon they filled the altars. Well, after the service, my men went out in the market to preach, and the fire of God fell! I'm talking about hundreds gathered to hear and people were shouting and singing praises, people weeping all around because such a truth was preached, a truth never heard. Hallelujah! Thank you Jesus!! Oh to be men and women totally consumed with this gospel!

I could sit here and write for hours telling you everything but I think I'll save some for the next letter. I love all of you so much, and I'm praying for you!! All I ask is that when you pray, you would remember me! I am planing on coming back to America in April of 2006 for the Ministers Convention in Beaumont, Texas.

Your Brother in Christ,
Stephen R Mckay