The visitation team on their last day in Sydney, Australia riding the ferry through Sydney Harbor to Manly.  From left to right, Gary Teske, Dan Lilienkamp, Eli Truhe, Amy Truhe, Grace Vannoy, Emily Greble and Noah Hornbeck.  Alex Lang is missing from the picture.

It is Sunday back in the states and I think that everyone who was on the trip to PNG is home by now.  Unfortunately, Amy and Eli Truhe who were flying into Wichita by way of the Twin Cities got stranded for a night in Minnesota when their flight into Wichita was cancelled.  I am battling some serious jet lag as I suspect is the case with the rest of the group.  For some reason, it seems that jet lag hits me harder coming east than going west.  I'm not sure why.  I am also still feeling sort of an afterglow from the trip.  Everyone on the visitation team participated so well and with so much heart and each in their own way.  Dan and Alex battled the difficulties of the poor internet situation and kept working to help the circuit communicators get more comfortable with their computers.  And, perhaps more importantly, they used the time to build stronger and deeper ties to the Papua New Guinean communicators who they had first met in 2014.  Eli and Noah kept breaking the ice with the youth by pulling out their frisbees and introducing the young people to those flying discs.  Emily and Grace cuddled every little kid they could get their hands on and found a new friend in Natasha, the daughter of the local doctor.  They, together with Amy also joined wholeheartedly in donning some "bilas" (body decorations) and dancing with about 100 women from the Kotte District who were gathering for their biannual "bung" (meeting).  I just enjoyed seeing a lot of dear old friends from Finschhafen, and seeing more friendships established and cultivated by everyone there. We came back with plans for the future.  We would like to find a confirmation class or two who would like to become pen-pals with a confirmation class in Papua New Guinea.  We are also planning to bring youth from PNG to our Synod next summer.  For some reason, I think I was more aware than in the past of just how long and hard it is to get to our CoSyn Christians in Finschhafen.  20+ hours of flying followed by 3-4 hours in a speedboat and another hour on a very bumpy road.  Just to survive the trip is an accomplishment.  However, the intensity of the relationships that we encounter there, the warmth of the hospitality and the appreciation on the part of our hosts for our willingness to make the journey just to spend time with them is very moving and I think that I can speak for everyone in saying that it certainly makes it all worth while.  We thank God for safe travel, good health and for encountering our risen Lord in remarkable ways in the land of Papua New Guinea.  Gary.   

The full moon setting over the ocean as seen from the house where Amy,  Emily and Grace were staying on our last night in Finschhafen. 

Dan and the circuit communicators working on gaining proficiency with their laptops.

I am writing this blog from the Lutheran guest house at ELCPNG headquarters in Lae. I thought it somehow fitting that our last night in Finschhafen should feature a full moon reflecting off a beautiful ocean on a still clear night.   Somehow that event seemed to express the moment quite well.  We were all sort of glowing with all of the fullness and delight of the past week,  a bit like that moon.   And yet,  the evening of our stay had arrived and our time with our Kotte CoSyns was essentially over.   The final day in Finschhafen had ended with a big meal with our hosts, speeches and the exchange of presents.  We just can't get used to the generosity and warmth of our PNG CoSyns.   Dan and Alex put in many hours wrestling with the inadequacies of the Internet signal for the sake of helping the circuit communicators uncover more of the secrets of their computers.   However,  they will tell you that the most rewarding part of their week was not the progress of the communicators with the computers,  but rather the growth in the relationships.  They became very close over the course of the week.  We caught the speedboat out of Finschhafen this morning and arrived in Lae about 12:30.  The first half of the ride was rough and rainy  while the second half was much sunnier and the seas quite calm.   Not a bad trip for a 15 foot speedboat.   We are spending tonight in Lae and leave for Sydney early tomorrow morning  (Wednesday).  We will spend a couple of days checking out Sydney,  and then fly out for the USA on Saturday.   We enjoyed a great meal and electricity at the guest house this evening.   We look forward to a hot shower and a good Internet connection tomorrow in Sydney.   Ando then, we look forward to getting back home to our loved ones even as we leave different loved ones behind in PNG.  God has been and continues to be good.   Gary
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Girls Gone Wild, oops, I mean, gone native.

It is Sunday, June 19 and our day began with the opening worship for the Bi-annual Kotte District Women's Convention.  Amy, Emily and Grace were recruited by the local ladies to join in the colorful procession which marked the beginning of  the worship service.  Decked out in colorful flowers, skirts and dresses, they were given a crash courses in  Kotte dance, and joined what had to be well over 100 women representing the 8 circuits of the Kotte District as they sang and danced their way down the road and into the church.  The procession was noisy, joyous, colorful and energetic and the three female members of the visitation team joined in vigorously.  This too is accompaniment.  Not just walking side by side, but dancing and singing side by side with our CoSyn Christians from PNG.
There was a worship service which us men were allowed to attend, and then we were dismissed  while the women carried on with their meeting.  District President Kelly Rabisang preached a good sermon based on the lost sheep and challenged the congregation to not just focus on the 99, but to follow the example of Jesus and reach out to the lost.  It was another beautiful sunny day and as a backdrop to all of the activities, we had the beautiful Solomon Sea stretching out from the coast just below the station for as far as the eye can see.  One downside to the lack of rain is that the little stream that runs the station mini-hydro power generating station has slowed to the point that we only have power for a few hours after dark.  However, we are doing fine with flashlights although it will be a  treat to get back to a setting where there is hot water for showers, reliable electricity and a decent internet signal.  The bigger down side to that will be that we will no longer be here with these beautiful people in this beautiful land of Finschhafen.

This afternoon we had a meeting with the district council and they expressed again how much our coming has meant to them.  They talked about how they appreciated us not just staying in Heldsbach, but getting out to some of the villages.  I am hesitant to try and relate what they said because it really requires some interpretation of their sentiments.  I think they were saying that quite apart from any practical benefits they might gain (money or things), they appreciate our wholehearted desire to be their partners and friends.  I think our coming is very affirming for them and makes them feel loved, appreciated and respected.  I am not sure if I got that right, but I think that is close to it, or at least a part of it.  I know that our group has developed a deep fondness for our  partners here, both as a people as well as for numerous individuals who members of the group have met and with whom we have developed good friendships.  I have a weak, slow internet to work with here, so I better wrap  it up here as I don't know how long it will take to upload.  God has richly blessed us through our time with our CoSyn Christians here and we pray we have been a blessing to them as well.  More later.  Gary

Our visitation team with some of our CoSyn Christian hosts at Kumowa, just before  departing for the trek back  down into the valley, across the steam and up the other side for the return to the main district headquarters at Heldsbach.  Eli and Noah are sporting one of the beautifully carved kindu drums given to our group while Grace shows us her pretty red boots that were quickly covered with mud, and then filled with water while crossing the stream. 

The house provided for us at Kumowa village for our overnight visit.  It was built in just 3 days, and built so that we would have a new house to sleep in.

Amy Truhe experiencing "Accompaniment Incarnate" as she is escorted up the trail from our visit to Kumowa by members of the village where we spent the night.  

It has been a couple of days since I updated the blog.  This is mainly because we spent nearly all day Tuesday hiking down a very steep, muddy, slick trail and then back up the other side of a river valley on a similarly steep, muddy, slick trail to spend a day at a village named Kumowa.  As one of our group put it, "it was the hardest thing she had ever done, but it was worth it."  We spent the afternoon visiting and recovering from the hike while the youth introduced our Companion Synod (CoSyn) Christians to a frisbee.   In the evening we gathered for worship and our youth participated by presenting a drama based on Ephesians 6.  Afterwards, we gathered with as many of the Cosyns as could fit into the veranda of the house where we were staying, primarily consisting of youth and children, and singing songs to one another and playing games.  It was a delightful, almost magical evening with lots of laughter and celebration of our relationship.

The night was spent under our mosquito nets, sleeping on a floor with a thin mat on it, and the next morning we set off on the return walk to the road where we were picked up by a truck for the return to Heldsbach, the district headquarters.  Miraculously, although the rainy season had begun, we had no  rain overnight and the trail was a little less muddy than when we had come.  After an hour to clean up at our accommodations in Heldsbach, we set off on a 3 hour ride in a truck with little to no suspension on a very bumpy  road to visit a congregation on the northeast coast of  the Huon Peninsula named "Nanda."  We received a warm welcome and shared a meal and worship with your hosts before climbing back on the truck for  the tailbone punishing ride back.  By the time we got back, the  previous 48 hours had taken their toll and everyone was ready for a shower (only cold water but at that point, nobody cared) and to bed early.  Thursday will be an easier day as the youth meet some of the youth leaders of the district in the afternoon, and catch up on rest in the morning.

I would be remiss if I did not mention that during those two  days, Daniel and Alex were working with the district communicators on improving their facility with the computers we delivered to them in 2014.  They have been doing a lot  of individualized work with these communicators who had learned the basics during the visit in 2014.

One of our group asked the question, "why would they extend such incredible hospitality to us?"  I think that there are several answers,  not all of them altruistic.  However, I believe that one important reason is that they experience our visit as "Gospel." or as they would  say it here, "good news."  You can share the good news in many ways.  It can be done through preaching, teaching, music, drama, and in  so many other ways.  However, I also believe it can be shared just be being present.  To have people come from a great distance  to be with you not because they want something from you, nor to sell anything to you, but just because we share a faith in a common Lord Jesus Christ, and because we care for one another is experienced a Gospel, Good News, love.

More pictures and stories to come.  God's Grace and Guidance be with us all.  Gary Teske

Members of the Visitation Team having refreshments and conversation with the newly elected presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea, Rev. Jack Urame.

Sunday, June 12.  It rained last night and was still damp and dreary as we headed for the church located on the grounds of  the headquarters of the ELCPNG.  You may recall the we arrived mid morning on Saturday, the 11th and spent last night in the guest house at the headquarters of the ELCPNG in Lae.  We have one more night in Lae before boarding a speedboat (as the people here refer to them) for the final leg of the trip to Finschhafen.  It started out dreary and damp and our first impressions we got as we entered the church were not positive.  We and the musician were the only ones there.   Worship was scheduled to begin at 8:30 am, and when the time to start arrived, there were still only about a dozen of us in the church including the pastor.  I thought to myself, "this is going to be bad."  We began with some pre-service music and I became aware of a few more people slipping into the pews.  The service began, we sang the opening hymn and heard the lessons read and I slowly became aware that the church was filling up.  The singing got stronger as more voices joined in, and by the time it ended, there was a sizable congregation of people.  Even the leaders of the church operate on "New Guinea Time," meaning things like start times and schedules are much more flexible and tend to conform to things like rainy mornings and cloudy weather.  It was a good reminder that neither God, nor the faithful Christians in this part of the world are obsessive about punctuality.

Our team was asked to step forward and introduce ourselves.  Then, after the service, we were invited to a time of fellowship in their Sunday School building near the church.  As we began to leave, we discovered that the newly elected Presiding Bishop of the ELC-PNG had been at worship and stayed for the fellowship hour.  He was very approachable and visited extensively with me and others in the group.  I thought the most impressive moment of the morning was when I turned around from visiting with one of the worshippers and found the Bishop sitting at a table,  surrounded by the youth from our Central States Synod having an animated and lengthy visit with them (see the picture above).   I had hoped we might be able to stop by his office sometime and possibly shake his hand.  I had no idea we would be able to have the kind of quality time of fellowship with him that developed after worship this morning.  

I marvel at how often this happens, especially on a Companion Synod visitation.   The beginning of the day or event is slow and unimpressive and one thinks that this is going nowhere.  But then, things - unexpected things begin to happen, things that were not planned nor anticipated but are far better than what one might have planned or expected.  And in the end, it is a time filled with blessings.

Oh  yes, and the worship and sermon were good too.   One thing that struck me was that the Pastor and every one of the worship leaders addressed the congregation with this greeting.  "Good Morning Church."  I like it.  He named the congregation for what it is, and did so emphatically.   The people gathered for worship are not just a collection of folks who showed up for worship that morning.  That group of people,  ourselves included are "the church" and we should never forget that.

So, after a day filled with touching moments and unexpected blessings, we prepare to get a little sleep before catching a small boat for a long trip to be with our Cosyns in Christ, the people of the Kotte District of the ELCPNG.  And so I say to you, the followers of Jesus.  "Good night Church."  Gary.

After landing in Lae, the group had to hit a roadside market and sample "koolows" (spelling ), which is the milk of the coconut that is not yetripe.   Emily is really getting into it. 

The little jet toucheddown in Lae about 10:30 Saturday morning ending the final flight of the team on their trip to Papua new Guinea.   We have 2 nights in Lae at the Lutheran guest house near the headquarters of the ELC-PNG, and then we push on to Finschhafen by boat.   Unfortunately, we learned that the large Ferry Boat that we had planned to take recently blew an engine,  so we will be making the trip in a 15 ft long speedboat.   That can be a punishing trip in the small boat,  especially if the seas are high and/or it is raining.   The trip has gone phenomenally well up to this point (knock on wood ) and we just keep praying that God will continue to smile on us for another couple of weeks.   I think it really works well to stop over in Australia on the way in.  The team has to adjust to a lot that is new there, but there is still much that is familiar.   It seems to me that it helps us transition out of our comfort zone and helps us come to regard that which is "new" and " other " as something fascinating and unique; something to be explored and appreciated,  not feared.  After a trip to the local food store for supplies,  everyone is resting or napping,  or like me,  updating the blog.  I think it is time for this blogger to grab a nap as well.   More later.   Gary

Amy, Dan, Grace and Eli collecting their luggage in Brisbane following the 14 hour flight from LA. 

The entire visitation team modeling some of the "Meri skirts and blouses " made by Mary Kern of Christ and Trinity Lutheran Church in Sedalia,  the home congregation of Emily Greble.  After 30 solid hours of travel,  everyone was a little slap-happy.  Even the guys got in on the fashion show.   

After 30 plus hours of either sitting in an airplane or an airport,  the visitation team of Dan Lilienkamp and Noah Hornbeck of St. Louis,  Emily Greble of Sedalia,  Grace Vannoy and Alex Lang of KC, Gary Teske of Topeka,  and Amy and Eli Truhe of Salina landed in Cairns, Australia.   The trip went well and everyone managed to get some sleep en route from LA to Brisbane,  no small feat crammed into economy class seating.   The group suffered through another 2 hours in the air and disembarked at Cairns, extremely thankful that they wouldn't have to board a plane for 2 days.   After dropping off their gear at the rustic Floriana Guest house,  they explored the waterfront of Cairns and ate lunch at a little Indonesian cafe down the street from the guest house.   Everyone was a little squirrelly from lack of sleep and jet lag and the youngest five had a great time cutting up in the oceanside parks and in the little pool behind the guest house.   Dan and Amy joined them in the pool.   The weather here is beautiful and everyone is looking forward to eating supper, sleeping in a bed tonight and taking a day trip out to the great Barrier reef tomorrow before heading on to PNG.   While I doubt that anyone would describe the trip thus far as "fun", I believe everyone would agree that it has been enjoyable in its own unique way.   There is good chemistry among the team and a great spirit of participation and expectation that bodes well for the rest of the visitation.   And so we go forth in peace to love and serve God and God's people.   Thanks be to God.   (Post by Gary Teske )

It is 10:30 pm LA time.   Gary,  Grace and Alex all arrived from KC about 4:30 and Amy and Eli Truhe rolled in about 7:30.  We have gathered at gate 150 in the Tom Bradley International Departure Terminal where we are awaiting Dan, Noah and Emily who have landed but not yet made it from the domestic terminal to our departure gate.   Actually,  they walked in while I was writing this blog.   So, we have all made it this far and will be boarding the flight for Brisbane, Australia in a few minutes.   More to come after we get to Cairns.  

It is Sunday, October 2nd,  and we are in Sydney,  Australia.  We took a speedboat from Finschhafen to Lae on Thursday,  October 30th,  and then flew from Lae to Port Moresby on Friday, October 31.  The speedboat ride was MUCH better coming back than it was on the way out.   Sunny skies,  light winds and a relatively calm sea added up to a much easier trip.  Our last night in PNG was spent at the Lutheran guest house in Port Moresby.   It was located on a very busy and noisy street and had a pack of guard dogs whose frequent barking certainly would have discouraged robbers and most assuredly discouraged sleep.   All-in-all,  it fell well short of being the lap of luxury.  However,  the Pastors of the Papua district were meeting at the guest house for a retreat, and so we were able to spend the evening visiting with them.  They concluded the evening with a prayer service and we joined them.  There could not have been a better or more fitting way to spend our last night in PNG than in worship with that spirit - filled group of Pastors.   It continued a theme that we found running throughout our time in PNG.   The travel and accommodations left a lot to be desired, but the people were absolutely delightful and a joy to be with.  We arrived in Sydney late Saturday afternoon Sydney time and took the train into the city.   We are staying in a hostel near the Sydney harbor bridge and the Opera House and managed to get tickets to a concert by the Sydney Chamber Orchestra in the Opera House this afternoon.   It was a real treat,  but left us feeling like we were on a different planet than the one where we had just spent the last two weeks.   I have already received emails both from Walter and from President Rabisang thanking us for coming,  inquiring about our well-being,  and wishing us a safe trip home.   We grew very close to them during our time together in Finschhafen.   We will take two more days in Sydney,  and then begin the final leg of our trip home on Wednesday.   All of us are looking forward to sharing the stories,  pictures and lessons learned with congregations, groups and individuals back in Kansas and Missouri.   The first two pictures are from the boat trip out of Finschhafen.   The third picture is from the roof of the hostel in Sydney where we are staying.   This blog posted by Gary Teske.

Dedication Of A new Beginning

A dedication service was conducted by Ps. Mainao Lemasa and the Kotte District President Rev. Kelly Rabisang on the 21^st September 2014 here in the ELC-Kotte District headquarters in Heldsbach Finschaffen, Morobe province of Papua New Guinea.

A kin to church mission history of the ELC-PNG, Heldsbach was one of the first permanent mission establishments of the Lutheran Church of PNG in 1903.  Several years later the first formal evangelist school was built in 1914 with 14 intakes of students from the Wareo, Wemo, Heldsbach and Qembung “Ufung” (Congregation).

The dedication service held with a crowd of 50 people was the main event in the church education centennial celebration of the Heldsbach establishment in 1914.

Rev. Lemasa conducted the order for the service while the president Rabisang preached and officially dedicated the monument land site. The president preached the text in Genesis 28.16-18 on the subject of Jacob’s dream of the angel’s stairways that connected heaven and earth. Through this experience, Jacob declared his headrest the opening into  heaven

The president proclaimed that God is truly present amongst the church through Christ. Through Christ God reaches the believers and lives amongst them.

The president proclaimed that God is truly present amongst the church through Christ. Through Christ God reaches the believers and lives amongst them. Therefore, the land dedicated for the monument contains the historical significance of God’s establishment in PNG through the Church education. The monument should continually remind us and the future generations of how God came amongst us.

After the service, Rev. Fuatone Messere leading the ceremony allowed for speeches to be given. Speeches were made by Mr. Soe Zure representing the relatives of the pioneer evangelist student intake of 1914. The former district secretary Mr. Makoc  Batikiec  also spoke of his observations in the past and some important missing passed resolutions within the current management of the district.

On the other hand, Mr. Abeng Zuhukepe representing the community highlighted also the sacredness of the monument site. Primarily the locals believed that their descendants originated from here and the traditional name for the site known in local dialect is “Angoango”. Ironically, the founding father of the Heldsbach mission station, senior Johannes Flierl chose this location to build his first hut.

He commented that, their forefathers peacefully dedicated their land for the service of the gospel to the church. But the locals will always live and work together with the church without dissent to land issues. However, it is also imperative that there must be development and service to be delivered by the church. As such, a long term plan should be directed by the construction of a proper building over the monument.

The dedication service ended with words of appreciation from the president Rabisang to the efforts by the district Education Centennial Celebrations Committees and the resources and support that came from the relatives of the pioneer evangelist.

He reminded those who attended that the church is the people and we need to take ownership of the church in order to develop. Indeed, so be it, we have been given the task to manage wisely that entire God has given abundantly and for God’s own glory. This is a seed of a new beginning.

Peace.

Partnership 2014

Today,  (Sunday) we left Heldsbach at 5:30 am for a three hour drive west into the mountains.   The road was pretty rough, but there was about a 5 miles stretch that was REALLY bad.  The big old Toyota Land cruiser lumbered up and down muddy mountainsides while we hung on for dear life.  We finally arrived at an incredibly beautiful village named Yiunzine (sp?), home to the Agololo Parish.  They gave us an amazing welcome with traditional and blended music and dancing.   It was really a 30 minute entrance rite.   Dan stayed back in Heldsbach with diarrhea.   I preached on 1 Thessalonians 2: 1-8.  It is always a bit frustrating to preach with the built in limitations of pidgin.   We blessed a bunch of 8th graders who would begin taking their exams on Monday.   It is hard to express how much they seemed to appreciate our coming out to be with them.  It was really humbling and overwhelming to have so many people put out so much effort to welcome us.  What incredible hospitality.   After worship,  they provided a nice lunch with some really good Taro.  There were a number of leaders speaking publicly on a variety of community concerns to a crowd gathered in front of the church.   Before we left,  I spoke about the reason for the current trip.  We made 3 stops on our way back to Heldsbach.   One of them was just to stretch.   The other two were to meet with groups of people at Sesibona and Sattleberg.   I spoke about our partnership with the Kote District,  and the reason for our current visit at both places.   We got back to Heldsbach about 5 pm, and were relieved to find Dan feeling better. We quickly got on the Internet and checked for emails containing news about the world series  from my wife.  We were disappointed to learn that the Royals lost.  It was an early morning and it is time for bed.  More later.  

When the Central States Synod visitation team of Gary Teske,  Gary Kallansrud,  Daniel Lilienkamp and AL Lang arrived in Finschhafen earlier this week,  they discovered there was no hot water and just a little more than a dribble of cold water coming out of the faucets.   Not so bad.   Lots of people have survived cold showers.  A couple of days later,  they discovered that the cold water had also stopped flowing.   Our PNG hosts had just the solution.   A big bucket.   Today the group returned from a visit to Senior Flierl seminary to discover that there was no electricity.   They were beginning to wonder what was next.   Fortunately,  the power outage was temporary,  and the lights came on shortly after dark.  A station worker even showed up late in the afternoon and managed to get a faucet in the bathroom dribbling again,  so, we don't have to go outside to fill the big bucket.   We are optimistic that things are on their way up.

As I said,  the group visited Ann Klavano at Senior Flierl Seminary at Logaweng.  They arrived in time to catch the end of one of her English classes,  the teacher's coffee break,  and another English class.   Ann had the group tell a bit about themselves in English so the students could hear English being spoken by native speakers.  Gary Kallansrud was a big hit when he pulled out pictures of his family and his hometown of St. Louis.  The students gathered around with great interest (see picture).  Ann did her seminary internship at Prairie Faith Parish in western Kansas.   She also has support congregations in the Central States Synod.   After a tour of the campus, we had lunch with Ann at her home.   It was good to see Ann, and especially to see her in her classroom with the students.

We picked up Alex on our way to the seminary after he spent the night in the village of Supong with a PNG youth and his family.   They took him on a raft trip on the Mapay river among other things.   He learned some Kote language phases and had a great time.   However,  a problem arose with heavy rains over night.   There is a bridge under construction between Heldsbach where we were at, and the village where Alex spent the night requiring vehicles to drive through a shallow part of the river.   After a heavy rain,  the water is often too high for cars to get through.   We thought we would be unable to get Alex back to Heldsbach, or make the trip to see Ann due to the high water.  Our plan was for one jeep to drive us from Heldsbach to the bridge which is under construction,  walk across the partially finished bridge,  join Alex and a different jeep on the other side, and go on from there.   However,  the driver from Heldsbach was either brave or reckless or maybe both,  and he plunged right into and through the three feet of water flowing in the river.
I would not have thought that even a four wheel drive vehicle such as the one we were in could have made that crossing.

When we returned from Logaweng,  we found the computer students were gathered in the classroom,  working with their computers.   The Internet service seemed incredibly slow,  but they all were able to complete their assignment of sending an email with attachments to me.  No rain during the day,  Hallelujah.   We hope it stays dry for a few more days.

Alex left for his 24 hour stay in a village at 7 this morning.   The rest of us, Daniel Lilienkamp,  Gary Kallansrud and I launched into an all day session with our computer students.  The day was frustrating,  maddening and at the same time,  invigorating.   The Internet provider moved with a speed that could only be described as  "glacial".  And our Papua New Guinea CoSyns had about as steep a learning curve as anyone on the planet.   But they were excited and determined hung in there into the late afternoon, learning and problem-solving until every one of them was sending and receiving emails,  with attachments, and looking up subjects on the world-wide web.   We all ended the day drained,  but with a deep sense of accomplishment.   We begin and end each day with prayer,  and even now we hear the singing of the local Christians having their evening worship.   Tomorrow we get a break.   We will travel to Senior Flierl seminary to see missionary Ann Klavano and visit at least one of her classes.   We hope to get in a swim and perhaps a little snorkeling as well.  However,  our computer class is expecting us to get back in time to have a late afternoon session with the computers.   Well, almost bed time.   More later.   (By Gary Teske)

This blog post is evidence that we have arrived in Finschhafen,  and with the help of the expertise present in our team,  we are also able to access the Internet.   We were delayed an entire day in Lae by bad weather so we were a day late in getting to Finschhafen.   The trip became a bit of an ordeal with some rough seas and rain along the way.   However,  4.5 hours after leaving Lae city,  we arrived in Finschhafen.   The hospitality has been overwhelming and has certainly made the trip worthwhile.   We had our first training session yesterday morning with the circuit computer operators and the consensus is that it went very well and exceeded expectations.   See the picture below.  Alex left this morning (Thursday morning here,  Wednesday afternoon your time) to spend a day in a village with a youth and his family.   He was really excited to go and has a great attitude.   We'll have a report on that after he gets back tomorrow.   We will have another training session this morning and attempt to contact Dan Glamman and those in attendance at the Bishop's Convocation by Google video call in about an hour.   The Internet is here,  but is really slow and we are not very optimistic that it will handle a video call.  However,  we will try.  Keep checking in on this blog.   More to come later today.  Posted by Gary Teske.

It's Tuesday morning here in Lae,  PNG.   we were supposed to have gone to Finschhafen yesterday,  but heavy rains in Finschhafen kept the speedboat from coming to pick us up.   Today looks better and we got word that the speedboat is on its way.   Daniel discovered that the International phone plan he had arranged for with his phone company explicitly for Australia and PNG doesn't work here.  So, he purchased a local phone and we were pleasantly surprised to find that he was able to create a hot spot with that phone through which we are able to get on the Internet.   I am using that hot spot to update the blog this morning.   As you can see from the pictures,  Alex tried to get a second date with a stewardess at Cairns,  airport,  but discovered that she was very two-dimensional,  and just a "painted up city woman" (she is a cardboard cutout if you hadn't noticed).  Since we couldn't go to Finschhafen yesterday,  we also visited the memorial to Amelia Earhardt since this was the last place she was seen alive as she took off from the Lae airport and then disappeared over the Pacific.   The other picture is of the 4 of us from the Central States Synod,  and our two main hosts, Pastor Walter Tuenzac and Pastor Mesere standing in front of the guest house where we have been staying.   We will have more to report after this afternoon's boat ride and arrival at Finschhafen.

It is almost 9 am Friday morning here in Cairns,  Australia.   The 28 hours of travel and lack of sleep caught up with everyone last night by 8 (for Alex,  it was more like 6), and we all hit the sack early and slept hard.   However,  by 4 am local time (1 pm in KC & St. Louis) everyone was stirring (well,  maybe not Alex).  I suspect teenagers are more talented at sleeping than some of us older geezers.   Anyway, everyone was up in plenty of time to grab a bite of breakfast (see the picture below), and make it to the boat for a day trip to the great Barrier reef which lies off the coast of Cairns (see the picture of Alex, Dan and Gary K boarding the ship).  Gary Teske,  having done the excursion to the reef before decided to stay in Cairns, update the blog,  explore Cairns,  and get ready for tomorrow's trip on into Papua New Guinea.   Everyone seemed fairly well rested after the night's sleep and ready for the day. I will volunteer a good word for the city of Cairns.   It is beautiful and extremely hospitable and visitor friendly.   I am writing this from a little cafe near the ocean where the city has provided free WiFi for a mile or more up and down the coast,  plus beautiful walking,  jogging,  biking paths, exercise equipment, playgrounds, and other amenities.  
It is fun having Alex,  a high school senior with us.  Please note the picture below which shows that Alex "had a date" within 24 hours of getting to Australia (groan).  After everyone is back from the reef trip this evening,  we will do our final planning,  make the final adjustments to the computers,  and get to bed early as our flight to Port Moresby, PNG leaves at 6:30 in the morning.   Alex and Gary T are celebrating the Royals moving on to the world series while Dan and Gary K are praying fervently for the Cardinals.  

The St. Louis and KC contingents did meet up in the LA airport as can be seen by this picture.   Left to right, Gary Teske,  Alex Lang, Dan Lilienkamp and Gary Kallansrud.   The layover in LA was perfectly timed so Gary T and Alex could watch their royals win game 3 of the ALCS.  Dan & Gary K were not so happy as St. Louis lost to the Giants.   The 15 hour flight from LA to Sydney will leave at 9:50 West coast time, so the team is moving as much as possible before the long flight.   Next stop - Sydney, Australia.

Gary and Alex survived the most grueling part of the trip, namely getting past the ticket kiosk and NBA screening at the KC airport.   They will fly out of Kansas City at 3:15 and spend the next 28 hours either on a plane or in a transit lounge.   We are almost off...and flying.

Alex Lang of Atonement Lutheran Church in Overland Park, KS, the first youth to participate in a Companion Synod Visitation, Dan Lillienkamp, Gary Kallundsrud both of St. Louis, and Gary Teske, the chair of the Companion Synod Team will leave for a Companion Synod visit to the Kote District of the Evngelical Lutheran Church in Papua New Guinea on Tuesday afternoon, October 14. As they travel from Kansas City and St. Louis to LA and then on to Australia and finally on to Papua New Guinea, they will be making regular posts to this blog. So, between October 14 and November 5, check in regularly to the blog, "http://companionsynod-kotepng.blogspot.com.

Pastor Walter recently sent the following prayer concerns. Please remember to include the two prayer concerns in your personal and congregational prayers. Posted by Gary Teske. "For the prayer requests, we would like to request your prayers in these two important areas that were discussed by the 29th Synod a week ago. 1. Good governance and accountability within the ELC-PNG. Many issues of administration and Christian leadership continues to challenge this young church who has the God given resources to contribute to the work of the Gospel within this country (PNG) and throughout the World. Until the response to God’s gracious deeds is right, we will continue to limit our potentials. 2. Undersea Mining. It was one of the important issues discussed during the synod. During the exchanges of ideas and information, we have begun to see how crucial it is to protect our marine life and the environment. We have learnt also that, there are no such things as undersea mining in other parts of the World. If PNG and its leaders agree to this type of mining, it would become the first in the World and has serious consequences for our sea communities. Coincidently one of the preferred sites would just off the coast of Finschhafen. The 29th National ELC-PNG Synod has resolved NO to his method of mining. Pray for the wisdom and guidance of God upon our leaders and Christian communities as it is the question of social status, money, survival and greed."