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Richard & Andrea Carver at the 2007 National Conference in PNG

PNG National Conference 2007

Uploaded 28 April 2007

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Report by Richard J. Carver

We left our home in Lismore, destined for two destinations: Cairns and Papua New Guinea. We were going to New Guinea for the National Conference, as I was to be the Guest Speaker there. Since Cairns is also north, we were going to stop in Cairns for a week to spend time with the saints there.

We arrived in Cairns and spent a week there, spending time with the saints and the Jeremy Jackson family from Arizona, who have been there for a few months. We were there for a Wednesday night and Sunday, and both services were wonderful, as God dealt with the saints and even with the visitors who had joined us for the service. Cairns is indeed a lovely city with great need and potential, and the church members love God and each other.

On our last day in Cairns we were planning to spend some time with our kids before leaving them with Andrea’s sister. However, that morning there was a large earthquake in the Solomon Islands, and Australia was on heightened alert because of the possibility of a tsunami. In fact Cairns city centre was evacuated. Fortunately our motel was on a hill, so we stayed indoors all day. As it turned out, no tsunami came, but it was better to be safe than sorry.

Saying goodbye to Laura & Timothy as we prepare to leave them for 10 days.

The next day we drove south to drop Laura and Timothy with Andrea’s sister and mother in Townsville, Australia. We couldn’t afford to take them to New Guinea with us. We felt quite alone as we drove back to Cairns by ourselves, feeling quite apprehensive about how Timothy would handle the 10 days apart from us. As it turns out, they both had a wonderful time and didn’t seem to miss us at all!

We boarded the aeroplane the next day and flew from Cairns through to Nadzab Airport in Lae, Papua New Guinea. This is the coastal town where the Conference would be held. Upon arrival, we saw the friendly faces of our good friends the Grations, who met us at the airport and took us back to the guest house where we stayed.

Lae is hot and humid, close to the equator, with the air thick and murky with humidity vapour. It was an important port during the Second World War, and it was the first time for me to visit it since my childhood in the 1980s.

A panorama of the crowd at the Conference (see movie)

The reason for our visit was of course the National Conference. It was held in a large open field, and into this field came roughly 7000 people. There was a sweet presence of God as they lifted their voices in praise to our great King. It made me consider that when my Dad & Mum first came to New Guinea only 34 years ago, that there was no-one, not a single Jesus’ Name believer. And then to see such a crowd of people loving their God, brought the words to my mind: “Look what the Lord has done”. Be sure to view some video clips of their singing (clip 1 and clip 2).

A very typical Lae (coastal) song performed (see video)

The whole conference was wonderful. I did my best to recall as much Pijin English as I could, enough to actually preach all four messages in Pijin, although at times faltering as I tried to form the sentence structure correctly. But the people understood exactly what I was saying. Saturday Night was especially noteworthy (see movie). I preached about our heart, how God will try our heart, and how it is so important to keep. The people simply flowed to the altar at the end, and a special presence was felt even after the altar call (see movie). Tongues and interpretation were given, and the people a second time poured out their hearts. Although not once did I mention Baptism during the whole message, the Board Members recognised it was heart-work that had been done, and the call was given. 57 people made their way to the front to be baptised. The feeling was tangible, and no-one left the park, but instead milled around the platform, not wanting to leave the incredible presence that was felt in the service. Even though we had to wait over 45 minutes to find enough transport to take the candidates to the ocean to be baptised, for all that time the saints crowded around, not uttering a word, as God continued to deal with the depths of their heart (see movie).

Front Row: The 67 souls who wanted to be baptised (see video)

Andrea said she had never seen such a baptism service. We went down to the ocean, and ten ministers stood in the water. Andrea said it looked like a supermarket check-out line as the people stood in lines to be baptised, and one by one had their sins washed away in the Lae ocean at about 10:30 that night (see movie). A total of 67 people were baptised that evening.

The Sunday School promotion was also a blessing (see clip 1, clip 2), as well as a special item done in coastal style (see movie)

After the conference, we travelled along the road from Lae to Goroka, which brought back so many memories of my childhood. Unfortunately Andrea had gotten sick, and for the next few days she was laid low with a sinus infection. But we did manage to see a few places around Goroka town, where the church Headquarters and Bible School is. We had a great time just relaxing for those few days and fellowshipping with the Grations. Sis Gration naturally looked after us splendidly.

Andrea's welcome as "Meri Tambu" (see video clip)

Our visit in Goroka was also very special, as on the Wednesday night the Eastern Highlands ladies and Board Members held a special function. The purpose was twofold. First was to congratulate the Grations on their appointment as full-time missionaries to PNG (previously they were just AIM workers). Second was to welcome Andrea as their Meri Tambu (daughter-in-law). They did for us what they would do for their own son. They explained that since I was a son of Papua New Guinea (I was born in PNG), and I was for the first time bringing my wife to my “family”, that they were performing for Andrea the customary initiation into the family. They dressed her in a Meri-Blouse, put a bilum (woven bag) on her head and walked her down an aisle decorated with flowers and red carpet (see movie). Later they gave speeches welcoming her, and she had to respond. She was simply unable to say a word, but burst into sobs, realising how specially she was being treated. As she wept, the ladies began to weep also, and a chorus of wailing grew in volume with her. It was truly a touching time.

We came back to Cairns a few days later and picked up our two beautiful kids, and spent another Sunday in service with the fine folks in Cairns church. Then on Monday we made the final journey home to Lismore after a very busy but rewarding three weeks away.

Rain approaches as we await our flight from Port Moresby back to Australia

Our visit to PNG was truly a memorable occasion. It was the first time for Andrea to come to PNG, and although she had seen pictures and heard stories, she was finally able to view it with her own eyes.

Please continue to pray for both Cairns and Papua New Guinea. Both are wonderful places with big needs, and the worldwide shortage of labourers is evident wherever you travel. Please pray with us earnestly that God would send forth labourers into his harvest.

- Richard & Andrea Carver

• There are more photos! Be sure to view them
• There are movies to watch! Click here