One morning a week, we have people from the local community provide help with the house cleaning and yard maintenance. This is a source of income for them, and for us, an opportunity to develop relationships in the community.
The real significance of this was highlighted when Frida, who sweeps and mops our floors, and keeps our windows clean and free of cobwebs, came to me as I worked in our little study space. She held in her hand a missionary prayer booklet from our Australian church that I had left on the coffee table, beside where I sit for my morning devotions while Elspeth is away in Australia.
“I know some of these people.” she stated, very pleased with the discovery.
I immediately thought of another current Ukarumpa family listed in the booklet along with ourselves, but Frida’s recollection went far beyond that. Not only did she point out several who had moved on to other international fields or returned to serve in Australia, but also a family from another mission organisation in PNG who were not based in Ukarumpa, but would visit occasionally.
When I asked how she knew them – wondering if she could have possibly worked for all of these households – Frida explained that she simply remembered seeing them in Ukarumpa over the years, as she went about the routine tasks of visiting the Store or Clinic, or being at the local produce market.
For Frida, this was a basis for a relationship. These people had come to PNG to serve the Kingdom, caring enough about her and her community to share Christ with them. She remembered them. It impacted me at the time, and moves me still as I write this. We often fail to appreciate what it means to the PNG people for us to be here. For us, it is a privilege, and we praise God for enabling us to serve here in PNG.
campbell ramblings 
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