Chris and Ingrid Hughes with Jonathan and Lydia were excited to fly into Mamusi for ten weeks before flying back to the UK for their home assignment in September. However, things didn’t quite go how they expected…
They had seen God do amazing things to open the door for them to move into Mamusi and they were so grateful that it was finally going to be possible to start deepening friendships, begin culture and language learning in Mamusi, and finish work on the house. Everything was ready.
All their stuff was packed up and driven to a village where the believers had kindly cut a heli-pad for them. It was closer to Mamusi and so much cheaper than flying everything in from Hoskins. On the day scheduled for the helicopter flight, they could feel the wind and see the clouds in the direction of Mamusi and the pilot decided to wait an hour and see if the bad weather would clear. They had a tight schedule but knew God could make a way – He’d already done so much for them! They knew many were praying for a change in the weather.
Finally, their turbulent helicopter ride had to be aborted five to ten minutes away from Mamusi as there was a wall of cloud in front of them. The pilot was willing to try again later that day and the next if the weather cleared, but it remained too bad to fly.
The helicopter was needed to go to other people groups in the region. It will not be back in their area until September… after they need to leave for home assignment. By the time Chris, Ingrid and family, Lord willing, finally get to move into Mamusi, it will be seven years since they first arrived in PNG.
Recently they were able to get their stuff back from the shuttle point and have been unwrapping and sorting through it; deciding what needs to be brought back to the UK and what will be packed up to stay in PNG. They were very grateful to be able to meet with some of their Mamusi friends while at the shuttle point, since they hiked down the mountain to meet with them. It was hard for them to have to explain that they would not be able to move in until next year. Their friends were so encouraging and understood that they had tried everything they could to move in, pointing them back to the Lord and to the ways He tends to work in lives through waiting and hardship. Chris and Ingrid asked for their advice on what they should do next, and with their blessing, they plan to arrive in the UK in early August. They are looking forward to seeing their friends and family again.
This has been a hard adjustment, but Chris and Ingrid do see God’s hand and His goodness to them in so many ways. He has cleared the way for them to move into Mamusi after home assignment; and He is already doing so much in their Mamusi friends’ hearts without them being there.
One home school year has now ended. They plan to get a couple of weeks’ head start on the new school year before leaving for the UK. The kids are doing a great job!
PRAYER & PRAISE:
• Praise God for a great team in PNG, including gifted pilots who did everything they could to try and get them into Mamusi.
• Praise God for Mamusi co-workers who hiked down the mountain to meet with Chris and Ingrid.
• Praise God that they could move their tickets to the UK forward to August.
• Praise God for an eternal hope that can never be taken away.
• Pray for the Mamusi believers as they process Chris and Ingrid and family not being able to move in for another year. (Their co-workers plan to be back from the USA and continue building their house in February)
• Pray that they will walk with the Lord through this latest delay – that they will continue to trust in His goodness and sovereignty moment by moment.
• Pray for encouragement and help for their hearts. Their batteries are low these days, and there is quite a bit to do in the final weeks before home assignment.
Chris and Ingrid are grateful for your prayers.