Prayer Letter - New Guinea News

March 2, 2005

Office Delivery

Living in Papua New Guinea it is not very often that Aaron receives office deliveries. However, in January of 2005 we experienced a kind of delivery in Aaron's office that was far from anything we had imagined. It was morning and we had a knock at our door. It was some of our friends from down the road telling us their mother (Ngasa) was in labor, and asked if we could take her on the boat to a clinic since the bridges were washed out the day before and no vehicles could go anywhere. The ride takes about 20 minutes. Ngasa came to our house, and after getting inside the boat, stood back up with a strange look on her face. Her husband motioned to me and told me she would not make it to the clinic. This was Ngasa's 12th baby. Since it was a half mile walk back to her village, we hurriedly took her into Aaron's office underneath the house to birth her new baby. With rules of men not being able to participate or see a childbirth we had to close all the windows. Another woman was pulled into the office to help with the delivery.

When the baby came, it was feet first. I cannot tell you how I prayed for God to help the mother, and for me to have wisdom as to how to help Ngasa. After about ten minutes a beautiful baby boy was born! I helped her clean the baby, and cut the cord, and escorted the family home. The baby is doing well although he is quite thin. Please pray for this young baby boy's health and that some day he will come to know Jesus!

As much joy as there was to see a new Patpatar child born, we felt that much sorrow when this month another Patpatar baby died unexpectantly. News traveled through the village of a two month old baby girl dying. That same morning our family headed to the village to see the family and show our support. As I reached the place of the house which was into the jungle a ways on the side of a mountain, I heard the mother, Birbir, crying out for her baby. Her crying did not end as long as I was there, and she continually cried out for her baby. As I went into the house, there were ladies sitting, holding the baby. They stroked, stared at, and held the dead baby. This was Birbir's third baby. She had two boys, and this baby she lost was her only girl. She had woken from sleep early that morning and proceeded to care for her baby. That is when she realized her sweet baby had died. The death was unexpected and the baby looked very healthy.

Please pray for the Patpatar. The more we find out about them, the more we find they have many fears, and that they are searching. They are so lost. Sometimes the work here can be exhausting. Please pray for God to give us strength. We appreciate each and every one of you that take us to the Father's throne. Thank you for your incredible part in reaching the Patpatar people!

All for Him,

Lori (for the family)