Missionary school teachers Patrick and Dawn Eggleton and their three children celebrated Christmas in typical Papua New Guinea fashion -- lots of changes in plans and unexpected events.
The family, along with a missionary pilot, was invited to a Christmas service in a near-by village with a mumu to follow. A mumu is a traditional feast in Papua New Guinea where meat and vegetables are roasted in a hole in the ground.
Patrick and the pilot were both asked to speak at the service, so Patrick spent many hours preparing to share in Melanesian Pidgin.
The family then gathered drinking water to take with them and an extra change of clothes as they needed to cross a river before reaching the village. Just as they prepared to leave, the pilot called and said he needed to make a medical evacuation flight to Australia.
Patrick made a trip down the road to the village to tell the villagers that their plans were changed and the Eggletons spent a quiet morning at the school while the pilot made the medical evacuation.
Though the school was closed for the Christmas holiday, those still at the school held a Christmas Eve service and several of the children acted out the Christmas story. Patrick then planned a big screen movie night for the students, teachers and parents. This time the plans went smoothly and everyone enjoyed a movie theater-type experience.
Pray for Patrick and Dawn as they minister to the children of missionaries, providing a quality education for the children and enabling parents to minister in remote tribal areas in Papua New Guinea.
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