Living and raising children in the jungle is not an easy task, I’ll tell you but we try to be not “correct” but “real”. We include them in conversations discussing everything as it is. Recently I was talking with our teenager Matthew. We discussed our upcoming trip home. I have for the millionth time described the snow they will finally see, a McDonalds which they can again
visit and many more other things that my little Papuans already have forgotten after many years of life in the jungle.
I told them that in Ukraine, we will visit many churches and most likely they will be bored listening to the same story hundred-thousandth of times, but they should try to be quiet (to which Matthew stated that he can handle it easily until it’s time to eat.)
And then I said: “Children, you know, nobody us will understand us. Some will admire the way missionaries live, others will condemn us as parents that we took our children’s childhood away. You will ask and you will need to answer the most stupid and serious questions. In the world of white people its not that easy. There are certain rules how you should be dressed and how and when you should talk”. I know life on a mission is not easy. But you know what? This life is the most real life.
Ministry in Papua New Guinea – I&J Konstantiniki