We meet some 27 months ago when Paul first arrived at the Lapilo support base in Papua New Guinea (PNG), October 2006. Andrea had been in the Madang Region at the Tagog support base and was part of a new tribal mission team planning on going into a bush location with New Tribes Mission (NTM). Through a coarse of life events the team members headed in different directions. Some returned to their home country and others sought new teams and/or ministries to join within NTM.
Around January 2006 Andrea decided to move up to the Lapilo support base located in the Eastern Highlands Region. From the hot, humid coast to the high, cool mountains. She was placed in an administrative ministry at that point and she began adjusting to the new ministry and new friends.
As Paul settled into his new home and ministry in aviation maintenance he got to know Andrea within the singles group. The singles would hang out on the weekends, have birthday parties or celebrate some of the holidays together.
We have both admitted that we “noticed” each other within the singles group early on. Around October 2008 we realized we were both interested in the other and chose to begin courting. We had “unofficially” dated a couple of times prior, but decided we would become an “official” couple.
You need to understand that Lapilo is a fenced NTM community of about 70 dwellings several miles from the town of Goroka. All the homes are not inhabited year round as folks come and go, but our main point is it is a SMALL FISHBOWL. Most everyone on the base knew that we were getting more serious about each other simply because everyone is your neighbor and your co-worker. There are few secrets in a fishbowl. :^)
This “fishbowl” atmosphere has turned to a blessing as we began courting. Talk about accountability! Paul lives about a 90 second walk from his then girlfriend, now fiancée. We spend evenings together and still hang out with the singles group on weekends, but this new relationship status has gained us access to new adventures. Veteran missionaries invite us out for a double date, at their home or one of the three restaurants in Goroka. We spend much quality time together as well as with other veteran married couples. It is fun to see our brothers and sisters in Christ coming around us to encourage and nurture us in our courtship and engagement.
Then came the big Lae trip. The singles group had a getaway break planned to the coastal city of Lae even prior to us becoming a couple. Two guys, six ladies and all our luggage in an NTM rental van headed down for a long weekend. Lae is a pleasant four hour drive away, save for a few major potholes and potential earthquake damage.
While in Lae we shopped, played games, went out to eat, shopped some more, swam, relaxed at the guesthouse, and played more games. On our last night in Lae we decided to go out for a nice meal, just the two of us. Well, we won’t tell that story here, but understand the national motto of PNG is, “Expect the unexpected.” Really…, Honest!
With the romantic meal a disaster, Paul went ahead with his plans. Later that night back at the guesthouse after our home made Root Beer floats were finished, while swinging on Andrea’s now favorite swing, Paul asked her to marry him. We have a fruit bat with a four foot wing span as our witness. See, Paul handed Andrea a gift bag (which she immediately knew was for jewelry?) as we swung. Andrea doesn’t wear much jewelry and Paul knew her ears aren’t pierced, so the small box inside was a pretty good clue, at least PAUL thought so. However, when she opened the ring box to find a sago ring (a tribal crafted ring that looks like bamboo material) she was a bit confused. Paul meant it as a joke, but as she sat there quiet he began to realize there were several options she could be pondering. So, as she hesitantly began to put the “fake” ring on, he interrupted her with the “real” ring (which is an entire other story). As Paul put it on her finger he asked her to marry him. Once Andrea stopped giggling she realized she hadn’t answered yet as Paul sat there apparently with a blank expectant look. Finally she said, “Yes, of course, YES!”
