PNG Reflection for the Virginia Synod from Pastor Kelly Bayer Derrick
“Through Christ We are called Together”
This is the motto of our Virginia Synod + New Guinea Islands District companion relationship. There is so much for me to reflect upon from the VA Synod companion trip to PNG: so many great memories, so much singing, so much delicious food, and so many relationships – new ones and renewed ones!
A favorite part of the time in PNG for me was the holy conversations with our partners. We were together A LOT – visiting congregations, learning together, eating together, and traveling together. We talked with our companion partners, with the women’s groups, with the youth, with the pastors. All of that time together invited SO many conversations – about life in PNG and in VA, about how we do things similarly and also differently – like worship, confirmation classes, school, leadership, jobs, fun, etc. We talked about hopes and dreams. We talked about our families. We talked about our hopes for the church. We talked about Jesus.
The Holy Spirit was definitely present, y’all! These were sacred conversations – building and strengthening our relationships with each other as children of God and siblings in Christ. Through Christ we are called together – wankain (one kind/ same) faith, wankain God, wankain prayer, wankain hope, wankain love. One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God of us all!
Together!
Printable Version of Reflection
