The Inanbimali airstrip officially opened Wednesday afternoon.
After an inspector gave the strip a passing grade, the pilot received clearance to land. He made one low pass and then landed. Without any rain for two days and nights, the strip was as firm as missionaries had ever seen it.
The whole village erupted with cheer, and as soon as the pilot exited the plane he was greeted with a rubdown of mud, flowers and coconut milk. He was then carried around by the whooping, boisterous crowd. Missionaries had warned him to be prepared for the traditional welcome.
There is now a mandatory two-week waiting period before the airstrip can go into normal service, but the missionaries are glad that their days of bringing in supplies by river travel are over.
Now that work on the airstrip has been completed, the missionary team of Brooks and Nina Buser, Dave and Missy Schroeder, and Tony and Tara Sutton will begin full-time culture and language study.
"Pray that the days will be profitable and our minds and tongues will be soaking up the language," wrote Brooks and Nina.
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