Matt and Rachel Clayton Just another weblog Dear Friends and Church Family,
Wow! We have trained and prepared for years now in anticipation of the day that we would leave the US and begin full time ministry in Papua New Guinea. During the paperwork process it sometimes seemed like the big day of our departure was just a far off dream. As we started packing our bags on Monday the reality of our leaving America hit us both like a freight train. The day we go to Papua New Guinea is no longer years, months, or even weeks away but is this Friday!
For myself, the excitement of all this is kind of like riding a roller coaster. First you pick a theme park and a day to go. Then you have to wait for the big day to arrive. Then you have to drive to the park. Then you wait in line to get tickets. After you get in the park you find your ride (the biggest, baddest roller coaster you can find) and you get in line. After waiting in line for what seems like forever you finally get on the train. They strap you in, and the whole thing starts slowly clinking uphill. As you approach the top a strange thing happens: half your brain gets really excited about the thrill to follow (after all, you’ve waited a long time to get to this point). The other half of your brain inevitably makes the realization that what you are about to do is sheer insanity. But the most wonderful intensifier of all these emotions is the fact that no matter how much you scream, cry, or beg, the conductor is not going to stop the train. For better or for worse, you are now in for the ride of your life.
As nervous as we are, Rachel and I are very excited about our opportunity to go and represent the love of our Savior to the people of Papua. We would like to thank all of you for your prayers and support and all the encouragement that you have given us, especially as we waited for our visas to arrive. We already miss all of our friends in Michigan and feel our trip to California was way too short.
Please remember to keep us in your prayers, especially on Friday and Saturday as we traverse the globe with three young children. We will send another update as soon as we have arrived and caught our breath. The next one will have pictures of us in Papua!
