SOVEREIGN GRACE BAPTIST MISSION
International – Papua New Guinea / Malawi Africa
P.O. Box 60150 Ndirande Bt. 6 Blantyre Malawi /
P.O. Box 233 – Mt Hagen (WHP) Papua New Guinea
Tanggi Mission Station – North Koroba, Hela Province, PNG
Missionary / Evangelist: Peter A. Halliman
Email: panagioite04@gmail.com / Website: sgbm-malawi-africa.com
Date: 18th April 2022
Dear Pastor, Church, and All Supporters:
1 Thessalonians 2:18 — Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.
Zechariah 3:1 — And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him.
This report will deal much with my travels from the USA to Papua New Guinea. Once again I find myself at the end of the world facing extreme conditions, humanly and somewhat spiritually speaking.
For nearly two months I was task-saturated with writing emails, letters, telephone calls, and doing research on government websites. High-tech communications have done nothing except add to and load the burden of much business upon the shoulders of the one trying to connect the dots.
Do not underestimate the working of Satan — the god of this world system — whom GOD has allowed to work for a season of time known to HIM alone.
Emails and communications to the Prime Minister’s Office eventually led to a point where I was able to return to PNG. I had booked my ticket two months in advance and began working on documentation for the governments through which I would pass. From start to finish, including airline tickets, I spent over three thousand dollars to bring all this to fruition.
I was required to take a covid-19 test ($160.00) prior to flying into Chicago. My flight from Birmingham to Chicago was without any issues. I had eight hours in O’Hare to download medical apps and ID documentation.
When it was time to check in, I was informed that my covid-19 test from Winfield, AL was not acceptable for entry to PNG. I spent the rest of the evening and night in the terminal sorting things out. A new ticket was reissued with a marginal expense change fee, and all connecting flights were sorted.
In the morning I was directed to an airport covid-19 testing facility. I was tested at 08:10 am; results were negative and emailed electronically. This cost $350.00.
Another full day was spent in O’Hare. At check-in all seemed to be in order, until I was told I needed a visa for Singapore. After nearly two hours of explaining that I was in transit, I was checked in and given my boarding pass.
Thirteen hours later I arrived in Doha, Qatar, for an eight-hour layover. The flight onward to Singapore — nine hours — went without issue. I arrived and had no problems, as I had made my transit status very clear.
Departing Singapore, I boarded Air Niugini and seven hours later arrived in Port Moresby. After clearing Immigration and Customs, I sorted out a new PNG phone number and made my way to the domestic terminal.
My US number was working within the international terminal via Wi-Fi, but the domestic terminal had no Wi-Fi and no signal. This meant I could not access my mobile banking or debit card, and therefore could not pay for my checked bag.
I exchanged three hundred dollars I had received for my birthday to get local cash; a fellow traveller paid the bag fee with his card and I reimbursed him. My bag was checked and I boarded my flight to Mt. Hagen.
At arrival I had a pickup arranged and was brought to my quarters. After four days of travel I was simply numb. I took my shower, had a meal, and went to bed.
This report on the travel back to PNG will stop here. I will leave you with one thought: is it worth it?
In His Name,
Missionary Peter Halliman