We had been back in Papua New Guinea only a few days after being gone for more than a year. We had switched out our SIM cards to make our phones compatible with the local cell service, and we decided to make our first phone call to the village to check on our friends. I found Galuma’s name in my contact list. Would I be able to get through? Was his phone battery charged enough to receive my call? Brrrr, Brrrr, the phone on the other end rang; then click. For a second or two, I heard nothing but an open line. “Hello? Hello?” I said. Then, I heard a familiar voice whispering excitedly in the background, “It’s Steve! It’s Steve!” Immediately a loud cheer went up. Galuma switched his phone to speaker, and I heard children and adult voices talking excitedly. Another cheer rang out when I announced that we were back in PNG. How exciting it will be to reunite with our Gogodala people in just a few weeks!
There’s another reunion I’m looking forward to with even greater anticipation. John the Revelator “heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thundering, saying, ‘Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to Him for the marriage of the Lamb is come and His wife hath made herself ready’” (Rev. 19:6, 7).
I can’t wait to stand with you and our Gogodala brothers and sisters on that day as we add our voices to that mighty cheer.

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