Where No Roads Go: Trusting God through Challenges and Change

By Carin LeRoy

I screamed and jumped from the chair to run for cover under our bed’s mosquito netting. Not another night of dive-bomb roaches. One of the epic-sized ugly bugs had launched from the wall and glided toward me. Under the safety of the net’s cover, I would read for the evening. This jungle setting was no place for a wimp, and I needed to toughen up fast.

I didn’t know that trekking through the jungle meant hours of muscle-shredding exhaustion or that our firstborn son would overdose on malaria medicine. Who knew that running water would become a luxury? Nor did I anticipate that malaria chills, flights on small aircraft, and watchful eyes would be a part of everyday life. There was a lot I didn’t know, and that was a good thing.

Along with the challenges, there were wonderful things, too. I learned the joy of listening to a tropical rainstorm on a metal roof, the sweetness of jungle fruits, and the beauty of a life changed by the power of the gospel. Living in extreme isolation would mean the adoption of a little jungle tribe who became our family away from family.

My husband and I were young and zealous, excited for an adventure with God but without knowing all that it would require. Choosing to leave the comfort of my Southern roots, I found myself tossed into a primitive culture where suffering was common, and fear of the spirit world reigned. Following God to this remote place seemed like a risk, but it became the “risk that wasn’t” because of the faithfulness of God.

The bougainvillea – a tropical, vining shrub – displays its magnificent color better in times of drought and intense sun than when grown in the shade or heavily watered. So, too, can our difficulties create something beautiful in our lives. As our faith is forged in God, our transformation mirrors his reflection. Come, join me in a place where no roads go, where challenges and change reveal God’s amazing grace.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Aneko Press
• Release date: Aug 2, 2021
• ISBN: 9781622457458

Book preview

Contents

Introduction

Section One: Jungle Beginnings

Necessities Only

Waves of Change

Stranded on the Curb

Boo-Eye

A Bird’s-Eye View

Praise the Lord Anyhow

The White Fright

Learning the Ropes

Still Learning the Ropes

Life-Giving Water

Section Two: Jungle Cuisine

We’re Eating What?

The Little Guys

Bananas Galore

Frugality

Ants and Apple Pie

Coconut Sago

The Fat Fellows

Life Is Sweet

Out-of-Date

My Cup of Tea

Section Three: Jungle Dilemmas

Bush Baby

Mushroom Lady

Woodstove Disasters

Silent Invasion

The Missionary Dilemma

Planning Ahead

Curious Eyes

Where There Is No Doctor

Tuned In

The Dreaded House at Honinabi

Section Four: Jungle Trekking

Packing for a Trek

A Guide for the Trail

Standing Strong for the Journey

Jailbreak

Bad Feet, Good Heart

Crossing Logs

Blindsided on the Path

Snakes on the Trail

Trail Food

Keep Pressing On

Section Five: Jungle Tribe

Stepping Back in Time

The Longhouse

The Gobasi Tribe

Peanut Trouble

Language Learning

Suwaliba’s Thankfulness

Bread: Steamed or Fried?

Singing Dogs

Airstrip Work

Casting the Net

Section Six: Jungle Home

Thatched Home

Fast Little Feet

Jungle Meals

Predator to Plate

First Landing

Thatch Bug Dirt

Rustic Outhouse

One Another’s Burdens

Panic in the Night

Healing Magic

Section Seven: Jungle Family

Overdose

A Rainbow with A Cross

A Day in the Life

Amalgam of Cultures

Great Catch!

Cockatoo Alarm

The Unseen Realm

Family Life

Malaria Attack

From A Pilot’s Vantage

Section Eight: Jungle Church

Taboos

The Spirit Medium

My Friend Suya

The Little Ones

God Plants His Church

Yanked Out, Dug Out, and Replaced

Bush Spirits

Faithful Provision

Battleground

The Spirit Tree

Epilogue

Meet the Author

Photos

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Introduction

I screamed and jumped from the chair to run for cover under our bed’s mosquito netting. Not another night of dive-bomb roaches. I’d had enough! One of the epic-sized, ugly bugs had launched from the wall and glided toward me. Under the safety of the net’s cover, I would read for the rest of the evening. I never thought I’d have to share a house with many critters, but here I was. The nocturnal activity of these creatures made for many sleepless nights, and I soon realized this jungle setting was no place for a wimp. I needed to toughen up fast if we were going to live here and raise a family.

I didn’t know that trekking through the jungle meant hours of muscle-shredding exhaustion, or that our firstborn son would overdose on malaria medicine. Who knew that my family would become the focal point for an entire village, or that running water would become a luxury? I didn’t anticipate that malaria chills, flights on small aircraft, and watchful eyes would be a part of everyday life. There was a lot I didn’t know, and that was a good thing.

I also didn’t yet realize the calm of listening to a tropical rainstorm on a metal roof, or the joy of a life changed by the power of the gospel. I didn’t know that extreme isolation would mean the adoption of a jungle tribe who became our family-away-from-family. And, who knew that the people we had gone to help would come to our aid many times through those years!

My husband and I were young and zealous, excited for an adventure with God but without knowledge of what that would require. Choosing to leave the comfort of my Southern roots, I found myself tossed into a primitive culture where suffering was common and fear of the spirit world reigned. In our interactions we could go from heartfelt tears to peals of laughter as we lived with our tribal friends. The complexities there blindsided me as a young twenty-three-year-old missionary wife. Life would never be the same, but that would be a good thing.

This jungle would be where our roots of faith would grow deep as we learned to call on and depend on God. I would learn to cling to an ever-loving Savior while seeing him provide and protect many times. A myriad of unique experiences taught us countless spiritual lessons. Following God to this remote place seemed like a risk, but it was the risk that wasn’t because of God’s faithfulness.

The bougainvillea – a tropical, vining shrub – displays its magnificent color better in times of drought and intense sun than when grown in the shade or when heavily watered. But it needs both. As the cactus thrives in the desert, so can our difficulties create something beautiful in our lives. As our faith is forged in God, our transformation mirrors a reflection of him. By stepping out in faith, we will experience his blessings in a new way and learn dependence on God, who will love and lead us without fail.

In our journey with God, the question is not "Can I trust God? The question is, Will I trust God?" God is active, always working out his purposes, and forever faithful in big and small ways. Come, join me in a place where no roads go, where challenges and change reveal God’s amazing grace.

Section One

Jungle Beginnings

Living in a foreign land excited me. As a young girl, I was fascinated with stories of missionaries. I’d hoped to go to a faraway place someday and live among a people who had never heard how Jesus loved them – even if that meant rough living. God put that passion in my heart at a young age, but I soon realized that passion and reality can collide.

New beginnings challenge our faith and stretch our emotions. Packing up our belongings for a new location, arriving in a vastly different environment, eating unfamiliar foods, and making new friends were all causes for extra stress. It’s uncomfortable to adjust, and yet, adjust we must. Change can bring out the worst in us, or we can allow it to make us stronger.

With every fresh start also comes a sense of adventure. The country of Papua New Guinea (PNG) is the eastern half of the large island off the northern coast of Australia; it is appropriately called the land of the unexpected. My husband and I jumped headlong into this strange land together, leaving our family behind to embark on this journey with God. This far-flung area of the world would change me forever.

New beginnings are a part of God’s plan; I believe they give us a greater sense of who he is. Walking by faith into life’s changes is a journey, but we don’t walk alone. The God of all beginnings goes with us.

Necessities Only

So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. (Ephesians 5:15-17 NLT)

W hy are you taking that big thing? That’s going to take up too much space in the crate. We don’t need it, I said.

Yes, we will need this, my husband, Dale, said.

All of our material possessions for our journey across the ocean were contained in one small two-by-two-by-four-foot crate, one footlocker, and four suitcases – all the things we needed for the next several years. The crate and footlocker would be shipped, and the luggage would go with us on our flight. Leaving one life behind to begin another required preparation. We purged, discarded, or gave away what we could live without. We packed and stored wedding presents in my parents’ attic, and we set aside important things to pack.

My husband and I agreed upon most things. But this one item became a point of hot, energetic discussion: the five-gallon yellow water cooler with a tap. Not only was it huge, but it was also round and would be hard to pack around.

We will need this for the storage of clean water. This has to be packed, Dale said. Grudgingly, I shoved it into the crate and packed clothes and little things inside it and around it. This dumb thing prevented me from taking a few other items, and I was sure we would never need it.

Only essentials would go: three years of clothes, kitchen items, books to read, bedding, two pillows, a few personal items, office supplies, tools, and a chain saw. Some of the most essential items were our books and tools. In the days before Internet and computers, books would nourish and entertain us; tools would help my husband fix, build, and repair.

In the extreme tropical heat, 100-percent-cotton clothes were essential. We packed them after checking all the labels. We included only a few warm items for the times we would travel to cooler mountainous areas. Flip-flops. Tennis shoes. Hats. Umbrellas for tropical storms. I packed five pots for cooking: two skillets and three lidded pots in various sizes. I took an eight-piece place setting of dishes and silverware, a supply of plasticware given by friends, and two sets of sheets and towels. We also put essential baking tins, first-aid items, and a few decorations and pictures in the crate. Packing for a life overseas required careful thought and planning. We didn’t have a second chance to repack once things were shipped, so this was our only chance to get it right.

Life is the same; it requires careful planning and wise decisions. We don’t get a second chance on this earth. We must make it count. Leaving behind one part of our life to follow God into a new stage may require purging. Some questions to ask are, What ungodly clutter do I need to discard? Do I have unresolved emotional pain, an anger problem, an addiction, or ongoing unforgiveness toward someone? What part of my life is not pleasing to God? What friends or habits don’t lead me toward holiness? What lifestyle choice is harmful to me or my family? Or, what good thing should I leave behind in order to grasp something better that God may be nudging me toward?

Life is all about choices.

And choices affect everything. Ungodly clutter affects our closeness to God and reduces our ability to serve him faithfully. And when we leave behind something good for something better, it may be just what God desires to help us reach the potential he planned for us.

Purge. Plan. Prepare. Follow God.

Then, who knows what God might have in store for us. And I’m glad I listened to my husband and packed that yellow cooler! It came in very handy later.

Prayer

Father, thank you for guiding me into wise decisions when I walk with you. Give me a heart that will trust and lean on you for understanding and insight into areas I need to purge so that I can serve you faithfully. Help me to seek your direction in all that I do, and help me to follow the plan and purpose that you have for my life.

Personal Reflection

What have you discovered as you sought God’s purpose for your life?

How does Ephesians 5:15-17 speak to you? Are you making wise choices? What changes might you need to make?

Read Proverbs 3:5-6. What three things do these verses say we need to do for God’s guidance?

Waves of Change

The Lord had said to Abram, Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. So Abram departed as the Lord had instructed. (Genesis 12:1-2, 4 NLT)

The heat slammed us in the face the moment my husband and I disembarked from the air-conditioned plane at Jacksons International Airport in Port Moresby. It felt as if I had walked straight into an oven as the scorching air hit my skin. The asphalt radiated heat from its ebony surface as we walked toward the terminal. While we stood in line for the customs inspection with a pile of luggage, the humidity and temperature change smothered us.

I had expected the tropics to be hot, but this jolted my senses. It reminded me of sitting too close to a burning-wood fire and needing to move to a more comfortable place. Sweat gathered on my face as we waited in line.

We’d just arrived in the island country of Papua New Guinea. Finally, we were here on this God-appointed adventure. I had no clue what would lay ahead, but it would be a mixture of the struggles of a different life and the joys of following God’s call.

With my passport in hand, I stepped up to the customs counter to enter a country to which I’d never been, to live a life I didn’t know, and to meet a people I had yet to love. It would be years before I’d return to my home country.

Beads of sweat soon dripped down the side of my face. Excitement mixed with a little fear of the unknown clung to me as I surveyed the scene around me. Eccentric-looking westerners were scattered throughout the customs line. Some looked as apprehensive as I did. Others looked comfortable, brandishing the country’s traditional string bags and the common footwear – flip-flops. Babies fussed as parents tried to calm them.

I’ve heard it said that misfits, mercenaries, and missionaries are the westerners you find living and working in Papua New Guinea. Whether or not that was true, I didn’t know. I knew I was out of my element. Gone were my pampered days of comfort – no more air-conditioning, electricity, hot showers, or store-bought bread. These would now be uncommon luxuries. My high heels had now been replaced with flip-flops.

We planned to live among a remote primitive tribe who had never heard of the love of Christ. I imagined I could make sacrifices, live rough, deal with extreme isolation, and learn a new language. Was I up to the task?

No.

But we trusted in an almighty God who was more than able to sustain us, teach us, and enable us to do the work he had called us to do.

Next, the customs officer said as he waved us forward. Now our adventure had begun.

When God called Abram out of Ur, he said, "Go to a land I will show you." The specifics weren’t given because God wanted Abram (later renamed Abraham) to follow him in faith. We don’t need to know the outcome before we obey, because God goes before us. We are all called to be like Abram – to listen to God’s voice, to walk by faith, and to follow his leading. That journey will look different for each of us, but the calling is the same: go, and you will be a blessing to others.

Answering God’s call is our choice. God doesn’t force his will on us. Yet he guides us with a gentle hand, leading us forward into a deeper walk with him if we are willing to step out into the unknown that he has purposed for us. Will we trust him? At times, the journey may be difficult, but the blessings will be many.

Prayer

Father, thank you that your promises are true. Just as you were faithful to Abram when he obeyed, you will be faithful to me as I listen to your leading. Help me to learn to walk daily in faith with you. Give me an obedient heart to do your will and be a blessing to others.

Personal Reflection

Do you have a willingness to step out as Abram did? Why, or why not?

Do you feel God’s tug calling you in a new direction?

The Christian life is a walk of faith. Read Hebrews 11:6. According to that Scripture, what is it that we must have to please God?

Faith in God is not a one-time thing at salvation; it’s also a daily commitment of trust in his Word and his promises to us. With what do you need to trust him today?

Stranded on the Curb

Aren’t five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten before God. In fact, even the hairs on your head are all numbered. Do not be afraid; you are more valuable than many sparrows. (Luke 12:6-7 NET)

We looked like two lost souls waiting at the curb with our four suitcases as we searched for our ride. Minutes passed, but we didn’t see anyone matching the description of our mission’s Port Moresby representative.

Did you bring the contact information of the person picking us up? my husband asked as we waited on the outside curb.

No, I thought you had it.

All I remember is the guy’s name.

It wasn’t a great moment. There was no point in starting the blame game of which one was guilty of this oversight. Here we were in a brand-new country, but we didn’t know where to go. We had no address or phone number, nor access to a phone, so we couldn’t hire one of the local taxi drivers.

Did you tell him we were arriving today?

Of course. I sent a message a few days ago.

Heading through the customs inspection earlier was easy: a few questions, a stamp in our passports, and we were done. I stood near our pile of luggage while Dale tried to search for our ride. Our pickup person would take us to the missionary guesthouse where we would stay while in the capital city of Port Moresby.

We searched the long sidewalk and waited in the heat for what seemed like an eternity. I wiped some of the sweat off that had collected on my upper lip. How could someone forget that new missionaries were arriving?

Apparently they did.

Our excitement at arrival turned to dismay as we stood on the sidewalk. How could we have made such a mistake? I observed my new surroundings with interest. Taxis and cars were busy picking up passengers and loading a mixture of bags, boxes, and suitcases. I heard languages that I didn’t know as people bustled to get their rides. In the land of more than seven hundred languages, who could even know which dialect they were speaking? Dale pointed out the colorful string bags that most people carried and the woven beanie hats that were common. I stood absorbing the ambience. The heat, the smells, and the high humidity were new things to which I would need to adjust.

After most of the crowd left with their rides, we still waited. I’m sure we looked like lost, newcomer foreigners when an Australian woman noticed us.

You look like you’re lost or in need of a ride. Where are you headed? she asked.

Well, my husband stammered, we are not sure. We forgot to bring the phone number of our contact here.

I’m sure she wondered how we could forget something so important. Look, I’ll take you to my house, and we’ll figure out where you need to go.

After loading our possessions into her car, she drove us to her home and gave us a welcome cold drink. It was refreshing to cool down in her air-conditioned home. With Papua New Guinea’s close relationship to Australia, many of its citizens lived and worked in the country. She helped us locate our contact, and we called them on her phone. Within several hours we were installed in a missionary guesthouse for the week. We learned later that they’d been confused, thinking our arrival was the following week, yet the Lord used a stranger to make sure we got to our destination.

Although something went awry that day, something good happened as well. In our first hours on this new adventure, it was as if God said, I want you to see how I can intervene when you see no way forward. I won’t forsake you in the future either.

Mistakes happen. Communication gets crossed, and people forget. During those times we can still depend on God. There is no need for anxiety or panic. The Lord watches over all who love him¹ is a reminder to all his children. God can still care for us even when our plans go wrong. If we are forgotten, we are not really forgotten because our loving Father sees us. Seeing God’s provision by using a kind stranger to help us as we arrived in this new country was a foretaste of much more provision to come. His watchful eyes and caring hand would be with us for years into the future.

Prayer

Father, thank you for knowing everything about me – my thoughts and my ways, my coming and my going. You never forget me. May my heart rejoice today because of your watchful care for me.

Personal Reflection

We are never forgotten by God. Read Luke 12:6-7 again. If God never forgets the sparrows and he has numbered the hairs on our head, what does that say about his care for all his creation?

Have you ever felt forgotten by someone? How did the Lord take care of you in that moment?

Read Psalm 139:1-6. What does that passage say about God’s care for you?

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1 Psalm 145:20 NIV

Boo-Eye

But thank God! He has made us his captives and continues to lead us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume. Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing. (2 Corinthians 2:14-15 NLT)

I guess you are wondering what the red stains are all over the area, the local missionary said as we walked through Boroko, a small shopping district near Port Moresby. Crowds of people moved about the streets on foot. I surveyed the scene, and splatters of red caught my attention – on the sidewalk, along the street, in the dirt, and in strange places, such as on the wall of a building. Was it blood? It looked similar to ketchup, and its random sprays were everywhere. What was it? Trash had been swept into piles for pickup, and the red color had even landed there. I avoided stepping in it.

On this day we would open our bank account with the help of a local missionary. He picked us up to drive us around the area and take us to the bank.

"That is the spit from the betel nut. It’s a mild stimulant that many people here chew. The local word is buai [pronounced boo-eye]. They spit the juice from the nut, and it creates a mess on the streets."

I learned that the user chews away until there is a need to spit, much like chewing tobacco. Its mildly euphoric and addictive quality makes it popular with many in the area. Street vendors sell it on the sidewalks. However, it seemed acceptable to spit it randomly anywhere. Sadly, I also learned it ruins teeth and gums and can cause oral cancer.

People walked around with red-stained mouths as they chewed, overwhelming my senses with culture shock as we continued our tour of the area.

In contrast to the dirty streets, the market displayed beautifully woven traditional bags in all sizes, shapes, and colors. Made and sold by the women, these string bags were sewn by hand from colorful yarns and woven together in intricate designs. They introduced us to a wonderful work of art that is the trademark of all Papua New Guineans. Baskets and wood-carved items were on sale in the market as well. Other traditional items such as kundu drums, bows and arrows, and fighting shields are made by the men. Much of their intricate and beautiful artwork was displayed in the market that day.

By the end of our day, we had set up a bank account, gone to the embassy, and done some shopping.

Living in a new country means adjusting to culture, food, dress, language, and traditions. We would learn what was acceptable and what was not. If we weren’t careful, we could unknowingly offend if we ignored cultural standards. Our time of learning had begun, and I was already feeling plenty of culture shock on this day. However, it didn’t mar the joy of the arrival at our new home. We would learn and grow as time allowed.

Every culture will have both good and unlovely things. We can love the one while looking beyond the other. Because God deeply loves and creates all people, he sees the potential in everyone. Yet we often get distracted by the unlovely things that make us uncomfortable. God’s heart’s desire is that we look beyond what we see as unlovely to see the person – the one who needs a Savior, the one for whom Jesus died.

Prayer

Dear Father, help me to be a person who is willing to