Video: Highlands Highway

Here's a short video of what it is like to drive on the (in)famous Highlands Highway in Papua New Guinea:

https://youtu.be/re1aBJL4bts

There is only one road leading from Lae, the coastal port city, up into the hills and through the 'higlands' region of PNG. Sometimes it is paved but then there are potholes, sometimes very large, that must be avoided. In addition, frequent landslides will cover over the road, or will collapse from underneath, taking the road with it.

Also, sometimes there are people that fill the streets, and they must be avoided too! Then there are dogs that wander into the road, and pigs, and goats. Once, I rounded a corner and a large cow was running in my lane straight at my car. I swerved to avoid it and watched as it ran past with about twenty men running after it.

Driving on the Highlands Highway is a little like being in a boxing match. You are constantly on guard, you never know what to expect, and so you can never relax. Sounds fun, right? Strangely you get used to it.

Blessings to you all. Pray for safe travels, in PNG and everywhere else.

Your Missionary in Christ, ~Michael Ritzman

**As a missionary, my work in PNG is only possible because God has used people like you to support us. If you support us financially, please know what a blessing you have been to us and we pray that we can continue that partnership. If you have not yet and are interested in giving, you may do any of the following:

Support our work in PNG by going online to lcms.org/ritzman  
or by sending a tax-deductible gift to:

The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod, PO Box 66861, St. Louis, MO 63166-6861

Make checks payable to: The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod or LCMS

Put in the Memo Line: “Ritzman-PNG”

Alternately, Checks can be mailed to:  
Mission Central, 40718 Highway E16, Mapleton, IA 51034-7105