Missionary Chad Earl found
Search parties have rescued New Tribes missionary Chad Earl along with six other passengers who were missing after a boat sank on its way from the island of West New Britain to the island of New Ireland in Papua New Guinea on Wednesday, September 19th.
Mr. Earl and eight Papua New Guineans set off on the 40-mile ocean journey at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday local time. Between 3:00 and 4:00 p.m., a wave caused by a sudden squall swamped the boat and it sank in a matter of seconds, leaving Chad and the other passengers clinging to wood and cargo from the boat.
Three of the women could not swim so Chad and some of the other men stayed with them. They fastened a gas tank to a wooden deck from the boat and waited for help. They had been traveling with another boat which saw them go down and returned to check on them. However the boat could not offer assistance.
Darkness soon settled in, leaving Chad and the others clinging to a makeshift wooden raft and some cargo for the night. Two of the men drifted apart as they held on to various pieces of cargo. They later drifted to shore while Chad and the others remained at sea.
New Tribes Mission in Papua New Guinea was notified when the boat failed to arrive by dark. Emergency services, embassies, friends, family, and prayer partners were notified. At daybreak planes and helicopters mobilized for search and rescue. Local islanders rallied together, forming a large flotilla of search boats, and went looking for the seven people still at sea. Shortly after 7:30 am, Chad and the others were found. Their rescue came after 15 hours adrift at sea!
Chad has returned to the mainland and plans to re-outfit for his planned People Group Assessment trips. He lost all his gear, computer, and backpack. He was left with only his shorts. However, we are thankful for his safe return and that of the other passengers.
New Tribes Mission thanks the many government officials, especially the National Maritime Safety Authority in Port Moresby, that worked hard to help through this emergency. NTM also thanks the local Patpatar people and others from the surrounding area for doing everything possible to make this a happy outcome. Thank you to each one who prayed.
Ultimately New Tribes Missions is thankful to God who created the ocean and stars, the wind and waves. We are thankful that a great and powerful God cares about people lost in a vast ocean and folks on dry land, praying through the night for their safe return.