Thank you for reading these updates. It is much easier in a 3rd world country to write an article than to upload video uploads. The internet and electricity is very unpredictable.
This week we’ve been staying around the Mount Hagen Missionary Home, using this time to build healthy habits that help ground us in a new culture. We’ve been getting more physically active, working steadily through a Tok Pisin curriculum, and making it a point to spend time with people who are willing to help us learn the language. Theresa and Destiny’s Pidgin is becoming clearer. Mine? I’ll get there.
Theresa has grown comfortable enough to step out to the street in front of the mission home, passing out tracts and sharing the gospel. Before long, she plans to begin visiting the hospital across the street to do the same.
Destany had a victory! She passed her final song in this piano level and gets to advance to the next level. She practices a little every day and it shows. She also has began reading chapter books- and really enjoys them!
Today we took a family day and discovered the golf course near the airport. It’s a safe place where we can walk, picnic, play kickball, and simply breathe. Stepping away from the barbed wire fences and the responsibilities of the mission home gave us a real sense of relief—a chance to stretch out and enjoy some space.
Around the Mission Home
While at the mission home, I spoke with three nurses completing their clinicals. Each attends a Church of the Nazarene and shared that they had always been taught salvation comes through turning from sin and keeping the Ten Commandments. I walked them through the Scriptures, and they were glad to hear the gospel of grace. Each said they understood and sensed the Lord working in their hearts, and they prayed to be saved. Though they trusted Christ alone for salvation, you could still sense the weight of years of religious teaching—even a feeling of betrayal by those they had trusted. Please keep them in prayer. The Lord can direct their paths.
One of the wok meri who works here has a sister who visits from time to time. Today she helped me with Tok Pisin, and afterward I shared the gospel with her. The Lord worked in her heart, and she trusted Christ as her Saviour and prayed to be saved.
I have witnessed to other guests; however, no decisions were made. I have peace knowing that God’s word doesn’t return void unto Him.
Nebilyer
Our Wednesday evening meeting in Nebilyer was a real blessing. Preacher John came by the mission home and arranged a ride for us with a friend named Abram. While we sat together beforehand, I had the opportunity to lead Abram to the Lord. He was full of joy and asked if I could speak with his wife later after she hears the sermon.
We went on to the meeting held at Preacher Alfred Harri’s home. The welcome was warm, and it was encouraging to see new converts attending faithfully, along with others who continue to come and listen though they have not yet made a decision.
After the meeting, two who had been attending raised their hands, ready for salvation. We spent time with them in the Word of God, and each trusted Christ alone and prayed to be saved. While I was speaking with them, a young man approached under conviction since last Wednesday. He wanted to trust Christ as well—and he, too, prayed to be saved.
Later, I spoke with Abram’s wife, Sarah (their real names). Raised in a works-based Lutheran setting, she heard clearly for the first time that Christ has already paid for her sins if she would simply believe and receive. She trusted Christ and prayed to be saved, bringing the total to four from that meeting. Of course, only the Lord truly knows each heart, but we will continue to follow up with them and build them up in the Word. Please pray for a burden for this work in Nebilyer.
Upcoming Event
This week I’ll be traveling to Kikori, on the south coast of PNG near Deception Bay, with Missionary Chad Wells and others for outreach. I will be gone for 9 days. During this time we will be taking boats up the river to newly reached villages to distribute tracts and bible portions. Please pray for protection, health, and open doors to preach the gospel.
Jimi
When I return, I’ll spend a little time helping around the mission home, but my heart is to get back to visit Jimi in Jiwaka. If you’ve been following these updates, you may remember Peter from Jimi—a new convert who has been praying for a preacher to come to that remote, mountainous region. He found a phone and called me this week to inform me he has been holding services where people walk for hours just to hear the Word of God. He reads highlighted Scriptures about sin, death, hell, and the coming judgment, explaining as best he can the need for faith in Christ’s blood for salvation. He is doing what he can with what he has. My first thoughts were, “He is not a preacher/pastor” and “is he even qualified”. Then I was reminded that I am not the Holy Spirit and the Lord is able to make us stand or fall. Please pray for these people in Jimi who are hungry for the Word of God, and that the Lord will continue to use Peter as a light in a dark place.
Praying for a Vehicle
The journey there takes four to five hours by Land Cruiser over very rough, mountainous terrain. The roads are barely passable, though still reachable with the right vehicle. We have been praying for a Land Cruiser, asking the Lord to make it clear if this is something He would have us pursue.
For now, we use the mission home van for local needs, but it cannot handle these distant outreaches. I’ve hired a truck in the past to reach Jimi, but it’s costly—and often the driver will only take me one way before leaving to find other passengers. Returning the same day is difficult, as vehicles only run within limited windows. We are seeking the Lord’s direction for reliable transportation to reach these people with the gospel. Please keep this need in prayer as well.
It is worth saying: even though the pressure of being on a foreign field is high, souls getting saved makes it worth it. This life is temporary, but eternity will last forever, and ever, and ever, and ever…
Let us lift up Jesus Christ and He will draw men unto himself.
Until next time, don’t forget about the YouTube playlist of real-life witnessing encounters or the free book download at http://www.cprmissions.org.
CPR Missions 