this is why God has sent me here!!!

I got this prayer update from a friend in the Mengan tribe i would love you to take 5 mins and read it God is at work even in the deepest jungles of PNG!

The Mengen Minute Volume 112

Dear Friends,

Today we’re all feeling a bit sentimental and emotional as we look back over the past few years and we REJOICE as we see what the Lord has done in the lives of our Mengen friends! What a crazy “ride” it has been. However, we are thrilled to say that by the grace of GOD, we have seen a church planted here amongst the Mengen people.

Yesterday we were privileged to witness the first Mengen baptism. We weren’t sure what to expect, and were amazed to see 16 brave Mengen believers testify of their faith in Christ in front of many unsaved friends and family members. Amongst those 16 people were 6 married couples. What a joy it has been to see both husbands and wives take this step of faith together!!

Sunday morning we awoke to high winds, rain and chilly temperatures. It was disappointing as it looked as though we would have to postpone the baptismal service. However, the Lord cleared the weather and by the time our church service was over, the sun was beginning to peep through the clouds and everyone decided that we should go ahead as we had scheduled.

The location for our baptismal service was a gorgeous pool of water, located in the jungle just down from our houses. Many people gathered to witness the event and we were happy to see quite a few unbelievers there as well, waiting to see what would happen. The first Mengen to be baptized was a keen, young believer named Edward.

Here is Edward’s testimony before he entered the water: “In the past, I was not a good person. Everyone in the village knew that I was a person who stole and drank and fought. But when I placed my trust in Christ’s death, he completely changed me. And for that reason, I want to follow Jesus’ talk and become baptized because His death alone has helped me. I am alright because He completely took away my sin.”

Dave, Lourens and Simon baptized the first few people and from there, 4 Mengen men baptized the rest of the group. It was amazing to see these guys baptizing their wives and brothers and in-laws and friends. It was a terrific testimony not only as each person shared, but to see the interaction of the believers and to see them now beginning to take a bit of leadership as well.

There were so many great testimonies. Bruce said: “I want to become baptized to show people that I have placed my trust in Jesus’ death alone that that I only follow Jesus. My sins are all gone because of Jesus’ death alone. When I die, I will go to be with Him.”

Bruce’s wife Apite gave this testimony: “When I was still in darkness, I know that my heart was filled only filled with things of this earth. But today, I know that Jesus died for my sins. And I am becoming baptized to show this to everyone.”

An older man, Joe Waimo said to the crowd, “All of us here are gathered today for one reason and that is Jesus’ death alone. And we are gathered together with joy that comes from Jesus. He alone is the only way to God and heaven. And for this reason, we are very happy.”

Becky’s translation helper Kariang said, “I believe that God’s son died and shed His blood for my sins. And there is no other ‘road’. He is the one and only way and for that reason, I am getting baptized today.

Praise the Lord with us!!

- We have seen these believers come SO far in the past couple of years and their testimonies have had a real impact on the community already.

- Praise the Lord that in spite of persecution, these 16 people have taken a stand for their faith (very much against their own culture)

- Praise the Lord that the Flanagans have moved in and started language study.

Please Pray with us!!

- Please continue to pray for a number of the Mengen believers who are struggling these days. There are perhaps 10 others who did not get baptized and are dealing with various things. Please pray that they would find grace and comfort to help them in their times of need.

- Pray for 2 new literacy classes that have started up. This will be the first class that is being taught by the Mengen people themselves. Pray for Edward, Alex and Bruce as they teach, for wisdom and understanding as they begin to take leadership roles.

- Pray for Lourens as he finishes up language study in a few weeks and for the Laureti family as they prepare for furlough next month.

- Pray for Becky as she leaves for furlough this week, for safety in travel and a restful time at home.

- Pray for the Mengen church as Dave teaches through the book of Acts, that they would continue to learn and grow in their faith and that they would stand strong in the face of persecution.

Joyfully serving the King of Kings,

The Mengen team (Wrights, Laureti’s, Flanagans, Keri Pacheco, Rebecca Preheim)

(first picture: Dave Wright and Edward baptizing Edward’s wife Francesca)

(second picture: Lourens Laureti and Edward baptizing Bruce)

Look at the Joy in this guys face he is the first believer to be baptised in this tok place (language group)

it has been a good week for me was a bit frustrated at the start didn't really think i was getting hold of the language and I know I'm just starting out but i want to get it!

please pray for patience

and that i can get my head down and get stuck into some serious work!

pray for my family at home

pray for the Mengan believers who are facing persecution for the stand they took pray for many of the Mengan people who still need to believe in the good news of Jesus Christ!

praise God that he has given me the privilege of serving Him here.

that he has given me some great team mates to work along side.

for giving me a room mate for the first month as i get settled in, Michel.

that he Loved me enough to die for me, you and the world!

Geoff

Gods faithfulness

To all my friends in Killicomaine,

the other day i was looking at the front cover of the church web site and it struck me that God has fulfilled his promise many times over Mt 19:29 "And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life.

Not only do i have my own family at home now I have a church family praying and caring for me, I have friends looking out for me and on top of that I have a whole new family here.

what a faithful god we have who gives so bountiful and generously what else can we do but rejoice!

Something else to rejoice about, as i write this blog or soon after some new brothers and sisters are being Baptised, it will be the first time in the history of this people group that this has happened!

Please pray for these babes in Christ is they face persecution from family and friends as what they are doing and how they are living goes against their culture.

This week starting Monday I'm starting language study on my own last week was a bit of a refresher to remind us how to acquire the language and culture, now its time to do it.

Please pray that God will bring the right people into my path, people that will help me learn but also people i can share the love of Christ with.

Pray for my family at home as the plumbs are starting pray someone will be there to take my place.

Rejoice in a faithful God who answers prayer

Eph 3:14 ¶ For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,

16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man,

17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love,

18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height--

19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,

21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

God is GOOD

I'm Just about to give my testimony in the meeting we have here on Sunday mornings, so i have been reflecting back on what God has done for me. you know what i have discovered he is so much more than good.

For a start I could have been born in the middle of a jungle somewhere with no hope of ever hearing the gospel but instead God brought me into a home that was Christian, that gave me a good grounding, but of course I rejected that for a long time did my own thing. God is still good he never left me and he brought me into his arms 10 years ago and he continues to make me like Him, his word says Php 1:6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.

God has begun a good work in me and you if you believe him and he will complete it one day we too will be good is that not amazing!

Is that not Gods grace to us how many of us can say we deserve His goodness but yet everyday we receive it we receive his goodness.

REJOICE HE IS GOOD!!!!!!!!!!

LIVE FOR HIS GLORY!!!!!!!!

just about to dive in

Hi guys
just about to tuck into some home made Cinnamon rolls and coffee MMMMMMMMMMMMMM!
That's just part of life in the tropics but what i really want to share is what is starting, I'm starting to dive into National Culture Language Acquisition (NCLA), this mouth full is just to say that im starting to learn the national language and culture of Papua New Guinea (PNG).

I have been going out already into the houses around about the base and meeting a few people and just listening to them 'story' (just talking about any subject), then maybe asking them questions in pigin.

The Lord has been good concerning this as i can remember quite a bit of language from the last time i was here, so really i have been working on it since i left the plane in Port Moresby.

The main thing is to just keep using the language and practising it with the people. Its an awesome opportunity to meet new people and make new friends.

Please pray that I can meet someone who can teach me pidgn (Language Helper), who understands English and speaks pidgn well.
Please pray i can build good relationships and be a good example for Christ.
for may family at home,

Praise God that i have got settled in well,
that the weather has not been too hot so as to get acclimatised before the hot weather really starts.
for new friends.

That's all for now if you have any questions feel free to email me.

keep looking to Him

Geoff

for Gods amazing faithfulness.

day 5, Sunday already, i'm struggling to understand why God would give me the Privilege of working somewhere so beautiful, his grace is amazing I have to rejoice in him for all he has done for me the past week.
I pray I will still rejoice when the hard times and lonely times come too because I know they will come but our God never changes he is still the same God that was with moses, david, and his Son on the cross.
I pray He will help me remember his blessings to me when times are hard as well as good. i pray he will help u to remember what he has done for u when the hard times come we would live out our lives for the praise of His Glory.
have an awesome Sunday rejoicing in our KING!

Hoskins

Hi All,
well after 7 years i have finally made it back to Hoskins, are God takes his time but he works all things out for his glory.
please pray that i might bring glory to our mighty Gods name in my new life out here.
more will follow but im just trying to get my head sorted after 4 mad days for travel!

Hong Kong

Greetings from Hong Kong, the Lord has been so good on the trip so far, all my flights have worked well and got all my luggage on all my flights. Just one more internal flight to go. Thats where they might get me for my over weight bag.

I have to say the Lord really has been with me through the storm.

"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you."(Isa 43:2)

He has given me a great peace about my work. I really am excited about getting stuck into language making new friend and learning about a new culture.

I know there will be hard days ahead and many tough dicisions to make but I know I wont be walking alone.

Thank you all for your prayers.

Got to go battery is about to die and plane about to leave.

see u in Hoskins

Geoff