trees, mu mu's and weddings!

It has been a very busy October; it all started with a trip by commercial plane to the Highlands of PNG, where I was to spend the next 3 weeks cutting trees for 2 of our mission centres. At thefirst centre I pruned and felled about 12 trees. That doesn’t sound like much but the biggest one took 2 1/2 days to fell, the rest were far from easy as the trees in the highlands just grow and grow. There really isn’t a season where they rest, so this produces massive trees very quickly!

During this time I spent a weekend in the North Wagi tribe with a friend of mine from N.I. who has been working there for a few years now, he and his partners have just started to teach a literacy programme to the people in their village. While I was there I had the privilege to sit in on one of the classes and also experience my first pig Mu Mu! Which is a pig and various vegetables all cooked together in banana leaves under a pile of hot rocks!

the next centre I went to I pruned about 12 trees. Here too most were huge and most were over power lines of houses or a combination of the 2 which didn’t make for fun work. I also got to fell a few trees for the local church which 1 was over the road, I got to experience traffic control PNG style, and trying to control it all using Tok pidgin, fun experience and no one hurt plus it was the fastest I have ever seen a tree removed!

Dar Gail and I met first on a mission trip 4 years ago. We got on really well but me being a guy didn’t realise she liked me and to be honest I didn’t think someone as amazing as Dar Gail could love me like she does and she does!

Well fast forward to August 6th this year I saw her on Facebook and said hi and well we got talking and talking and talking then we progressed to Skype which is pretty much every night since.

We eventually came to the conclusion that we had to meet so she made a big sacrifice to come to Cairns to meet me again and see what would happen. Last week, again it was amazing, we felt very comfortable in each other’s company. So the Saturday before we parted, while we were walking along a tropical beach just north of Cairns I dropped to my knees and proposed and miracle of miracles she said yes!

All through this we have seen the Lords hand guiding us and leading us — it’s just so easy together. I can talk to her about anything. It’s awesome! Mission is both our hearts desire. I really believe we both can make a real impact for Christ in this world!

So I praise God for bringing this amazing Girl into my life!

She is from Florida and we will be getting married there on February 18th to be exact, if I can get Visas sorted, and that will be the big one! She is an MK (Missionary kid) from Venezuela and her dad is just phasing out of his work there. It’s amazing how even her family, even though they don’t know me from Adam, have accepted me. It really is a God thing!! Again the Lord is in control with all of this and we trust him for it all!

 

Well I hope that covers all the questions but if u have any more please feel free.

Hi All,
sorry it been a while since i last Blogged, right now I'm in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea, doing some tree work at the NTM center here. so right now I'm a bit stiff and sore for all the extra exercise but feeling the better for it. I have 3 week in all here with lots packed into those weeks.
 The first week is almost over and i have got a lot accomplished felling 3 very large trees and pruning 2 large trees.
The biggest advantage of being in the Highlands is the heat its almost perfect, its even cool in the evenings, which I'm loving and its much easier to work during the day as it has much less humidity here so its like working on a warm summers day in N.Ireland.
This week end i have been offered the opportunity to go to visit a tribe in this area it about a 3 hour truck drive from the center, i set out tomorrow morning around 6:30am. The language group I'm visiting is the North Wahgi group.
when i get back i will hopefully have some pics to show you all, i would value your prayers as i will be doing alot of traveling by road which is not always the easiest here lots of pot holes etc.
Pray to that i would be an encouragement to the missionaries there.

Dear Friends,

It has been quite some time since many of you have heard from me and for that I am very sorry. Life here is busy and since I last talked to you there have been many changes, the biggest of which is that the school has closed down due to staffing problems. This has turned things upside down a bit as some families have had to leave because of their kids’ education needs; those who have stayed are going to be homeschooling their children. Most of the families are doing this together as a group.

This has given me a new opportunity – I have been asked to teach the New Testament this year, going through it entirely in one year. Needless to say, this is a massive challenge to me but it’s also a great opportunity to put my faith in our God; not just some belief, but real faith.
Just this morning as I was teaching the class God challenged me – He challenged me from 2 wee parables from Matt. 13:44, 45. How do we/I seek the Kingdom of heaven? Do I give my all or do I just give a half, a quarter or an eighth of my life to Him? Do I really give my life completely to Him because I realise that He is the greatest treasure I could ever have? Do I give my all because He will give the greatest return possible? – His Heavenly Kingdom. My focus again needs to be heaven ward, giving my all for His Kingdom and not dwelling on my kingdom.

Some other news – pidgin study is officially finished; this doesn’t mean I’m done learning though, because I’m learning new things every day and realising that I still have a long way to go. I am using it every day as I work alongside my 3 local workers Joshua, Joshua and Michael, keeping the grounds of the centre clean and tidy, and the grass and hedges trimmed. This is no easy task as, unlike N. Ireland, leaves fall all year round; grass and hedges grow all year round so there really is no off season. Please pray for wisdom as I interact every day with these guys, as it can be frustrating for us both when I’m not clear in my instructions and my culture mixes with theirs. I need to find the balance between the relaxed PNG culture (here) and the busy western culture (home) neither being wrong but just different.

Something to be praying about as regards my ministry – I took the ministry on in financial debt and one of my jobs is to get it out of this debt; I trust in God that He will sort this, but please just be in prayer for this. Also the equipment is getting on a bit and maintenance costs rise with this as parts have to be bought from the USA, UK or Australia; availability of parts locally is very limited and expensive, so it is cheaper and more efficient to replace the machine. We have had an offer of help to buy new equipment e.g. ride-on mowers, knapsack sprayers, hedge cutters etc. Please be in prayer for these needs. If you think you would like to help with this in any way or would like some more information please don’t hesitate to contact me.

I have also become involved in the local community with helping them make our local area a bit cleaner. This has only started and it’s hard work but worth it all; the grass is cut down with machetes (bush knives), raked into piles and burned. Working alongside these guys is opening new doors for new friendships and maybe new doors for the Gospel.

Towards the end of September I will be going to the mainland for a few weeks to another centre to prune and fell some trees. Please pray for safety as there are some big trees here.

Just a wee exciting note to finish on – the other morning I was walking about the centre here and I came across one of the local ladies who work on centre. She was reading something, and as I got closer I saw she was reading God’s Word. This lady, who is called Flavia, lives about a 45-minute walk away from the centre but this morning she came in early to get some quiet time to read God’s Word before she started work. It’s just so class to see God’s Word penetrating into so many and varied lives!

Please Pray –

• For the Lives of the 3 boys I’m teaching in Bible class, that their desire would be the Kingdom of Heaven.
• For the 3 Guys I have working with me – Michael, Joshua and Joshua; for their health, as sickness is a big part of life here and malaria is a massive problem in this area; and that I would have the opportunity to guide them toward the Kingdom of Heaven.
• For wisdom as I work between 2 cultures – that I can find the middle ground but glorify God at the same time.
• For my walk with the Lord – that I can put aside distractions, and focus on Him.
• For my family at home in N. Ireland – for health, strength and wisdom.

Praise –

• That I finished my pidgin study.
• For God’s mercy and grace to me every day.
• For God working in the hearts of the local people group (Nakanai). God has planted a small group of believers in this local area.
• For the opportunity to interact with the local community in a different way, and that I can use my skills to help them.

Also, to keep up to date with what’s happening with me in PNG please check out my Blog online at http://killicomaine2.blogspot.com

David

Hi Guys this is from one of our tribal locations God is working in a huge way!!

Dear Friends,

To God be the glory, great things He has done!

Yesterday evening, our local villagers came with word that a young boy named David was very sick. When my coworkers went to see him, they were shocked to see how poorly he was doing. We were able to bring him over to Laureti’s house and wondered what in the world we should do for him. None of us have very much medical experience, especially when it comes to tropical diseases.

Thankfully we were able to get ahold of the NTM doctor on the mainland of PNG. He told us to start David on malaria treatment and also strong antibiotics. Because David was so “out of it”, he was not able to swallow pills, so we had to give him shots. As we looked through our small amount of medical supplies, the only ‘injectable’ medications we had on hand were the exact ones that the doctor was mentioning!! Another miracle.

So….to make a long story short, David was given two sets of shots throughout the night. This morning, he still looked very bad off. In fact, we wondered if he would last long enough for them to carry him up the mountain 1.5 hours to the local medical aid post.

A few minutes ago, we finally got word that David arrived at the clinic and the doctor was able to start him on IV meds right away. Apparently within a short time, David perked up and even spoke a few words. A huge step for a guy that was at death’s door just a few hours ago!! The doctor figures that David has meningitis and that we gave the exact medication that he needed. (thanks to the Lord and not to us!!!)

David will remain at the clinic for a few more days, but the doctor thinks that David is going to pull through!! Thanks so much for praying!! This is an incredible testimony to David’s unsaved family. Last night as David lay dying, the believers gathered around and prayed, asking that the Lord’s will would be done. We are so thrilled that the Lord has seen fit to preserve David’s young life.

Please pray specifically for David’s parents. They have heard the Bible teaching, but remain “on the fence” when it comes to choosing to follow Christ. In fact, David’s mother has told us that she is going to follow 2 roads. Hmm. We have tried to explain that the 2 roads she wants to follow lead in opposite directions, but she still clings to her traditional beliefs. Pray too for David’s father. At one point we thought he may be a believer, but he has been so wishy-washy, that we don’t know for sure. Please pray that this family would recognize the miracle the Lord has performed, and they would also understand how fragile life is!

--------------------------------------

Just as I was about to finish up this email, some guys came over to our house. I guess the whole village is abuzz, talking about this amazing miracle that the Lord has done. It is turning out to be a huge, wonderful time of teaching for us as we point out the fact that it was GOD who has healed David. Up until this point, people would go first to the witch doctor for healing, but this time, the sick person was given actual, real medicine, which is what saved his life. We have been able to explain how God has given knowledge to “scientists” and they have made medicine which helps us. This is a new concept for these people, so we are thrilled to be able to use this experience as a teaching tool for them. Of course this isn’t the first person that has received help through modern medicine, but this is one of the first times that no magic was performed and they can strictly see that it is God who has done this work.

Thanks so much for your prayers. Please pray for David’s continued healing and for his unsaved family members, for their spiritual healing!!

Becky

A week in the Life

As most of you know now I have recently started my job as CMA Manager here on centre, there is much to keep me busy here with grass to be constantly cut, leaves raked, hedges cut, trees pruned and felled even footpaths washed.

So to give u a wee idea of what I do and who I work with I have some photos below to help give You all some perspective on my work.

Joshua Trimming hedges, this gets done usually once every 2 months or so not for vanity but necessity as plants here never really stop growing!
How do you dispose of all Your rubbish? You put it in your bin and the nice friendly binmen take it away to a land fill somewhere. We don't have any binmen here no do we have a landfill site so we have to deal with it ourselves by digging a large pit and burning and burying the rubbish, you may ask why not recycle? Well the simple answer is that there are no or very few facilities here for that.
Power washing footpaths twice a year done for safety reasons, as we live in the tropics we have lots of rain at times and also lots of heat which combines nicely on cement to make a nice slime which is very slippy. above is Joshua (not the same as the first pic) who also work with me.
This is how to load a wheel barrow!!! this is James who helps in cleaning up once a week when this was taken we were cleaning banana trees (they aren't trees but a herb).
We have Lots of trees on center therefore lots of pruning and felling. trees here are amazing they grow so fast, trees planted 7-8 years ago are now 30 - 40 ft in height. We have palm trees coconut trees, Mango trees, avocado trees, frangapnai and many other types all in desperate need of maintenance.
Daryl is our base mechanic, he helps me with a lot of my mower maintenance he also looks after the center generators and vehicles. this is Seth his son.
Again we are cutting hedges, this is Micheal cutting here who has worked on center for about 12 years and just recently lost his wife.

Finally cutting grass done once a week, takes about a day to do with 2 ride-on mowers a push mower and a brush cutter.

I hope this gives u a bit of an idea of what i'm doing here, i was recently asked to take a class for the home schooled kids teaching them the New Testament taking a full school year to cover the whole New Testament, its a lot of work but its a real privilege to do it.

Please pray for me as i interact with the guys who work with me Michael, James, Joshua y., and Joshua T, pray my life would be an example to them of Christ.

pray for my new job in the school and for the students i will be teaching.

in September i have been asked to go to the NTM HQ for a few weeks to prune some trees for them, pray for safety and wisdom with this job.

thoughts

I read this a few days ago and it really made me think about how we look at the sin in our lives and how we look at the law.” As 4 Mwinika men helped translate bible stories from creation to exodus, they began to see Gods holiness.
One man said ‘We are worried about Gods standards. Just show us the Law. We want to know the list of rules we need to do!’

But when they translated the Ten Commandments into their language, they realised how desperately they fell short of Gods standards. They said ‘we are all at zero! We have no chance!’ they covered there face and began to cry. The missionary cried too, assuring them that he came to tell them they are in trouble but there is hope.

The Law was doing what God meant it to do: showing them there sin and preparing them to hear about Jesus!”

When you see the law how do you react does it break you, do you realise like these men that without Christ we are helpless we can never reach Gods standard of holiness. Its only through Christ and his grace that we can ever hope to reach Gods standard of holiness. Does Gods holiness every break us do we every look at our lives and realise without Christ we are without hope. Praise God we have Hope in Christ, in him our future is assured, as will these men’s future as someone gave their lives so that other might hear of the hope that is in us.

We have the privilege of hearing about and reading about Gods standard and also his grace we can Worship him freely but what about those who have never heard or those who want to hear and cant because there are not enough people to bring the news.

Read more about how many tribal people are hearing the gospel for the first time by going too http://usa.ntm.org/field-news/ntm-at-work/

Prayer:

we have recently had some Maleu Believers on center helping translate the New Testament into there language we have just heard that one of these guys (Gibson) has not been heard from in a few days, he was last seen heading out to sea in a small boat with some others. please pray for these guys that they would be found as there been no sign at all not even wreckage.

The Month of June has been to say the least a bit of a mad month, so much has happened this month I hardly know where to start.

James 1:2 “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials”.

We have had a difficult month or so the biggest difficulty or trial has been the closing of our school here due to lack of teaching staff and a principle. How does this affect me as I don’t have any kids, but it does as the school plays a central role in the life of Hoskins centre and allows our family’s here concentrate on their various ministries therefore keeping the bush guys doing their work of bringing the gospel. It allows kids to stay with their parents rather than be sent to a boarding school. It also means a reduced number of kids on centre which makes the place a bit quieter. So ultimately the face of Hoskins centre has changed because of this decision, it will mean a bit more work for us all on the centre. It’s hard to count such hardship for joy but through trails God moulds and changes us to be more like his image, to depend on him in the hard times to get us through them. I can rejoice knowing that nothing is out of His control.

In other ways it has been busy with our regional conference, this was great as I got to put names to faces of those guys who spend their lives in a bush location learning a new culture and language so as to being the gospel to the lost of this land. I then had a trip the north to another island and no I’m not back in N. Ireland but I was in New Ireland which is to the north and east of us. I was asked to look after our guest house for a week while the manager and his family had a well-earned break. It was a great privilege to be able to do this and I thank God for the opportunity. I got to see another side of the support ministry and get to know some of our missionaries in New Ireland as well as have a bit of a break on the way back I got to stay in Kokopo (capital of east New Britain) for 2 nights getting to see an active volcano close up and the devastation it caused (don’t worry it wasn’t erupting when I was beneath itJ) also some remains from the Japanese occupation from WWII.

To finish this month off it finished on a bit of a high for me as after about 8 months of study I finally completed my formal learning of ‘Tok Pisin’, this doesn’t mean I have finished learning (many of u would say I would need to keep learning my English;) ) just the official side of it, I know I have a long way to go in my learning but with God’s help I will get there. For now I can start on my ministry of CMA manager in other word looking after the grounds of the centre. This involves organizing work for 2 local workers Joshua and Joshua and one other guy who has been off for a few months looking after his wife who recently passed away, Michael. Looking after the equipment used to do this job i.e. mowers, strimmers etc. Also keeping an eye on the finical side of things as mowers need fuel and parts and workers need paid there need to be a budget. One other side to my work is training the workers to use the equipment properly and maintain them. There is also an opportunity to show the love of Christ to these guys.

Thanks to our God for giving me these opportunities and the difficulties that come along with leadership which I pray I will be able to count as joy in my life and something for learning and refining me.

Thanks to all of you for your continued support and prayers without which I wouldn’t be here allowing the gospel to reach the lives of the lost men and women, boys and girls of PNG.

Please pray for the 2 Joshua’s and Michael as I work with them that they will come to know Christ.

For the Kids and parents on the centre as they start to Home school.

Pray for Michael as he faces life without his wife.

That I would be faithful in my ministry and wise in its running.

That I would not be too proud to take advice and help.

Praise for the completion of my language study.

Gods continued Grace in my life, I need it every day!

Thanks to u all

Geoff

House, formal etc

These are a few snaps of my new house it has the lived in look rather than the show house look:)

this is the bathroom

my study/store room
kitchen The cupboard doors are on there way just waiting for hinges. the joys of living in png cant just pop down to B&Q for stuff they may have it in town but if not its a waiting game and has to be ordered either from another part of the country or more likely from Australia, US or home. but this is all good as it does teach patience!

Living room
Bedroom
Below are some pictures of the school formal we had here a few weeks ago i had the priviledge of helping at this.



it has been and will be a busy few weeks ahead as last night we had the high school graduation and next week we will be having our islands region conference when all the guys from the tribal works gather to share what they have been doing and also get some teaching from Gods word.

things with me are going well i have one last check with my language (i hope) then i will be able to go into my ministry full time right now im only working 2hrs a day just trying to keep on top of things, having to work out a budget for my ministry so we can begin to get things sorted out. it has been a challenge doing language and work at the same time and its very easy for work to win but im realizing that the work will always be there but this time with language is a very precious time which will benefit me more in the long term.

Jas 1:2 ¶ My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials

this verse is becoming more and more real to me as the challanges of mission life become more real every day. thank you all for your continued prayers and support.

Geoff

Prayer

This could be quite a massive weekend for some friends of mine Gabby and Vinsentia, i have asked for prayer for these guys before but this time it could be really special, they have been going through teaching with some local believers (its the same teaching NTM use in the tribe). well these guys have reached the "head of the talk" or the climax of the story of Christ His death burial and resurrection. so please pray the the Holy Spirit will move inside these guys hearts and they will "tainim bel" or have a transformed heart, transformed by the love and grace of our Christ!

also as you all know i'm still in language study well tomorrow Friday the 4th i will be taking another test i'm hoping this test will bring me to Capable low or mid which will only leave one more stage till i finish right now i'm on progressing high.

Please continue to pray for the hearts and lives of Papa New Guinea that this amazing country will seek after Christ!

Thank you all for ur continued prayerful support of Christs work for me here and continue to pray for my family at home.

thanks

Geoff

prayer points

Just a quick note to say im envloved on helicopter shuttles this week would reallly value your prayers lot of work and pressure.

alos a big praise item i have moved into my new house this week still living out of bags and boxs but its getting to a livable state

thanks for your prayers and thanks to Our King who made our lives as they are full of challanges!

thanks

Geoff

bush trip

Hi friends,

Hope You are all well and continually seeking our great King for our lives, it is only he who has been there from the very beginning of our lives and before and he will be there long after we have left this earth, I pray that we will all be with him in heaven.

I want to tank u all again for the amazing support u have been to me over the past few months, time is flying by and lots has been happening over the past few weeks.

Language is going well getting out most days but I would really like to get into a good routine with this it still seems to be a bit random with the people I’m going out to learn with although going to lots of people means you’re making lots of friends. I pray that I would really be able to focus on language not just to finish it and get it out of the road but to finish well and be able to commicate well with those I work with every day. I am seeing how important that is every day as it’s so easy to miss communicates even with English speakers!

I have officially taken on the role centre maintaince manager, this week, it is a part time role at the minute till I get language down which add a few extra challenges with time management but so far it’s not going too badly. What I do is grounds maintaince of the centre, keeping everything looking tidy and useable for all the missionaries on centre and in the Bush when they come out for a break. My duties involve cutting grass trees, hedges, removal of rubbish( which is a massive challenge when u don’t have a bin lorry to take it away) you can imagine with around 70 people on centre its quite a challenging job. Maintaince of the machines which do this work.

Please continue to pray for Michael and his wife as she is still very sick.

Please pray for me this week as I’m going back to Lele again to visit the Mengan people, this time it will be work not play, lots of jobs ahead like working on the airstrip, cutting trees, laying concrete, I’m flying in on Monday morning at about 7am. Would value your prayers for safety and a good time of work.

Thank you all for your prayers and support

Geoff

New believers, earthquakes and waterfalls.

It’s been a mad few weeks since I last shared my adventures for that I’m sorry. But it has been an action packed few weeks with a trip into the bush to visit a new church, my language assessment and starting my ministry and also the earthquake in Japan.

Firstly no need to panic, the Japanese earthquake didn’t affect us much here but a few other areas where NTM is situated had to be evacuated for a short time but there has been no problems from the tsunami Praise the Lord.

Last Friday I had my first bush trip into a village called Lele, I have been there before but the last time last time I was there was no church and no believers, since then there has been quite a bit of up heavel and the devil has defiantly tried to stop God from planting his church praise God he has not stopped it and a new church is now living and growing. It was totally amazing to

see a new light in the believer’s faces and even more to sing praises with them last Sunday. While I was there the missionary (Dave) who was teaching did a practice lesson before he taught the church as a whole just to check that he was clear and correct on his translation, aI was there was no church and no believers, since then there has been quite a bit of up heavel and the devil has defiantly tried to stop God from planting his church praise God he has not stopped it and a new church is now living and growing. It was totally amazing to see a new light in the believer’s faces and even more to sing praises with them last Sunday. While I was there the missionary (Dave) who was teaching did a practice lesson before he taught the church as a whole just to check that he was clear and correct on his translation, after this one man asked ‘Christ has done so much for us what can we do for him’ Dave was very excited to hear this firstly it meant he understood his message but more than that he was understanding more of God’s grace

and mercy to him. The message was on rom3:20-22, God revealing the truth that we are righteous in Christ by faith in Christ. It’s only our faith in Christ not our works or religion. Works and religion is a major part of their way of life as it is with much of the world, religion blinds us to the simplicity of the Gospel Christ has done all for us, he has paid the price for our sins we are forgiven all we have to do is believe, it’s that simple! Please pray for the people of Lele that more will come to know Christ but also for the people surrounding our centre here they very much need to hear the clear teaching of the Gospel in their own tongue.

Our bush trip began by a 7hour truck drive the first 4or5 hours were on reasonably good roads but the last 20k or so took 2hrs as it was all rough stony roads.
After the truck drive we had a 4hr hike down to river then up to the village we were to live in for the next few days. We arrived safe and sound to Pizza and I shower!
Over the next few days we h

ad a few more hikes to some very beautiful waterfalls in the middle of the jungle. When God mad his creation he made it good even in its fallen state it’s still pretty amazing.

Another person is Alexia she is a young girl with club foot she can get about but with an operation she will never have a normal life please pray that the lord will provide for Alexia.

My language check was the day after I came back from my bush

trip, I will admit to being a bit disappointed whit my result but I think that it was mainly pride that was hurt. I am now at progressing high this means I have 3 more stages before I can begin my ministry full time, right now I’m at the maintaince work about 10hrs a week the rest of the time is spent in language study.

That will do for now again any questions please feel free to drop me an email.

Geoff

language and bush trip

Hi All

Very sorry you haven’t heard from me in a while but my computer decided to quit last Monday and I’m only now getting it up and running. But saying that it’s been nice to read a book without the distractions a computer brings at times. I’m still not fully operational at minute but should be up and running soon, I hope.

This week held a bit of a change for me and I’m sorry I didn’t tell u before about it as I would have valued your prayers on it. This week I had my first week of the ministry I will be doing in the near future, I was working on the grounds of the centre here. This held many challenges from being a boss to landscaper. Being a boss I had to deal with time keeping and people not showing up, training new staff and much more. I have to admit the Lord was good he gave me much grace through it all and allowed me to make some mistakes but also help sort them. It was also a good break from language and gave me an idea what I will be up against when I begin my new ministry.

As for language my next big challenge is the 15^th of march next Wednesday when I have my next language check, this one seems to be a bit bigger than the others as I would like to be able to start putting paragraphs together. To do this I need to get the tenses and personal pronouns right for example:

I went to town yesterday - mi bin go long taun asde

mi = me, ol= a lot of people or them or they, mipela = we, us not included the person you are talking too – mipela i go pinis asde = we went yesterday

Bin= been, past tense (bai = future tense)

Just to give u a wee idea what I’m up against, it’s not too hard but fitting it all in and remembering to put it in is a bit of a challenge.

Before I do my language check I get my first full on bush trip into Lae Lae this is a village in the middle of the jungle its part of the Mengan people group. I have been here before but it was a long time ago. We will leave on Friday morning, taking a truck as far as we can then it’s a 2 or 3 hour hike through the jungle to Lae Lae.
The last time I was in this village there was no established church now there is a growing church so I’m excited to see the difference.

Please pray for our truck trip and hike on Friday then back out on Tuesday the following week.
For the guys I will be working with in CMA (centre maintence) Mikel, Joshua and Joshua these are 3 national guys, I’m not sure if they are saved but pray I have good opportunities to build friendships.
For my language check and for my learning up to that point that I can get good chances to learn.

Praise for Gods goodness to me and my family at home they all seem to be doing well apart from my brother who cut the tendons in his finger so he is in a cast for a few weeks.
For the chance to go bush even for a few days and see a tribal church in action.

Thank You all for your prayers and support

Geoff

some pics and a bit of an update

Here are some pictures from my times out and about language learning.

These were taken yesterday

while i was talking with some friends by the beach this guy in his canoe came over to me and showed me his fish (pis) and how he used his umbin (net).

This week i got to go to one of the newer tribal works, the Nakinai work. One of the missionaries was leaving and I got the opportunity to give him a hand moving and cleaning the rubbish out of his house.

as part of my language study i had the opportunity to cut Copra which is the meat from coconuts, this is hard work it my not look like much but in this heat and with a mountain of coconuts in front of u to do its a lot! this meat goes to be dried then sold for processing.

Another bit of exciting news is our container arrived, earlier than expected, the Lord is Good even in the small things!

Last Saturday was spent working on the new CMA workshop this is where i will be working when my language is complete.

It’s been a busy few days but i have to thank God for the opportunities he is giving me, next week i get a tour of the local hospital and hope to get out and use the umbin myself, maybe even catch some fish!

Please continue to remember my Family at home especially my Mum, praise God every thing seem to be going well there, i thank God that he is Providing in many ways.

pray for me as i continue on in language that i can get lots of chances to learn from this amazing culture.

I have Bush orientation coming soon not sure where yet but there are a few exciting prospects ahead!

thank God for his mercy to me and us all every day!

thank you all for your support to me and your prayers they mean a lot. if you have any questions please feel free to write me or email me I would love to help you know more about what I'm doing here.

cutting copra(the meat from coconuts)

Ryan and Alexia

Hi Friends,

i thought i would send u this we update from one of my friend in the bush, it gives u some idea what these believers go through they really need our prayer.

also it was amazing seeing the prayer for alexia being answered as she is well on the way to recovery. continue to pray for baby ryan not sure what is wrong but please pray.

i will be going in to this tribe in march please pray that all my plans will work out as a group of us are planning to hike in so it will be a bit of an adventure. the people group is the Mengan people.

geoff

Dear Friends,

Today I got an email from my co-workers in Papua New Guinea. There are 2 little children in our village who are critically ill and need your prayers. One of the sick kids is a newborn baby, Ryan. His parents are Loso and Jacqueline and they are both believers in Christ. The other child is Alexia. She's 10 years old and has suffered a seizure and is experiencing severe head pain and is incoherrent at times. Alexia's parents Kamilus and Josephine were some of the first Mengen believers. We are thankful that these 4 Christian parents are standing strong for Christ, but we know that they are afraid and worried as they see their children suffer.

Please pray that the Lord would bring healing to baby Ryan and precious Alexia. Pray too for their parents, that the Lord would give them peace and comfort.

You may remember another sick child, young Marion who died around Christmastime. As is typical of the Mengen people, there are always accusations and problems that arise when someone becomes ill. When Marion became sick and then died, everyone in the village said that this all happened because her parents chose to follow Christ and reject the old ways including magic for healing. Marion's parents continue to take steps forward day by day. Please continue to pray for their comfort and healing.

We appreciate your prayers SO MUCH. We know that the Lord has plans for these dear children and their families. We pray that the Lord would see fit to raise them to health and strength. However, we know that the Lord's ways are not our own, so we trust that whatever happens, that He would get the glory and honor and that this would challenge our unsaved Mengen friends, and cause them to consider the fraility of life and to hunger to know the truth of God's Word.

Half way

Hi Friends,
some good news to share with you all, today i passed my language test gaining progressive Mid which is about the halfway point. to begin fultime ministry i must reach capipable high so it will probably be another 2-3 months till i finish up completely.

thank you for all your prayers

Geoff

Excitements and frustrations

Php 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

This week has been spent in language and I have had some encouraging days but also a few frustrating days.

The good days are those when I have started to piece together new words into sentences now the problem is using these new words in sentences for e.g. tasol this word has to meaning 1) being finished or end 2) being but, as with English this is put into the middle of a sentence where the other is put at the start.

I think this week I will have my second language check, this will let me know where I am in regards to language and I will know roughly how much more work I will have to do.

The frustration sets in when people start to talk about the Lord, I really don’t want to confuse them or say something that will lead them down a wrong path so I have to pull back from these conversions a bit. I look forward to the day when I can help my friends at least a bit closer to the lord although I won’t be able to be able to ever share clearly in there heart language but you never can tell what the Lord has around the corner.

I also moved this week to another temporary house till my house is finished. I have put some pictures below just to give you an idea what my new house is like.

I thank God for his provision for the first week with George and Norma for putting up with me and now for my next house, for all the guys who have been working hard on the new house. God meet every need of mine and more thank you Lord!

Whether frustrated or not I’m not complaining because my God has met all my needs and as I continue to trust him for my language I know that that need will be met too.

Kitchen and living room

hallway leading to utility room

bed room (with all the trim fitted)

week 1

Thank you all for your continued prayers and support thought I would get you up to date on the happenings of the week.

After a busy set of flights from Belfast, Heathrow, Bangkok, Sydney, Port Moseby and finally arriving in New Britain on Sunday evening around 4:45pm, i was greeted by the person who first met me off the plane the first time i landed in PNG Back in 2002 George Tinker.

Unfortunately my new apartment is not ready yet but the guys are working at getting it finished within the next month, it just at the final stage of fitting cupboard doors and fitting trim.

It’s been a busy week, getting straight back into language on Monday afternoon by going 'walkabout' to meet up with some old friends and say hello.

Tuesday was more of the same getting out and talking lots or 'storying' as they call it in tok pidgin, which is basically sitting down and talking about life, this is great for learning language as its being used all the time and new words come up all the time, so all the time your gathering new vocabulary. Even better your building friendships.

Wednesday was more of the same walking and talking, we ended up at Roberts house one of the guys who helps us in language study, he was having his fishing net mended, we got to watch sit and story some more.

Thursday was Oil Palm day, i have waited to do this for some time now and on the first week back the Lord gave me the opportunity to do it. it was very hard work, we used a sickle like blade on the end of a 10' aluminium pole to first cut off some of the lower Palm fronds (which were 10’ high or more) to reveal the bunches of fruit then we used the blade to pull the bunch forward as to cut the stem of the bunch. This then dropped to the ground to be lifted into a wheelbarrow and brought to a point where it could be lifted by the oil palm company.

I know this doesn’t sound too difficult but when you add heat and humidity it makes for a very tough day. But apart from the difficulty of the work it really helped us in our friendship with Robert who owned the block of palm.

Friday began with a visit from gabby to one of the guys on centre where again we talked, after this I visited with another Robert who lives just across the road from the centre, we went to his garden to look at his many types of crop like taro, sweet potato, tapioc, maize and greens (type of spinach). I finished the day by listening to some recordings of the language.

Finally Saturday I actually got a lie in, the after breakfast I went to have a look at my new CMA workshop, this is where I will be working when I finish language study. I went to try and work out where all the cupboards and shelving for the tools will be placed as this is a brand new work shop which I will be moving into.

Looking back it’s been a bit of a mad week, I thank God for the strength and energy to do all this and for the privilege of working to grow his church in some small way.

I hope that gives you a bit of a taster of my first week back, if you have any comments or questions please feel free to ask.

Thanks you all again for your kind support and prayers

Geoff