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