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!

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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