Latest from PNG
August 2011
Hi 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 Matthew 13:44, 45. How do we 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 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 doors for new friendships and maybe opening 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 there.
Thanks so much for your prayers and support,
Geoff
