MAY 1987
Dear Brethren;
"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ... Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Philippians 4:4,6
"Have faith in God ... I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer,
believe that you have received it, and it will be yours" Mark 11:22,24
REJOICE REJOICE
As I read this statement from Paul I sometimes wonder if he didn't have a few
loose sheep in the upper paddock. I am reminded of his proof of his being a
fool for Christ in 2 Corinthians 11:2328. He talked about being in prison, being
flogged, exposed to death time and time again, being whipped, stoned, shipwrecked
(x3). How he was constantly on the move, in danger: from rivers, bandits, his
own countrymen, from Gentiles, in the city, in the country, at sea and from
false brothers. How he labored and toiled without sleep; hunger and thirsty;
been cold and naked. And yet through it all he could say REJOICE. I believe
if he can rejoice and say rejoice after all he went through then I can rejoice
in the seemingly overwhelming daily trials which face me.
Much of the frustration I felt lately in not being able to complete what I felt was the challenge of the Lord. The root of the frustration is the I. As I have looked out into the harvest and seen the challenges I forget that even though the Lord does want the Gospel spread there are times when 'only fools tread where angels dare not walk.' That is to say I am becoming more aware that God's timetable is not necessarily the same timetable I work with. Sometime He says, "Wait, I'll open the door for you. You don't have to butt your head against a locked door. You'll only get a headache your way." Many times (more times than not) these doors are only opened with persistent prayer.
Thank you for all the prayers which have been laid at the throne on behalf of our visa situation here in New Zealand. I sit here with our newly stamped passports in hand. When I went to renew our visas this past week the Immigration officer went ahead and gave us visas which are good until May 1988. I could hear him in the background talking with the clerk in his office explaining that he felt sure that headquarters would back his decision to extend for the complete period. After he stamped the visas he told me that he was favorable to a possible permanent resident visa but that it would be best if our application was submitted after the first of 1988. He felt that he could help us get a permanent visa better at that time. These are the first signs that the government is warming to our request of permanent resident status. I can really see the Lord working here, opening the doors. "Rejoice in the Lord." With this obstacle over we now face the problem of insufficient monthly support to carry us through until May 1988.
FOLLOWING UP LEADS
I have delayed this month's newsletter so that I would be able to report more
fully on developments pertaining to our last newsletter. We have received a
couple of letters with indications that they will increase their monthly support
to help meet our needs. We are also following up a lead with a congregation
to accept the oversight of our work and a substantial monthly contribution.
Please continue your prayers on these needs. Another way in which you can help
is to bring our needs to the attention of the congregation where you worship,
either to the elders or members and ask for them to commit to a monthly amount
toward our working fund, until May 1988. Please give this consideration. You
are our feet, hands and voice to reach out to others.
WORK PROGRAM PROGRESSING
My biggest frustration has been not being able to get out into the islands where
the church does not exist and where the church is very weak. The establishment
of the printing ministry is going ahead. We have advanced to a new folding machine
due to the generosity of two brethren. We are also gearing up to print Bible
Correspondence Courses from World Bible School. These courses are used in the
Cook Islands at present and we are hoping to use them more extensively throughout
the South Pacific. We can print the courses cheaper than buying from the States
and shipping them over. The Fiji work is using another course which we may be
reprinting as well. The Bible Correspondence Program is just a small part of
the overall plan. We hope to follow these courses up with a "Winter School
Seminar" type program which is held in Korea each year. This is where students
who are enrolled in Bible Correspondence Courses are invited to attend a week
of studies to supplement the BCC program. This allows a face to face working
relationship with students. Questions are answered and concepts explained. These
seminars will be conducted as well as Bible Training schools in the islands
where the church does not exist and where the church is weak and struggling.
This is the reason we are trying to get our working fund up to a level where
we can serve effectively. As we look back at the experience we gleamed from
our work in Papua New Guinea it would be a shame if we could not put it to wider
use throughout the islands. It is amazing the similarities of the people throughout
the South Pacific basin region. "Lord here we are, use us." Again
I am learning to wait (Oh, is it hard).
The printed page is such an important tool in the island nations. People here
are in constant want of something to read and they will read if something is
put into their hands. These nations are open to Christianity. One day soon television
will find its way into many more of these nations. Many nations have introduced
television only recently and the people like us find other things to do other
than read.
THIS N' THAT
Last month I reported that Terasa would have a nigh to impossible hope of getting
work. I had no more than gotten the newsletters in the mail to you then she
got a call asking if she wanted to pick kiwi fruit during the two week school
break. The school year is set up to allow a two week break for students to help
in the kiwi fruit harvest each year. The season is only for 2-6 weeks. Students
work as part time pickers and packers and they don't have tax deducted because
they don't work enough hours. Terasa worked along side some of the other teenage
Christians from church. She worked as both a picker and then in the packing
shed packing the fruit for export. She didn't work the whole two weeks as it
rained several days and kiwi fruit cannot be picked wet as it looses some of
it sugar content. But she earned enough to get her some new clothes and, shoes
for the winter season. (Plus some toward a snowy day later in the season for
a ski trip.) So, the Lord continues to answer prayer.
During the school holidays the church in Christchurch had a family enrichment seminar along with letterboxing. The Bible College students went down to help in the letterboxing and to attend the seminar. Jab and Becky took little Tobey and Abraham stayed with us the week. Jason helped look after Abraham while Becky was attending Bible classes in the morning. After Jab and Becky got back Abraham told them that they would have to come over to our house at least once a week so that he could keep up on his television programs (Jab & Becky don't have a TV).
Story Correction: In my March report I related a story about troubles which were happening with the Port Moresby church in Papua New Guinea. I related the story as I had received it from another missionary's report from PNG. It was not an older lady but a 14 year old girl. She did not die walking home but dropped dead in the church building. Her tribe is demanding compensation from the man who invited her to services and from 2 girls (not connected with the church) who had persuaded her to stay in Port Moresby rather than go the the Highlands as she had planned. The church is trying to help the man who invited her but the church itself is not being held responsible and so they are under no obligation to the girl's line.
Your prayers are working please continue with us.
Your servants because of the cross of Jesus,
the Huffs