Aug 1976
Dear Brethren
During the month of August we were honored with a visit
from one of our Japanese brethren. Bro. 0'Hara had come to "spy
out the land". He is a doctor and plans to return in two
years with a team of workers to start a medical work here.
The Word of God continues to reach souls with four baptism
this month. At Dumun, Kulage, the wife of one of our Christians
finally became a Christian. At Bima Piau three young men, Wai#1
Wai#2 and Are, became Christians.
Also at Dumun they have finally decided to build a "haus
Lotu" (Church bldg.) where we can meet permanently. Up till
now we have either sat outside or fought the pigs, dogs and fleas
for space in the "haus meri" (eating and living quarters
for the women since they don't sleep as family units here).
For you who have been waiting to call us our new phone
numbers is 75-1193 Papua New Guinea.
Petrol prices rose again this month. We now pay US$1.37
per gallon.
Statistics this month for the congregations were: Dumun-34
(atttnd)/$4.09 (contr.) Masul20/67¢; Bima Piau-35/$1.71.
Coffee season is finally about over and this will allow
us to begin week day Bible study with our congregations. Before
they were out and about picking coffee or spending the money they
earned, sometimes on beer parties.
Pray for us that we my have the patience to keep on keeping
on and not be discouraged which is easy to do. Please also write
us and let us hear from you all.
LADIES: You ask how does one keep busy here?
One keeps busy here by just having two children and a
house to keep clean. We live by the "highway" which
is dirt, so things are always dusty.
I've just gotten several skirts and tops cut out for
Terasa from some material Jim Peters send to us. Jim is the deacon
in charge of our work. Clothes and material here are very expensive.
When not washing, cooking, cleaning or sewing I'm usually out
with Tobey with the people here.
On Sundays we get up early and go to three villages which
have congregations of the Lord's Body in them. Most of the time
we are able to "lotu" (worship) with only two of the
three villages. We alternate Sundays with all the congregation
so that during the month we are able to worship with all the congregations.
Tobey preaches in Pidgin English which is then turned
into "ples tok" (place talk-village language). In all
the places, something is brought or provided for us to sit on;
at Dumun an overturned bathtub; at Musul. a wooden box or branch
from a nearby tree; a Bima Piau there is a "Haus Lotu"
(church building) that is round, has a thatched roof and has a
pitpit floor. Pit-pit is wild sugar cane that is flattened then
woven together to make the floors and sides of the building. The
fleas love to live in this type of material by the way.
After "lotu" (worship) we call everyone around
who is sick or has a sore. This is called "pasim sua"
or fix a sore or wound. This is when we are faced with all kinds
of problems. Everyone has "cus" (cold or cough) but
we never have enough aspirin or cough medicine. Also we use scores
of bandaids and bactine for the sores. One our the major sicknesses
here Is diarrhea.
I would like to ask anyone who would like to help with:
cough medicine, aspirin, bactine, bandaids, Peptol Bismol and
any other medicine for diarrhea to send their boxes to Box 69,
Kundiawa, Papua New Guinea or funds marked for that purpose. Any
and all will be greatly appreciated.
In the Master's service
Tobey and Kathy Huff
Box 69
Kundiawa
Papua New Guinea