January 1976

 

Dear Brethren;

 

"Enlarge the place of thy tent and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitation: spare not, lengthen thy cords and strengthen thy stakes" (Isa. 54:2)

 

How would you feel if, as you looked over thousands of acres of land, you realized that it was up to you to keep the soil, plant the crop and keep the fields clear of weeds - all of this to be your responsibility or there would be no harvest? I am certain It would overwhelm you and you would not feel like enlarging the place of your tent especially if your equipment was not adequate for the job that was to be accomplished. This is how we feel when we view the opportunities that are before us here in Papua New Guinea.

 

In our last newsletter we mentioned the urgent necessity of moving from Goroka into the Sina-Sina area to aid our brethren In their spiritual growth In Christ. Today we received a denial of our request to lease a house in that immediate area. They are trying to sell it. The road before us is either the purchase of this house or the building of a bush house. Will you let the Lord use you in the fulfillment of this urgent need? Who knows perhaps the Lord brought us together "for such a time as this". Write either myself or the elders, in Joplin (Box 231) as to the particulars. A min. of $8000 U.S. is needed.

 

Jan 24 was a big day here for the Christians in Papua New Guinea with the first marriage of two missionaries. Andy Scott and Catherine Coles were united in marriage down at the church In Lae. Andy's parents came from South Carolina to be here while Catherine's parents have been missionaries here since 1973. Upon their return from honeymoon Andy and Catherine will be working in Watabung where Andy has been working for 2 years.

 

During this time all the missionaries in Papua New Guinea were able to get together for brainstorming sessions to set goals and further the work toward the evangelization of Papua New Guinea in our lifetime. The Gary Hyer family had flown in from Port. Moresby be be present for Andy's wedding and they agreed to return to Goroka with us for 4 days to view the work in the highlands.

 

While traveling the Markhem Valley back toward the highlands I began to notice by brake petal begin to have more play than usual. Sure enough when we stopped at Kaisam Pass we found that a rear brake line was broken off due to the rough road conditions. So, no brakes (again). Fortunately we would be climbing into the highlands and our hand brake still held. We nursed the Land rover on into Kainantu which is 45 miles from Goroka. We paused for lunch and as we tried to resume our travels to Goroka we found the rear differential had sustained a rock blow down the road, the ensuing hole had let the oil out and we were with a seized rear axle. Gary and I finally pulled the rear driveshaft off and put the car in front wheel drive. We really nursed it into Goroka then. The Hyers couldn't believe that all this was happening to them in one day - then again they hadn't been on the Highland's Highway before either.

 

The next day Gary and I spent repairing the damage because the Hyers wanted to see our work In Sina-SIna before they had to leave.

 

The day for our trip dawned bright and early but Jason had a high fever and the women decided to stay home with the kids while Gary and I went on to Sina-Sina for the night. Our plans first called for us to go to Mt. Hagen and then return to Kumogoko and spend the night with the brethren. As we crossed Dalo Pass the car was doing so good (fooled even me) Gary and I decided to go on up past Mt. Hagen and pick up some spare parts from the man who sold me the Land Rover. As we got to the S.D.A. Mission station the rain set In and we were forced to set up night camp there. Gary and I set up a tent which I had bought from Monkey Wards. Never have we had so much fun dodging rain drops. The tent super leaked! Well, at least we weren't out in the rain. (We thought about seeing if we could get some bacon or pork chops for breakfast but thought other wise).

The next morning as we were returning home the timing chain on the rover went KAPUT. With all the spare parts we had in the car now guess what we didn't have- you're right no timing chain! We hauled the car to Dumun and parked it in one of the brethren's yard. Gary and I bought a ride on a PMV the 40 miles back to Goroka. A PMV (Public Motor Vehicle) Is the closest thing to suicide you can find. The driver we got made the Indy 500 look like a Sunday drive. By the time we finally got back to Goroka it was dark (which saved my little sanity since I couldn't see what we 'close to hit').

 

We saw the Hyers on to the plane Friday morning as they returned to Moresby. I truly figure they think we planned the whole week since in real life a week is never so plumb packed fell of so much "excitement".

 

SHORTS:

Jan 22 saw torrential rains cause over $500,000 worth of damage to the Lae-Madang road. It is expected to be closed for a min. of 3 months.

 

How do you explain to brethren that 20 of them cannot possibly get into your nine passenger rover? How do you tell 20 brethren that the noise they just heard was a spring on your car breaking because their combined weight was too much.

 

I have found the only effective cockroach *exterminator in New Guinea. I turn Jason and Terasa loose in the house with flyswatters (roachswatters?). The only thing spraying does is got them hooked on the insecticide.

 

Brethren we need your prayers for: (1) the funds to buy or build a house in Sina-Sina so that we might be able to teach our brethren more effectively. (2) the funds to pay the bank back for the rover we bought $1700 U.S. (3) the strength to keep on keeping on.

 

We appreciate each one of you for your interest in the work of the Lord and commend you to that end.

 

Your in Christ

 

The Huffs
Box 878
Goroka
Papua New Guinea