January - April 1993

Dear Brethren and Friends;

Just over 18 years ago (Feb '75) a young family left the shores of the USA fueled by a desire to share the Gospel with people in lands where the pure Gospel had never been preached. Their 'bark' was a 707 airplane which unloaded them in Nadi Fiji where they boarded a smaller plane which then landed in New Caledonia and Solomon Islands before the final destination of Papua New Guinea.

This family left to arrive to a new life, working in the Lord's vineyard in the then 'new' mission field of Papua New Guinea. The family: me with a fuller head of brown hair and no beard, a blond headed help meet; a bubbling young girl of four years old-, and a quiet, wee lad of not quite 2 years old.

We are now: me, not much head hair but a white beard; a blond/silver headed help-meet; a bubbling 22 year old (young married) who is working on her masters degree in clinical psychology; and a quiet (sometimes), strapping young man who will turn 20 years old this month (May 10th). He is finishing his second year at Harding University

I quote from a letter of ours dated August 1974:

"The phrase "fullness of time" is used in the Scriptures as a time when everything is just right. This was the case when our Lord Jesus Christ was born (Gal 4:4). Everything seemed to have been at a climax politically, spiritually, economically and socially. Because of these great changing factors, our Lord's messages were noticed a lot more than at other times. Observers on the mission fields feel that there is a "fullness of times" in different places. For example Japan had a time of receptivity after WW II. But the 'fullness of time" did not last very long. Japan had to open for other ideologies, one of these being materialism. Thus, the opportunities for the gospel seem to have been harder since then. This is the same observation which has been made on all other developing nations in the world., Here in the Pacific other nations are following in the footsteps of Japan. They are getting harder to reach with the gospel and for all practical purposes they will soon join the list of nations in which the gospel message has become to be rejected. This spreading fire should be checked soon. The best way to do this is the preaching of the Gospel in the areas where there is 'fullness of time" and let those converted carry the mission work to other places.... During a recent discussion with Reuel Lemmons we talked about our future plans in Papua New Guinea. My wife and I have always contended that the only way for some unevangelized of the world to hear the Gospel is for Christians to move to these nations to live and work. "

As some would "say the rest is history". Our aims and goals have not changed over the years. We still believe that the future of any work lies within the realm of utilizing the talents and abilities of the persons who have been converted within the various cultural groups. These are the primary reasons we have stayed in the fields even in times when we did not have sufficient support and/or a 'proper' sponsoring congregation. The providing of printed materials to the church and the assisting of island brethren with training through the South Pacific Bible College here in New Zealand is paramount to the development of strong vibrant leadership in the Pacific churches.

I mentioned in our report last year of our desire to sell up the business and get into a more direct involvement of the work in the Pacific. It is obvious from the lack of serious interest in buying the business that the Lord doesn't think the time is ready yet. Yes there is a mountain of printing that is needed in the Pacific churches and at present we are the reasonable source. We recognize as a fact that if the ,Lord had not provided the opening to enable us to operate a commercial printing service; (1) the churches could not afford the amount of printed material they have .been able to distribute; (2) we as a family could not have stayed without the additional income generated to supplement the support and work fund you brethren so graciously provide.

In 1992 over $16,000 worth of printing material was distributed to Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu thanks to your support. THANK YOU

SO VERY MUCH!
Kathy and I ask for your prayers as we continue to seek God's will in our lives. We have withdrawn the printing business from the For Sale market and are looking for a printer to help us. We need to get back to the States and report on the work here sometime this year. We need to also get into Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands sometime in July. At present this is not possible as I alone operate the presses and am the only one who knows everything that is going on in the shop (well suppose to know).

PRAYERS NEEDED
As we were putting this newsletter together we received word from Papua New Guinea that Jab was in an accident on his motorbike. On April 17 th a truck failed to give way in front of Jab. His bike went under the truck and he went over it. He sustained major damage to his right arm. His tendons were cut and his wrist dislocated. The doctors relocated the wrist and repaired the tendons. He has his wrist in a splint and has movement in the fingers. He also broke his right leg above the ankle. He needs your prayers.

Does the Lord look after His children? The accident just happened by a rugby field where some Christians saw it happen. They rushed to the scene, helped stop the massive bleeding and got Jab into a vehicle and to the hospital. Hospital staff (brethren) just happened to be on duty when Jab was brought in. (They were scheduled off duty but had gone in anyway.) Just the week before an accident victim bled to death due to insufficient personnel for treatment. You bet He does! Thank you Lord - for looking after your children.

We are going into to our winter time now. Brrrrrr. We were blessed to have Kathy's mother over for a couple of months. We had a good time. Jason also came over for Christmas. Good to see him again also.

Thank you so much for your support. Please continue to remember us in your prayers.

In Christian service,

the Huffs