July 25, 2014
Dearest Friends and family
I never know a missionary
is a policemen, doctor, marriage counselor, mechanic, father, mother, adviser,
problem solver and friend!
I never knew a missionary is rich with barrels of money, but too stingy because
he won't give away his clothes and food whenever they are asked for.
I never knew a missionary is a bad influence for the nationals because he wants
to change their religion, their life style, etc, and the locals are better off
as they are (yet hospitals and schools are wanted.)
I never know a missionary is supposed to fix broken guns, radios, DVD players,
TVs, machetes and the neighbor's wheelbarrow - and who care about the broken
heart!
I never know a missionary is supposed to
be ready to meet airplanes bringing important people who never come - but when
an unannounced plane arrives, he's supposed to be at the airstrip to pick up
the people he didn't know were coming.
So now I know why missionaries have stomach problems! It's from feeling an undercurrent
of trouble among people while on the surface all is calm. (You want something
to happen so things will be In the open, but there to nothing to do but wait.)
Most people are not confrontational and just hope things will pass over.
It's from wanting to share the Gospel - but who is eager
to live that life? And from wanting to teach Bible literacy - but who
wants to learn?
It's from wanting to love the people and be friends with them - but who cares
if you love them and who wants friendship? (They do want the children's clothes,
food or special favors.)
These things I now know. And of course, there are many things I don't know yet.
One thing I still don't know is what it will take
to make these people hunger and thirst after God's Word and live a Godly life.
We could be discouraged as so few are truly converted. They show as long as
they attend worship services and do all the correct routines they have gotten
their ticket punched for another week. There is much outside influence encouraging
these people to keep their old ways and not to change anything or the Western
influence that has them changing all their ways and not for the good. But God's
Word tells us In Galatians 6:9-"And let us not be weary in well doing;
for in due season we shall reap if we faint not."
MISSIONARY = FARMER
More and more I do know that a missionary is like a farmer. As I continue to
plant physical seeds in my garden to see which will be the best to the school
and raise the chickens for meat I am, oh so much, made aware that growth takes
time for proper maturity. And even with the very best I can provide some plants
do not make it to fruit stage and some make the fruit but something spoils the
fruit before it can be harvested. Harvest times vary and the longer they are
the most difficult because I have to wait. As I think of the parallel to the
spiritual work we are engaged here, we are planting seed and watering and God
will give the increase at the right time. No amount of wishing for instant increase
will produce such. We are fortunate that we have the privilege, because of your
financial fellowship, to be here planting, watering and being blessed with the
increase, of which most I did not plant the seed but I have been watering.
We unfortunately live in a time where the church thinks we can shortcut the way God works (by trying to help Him) and so we send out short-term mission efforts into new areas which go in quick, sow the seed, a bit of watering and persuasion and then we baptize them, pray over them and leave. Many are never put into a family relationship with the church. (I have no problem where short-term mission efforts go in to assist an existing work.) In truth most often we have birthed a number of premature babes in Christ that have no hope because there are no spiritual incubators to get them to where they can breath and live on their own. If these workers return at a later date, and most try to, they wonder why these "Christians" are not 'faithful' or have returned to denominational roots. Many were still-births. We have found that this is the situation with many people here in Vanuatu who were baptized by short-term mission work (before full time missionaries lived here). They are not involved with the local Christians nor are they faithful in their everyday life. When discipleship classes are taught they puff up like a puffer fish. The call to discipleship was not spelled out when the seed was planted so they had not counted the cost nor do they expect to. Not unlike a premature baby that is not prepared to face the harsh realities of physical life, we are constantly having to spend the majority of our efforts just trying to keep them alive spiritually, if we can locate them. I asked one such worker once "what do you think you accomplish by going someplace and still-birthing spiritual children." His comment was, "it's better than nothing". At which point I replied, "Is it?"
One problem we face when we come to works that have been "started and helped by others" is we do not know what kind of foundation had been laid. The work we are currently doing is different from the first work we did in Papua New Guinea because we were the ones who laid the foundation and built upon it. The apostle Paul said "I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labour. For we are God’s fellow-workers; you are God’s field, God’s building. By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. For no-one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ." 1 Cor 3:6-11) Many of the foundations that have been laid are based on keeping the "new" law - the five acts of worship and all that entails.
My garden is a good place for me to remind myself daily how the process works. No matter how much I wish some of my plants will not die some will. I plant and water and God gives the increase. I find peace in puttering around the garden just as I find peace in puttering around in the lives of the Christians here who are also trying their best to not be weary in well doing.
FEEDBACK
I have had feedback on my newsletter and a couple of people have commented that
I should spend less time outlining what has been happening and tell more about
what we are doing with the people, spiritually (re-read first of newsletter
if you missed it). I apologize that I may get into too many details about our
daily life and sometimes I comment about how hard it is over here. Yes, we chose
to be here and, yes we could come back and put up our feet and let someone else
be here. SO WHEN ARE YOU COMING? Until you do -
we will stay here because we see the need and feel that God has specially equipped
us to labor here. We did not see it as complaining but sharing how much more
it takes to just "live" here. I will try to minimize those details
in the future in case it makes anyone feel guilty.
SILLY SEASON
We are entering what we call the silly season here in Vanuatu. Their independence
day is July 30th but for a week prior to that day the country (except the Chinese
stores in town) shut down for a week of celebrations. One had better have everything
they need or they have to wait. It is also the time of the year when more single
young girls become pregnant with all the drinking, dancing and parties for a
week, day and night. Then they expect their mother or grandmother to raise the
children. This past month there were headlines in the local paper "Vanuatu
has the highest population growth in the Pacific". This was stated as if
it was something to be proud of and then a UN representative said Vanuatu should
go to the UN meeting in New York and brag about it. This is alarming if the
facts are known. The majority (upwards to 80%) of these births were from unwed
and single mothers. We keep producing population but do not have the facilities
to take care of what is already here. We have a growing urban youth population
that has no job prospects, no money and for many, no hope.
Last night (the day before Children's Day) the sound system on the stage down by the seafront, which is over 400 meters from where we live, started blaring out music from 2:30-4:00am. It was if they were right in our house. Needless to say not many people got any sleep then but I seemed to be the only one who complained (non-confrontational people here) and it fell on deaf ears so I registered a complaint with the police in Port Vila but have not heard anything since (no surprise). I guess the coordinators feel that they need it loud enough for people 15 miles away to hear! We are praying for heavy rains!
SCHOOL PROPERTY
I am trying to get up to the school property as much as the weather allows and
do as much as I can. JuJu and I have cleaned up three different places where
we plan to build and I have staked out the foundations. We are now cutting down
lemon trees that have not been pruned in 20+ years. There are days the thorns
win (looks like we have been in a cat fight with tigers, even when I wear jeans
and long sleeves) but slowly we are clearing roads (paths) into the places where
we will have to haul in sand, gravel, cement for the foundations and wood, cement
siding and roofing iron for the houses. This too is a long and trying work as
several of the men who signed the letter asking us to come and build the Bible
school as not faithful and two are older than me. So JuJu and I are doing what
we can. Stephen has offered to get us help when we get to when we need more
help, desperately (cement work).
GARDEN
I currently have tomatoes, carrots, broccoli, potatoes, cabbage, pak choy, peanuts,
beans, peas, garlic, pumpkins and 25 chickens that will be ready to kill the
end of August and 25 local baby chicks I bought today.
8
weeks old (they love coconuts)
1 week old
some of my tomatoes grew so fast they split
There are coconut trees on the back of our property bordering the garden. From time to time they will drop in the garden and this past month some dropped and then bounced into the side of the chicken house which I then had to repair. I have since put a wood shield and fencing to protect the wall. (Can't have a break-out!)
notice chicken looking out
BEES HAVE RETURNED
The Lord has blessed us with bees again. We lost the last lot when the tree
they were in was burned when our garden was cleared off 18 months ago. Now that
I don't have to do all the hand pollination of the pumpkins we have over 20
growing in the pumpkin patch. I don't know where their hive is but as long as
they come and tickle the flowers I am happy b ut I have my epi pen handy just
in case.
OPEL OVERHAUL
I have started working on the Opel. I have the transmission out and I have replaced
all the valves and seals but there are parts missing off the engine (like the
radiator hoses etc) so I am waiting until I get the parts and put on before
I put the transmission back on and back into the car. I have also taken off
all the air conditioning piping since the AC does not work and the working space
is very tight.
TEACHING
The Seventh Day Adventist are bringing in their new video which talks about
the "Last Empire" which they have pulled out of Daniel chapter 2.
Of course they are in error but the video is so well presented and the scriptures
are their twisted version (The New World Translation) that the people here are
just enthralled and suckered into that erroneous doctrine. I have presented
to the brethren lessons that show: 1) What will really happen on the "Day
of the Lord" when Jesus returns (we will meet Him in the air, He will raise
the dead, He will judge the world, He will punish the disobedient, He will receive
His people into heaven). 2) Jesus is NOW reigning as High Priest and is the
King of King and therefore there is no reason (or scripture) that teaches He
will step his feet back on this earth as King and reinstate the Jewish system
of law back again.
I am planning to write a short booklet and we will advertise in the local paper as well as give out copies to everyone we can before they show their video. I am hoping that the 7th Day bigwigs will be so agitated that they will want a debate. I hope so but I doubt it!
MEDICAL
I am getting better. I had to get blood work done for the VA and my PSA is 0.04
and my thyroid medicine will have to be increased as obviously what is left
of the thyroid is producing even less than before.
When I was cutting lemon branches this past Monday one sprung back and whacked my left wrist which left me real sore for a few days. Thankfully it was not broken but it sure did swell up.
Onward and upward!
Thank you so much for all of you who are praying for us, supporting us and have contributed to our needs. God bless you! Thank you for your prayers!
Thank you Lord for healing and providing what we need!
Grace & Peace
Tobey & Kathy
Huff
Ph (and text): 678 596-4821 (Vanuatu is +17 hours)
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Contributions for the Huffs and
the Bible school can be sent to:
Huffs/Bible School
c/ Mt Hope church of Christ
2830 Mt Hope Rd
Webb City MO 64870
or
Jason Huff
2730 E 24th St
Joplin MO 64804