Volume 4; No.7                                                                July 1981

Dear Brethren;

Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ

Even with the increase in electricity rates word is that we here in Goroka will be without power after August for up to two years. The hydro power generators are breaking down and no replacements They have one generator in operation and when it goes "that's all she wrote." Home generators are available for $1200 which would supply our house needs but we don't have $1200. Will someone help please!

PRICE COMPARISONS
What you see is what we got. Every year I try to show how prices affect us here. Even though the dollar is stronger on overseas money markets then it was, the dollar against the New Guinea Kina is worth only 67¢.
                        

The Average overall increase is at 25%. As most missionaries we haven't had enough raises to offset: the increase and have thus had to cut back on funds to other programs to continue other programs. Perhaps you or your congregation would consider increasing your financial commitment by 25%.

VISITING VILLAGE CONGREGATIONS
With the Scotts on leave we have been spending most weekends out with the village congregations. We used to always be out there but since we came back on leave we hadn't been going as much as we should. We will share with is some of our recent experiences: Several weeks ago we went out to Yuana to worship with the brethren. (As a rule we don't tell anyone we are coming we just go.) One of our school men did the preaching and other Christians helped with the services everything was going fine! A lot of times since the villagers have no way to keep the grape juice from going off the juice has a wang to it. Well, at Yuana that week we were treated to tomato juice as ''fruit of the vine''. After services we discussed this (their logic): (1) it is fruit of the vine; ,2) it was in the same small can as the grape juice used to come in; (3) the same company produced both; (4) it didn't have a wang to it; (5) it was red like blood, which it symbolizes (our grape juice is a light yellow). When school resumed the following week my course included lessons on what constitutes the Lord's Supper.

Another week we visited with the brethren at a coffee plantation just outside of Goroka. For sometime now over 10 Christians have been worshipping there. As they don't have a church building and our number this day was too large to use Ube's house we assembled outside. In fact we worshiped among the bush houses and between two groups of people playing cards for money. While singing a fight erupted in one of the houses off to our right it then moved outside with a drunk bashing another fellow with a dog barking and trying to bite their legs. The fight soon ceased and the drunk moved off to one of the card games. I gave a small talk and then we prepared for communion. One of the men kept turning the tray upside down and hitting it. Finally he laid it down and filled the cups up. While the bread was being passed the same man got a stick and began poking it in the empty cup holes. Finally he succeeded in his endeavor. He dislodged several small cockroaches who has set up home in the trays. After services we had to go back to Goroka a back way because the drunk (and friends) were blocking the main road and were daring us to go thru them. The Christians have a very hard life. Please pray for them.

Earlier this month in a conversation with a Catholic ''Pastor" I was told ''what you do, drink, fornication etc. doesn't really matter as long as one has mass on Sunday.'' He also told me their local priest has frequent parties and provides the beer for everyone, Brethren, Satan is strong here, but praise the Lord, God's power can overcome.

SCHOOL BOY BLUES
June was our third school term and it was a jim dandy one too Right off the bat things went foul. The students were to meet me on the main road when I came up to pick them up. But Mori told the others to have me come pick him up at the village (2 miles off the road). He didn't come this term. In previous schools some of the students didn't like helping in the gardens so Paul Naigo who was in charge of the feeding was given authority to not feed those who didn't want to work. After two weeks of school they tried him. He didn't feed. They went on strike. I kicked them out of school. This left us with 7 students. This same week another student had his parents die and he went back to the village. His parents had brought some food from their gardens and to see their new grandbaby. On the way home they fell into a river caught cold and died that week. Another student Mark was sick and had to leave. Another student had a court session in the village and he had to leave. Down to 4 students at the finish. But they finished!

CONCORDANCE READY TO PRINT
After many year's the concordance is finally typed. Thank you Janet Cope. Karen Lock is proof reading the last pages before we print. Truly a team effort. The printer usually gets the praise but all he does is print it.

Must go until next month.
Your servants
THE HUFFS