Oct 95 - Jan 96

Dear Brethren and Friends;

Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We pray that you had an encouraging holiday season. This was the first time in 8 years that our immediate family was together for Christmas. The last time was in New Zealand. We were in Joplin Mo and have already had two snow falls. (For a couple who are acclimatized to MUCH warmer temperatures the snow is not a welcome addition.) Kathy and I have travelled many miles and are ready to get back to PNG and back into the work waiting there for us. The churches and individuals who have opened their hearts and homes we thank you more than we can express. Thank You so very much! The Lord's work will continue and grow because you have and continue to give to the needs in Papua New Guinea and the Oceania region of the South Pacific.

PAPUA NEW GUINEA OUTREACH
Jab Mesa and Sombo Dowara travelled to and attended the Melanesian Workshop in Vanuatu in September. Sombo is a national Papua New Guineaian and has been In evangelist in PNG for over 15 years. He and his family will be moving to Vanuatu in 1996 (for 2 years) to assist the local brethren in building up the church there. He is supported by the church in Perth Australia but will need help with their travel funds of $4,000. We (brethren in PNG) are excited as this is our second missionary family going out to stay for an extended period. (Jab and Becky Mesa were the first PNG missionary family. They went to Vanuatu in 1992.) We are making plans to have students in the future attending the Melanesian Bible College from the Solomon Islands and from Vanuatu.

HEALING HANDS INTERNATIONAL
Have you ever shaken your head at the amount of waste in this country? When you see things being destroyed because a company puts out a product with new packaging Who will want to buy the old package next to the new package, even though the product is still the same quality? It would be too expensive to repackage so the company destroys the old product. This seems to be especially so in (but not exclusive to) the medical industry.

Now there is an organization that not only will make sure that these discarded items will be put to good use but that the name of Jesus will be glorified as well. Their name is Healing Hands International.

HHI was started as a result of business classes at Lipscomb University in Nashville Tennessee realizing that overseas medical mission groups and missionaries had an urgent need for humanitarian relief materials to be given in Christ's name. MI provides medical supplies, food, medical equipment, stationary items (books, pens, paper) and medicine to needy people all over the world through missionaries.

In 1995 HHI shipped over 190 tons of supplies and equipment to over 13 different countries. The HHI team is made up of volunteers who lift up Christ by contributing their efforts, medicines, medical supplies, equipment, time and funds. There are several areas in which everyone can be useful:
1) Procurement: make calls and visits to those within the medical profession (to collect surplus medical supplies), medical supply businesses, pharmaceutical companies and any other humanitarian suppliers.
2) Development: increase potential donors' awareness of the HHI mission and fulfillment opportunities. Donors' funds provide medicines in short supply as well as support the cost of transportation, warehousing and staff.

HHI has an extensive warehouse in Nashville Tennessee where staff identify, repair, inventory, repack and package materials and equipment for overseas shipping. They also update supplies and equipment inventory and check medical equipment for proper operation. Not only are your contributions of supplies and equipment urgently needed but funds are also urgently needed to pay for the shipment of the containers to the needed destinations when they have been filled.

It has been said that the main reason for the continuance of suffering in the world today is that individuals who have the ability to help fail to respond. I pray that will not be said of this generation. They need our help - you may have the ability to respond - will you?
CALL (615) 832-2300 for more details

MEDICAL WORK IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA
One of the complimentary works we have in Papua New Guinea alongside the many congregations and the Melanesian Bible College is a Medical Clinic. We have a single woman missionary who runs and operates the clink. Her name is Velma Forman. She is a qualified nurse from Canada who had received certification in PNG. For the past few years the clinic itself has not been in operation due to government regulations (that all clinics had to be run by qualified and certified nurses), but treatment has been made available to a limited number of nationals and to students of MBC and their families. In the past we were able to procure some medical supplies free from the government but in recent times have had to purchase the supplies but could do so through the government storehouse at a discount price. In the past year the government has run into cashflow difficulties and have had problems paying their medical suppliers and thus medical supplies are in short supply. They have rationed what we can buy through the government store, if it is even in stock (which 8 out of 10 times is not in stock).

I have received word from Velma that the Pasin Sua (our clinic) would be reopened in Lae starting January 1996. This will allow us to renew the clink as an outreach work of the Lae church. We are shipping a 20' container of medical equipment and supplies from Healing Hands International in Nashville to supply the clinic as well as some of the urgent requests of the local government hospital. The supplies are being provided free but we are having to raise the necessary $5000 to ship the container. Sometimes HHI gets the shipping free through US Relief organizations but there are none in PNG so we have to pay the shipping We estimate over $150,000 worth of equipment and supplies will be in the container.

I can foresee the need of a container of supplies a year but don't know if shipping funds could be raised every year. Because there is a need for a continuous supply of most medicines perhaps it would be more practical to have medical supplies mailed on a monthly basis or as collected. Our greatest needs are: Antibiotics- amoxicillin, ampicillin, chloramphenicol, sulphadimidine, tetracycline; Anticonvulsants- carbamazepine, phenobarbitone, phenytoin; Analgesicsaspirin, acetaminophen, codeine, ibuprofen; Vitamins; Antihistamines, Supplies- bandages, tape, antibiotic ointment, Q-tips, cotton balls, alcohol swabs, gauze, needles, suture materials, syringes. (A more detailed list can be supplied on request)

We will even take slightly outdated medicines which are still useful. If anyone there or the congregation would like to get involved on a regular basis the medical supplies can be mailed to our PNG address. Would you please make this need known to the congregation and/or other congregations or individuals who could possibly assist in these needs as well as the needs that Healing Hands International has with other things in addition to medical supplies,

We appreciate your interest and participation in the PNG work

PRAYERS NEEDED
Kathy & I will be leaving to return to PNG on January 20th (3 days after our 27th Wedding Anniversary). We will overnight in San Francisco, overnight in Manila Philippines then into Port Moresby and on to Lae. That is the way the tickets are booked the final result will be anyone's guess. After January 25th (give us a few days for being lost somewhere) we can be reached at Ph/Fax: O11 675 42-1264. Please remember that we are 15 hours ahead of you time wise. (3 pm - afternoon your time is 7 am our time the next day.) Please also remember our needs lists down below.

In Christian service, your co-workers for the cause of Christ in the South Pacific,

the Huffs