Pair O' Grafs' Paragraphs

New Semester Kicks Off

2012-01-30T07:09:00.001+10:00

The spring semester at Washington Bible College and Capital Bible Seminary has begun. Jeff has welcomed 45 students to his three missions classes. Two meet at the seminary and one at a church near Annapolis. It's a joy to see the enrollment up the way it is.

We're thankful to see missionaries sending in their registrations to exhibit about their ministries and to lead workshops to inform the students about the wide range of ways there are to make God's love known worldwide.

It is Time to Send Missions Conference Invitations

2012-01-23T06:17:00.000+10:00

Sue says: The poring over previous records has been done (see Jeff below). Committee meetings have been held. Recommendations have been evaluated. Introductory emails have been sent, and events have been scheduled.

This week is the time to send out invitations to missionaries who will set up displays and lead workshops in early March for the missions conference for our Bible college and seminary. Please pray there will be a positive response to the plans that have been laid and that this conference will lead to more workers going out to spread the good news of God's love for all people.

Catching Up With Friends and Family

2012-01-18T08:41:00.000+10:00

Sue says: During the break between Bible college semesters, it was refreshing to be in touch with some friends and family members. Above, the oldest great-grandson on this coast helped my dad select a sticker.

More admiring of the newest grandchild helped us determine he looks like his mama.

There are always birthdays to celebrate...

and conversation flows around eating.

Projects for multiple generations are memorable. Isn't God good to set us in families and give us other significant friends.

On looking this post back over, I think I'd better get Jeff in action next time.

Hepi Niu Yia 2012!

2012-01-03T06:45:00.001+10:00

As one of our PNG friends said recently, Happy New Year! May God's blessings rest on us all in 2012.

The next couple of weeks will be time to prepare for classes Jeff will teach and we both will take here at Washington Bible College and Capital Bible Seminary. Classes resume 17 January.

Last week-end, we took Metro into DC again to catch another sight: the African American Civil War Monument. It's right on U Street, so it's in the historic Shaw/Howard University section of the city. We'll have to go back again when the museum associated with the monument is open.

In and Out for Christmas

2011-12-27T04:05:00.002+10:00

Sue says: No snow this Christmas, but there was plenty of rejoicing in God's goodness to us. We took Metro (the rapid transit train) into Washington, DC, to see what was going on in the city.

You can tell from our being bundled up that it was pretty cold.

The National Christmas tree with the Washington Monument in the background made a pretty shot.

We decorated our apartment to remind ourselves to make room for Christ in our hearts.

Have a Joyous Christmas 2011!

2011-12-24T02:54:00.000+10:00

As Christmas 2011 rolls around, our family wishes you and yours a joyous Christmas. These are some of the three generations of us that gathered last week-end to exchange gifts and visit. Hope the presence of the Lord is real for you at this time of remembering God's many gifts to us.

Mission Movie Night

2011-12-16T00:43:00.000+10:00

Sue says: How glad we were to see a dozen students from the Bible college and seminary turn up last week to watch a video about how God is making Himself known among those around the world who don't know Him. We had a discussion about the video together and then some snacks. And then the group wanted to see another similar video! They were well enough received that we want to have more regular events like this one next term when classes begin again.

This is finals week. Lots of pressure on students to finish papers and do well on exams. We are students as well as instructors. Jeff is laboring to finish a paper for his Hebrew Readings course on the Psalms. I finished the Guidance Counseling class I was taking.

Our missions class concluded with speakers who minister in a country which harshly treats Christians. It's quite a sobering position they are in. We pray God will use them to make His love known.

College Halls Decked for Christmas

2011-12-09T07:21:00.001+10:00

Sue says: It was time to decorate the Bible college for a Christmas gathering of alumni and donors. We started several weeks ago by washing and sorting literally dozens of boxes of decorations saved from years past. Once gathering everything in the student lounge, our director pointed us in all directions with projects.

Students and other volunteers donated time to help...

...and the effects were lovely.

The choir was to sing in the chapel, so it was fixed up too.

Gifts were prepared and hidden.

A few friendships were renewed,

and bannisters and the lounge made more attractive.

The entry had to look welcoming ...

and the halls too. It turned out to be a fun time of renewing friendships and praising the Lord in song. We welcome this time to remember the Lord's coming to earth.

Missions Bulletin Boards Revived

2011-12-01T04:58:00.001+10:00

Sue says: Jeff had a great idea recently. He wanted to mount a bulletin board in the seminary and another in the Bible college as ways to stir up interest in what God is doing to make Himself known among the nations. Jeff found posters and decorative borders, and a student (above) set up attractive displays.There are lots more posters that can be rotated up on there. We're happy this way of communicating can be revived.

Thanksgiving Week 2011

2011-11-21T12:32:00.001+10:00

Sue says:
As we were singing praises to God with our new congregation in Seabrook, Maryland, today, I was thanking the Lord that even though we have moved yet again, He has joined us to another group of believers that honor Him.

Jeff has had the opportunity in recent weeks to teach one of the adult Sunday school classes, and today all the fellowship had a Thanksgiving meal together. What a joy to share with a multi-generational, cross-cultural group in thanking the maker of all people.

I'm thankful too that this week I was able to compile an email list of some 50 organizations that attended the last missions conference our Bible college and seminary held. Responses are coming in showing interest in setting up display tables for missions organizations and in leading workshops too. What a relief that things are coming along in this regard.

We are also thanking God that we live close enough this year to stay in touch with our family members by regular telephone calls.

The Joys of Autumn

2011-11-13T23:26:00.002+10:00

Sue says:
Have I mentioned that we are thoroughly enjoying the beauty of autumn?

We captured this fiery maple tree a couple weeks ago in Blacksburg, and just yesterday we saw burning bush, sweet gum and even oaks that were brilliant hues here in Maryland.

Another joy of fall is looking forward to spring. A neighbor and I planted spring bulbs in the bed in front of our apartment building. We anticipate the time the things we put in the ground come up to tell us spring has arrived. We hope they will bring cheer to our neighbors.

We thank those who have been praying for us. Jeff's headaches are generally better than they were. Plans for the missions conference are coming along. Relationships with the students here are growing. We are able to be in closer contact with our family members. We thank God for granting these good things.

New Grandchild Arrives!

2011-11-08T23:34:00.000+10:00

Sue says:

Children are such a blessing. And to see one's grandchildren is even more special. (We get to enjoy. The children do the hard work.)

Last week our Number 2 and his wife had their Number 1. Yes, they look tired, don't they. Little One sleeps all day and wants to be awake all night. But we all are delighted he and his family are doing as well as can be expected.

Early Snowfall

2011-11-01T05:39:00.000+10:00

Sue says: It's unusual that snow falls before the deciduous trees have dropped their leaves, but this year it happened. A couple of inches of snow came down in our area of Maryland. It was sunny the next day, and the snow disappeared.

An Intriguing CD

2011-10-30T06:39:00.001+10:00

Sue says:
Working with college students, I need to be somewhat aware of the things going around. A friend brought this artist, Josh Garrels, and his latest CD to my notice recently. Josh is offering free downloads of this CD on the internet. The variety of his accompaniments, styles, and rhythms makes me think of Rich Mullins. Like him, Garrels creatively seeks to express the beauty of life, the conflicts being waged, and his faith in a powerful yet loving God. See what you think.

Visiting Family on Fall Break

2011-10-28T07:43:00.000+10:00

Sue says:

The fall semester was half complete. It was time for a week's break to enjoy the fantastic fall colors.

And time to catch up with our kids and grandkids. Our oldest grandson led the pack in 4-year-old soccer.

The guys enjoyed a Virginia Tech football game together.

The gals had a baby shower to celebrate the upcoming birth of a new addition to the family .

And we relaxed together with books. Our kind of mid-semester break!

Happy Birthday to Jeff!

2011-10-15T02:15:00.000+10:00

Sue says: Isn't this a nice picture of Jeff? It was taken on his birthday yesterday. He's sitting in our apartment dining room with a few presents and PNG memorobilia.

Meeting More of Our Neighbors

2011-10-09T05:58:00.001+10:00

Sue says:

The deans of men and women (seated right) invited the residents in our on-campus block of apartments to bring dessert to share with each other last night. What a delight to meet four neighbors we'd never seen before.

The couple with the most unique way of meeting were pen pals, and she's from Belarus (the couple next to the deans). They've been married six month now. Some of the others are students, employees of the college or they work at other locations. Like any other neighborhood, our schedules keep us from even seeing each other. A nice idea to share dessert together.

At the missions conference planning meeting this week, we were happy to welcome three new attendees. We came up with themes and names of possible speakers. The new members inspired us!

Meeting with the Dorm Students

2011-10-04T23:28:00.001+10:00

Sue says:

Jeff took on a challenging assignment and stayed up until 10 pm (that was the hard part) to attend the meeting of the students who live on campus. They're a friendly bunch (see them on the right), and he talked with them about becoming involved with the planning of the upcoming missions conference on campus.

Speaking at another missions conference at Potomac Baptist Church in Northern Virginia this past week-end, we were able to pick up a number of exciting ideas to incorporate into our own conference. What a blessing it was to hear more about what God is doing to make Himself known around the world.

Missions Conference Committee Holds Initial Meeting

2011-09-29T06:20:00.000+10:00

Sue says:

What a glad day! Today, with one faculty representative from Washington Bible College and another from Capital Bible Seminary, we began to plan the March 2012 missions conference.

It is exciting that students, faculty and staff are volunteering ideas and help. Next week, we hope to have some students join us to pick a theme and a speaker and to discuss a few more items.

It has been a couple years since a three-day missions conference has been held on our campus. We look forward to hosting a number of representatives with displays from Christian missions agencies. Diverse worship music, international food, exposure trips, and break-out sessions are in the planning stage to inspire Christians to catch an expanded vision of our great God and to take the news of God's love to others.

Serving the College and Seminary

2011-09-24T23:59:00.000+10:00

Sue says:
There are varied ways we serve the Bible college and seminary here in Maryland. This week I was able to join with employees and volunteers to collate, stamp, stuff and otherwise ready a newsletter to twenty-three hundred alumni who don't receive these by email. We pray alumni will join us in praising God for the many things that have gone well at the beginning of this new college year. Also, we ask them to help in making up a deficit here.

Testing to determine the cause of Jeff's headaches showed nothing unusual. However, the garlic and prayers have been a help. His headaches are much reduced. We thank the Lord. Jeff says he is able to concentrate on his studies much better when he doesn't have to battle a headache.

Building Bridges

2011-09-22T04:28:00.000+10:00

Sue says:
Jeff was able to speak in chapel this week about how important it was to build bridges to the cultures of the people of Papua New Guinea to be able to understand their frame of reference better as we served in that country. The exercise continues as he and I teach in the missions class, eat meals with the students in the cafeteria and at our home, and hang out with the students in the student center. Back in the US now, we are being stretched as we attempt to build bridges to our students and family in response to the way culture has changed at home in our absence on the mission field.

It's a comfort to be able to talk to family members more on the telephone and just to remember the names of the birds that gather at our bird feeder. Years ago we taught our kids the names of these birds. (Who can name them? See below for the answers.) Remembering the birds' names brings back happy memories of those times.

(Answers: On the ground are three cardinals of different ages and sexes and a dove. On the feeder above is a chickadee and on the tree [in a head down silhouette] is a nuthatch.)

Remembering Names

2011-09-16T07:19:00.001+10:00

Sue says:

The Lord is blessing us with lots of students to get to know. The thing is, the second time we see them, we fail to match their faces with their names: Roland, Alina, Barrington, Sedeka, Richard, Shauntika, Bigs, Jin Mi, Jonvere, Alison... We pray we'll be able to put names with faces so we can grow in relationship with the students.

In other news, some of you have asked if it is still wet here. In answer, observe the orange mushrooms above. They are growing in the woods outside our apartment. Maryland has been drying out after two major rainy periods that caused local flooding. But the good news is that the temperature is forecast to drop tonight--into the 40s (8 C) by night and into the 60s (15 C) for a high tomorrow. After not experiencing autumn for several years (because of living in the tropics), we look forward to seeing the fall leaves change color.

Other good news is Jeff's headaches are improved some. He's eating raw garlic to kill any extra things growing in his gut. Would that help headaches?

Headache Remedy

2011-09-12T23:05:00.001+10:00

Sue says:

Jeff has been having migraine headaches. This week, the doctor has ordered some tests to find out what the trouble is. Please pray with us that the problem will be pinpointed and eliminated.

In other news, we are glad to report that, on examination by an expert, it was discovered that the recent Virginia-based earthquake didn't cause structural damage to the college library or chapel as feared. The two buildings are now open for usage.

Convocation Chapel Held

2011-09-02T23:09:00.001+10:00

Sue says:
This week the college and seminary met together to worship the Lord. The faculty and administrators wore their academic robes, and it was a time of asking God to bless the coming year of study. The acting president led a devotion from the life of Gideon. Though Gideon wasn't brave naturally, God empowered him to be a leader. We at this Bible college and seminary need to trust God despite our fears too. You can see Jeff above giving the benedictiion.

Our Intercultural Studies class is up to 14 members this week. At the second meeting of the missions club five new students came to make a lively interaction about mission experiences.We thank the Lord we're getting introduced to more students.

Hurricane Irene Passes

2011-08-29T05:02:00.000+10:00

Sue says:
Hurricane Irene passed by the Washington, DC, area last night with gusts of up to 54 miles per hour (90 km). It dropped about 5 inches (125 cm) of rain too. This morning Jeff took some pictures of trees that fell on campus.

This pine tree's shallow roots couldn't hold on any longer after the ground became so saturated. The tarmac in the background is where the two college vans were parked before the tree fell. The dean of students felt he should move the vans to open space before the storm hit. He is so thankful he did.

This pine tree is just inside the campus fence. Power wires are what's propping it up. It's surprising that the campus still has power. Most places of worship canceled service today because they had no electricity.

This third fallen pine was healthy. The foliage sticking up in front of me still is alive.

Reports are still coming in about Irene's further progress. We're thankful it wasn't any worse in our area. By mid-afternoon the clouds have cleared and the sun is shining brightly.

Bible College and Seminary Classes Begin

2011-08-26T08:33:00.002+10:00

Sue says:
Here you see us standing before the front doors of Washington Bible College. The college and Capital Bible Seminary are located on the same 63-acre campus in Lanham, Maryland, just inside the Beltway around Washington, DC (at 2 o'clock if DC is the center of the clock face).

Classes are off to a strange start this week. Tuesday we experienced the Mineral, Virginia-centered earthquake. That event damaged our college library and chapel. Now Hurricane Irene is predicted to bring quite strong winds and rain. Beyond those things, though, everyone seems glad to get started with the new term.

The Intercultural Studies Seminar Jeff teaches contains students from both the college and seminary. There should be some lively interactions as we look at Christian missions in the modern world.

Tomorrow the Global Outreach Fellowship meets.This group of students will work with us this year to plan the week-long missions conference to raise student awareness of both short- and long-term missions opportunities within the US and abroad.

Hitting the Road Again

2011-08-13T05:20:00.000+10:00

Sue says:
We're packing up our new-to-us used car to head to Maryland. We feel like freshmen setting off to their first year of college. We'll have many of our possessions packed in our car as we set off for new adventures.

It's been wonderful to visit family and friends the last six weeks. We look forward to new duties and relationships at our new assignment as missionaries-in-residence at Washington Bible College/Capitol Bible Seminary.

Back in the USA

2011-08-03T01:31:00.000+10:00

Sue says:

What a joy it has been to be able to participate in family events and reconnect with church folks back in the US. In California, we were on hand to celebrate my dad's eightieth birthday with my parents and brother and his wife. It was great to be able to meet with supporters from different locations there too.

In Virginia too we have been meeting with family and supporters. It is often possible to get together with our sons and their wives on the week-ends. One recent week-end, it was fun to take our grandsons to the park.

We're thanking the Lord for His help in finding a car of our own. This week, we are finalizing buying a used Hyundai Elantra. It seems to be just the car to meet our needs.

Many Goodbyes!

2011-06-30T12:05:00.000+10:00

Jeff writes:

The last two weeks of our final term in Papua New Guinea literally flew by. We send our apologies to those of you who regularly follow our blog, but to say the least we have been busy. It is no small feat to leave one home and get ready to move to another 10,000 miles away.

There were many heart-wrenching farewells. Our friends and neighbors hosted us for one fantastic meal after another. We reminisced, laughed, cried, hugged, shook hands, and laughed some more. We said our farewells, shared prayers, encouraged others and were encouraged ourselves. Five-and-a-half years had come suddenly to an end. My, oh my!

As I write this we are in Singapore. We came for a few days of R&R prior to a 22-hour airplane ride that will take us to Los Angeles. After a two-week stay in California, we head east where we will land in Washington, DC. After visiting our former pastor and his family there, we head for Blacksburg, VA, where our children live. Lord willing we will be able to continue our ministry for one more year as Missionaries in Residence at Washington Bible College/Capital Bible Seminary.

For now, enjoy some of our farewell photos.

Dinner with Andira's Family

Sue Received a Gift from Therese Kaetavara

Our Neighbors Give Us a Farewell Dinner

Farewell Meal at Warala Church

We model presents given by Jennifer and Matthias Koim.

Baby Equipment

2011-06-12T09:26:00.000+10:00

Sue says:
Above are some examples of an indispensable item for Papua New Guinean babies. The baby bilum. The picture was taken at the nursery for the students' babies. There are four babies sleeping in their own bilums. They also sleep in them at home or wherever they are. In a home, the bilum would be suspended from a hook from the ceiling.

Baby bilums are also used as baby carriers. A mother can suspend the bilum from her own head to have her hands free for other tasks.

Do babies like them? Hannah seems to show that she feels relaxed. Children as old as three-years-old may continue to sleep in their bilums because they are so comfortable--like a hammock.

Phillipians: A Road to Joy!

2011-06-06T15:46:00.003+10:00

Jeff writes:

Last weekend I enjoyed a weekend retreat with some of CLTC's workers. These men labor in our poultry, rice, farm, mechanics, plumbing and other departments. Most earn less than a dollar per hour, but their contribution to the college is invaluable. It has been said that 80% of the cost to educate a student here comes as a result of the fruit of their labor.

Paul and Silas Bound in a Philippian Jail

A Chicken on Every Plate!

I led them in a study of Philippians. It was entitled Rod Bilong Amamas: Pas Pol i Raitim long Ol Filipai (Philippians: A Road to Joy! ) We certainly had a joyous time sharing God's word in drama, testimony and song. The food came in abundance. (I ate enough rice to relieve a Chinese famine!)

Pray for these men. They work hard. At the end of a day their backs and legs ache. They perform repetitive tasks day in and day out. However, without their hard labor this college would not exist.

The Happy Campers!

Round of Good-byes Start

2011-06-04T11:51:00.002+10:00

Sue says:
Well, guess it's that time now. Time to praise the Lord for His goodness to us while we've been here in PNG, and time to say our good-byes to quite a number of friends we've made while here.

Last Sunday, I said good-bye to the village church (picture above) our student cell group has been ministering to this college year. The students will continue to minister to them until graduation in November.

This week-end, Jeff is saying good-bye to the college farm workers at a retreat. Jeff will speak on the book of Philippians to inspire them to keep on rejoicing as they walk with the Lord. They'll probably also have some fun swimming in a stream and watching movies together. And a big part of any retreat is enjoying eating together as well.

Simple Technology Highly Valued

2011-05-28T17:29:00.002+10:00

Sue says:
As I was walking to work the other day, I saw this example of higher and lower levels of technology in use in this developing nation. The man in the background was using a bushhog to cut the grass. The men in the foreground were manually spreading out rice to dry in the sun.

If you haven't walked almost everywhere all your life as many people here have, you don't know the profound joy of receiving as an adult a bicycle to ride. A number of bicycles were donated to CLTC recently, and it is a matter of protocol to distribute them to the most senior farm managers to use to ride to work. It is quite a status symbol to receive one. Simple pleasures. Aren't they wonderful?

Book Boxes on Their Way Home

2011-05-25T06:43:00.001+10:00

What a relief! After fighting illness, laboring for weeks to find a shipper and compare quotes for differing services, eight boxes of books are winging their way home. A friend took pity on us and dropped them off at the package service for us. We weren't sure if the theological books we'd need to prepare our classes would be available at our college, so we brought almost our whole library from home. Now it is returning home. Thanks to you who prayed for this process. The Lord and His people helped us get these things off.

Sampling a New Delicacy

2011-05-18T19:43:00.002+10:00

Sue says:
It is supposed to be the end of rainy season here, but the rain hasn't let up. In the last week, about five inches of rain have fallen. So garden crops are doing well. In the picture above, our friend is picking pitpit in our garden. You'll notice that it's highlands pitpit, as opposed to lowlands pitpit. I'm not sure what the difference is, but the pleated leaves are intriguing! Pitpit is an edible grass. See what she has in her left hand. She'll throw away the leaves, peel the stalks and cook them. Of course, they're very nice with green onions and coconut cream.

Long reeds called pitpit are also dried, pounded and woven into walls for traditional houses here. I don't know if that plant is related to this kind of pitpit.

In other news, it's the fifth of eight weeks of our last Bible college term here. I'm almost back to full strength. In two weeks, the Office of Higher Education (OHE), that accredits our college, is sending a team to check on our progress in implementing suggestions that were made during the last OHE visit. Pressure time!

We are also packing up boxes of our personal books to ship back home. It will be a relief to get those on their way.

Return to Work Progresses Smoothly

2011-05-07T13:19:00.001+10:00

Sue says:

Walking the round-trip kilometer to class and back and teaching one hour per day has worked well for this transition week after hepatitis. Our dean of studies and the faculty and students have been understanding and supportive of my interim solution. And what a boost it has been to get to see everyone again! I returned home after the daily outing and rested the remainder of the time.

Little by little, I'm able to take back cooking, folding clothes and other home chores. Jeff has been kind to cheerfully do so much at home, but he won't miss the added responsibility as I'm able to take it back. The flowers pictured above are some I just cut from our garden. I especially like the red-and-yellow leaves of the coleus with the dahlias and daisies (cosmos?). There are nice heads of lettuce, strawberries, green onions and tapiok to eat from the garden now. I'm glad to be able to go out and be a part of things more.

A verse I've been thinking on in my convalescence: Just as a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him (Psalm 103:13).

The Custom of Visiting the Sick

2011-04-30T18:34:00.002+10:00

Sue says:
The Melanesian custom of visiting the sick has been a big blessing to us during my illness. Often without advance warning, a knock will come at the door. Someone will be coming by fora short time to pray for
my healing and to stay for a short visit. This has done so much to buoy my spirit.

The group pictured above is the cell group a Melanesian co-worker leads. Because they are a large group, they asked ahead of time if they could come. Some of them hardly knew us. Others were our students or co-workers. This group had an additional idea in mind. They wanted to have small-group time to say good-bye to us.

How touching it was that one had a verse of encouragement. Another told a story of how one of us had influenced him. The man in the back was a co-worker in Moresby, and he's now taking a class from Jeff. The couple on the left ends knew us through another missionary, Deb, who discipled them in Western Province years ago. (They say "Hi" to her.) We closed with a song and prayer. Oh, the good-byes are heart wrenching, but we appreciate the fact that people take the time to offer them.

I have recuperated from hepatitis in a surprisingly short time. We bless the Lord who heals all our diseases. Hepatitis is a disease for which one withholds medication and just rests. I will try lecturing an hour a day next week and rest at home the remainder of each day. Thanks to those who have prayed for me. The Lord has greatly sped my recovery.

Tropical Easter Blessings

2011-04-24T14:17:00.000+10:00

Jeff writes:

The CLTC community celebrated Easter by splitting up to worship at four village churches.

My day started early with the small flock I pastor among the men who tend our breeder chickens. I read John 20 and then we shared what Easter means to us. These men have become very dear to me, and their thoughts about sins forgiven, renewed life, resurrected bodies, and the new heavens and earth where righteousness will dwell were inspiring.

After sitting down to a wonderful Easter breakfast complete with hot-cross buns (baked by one of our nice neighbors), I left Sue at home to rest and walked a mile-and-half to the Sigri Village AOG church. I took some photos along the way, and Lord willing, if our slow internet connection will bear them, I hope to share them with you.

One of Sigri's "Mountains"

I started out by taking a PNG "shortcut", which means to go straight up a mountain rather than around it.

Flowers Decorating the Dais

The Glories of Easter

It was not long until I arrived at the church. The church ladies spent many hours to gather flowers to decorate the dais around the pulpit. The colorful flowers were a fragrant reminder of the joy we experienced on this day.


Pastor Bugaebo Shares His Message

One of our students Bugaebo shared a wonderful Easter message taken from Matthew 28:1-10. Bugaebo and I are a year apart in age. He will complete his diploma this year, and then go back to Western Province to take up a leadership role in the Evangelical Church of Papua New Guinea. I was really proud of him. God is raising up good men and women here at the college to lead His church in this country. It is a real privilege to be a part of this grand undertaking.

PNG "Bake Sale"

After church the ladies of the fellowship held a PNG version of a church bake sale. They sold garden produce to the students at rock-bottom prices to help defer the cost of feeding us light refreshments.

After Church Fellowship

We concluded the morning with a scone and a can of coke. Even though customs may be a bit different here, the truth remains that we celebrate the one Lord, the one faith, and the one baptism that Christians enjoy worldwide.

I trust that all of you enjoyed the same blessings of fellowship at your church and with your Lord this day.

As a postscript a number of the students expressed concern for Sue and said that they were praying for her. I told them that her condition has improved. Her fever was down yesterday. She still needs rest. The CLTC community has been wonderful. Many have come to pray with her. Some have brought food. In the time of her illness we have seen the face of the Christ and His arms and legs reflected in the actions of many wonderful saints.

God is good! Hallelujah!

Good Friday Musings

2011-04-22T14:14:00.000+10:00

Jeff writes:

This morning the college community celebrated Good Friday with a special service. It consisted of a lot of singing, special items including some drama, and many songs in Tok Ples (village language). One of our master's students preached a sermon on John 13:21-30. Instead of being like Judas who spent time with Jesus but ended up seduced by Satan to betray Him, the preacher challenged us to wholly commit ourselves to Jesus as Lord.

I have been invited to go preach an evening Good Friday message to a special gathering of several local churches. The message will be more of a Bible reading that describes the last two days of the Christ on this earth. In it I have synthesized the four Gospel accounts into a flowing story. Since Melanesians are an oral people, I hope that this story will resonate with them.

After the message the church leaders plan to show the Mel Gibson film The Passion of the Christ. More than likely there will be hundreds of us huddled around a small TV screen to watch it. Afterward we plan to give an altar call.

Sue's condition has improved somewhat, but she will not be able to come with me to the village Good Friday service. Yesterday, her skin turned yellow, and we went back to Kudjip Hospital. The doctor now thinks she may have some form of hepatitis. We will know for certain next week after all the blood work is finished. She still needs a lot of rest, but she is keeping her food down now, so that is a praise. Please keep up the good prayer work!

Easter Blessings to all of you!

Mac and Cheese Prayers

2011-04-17T14:13:00.001+10:00

A Bowl of Common Comfort Food

Jeff writes:

Macaroni and cheese is a pretty common dish.

Sue and I made some today. She coached me from the couch, and I was her arms and legs in the kitchen. Mac and cheese is one of Sue's comfort foods. She is not really getting any better, so we thought a little bit of kindness in a bowl couldn't hurt.

Prayer is like that. It is common, and it brings comfort. We are always free to draw near to the throne of grace to receive mercy and grace at the time of our need. And the God of all comfort will comfort us, so that we can comfort others with the comfort with which we have been comforted by God. Nice eh?

So, we thank those of you who have written telling us of your prayers. This news has brought us comfort. And we urge you still more to keep up that uncommonly good but common work as you continue to remember Sue in your prayers.

Blessings to you all ....

When Life Gives You Lemons?

2011-04-13T19:36:00.001+10:00

Lemons and Medicines

Jeff writes:

This is one of those good news bad news stories.

The good news is we have a Nazarene hospital nearby at Kudjip. I took Sue there today because she was not getting any better. The nurse had her blood checked for malaria parasites. The good news? There were none.

Now the bad news ... the doctor thinks that she may have typhoid. In addition, she had a reaction to one of the malaria drugs she was taking, and she became quite nauseous.

Right now she is resting. She will continue to take another malaria medication plus a strong antibiotic to kill the typhoid.

Keep her in your prayers.

Oh yes, don't forget the good news ... God answers prayer!

Up in the Air: An Urgent Call for Prayer

2011-04-11T12:49:00.001+10:00

Jeff writes:

We have been hit with a triple whammy over here and would really like your prayers.

Sue was just diagnosed with a mild case of malaria. She has had a low recurring fever since last Thursday, so she went to our clinic this morning where she was given the diagnosis plus medicine to attack the parasites streaming out of her liver. Pray that she will get the rest she needs and that she doesn't get more sick as a result of my cooking!

Pray as well for Capital Bible Seminary and Washington Bible College. Sue and I were given provisional acceptance to be their missionaries in residence next year. However, due to financial issues caused in part by declining enrollments the seminary and the college may not admit students for the 2011-12 semesters. Pray for their board to make a wise God-honoring decision. Also pray for us. Since we cannot be sure of our position with them, we are now searching for a place to live and for employment.

Jeff's Books and Files Boxed and Ready to Go

The third prayer point is we need to find a way to ship our books and other personal items back to the USA. Wycliffe's SIL mission here in PNG used to ship goods for other missions. However, due to a severe shortage in staff, they have had to discontinue this service. I learned of this fact last week, and now am scrambling to find a trustworthy, reliable, and reasonably priced company to handle our shipment. I have made a number of contacts, but so far I have not been able to find anything definite.

Probably the hardest part of this whole matter is dealing with the fact that we are leaving. PNG has become our home, and we have many friends here. While we are looking forward to what the Lord has in store for us in the land of our birth, we are still firmly planted in this land. Pray that we will finish well.

Indeed, It's Rainy Season

2011-04-05T11:03:00.005+10:00

Sue says: After the drought last year, it is a pleasure to receive a full measure of rain now. This picture was taken on my walk to the office in the morning. Children ahead of me enjoyed splashing in the puddles, and adults had umbrellas like you see at the end of the road. One group of children on their way to school had to leap across a baret (drainage ditch) to get to this road.

And who else is rooting for Butler tonight?

Neighborhood Women Meet

2011-04-03T07:23:00.000+10:00

Sue says:

The Farmside 1 women's cell group enjoys each other. They met at our house recently, and we got to welcome a new baby. The mama is sitting at the far right. She delivered the new little boy alone at her house. She could have delivered at our clinic with the help of a nurse for US $8, but maybe she didn't feel like walking over there while she was in labor with her third baby.

At this meeting, we sang some Christian songs, had a brief devotional that I led on Psalm 103, had a discussion about upcoming events for women's ministry, and had snacks together. It was fascinating to see that each woman had brought a little something for the baby. No one had asked us to bring them. But quietly, unobtrusively, each woman tucked a little bar of soap, some cloth diapers or some other small gift into the bilum, handmade purse, of the new mother. They're a caring group.

Jeff's NBC Radio Spot

2011-03-30T14:52:00.000+10:00

Jeff writes:

One of the privileges of being a missionary is to be given unusual opportunities to minister.

Jeff Speaking via Cell Phone to his PNG National Radio Audience from His Office

I just completed giving a ten-minute short subject on PNG's national radio. My National Broadcasting Corporation segment was entitled Impartiality in Justice. I spoke about six biblical ethical issues derived from the Old Testament that form the foundation for many of our western legal systems. They included:

The Bible’s command not to steal justice.
Its emphasis on personal responsibility for one’s actions
Its emphasis on the need for a fair trial.
Its emphasis on impartial judges.
Its emphasis on the careful consideration of evidence to evaluate means and motives of an accused to determine appropriate penalties.
Its emphasis on the equality of all before the law.

In the piece I spoke about how these six issues were addressed in a recent court case where PNG's prime minister Sir Michael Somare was found guilty of violating the PNG Leadership Code. I contrasted his case with the police who sometimes act as judge, jury, and executioner by intentionally shooting a thief in the ankle or kneecap.

Pray that the piece will be well received.

Again I am grateful to all of you for giving Sue and I these wonderful opportunities to minister. God is so good. Isn't He?

Counseling Class Closes Well

2011-03-26T09:31:00.000+10:00

Sue says:
The Spiritual Friendship Counseling class I teach is for the second year students, above. Every year I say, "This is the BEST group of students!" And again I say it.This class has been thoughtful to place a purple cover over the podium and bring new flowers for the lecturers each week.They sing hearty praises to the Lord at the beginning of each class.

One of the features of the counseling class is I pair the students up with a spiritual friend with whom they are to meet for six weeks. I aim to pair people from different locations, denominations, marital statuses and as many other factors as I can find. The idea is to allow the students to see that God can help them identify with their partner across all these barriers. Their testimonies to this at the end of the term are glorious. They are fired up to introduce these partnerships at home. They have seen God's empowerment and the benefit of sharing weaknesses and strengths together in a prayerful, caring relationship.

As has been mentioned before, pastors and other church leaders often get little training here. To have them catch the vision of what God can do through His word, His Spirit and His people is exciting.

Preaching at Nonga

2011-03-24T17:01:00.001+10:00

Sue says:
Last Sunday, it was a joy for us to travel with a student to his home area, Nonga in Dei Council. Jeff preached in Pidgin and the student translated into his local language. They made a great team.

We had been with this church two or three years ago. In the interim, some positive changes have occurred. The little Bible school associated with the church has a second teacher, a CLTC grad, now working there. And Jeff has grown in his Pidgin-speaking ability and understanding of local culture too. He knew to use an example of an enemy's pig digging up someone's garden, a fairly common event here, to illustrate the Bible text.

Everyone knew their reaction would be to kill and eat the pig as just compensation for the damage. But Jeff then taught about the attitude and actions God would want a person to exhibit and the resulting harmony that would follow. The people were struck by the Word being made so clear to them.

We thank the Lord for those special moments when we make connections that bring the heart of our great God into a clearer picture.

Cell Group Works and Plays Together

2011-03-19T08:48:00.000+10:00

Sue says: It's a blessing to get to know our new student cell group for this year. We do a variety of activities together. One week we played volleyball with another cell group. In the picture above, our students are in the foreground. The score of the game wasn't kept too carefully. It was more a matter of having fun together. You can see our weather is spring-like (all year round) with green grass and delightful blue skies with fluffy clouds.

Another week the students volunteered to come to our house to help us clean up our yard. You can see them cleaning out the drainage ditches (which carry away the abundant rainfall) and weeding in our garden. Notice the corn getting pretty high in the background! Green beans will start bearing soon too. It's pumpkin season now. I just cooked a big one for pumpkin bread and cookies.

This week we wrote notes of encouragement to two students on internship. One is serving in his church in East Sepik. The other is teaching at a Bible college in Western Province. Many times the students have quite an intensive training in their internship. These letters help them continue in stressful times.

Our current cell group leader was serving his internship last year at a Wesleyan Bible college. He was teaching classes, running the bookstore, and keeping the accounts for the college. On week-ends he preached. He knows how much notes from the college meant to him, so he's steering us toward writing too.

PNG Not Greatly Affected by Japanese Quake

2011-03-15T16:37:00.000+10:00

We mourn with those affected by the disastrous earthquake/tsunami in Japan. Who would have believed that a quake would be strong enough to move a large island and cause such widespread destruction?

We've heard reports that modern technology saved many lives in places far enough away from the quake. Mobile (cell) phone companies sent emergency messages in the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea to alert their subscribers in low-lying areas to get to high ground. There was some minor flooding in Melanesia, but nothing in comparison with Japan.

Strategic Plans Made for Bible College

2011-03-10T21:18:00.000+10:00

Sue says:

To prepare for the Bible college governing board meeting this week, the faculty and staff for this term, pictured above along with the deans of the three campuses, met this week to envision what they would like to see the college become.

The college board is considering the faculty vision and seeing where ts can be matched to their vision and the Office of Higher Education's. We pray our leaders will make wise decisions in leading the college forward to better serve the developing nation of Papua New Guinea.

Faculty Welcomes New Students

2011-03-05T11:55:00.000+10:00

Sue says:

Last night faculty and other college employees hosted new students and their families for dinner. There are 32 students in this first-year class. The man pictured above is a new student who pastors in Bunem Wo, a village adjacent to our Bible college. He has ministered several years, but he had a dream to get further theological training. We and his own villagers (from Dei Council, further west in our province) joined together to sponsor him for the two-year theology diploma.

His wife is enrolled in the Pidgin wives' course. She is learning to read and write. She was brought up by her grandparents, who didn't value education for girls. She is so happy at her reading, Bible training and home making skills progress. She wants to improve at writing too.

Their son, center, is in first grade at the school on our campus. He is a happy guy who enjoys learning his letters. Their daughter, on her dad's lap, is a curious four-year-old.

It is always a blessing to hear the students stori (tell the story) about their lives. We pray that trained Christians will help stem the tide of corruption and greed often seen in this country and build a productive ethos here.

First Ministry Sunday at Kindeng Four-Square Church

2011-02-27T19:50:00.001+10:00

Sue says: Our cell group met Pastor Alfred of the Kindeng Four-Square at his building this morning. The pastor is in the middle with his child and his Bible. These outreaches to community congregations allow our students to have experience relating to believers outside their denomination and using what they are being taught.

Two of the gals helped lead singing. Our whole group introduced ourselves and sang a special number together. Then the group did a contextualized skit about the Good Samaritan. The man who was beaten by robbers became a poor man in the village that no one helped. The self-righteous ones were two church women who wouldn't share what they had. An unbelieving man took the poor man to his own home and gave him food and drink.

Our student preacher is himself a Four-Square pastor. He could therefore preach a very convicting message and have it be accepted. He hit us all right between the eyes with a challenge not just to keep religious laws, but also to develop our relationship with God to such an extent that His concerns for all people become our concerns. He challenged us not to be amassing wealth for ourselves, but instead to look out for the needy who live right around us. The congregation opened their hearts to us and the student preacher's message.

In the time of testimony that was part of the service, the elder got up to praise the Lord for helping the community get tough on marijuana. The community put pressure on marijuana growers among them, and a couple large vehicles full of the drug were removed from the area last night. Local police and the media were on hand, and the story will hit the news tomorrow.

This congregation is a healthy mixture of men, women and children of all ages. We look forward to working with this active group this year.

Half-way Through Term One

2011-02-26T15:12:00.001+10:00

Sue says:

With Jeff standing in as acting dean, the first four weeks of this term have sped by. This week he held a faculty meeting to get us moving on documents the Academic Advisory Board will want to see in a couple weeks. But the good news is--the dean should be arriving back next week!

Tomorrow our cell group will go out to a village Four-Square Church for the first of our ministry Sundays this year. This cell group seems to be full of ideas. We're planning a group song and drama besides one of us preaching.

The longer we are here, the more connections we have with the students. Our cell group last year was praying for a student on internship, and the guy we were praying for is the leader of the new cell group this year. Another guy was in our group two years ago, a gal was last year, and a third attended the student hospitality night held at our house the first year we were here. It's pleasant to have these growing connections. We can see the students maturing.

Redeeming the Fiery Furnance

2011-02-20T16:29:00.001+10:00

Jeff writes:

The Baiyer River area of the Western Highlands is a beautiful place crisscrossed by flowing streams, beautiful waterfalls and surrounded by high lush green mountains. It is also the place where one of the longest, most brutal and deadliest tribal fights in PNG is going on.

To graduate from the CLTC our students must complete a one-year internship. Shadrack and his family went back to their home in Baiyer to bring God's truth to bear on this desperate situation. Once home to one of the first Baptist missionary works in the Highlands, Baiyer has since degenerated into the chaos of at present 13 warring clans where life is cheap. At one point Shadrick told me snipers used to hide under the old mission hospital building to pick off their enemies as they traveled down the highway. (The mission station now stands abandoned and dilapidated.)

Shadrick is himself a victim of the fighting. He has a bullet hole in his back and in the picture is pointing to a scar on his forearm. Underneath the scar is a piece of lead that is still lodged in his arm. He cannot get too close to a fire because the projectile still causes him pain.

However, back he went to this crucible of suffering. Shadrack spent his internship year teaching pastors using distance theological educational materials developed and distributed by the CLTC. When he visited me in my office he told me that he rounded up the materials to teach 50 pastors key discipleship principles. At the end of the course, they held a grand graduation with a K1,000 pig as the main course.

His wife spent a year in a unique ministry. She reached out to the second wives in polygamous marriages. She encouraged them that God cared about their situation and that they should grow in their relationship with Him.

One of the great blessings of being here is a story like Shadrack's. He like many of our students are able to go and do ministries we are not able to do. Teaching men like him reminds of what Paul said in 2 Timothy 2:2. where he says we are to teach faithful men (and women) who will be able to teach others also.

Thanks to all of you, whom we consider our fellow-laborers in the gospel, we have been given this remarkable privilege. Praise the Lord!

Bachelors Students Begin Their Theses

2011-02-16T10:27:00.001+10:00

Sue says:
The fourteen bachelor five (fifth year) students were eager to get started on their theses. Jeff met with them this week and introduced them to their mentors. Three students working on their masters' degrees and one faculty member will coach them through the process of writing a major paper that will be useful to their home church.

Often the students choose a theological topic on which there is some confusion in their denomination. They describe the thinking and customs of their clan on the topic before the Gospel was introduced, give a biblical explanation, then make recommendations about how to correct the wrong thinking or actions. Easier said than done, of course.

The theses will be 8,000-10,000 word in length. We aim for these works to be Melanesians counseling other Melanesians about who God is and how to live for Him.

Jeff Stands in as Dean of Studies

2011-02-12T14:52:00.000+10:00

Sue says:

The first two weeks of this new academic year have flown by as Jeff has answered many trivial and important

questions having to do with matters at the Bible college. Above, he advises a student about an assignment for his Christian Ethics class. He also chaired the recent faculty meeting, leading us in discussions ranging from, "Should student fees be raised next year?" to "Should we readmit a student who was suspended last year?"

In other news, the Christian counseling class I teach is progressing well. We had our first role plays yesterday, and it was fascinating to observe the same scenario being enacted four different ways. Life is like that!

An Evening Out

2011-02-02T17:06:00.000+10:00

Sue says:
Where does a missionary couple go for dinner when someone "deserves a break today"? We live an hour's drive from any restaurant. But we are pleased to have discovered that the guest house manager on campus will cook a meal for a college employee for a reasonable fee. On the first day of new classes Jeff took me to the guest house for the attractive spread shown above. In fact, we'll enjoy the leftovers too--for days to come. I think I'll freeze some of the Sweet and Sour Beef and cake for Valentine's Day.

In other news...

Jeff is Acting Dean of Studies while our current dean is at home in Australia attending to matters there. It's surprising the number of both trivial and serious issues that will come before him in this two-week period. Please pray for him to have wisdom and patience with his added responsibility.

CLTC Academic Year 2011 Opens

2011-01-30T14:34:00.001+10:00

Sue says: Today a worship service for all the Christian Leaders' Training College community was the opening event of the 2011 academic year.

We thanked the Lord that He is a God who hears people from all nations who call upon His name.

Returning students and faculty were welcomed back for the new year. Also, the thirty-six students who make up the incoming class were made welcome. The new students and their families are pictured above.

Our theme for this year is to grow warmer through fellowship, deeper in discipleship, stronger through worship and broader in ministry. Please pray that we would grow together as a college community. We look forward to what God will accomplish among us as we seek Him.

Arrrived Safely in Port Moresby

2011-01-26T16:35:00.002+10:00

Jeff writes:

We are tired but elated to be back. The Lord kept us firmly in His hand on our trip.

Thanks to all of you who hosted us while we were in the States. You treated us as royalty!

I took the two pictures as Sue and I waited to clear customs in Port Moresby.

Blessings to all of you.

Sixtieth Wedding Anniversary Celebrated

2011-01-15T02:47:00.000+10:00

What a time for celebration! My parents celebrate their sixtieth wedding anniversary today. All our immediate family was able to gather to cheer them. A true blessing to be here at this time. Happy anniversary, Mother and Dad. Your example inspires generations.

Blacksburg Christmas

2010-12-26T04:54:00.001+10:00

Jeff writes:

We got to celebrate our first Christmas in six years with our children and grandchildren, and it was great!

Everything was in abundance: food, kids, presents, joy and thanksgiving. I thought the pictures could speak for themselves.

We were blessed with a white Christmas.

Happy grandchildren!

Delighted grandparents.

God is SO good. May your Christmas be a blessed one as well.

Welcomed by Wintry Weather

2010-12-09T02:03:00.000+10:00

Jeff writes:

This post is dedicated to our friends in Melanesia and Polynesia to help them to understand one critical difference between their countries and ours ... the WEATHER.

Since arriving here in Blacksburg the low temperature has been a -12 degrees Celsius and with that cold we have had winds that gusted to 80 kph!

How do we stay warm? First of all by not going outside. Secondly, when we do go outside we layer up with shirts (one light and one heavy), coat, gloves and hat.

The picture we posted above was taken from a movie we made at our son's home. When we see all of you in January, we can show you the entire thing. In the meantime enjoy your fine summer weather.

Blessings to all of you.

Bad News and Good News

2010-12-08T09:24:00.000+10:00

Jeff says:

We have been in Blacksburg for nearly one week. After leaving CLTC on Sunday 28 November we arrived here last Wednesday. So why did it take us so long to post this item? Well the answer is there was some good news and some bad news.

First, the bad stuff ...

Sue took home a cold with her from PNG which turned for the worse as she spiked a fever while we stayed overnight in Charlotte, North Carolina. All of our emails were wiped out on the CLTC mail system. (So please accept our apologies if we did not respond to yours.) After moving from the sunny tropics to face an arctic storm, I caught Sue's cold. As a consequence of five airplane flights I came down with phlebitis in my right leg. (The doctor cleared me today of deep vein thrombosis, which means my leg still hurts, but I won't need to go to the hospital.) My computer crashed, but my son, the computer engineer, got it going again.

Now for the good news ...

We were happily reunited with our children and grandchildren over a great spaghetti dinner with all of the trimmings. Last Saturday night we celebrated Virginia Tech's ACC Championship victory over humungous ice cream sundaes.

The wonderful people at Blacksburg Christian Fellowship (BCF) welcomed us warmly last Sunday where I got to preach on the 23rd Psalm. A couple from our BCF home group loaned us their car, and tonight we visit with the BCF mission's committee for a ministry debriefing and a welcome home from them.

These experiences remind me of what Paul said in 2 Corinthians 4 where he says that Christians may be perplexed but not despairing. Why? We do not lose heart because we preach and believe that Jesus is still Lord.

Thanks to all of you for praying us through.

42nd CLTC Graduation

2010-11-27T20:43:00.002+10:00

Jeff writes:

Today the college graduated 61 students from three of our core programs. We awarded Bachelors of Theology, Diplomas of Theology and Missions, and Rice Certificates.

It was a wonderfully sunny day and a sense of joyous relief filled the air. We were relieved to finish what has been a sometimes stressful year full of water shortages and security threats. At the same time we rejoiced to see the end of our work, the finished product. These students will be able to go into all of Melanesia and other parts of the world to do work we could not do. The battle for the Kingdom of God has a new cadre of capable foot soldiers to spread the good news of Jesus Christ.

Our commencement speaker was the Governor General of Papua New Guinea Sir Paulias Matane. Sir Paulias spoke on loving one's neighbor, and he shared his many life experiences. He began life 80 years ago in a village that practiced cannibalism. He learned to read at seventeen and has never been the same since. When he went to school, his teacher told his students that there was one rule that must be strictly followed. No one could not ask him questions. When Sir Paulias became a teacher, he returned to his village and immediately abolished that rule. He is a naturally curious man, a truly Renaissance Melanesian. As a man of grace and courage, Sir Palias is a statesman of the first order. He has visited all seven continents, written scores of books, fights against corruption, and lives out his faith.

In spite of his stature, he surprised us all when he came down to our faculty building early while the students were getting their graduation gowns on so that they could pose for pictures with him.

After the ceremony the students headed off to their mumus (tons of food steamed by hot stones). Hundreds of people came to celebrate and to eat. Sue and I went to one such party off campus. Matthias and his wife Jennifer invited us to come to their place to rejoice with their friends, family and community leaders. After about two hours of speeches we got to feast on mumued pig, chicken, bananas, veggies, rice, soft drinks, and cake (which Sue provided). It was our Thanksgiving.

What a great day! Tomorrow we get on the big bird and head back to the USA for a short two month stay. What a huge change awaits us! Nevertheless, for now we remain content to rest here and enjoy the time we have left.

Again thanks to all of you who pray for and support us. God has been gracious once again to allow us to enjoy this day for all of you. May the Lord richly bless each and every one of you.

Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone!

2010-11-24T15:13:00.001+10:00

Sue says:

Though it is graduation week here, we remember that our American friends are celebrating Thanksgiving. It is a well-established tradition with my family to express what we are thankful to the Lord for each year. So for 2010, we have to say:
1. Helping us finish strong in our fifth year teaching at CLTC
2. Giving us Melanesian friends to enjoy and learn from
3. Enabling us to grow in our walk with the Lord, seeing Him in new ways through life here
4. Giving us the opportunity to see our dear family members soon

Let the peoples praise Thee, O God;
Let all the peoples praise Thee.
The earth has yielded its produce;
God, our God, blesses us.
God blesses us,
That all the ends of the earth may fear Him.
Psalm 67:5-7

Graduation Week Opens

2010-11-23T20:49:00.001+10:00

Sue says: This week will be full of activity. Our Sunday service featured several individuals and groups singing farewell songs

These men from our cell group sang praises to the Lord in the village language of the one in the center. He and the guy on the left will graduate.

A number of graduations have occurred. Last week 12 campus workmen graduated from a preaching class. This week these community women's leaders graduated from a Know Your Bible study.

The worship committee asked Jeff to preach from John 15, where Jesus gave His last instructions to His disciples before they "graduated." Pictures from when we lived in a vineyard a year ago came in handy. Many people in Melanesia have never seen grapes growing.

.

Classes Finish for 2010

2010-11-19T16:02:00.002+10:00

Classes at the Christian Leaders' Training College finished for this academic year. That means that the students are finished. Of course the instructors will keep going for a while with red pens and calculators to come up with final grades.

There was a sense of relief among students today. It was a good day to enjoy a video with the history of missions class. We ate some banana cake and watched EE-Taow! The Next Chapter. Anyone seen it? It shows how some New Tribes missionaries evangelized a New Britain (part of PNG) tribe, and then they trained them to take the gospel to their neighboring tribes. It's one of the few videos I've seen with PNG characters and customs, and I think the students enjoy that.

Here's the missions history class looking relaxed. The guy at top left will graduate and go back to Port Moresby to work with youth (remember that's quite a broad term here) and run an after-school program something like Awana to disciple kids in his settlement.

The second guy top left hopes he will be accepted for a cross-cultural internship in the Solomon Islands, ministering with a male classmate (not in this picture) and his wife, the woman front left. The man at top, second right will intern in Western Province at a feeder school in Mapodo, the home of the guy second left.

The two men in the top middle and the ones top right and seated right are first-year students. They will return to their homes to earn fees for classes next year.

The man second right will intern with his denomination in Western Province. He is eager to evangelize his area.

The gal second left is graduating. She will return to her home in the Sepik to teach children. Perhaps the Lord will open the way for her to go as a missionary to Indonesia.

We ask the Lord to use these students to build His church in Melanesia and beyond.

TEE Students Graduate

2010-11-11T16:46:00.003+10:00

Sue says:
Theological Education by Extension (TEE) is a useful concept here in Papua New Guinea. People who can hardly read and live in remote places can join study groups to learn how to use the Bible themselves. Pastors can increase their biblical knowledge individually without moving away from their ministry. Our Bible college students use TEE materials for their own discipleship. We also train students and community members to be TEE tutors, those qualified to lead Bible study groups using TEE booklets.

CLTC recently awarded certificates to 91 people who have completed TEE studies this year. We are happy to see youth groups and people of all ages reciting Scriptures and growing in their knowledge of the Lord through studying these TEE courses.

New York Times Article

2010-11-09T15:46:00.000+10:00

Jeff writes:

For those of you, who are interested in what it is like to do business here in Papua New Guinea, you may want to read this informative article that appeared in the New York Times last month. The article is entitled "Riches May Not Help Papua New Guinea." You may access it by clicking on this link.

Kain kain hevi i kamap, tasol...

2010-11-09T10:19:00.001+10:00

Sue says:

This Pidgin title means "All sorts of troubles exist, but..." You may have seen the title without any text another day. The satellite connection was particularly bad that day, and I wasn't able to post. That wasn't one of the troubles I had in mind.

You may have read another recent post about the trouble with village people thieving and then killing a security guard at Ukarumpa. Our situation has escalated to a serious injury of one of our guards and a robbery on campus in which a number of villagers took part. Please pray for our leaders as they deal with these villagers who are also demanding that they be our security--after they behave as they do.

There is also a serious matter with a student who is supposed to graduate, but may not be allowed to. Please pray humility will grow in the life of this student.

Remember there is a "but" in the title of this article. We don't like to keep talking about these negative things, though they are a factor here. The "but" is that there to introduce the contrast that positive things could result from these negative events. Our prayer is that God's ways would increase in our own lives and in the lives of those to whom we minister. Sometimes this comes about through problems such as these and others we have now. Thanks for sharing in our troubles. May knowledge of God's wonderful help come as a result of them. Thanks for joining us in prayer.

There are other really great things going on here. I will make an effort to write about the joys next post.

Fall Nostalgia

2010-11-06T14:46:00.002+10:00

Sue says:

I saw a picture of a maple tree turning color in Blacksburg this week. It made me nostalgic for home. The family will be planning Thanksgiving and a family meal. Hmm. Won't be there.

A couple pumpkins were at hand. Pumpkins here are green when ripe. See the one on the right above. It's flesh is the same orange color inside that North Americans are used to. You can see the seeds, left, are similar too. I toasted them in the oven and they taste good salted.

Fall always inspires me to bake. That crispness in the air makes it cool enough that heating up the oven doesn't make the house too hot. I got out my mother's pumpkin cookie recipe.

Since I was going to bake anyway, I started some bread rising while I baked cookies.

Though it isn't fall here, I made a little arrangement of the bounty from the garden and the kneading bowl. I miss you, Loved Ones At Home. Thinking of you today.

A Sad Day for the Lord's Work

2010-11-02T19:49:00.001+10:00

Sue says:
A tragic situation has arisen at the large Wycliffe Bible Translators (known here as SIL) missionary base at Ukarumpa. It typifies the difficulties many Christian missions in the highlands have with neighboring villages. This is as clear as I could piece the story together.

Early this year there were a number of forced entries and burglaries of homes at the SIL Ukarumpa base. At Easter a number of village youths committed their lives to the Lord. The break-ins stopped.

A while later the same tribe took up the breaking-and-entering again. Ukarumpa leaders appealed to the village leaders to rein in the illegal activities of their youth. The village leaders said it wasn't fair for them to be asked to "turn in" their youth. If they were being asked to act as security, they should have the security guard contract and get paid for what they were doing.

Recently, a drunken man from the same village was ejected by security guards from Ukarumpa property after he pulled a knife on the guards. After the 10 pm lock-up, the same man was found on the property again. The guards loosed a dog on the man, and he escaped with a dog bite over the security fence.About sunrise the next morning, the security guard at the Ukarumpa airstrip was beaten in retaliation by a few men from the man's village.

Later that morning, the village leaders showed up with the man with the dog bite. They demanded compensation for the dog-bite their relative had suffered. When they were informed that some of their tribe had already beaten a guard for compensation, they were angry at their relatives for negating their claim. Ukarumpa leaders saw that the man's dog-bite was treated at the Ukarumpa clinic. He did not need any further care. The leaders said no further action would be taken against the security guards. The police were made aware of the incident.

On the night of 31 October, an unknown person with a gun entered the Ukarumpa airstrip property. The person shot and killed a security guard. Local police are investigating.

The Ukarumpa leaders gave the whole security company the next day off to mourn the death of their co-worker. Some Ukarumpa missionaries also joined in the mourning and sent money to help the family with burial expenses. Some of the missions women brought cooked food to the mourners.

Leaders from Ukarumpa released this statement about the situation:

The culture dictates "payback" for every wrong, which leads to an
unending cycle of revenge. We ask our larger international community to
pray for a peaceful and lawful resolution to the current issues facing
our Papua New Guinean security contractor and the SIL-PNG community.

Many highlands cultures live by the "might makes right" motto. When opponents do not use force to back up their position, they are considered perfect targets. So where does this leave missions organizations? Asking God to intervene. Please join us.

Women's Fellowship Farewells Graduating Women

2010-11-01T20:20:00.000+10:00

The women's fellowship of CLTC gave a farewell meal and send-off for the women who will graduate from the college this year. Each neighborhood cell group hosted several students for a meal together, then, with a scriptural challenge and singing, we blessed them as we sent them out to serve.

It was a solemn moment for the twenty-five women who will graduate this year. The four main teachers of the pidgin women's program lit the candles the students held and challenged them to carry with them the light of God's love as they go out to serve others.

We have observed this batch of students from the time they first arrived. We welcomed some of them at a gathering for new students at our home the first week they were here. They were shy, wondering if they could make it. Many of them have become more confident and able in their handling of Scripture. We pray God will use this class to make a difference for His kingdom in the various places they will minister after graduation.

Table Tennis Championship for 2010

2010-10-29T16:49:00.001+10:00

Sue says

The Christian Leaders' Training College grand final in table tennis for the year took place today. With papers due and quizzes being given, not too many students came to watch. Several of us enjoyed the diversion anyway.

In the above picture, you see Jeremiah, representing the Solomon Islands, playing the last game against David, representing Samoa. All three games were close, but in the end Jeremiah won.

Above you see our Dean of Studies, left, awarding Jeremiah his prize. Our Public Affairs Officer is on the right. Food is a popular prize. And since no restaurants are nearby, Jeremiah was give rice and mackerel for his wife to make a tasty dinner. His family will feast tonight!

Upgrade of Classroom Building Half-Complete

2010-10-28T18:32:00.000+10:00

Jeff and Sue say:
Improvement of half the original classroom building has been going on for two weeks of last term and five weeks of this one. It looks like we will be able to move back in next week. What an improvement has been made!

The original classroom building had four classrooms with a small bookstore in the middle. In the above picture you can see the the old classrooms at the far end along with the old bookstore. The two classrooms on the near end are being refurbished. The new building will be wider than the old one. This additional width will provide space for a larger bookstore located at the near end of the building and two smaller tutorial rooms. To do this, both the interior and exterior of the old building was removed. In addition, most of the interior studs were taken out. A new larger roof has been installed with ceilings underneath. This will keep the classrooms cooler

This picture is looking at the same side of the building from the old classrooms. You can see the nice new siding and coat of paint on the building, poles and walkway. More lighting has been added along the walkway and inside the classrooms.

This is the opposite side of the building. You can see that the old part of the building, on the left in this picture, is narrower. The wider building will have more spacious classrooms. In addition, we hope to have a computer room capable of supporting 32 computers. So wonderful!

Neither of us will teach this term in a new classroom, but we will be relieved to have the noise of floor sanding and hammering finished for a while. Classes have been meeting in a conference room, the library, on the stage in the auditorium and in another large meeting room.

The other two classrooms and the old bookstore in this building will probably be upgraded next year. We are thankful to volunteers from New Zealand and our own workmen for the fine new rooms that are ready to use.

Closing Up Events

2010-10-23T12:51:00.000+10:00

Sue says:

We're half way through the last term of the year. Graduation will take place in five weeks. Those will speed by full of closing up events.

One of our goals is to have all the students in our cell group over to our house for dinner. These guys on the right are the last group, the single guys. The two on the left plan to graduate. One asks God to use him as an evangelist among the people of PNG. The middle guy leads the youth in his settlement outside Port Moresby. The man on the right is an instructor at our CLTC Moresby center. He is getting more training at our Banz center.

We have an unusually large group of students, about fifty, graduating this year. The above students had just given their testimonies in chapel. At the time I took the picture, the faculty and student body were praying God would use them in His service after graduation.

We faculty members interview the students in our cell group each term. We pray with them about their needs. The student pictured left had her need for school fees met by a member of one of our supporting churches. She will graduate soon. One of the possibilities she is considering for her future is nursing training.

A fun event that began in the last week is a table tennis tournament. The first round has a number of faculty members pitted against students. Jeff was so determined to take part, that he played left handed (because his right elbow is the one with the wound). He was a good sport even though he was eliminated in the first round (seen below). His wound is healing quite nicely, though.

What about your day jobs?

2010-10-21T11:01:00.001+10:00

Jeff writes:

With all the posts dealing with hiking, infected elbows and poisonous snakes some of you may be wondering about whether we are still active in ministry here. We are.

I am currently teaching three courses: cell group leadership, discipleship and Colossians.

My students in the Colossian's class get to write a paper on what the Colossian heresy or syncretism was. We have spent the last week or so learning a lot about first century pagan religious practices and philosophical systems to try to shed some light on what problem Paul was addressing in the church. The study is particularly relevant to my students because they face similar issues in their cultures today. Just like the Colossian believers my students deal with the fearful reality of facing a hostile spirit world. Hopefully, our study will help them to hold fast to Christ to win these kind of battles.

Sue is reprising her History of Missions class. She has but eight weeks to cover the history of Christian missions from 33 AD to the present. She does a remarkable job combining lecture, student presentations, and missionary biographies to teach her course. It has been a stretching experience for her, and she has really grown in the process. Needless to say, I am proud of her.

Both Sue and I are cell group mentors. As such we are members of a student cell group. We participate with them in their meetings, and go out on ministry outreaches with them to a local village church.

My other duties include planning the graduating students' retreat, and I am in the process of ordering graduation regalia for some of the students. I recently became a member of the faculty executive team. As such I get to go to a meeting every other week and discuss and hopefully resolve academic matters.

My boss, who is the Dean of Studies, wants me to go through all of our course offerings to determine whether they are truly written at the college level or not. This last assignment is important because of our recent accreditation. We need to make sure that our courses meet not only our internal standards for excellence but those of the larger academic community here in Papua New Guinea.

So as you can see we are both busy. Pray that we do all things well and that we do not grow weary in well doing.

Poisonous Snake Second Take

2010-10-20T18:33:00.000+10:00

Jeff writes:

Dr. Addy from Rumginae in the Western Province of PNG does not think the snake I photographed on the Kokoda trek was a death adder. She thinks that it was a candoia carinata or Pacific Boa. She sent me this photo to show what a real death adder looks like. Note the triangular shaped head and the very small tail.

Daddio also left a comment to say that he thinks that it is a type of boa as well. He identified as a New Guinean ground boa. He supplied a link to the photo below.

Thanks for your timely responses.

I am inclined to agree. Although when I tell the story to my grandchildren, I will probably refer to the extremely rare maybe poisonous but who knows? New Guinea Pacific ground boa or something like that.

Elbow Update

2010-10-18T19:18:00.000+10:00

Jeff writes:

Last Friday afternoon I was the happy beneficiary of much pain as Dr. Becky at Kudjip Nazarene hospital removed a bunch of green gunk from my infected elbow.

She took out a chunk of what she called necrotic (dead) tissue about 1.5 cm by 1 cm across and a full 1 cm deep. My once healthy flesh had been destroyed by the infection. By Sunday night the redness surrounding my elbow had subsided, and for the most part it appears that the infection is nearly gone. There is still some puss in the wound, but I am hoping and praying that I have turned the corner.

Right now I am taking a combination of 24 anti-biotic pills round the clock. In addition to the flu cloxicillin I had been given, Dr. B is having me take chloramphenciol. Lord willing with Dr. B's fine work, these drugs, and your prayers the elbow will heal.

A good friend of mine Dan, who is a veteran missionary in PNG, tells me that I am now officially a member of "I have a hole in my body caused by a tropical infection missionary club."

Isn't God good?

PS The picture shows a cotton ball that we stuffed into the hole after being saturated with hydrogen peroxide and iodine. For those with stronger constitutions I can send you a photo of the hole without the cotton.

Prayer for Healing of Jeff's Arm

2010-10-13T12:01:00.000+10:00

Jeff writes:

I fell hard on my right elbow during the Kokoda trek and basically shook it off and kept going.

However, for the last five days or so an infection has set in. I may have ground some dirt under the skin or something like that. (I don't think that I broke my elbow.)

Currently, I am being treated with a powerful antibiotic, one used to heal staph infections that cause boils. I am now into my third day of taking it, and the arm is still painful, achy, and swollen.

A veteran missionary tells me that these infections are not uncommon here and that they are curable. This was good news because early on as the swelling spread and the pain got worse I had visions of losing my arm.

Having said the above please pray that the infection will be eliminated so that I can return to full functionality. So far I have not had to miss teaching any classes, for which I am grateful.

Ministry Weekend

2010-10-11T19:44:00.000+10:00

Jeff writes:

Last weekend our cell group went to a local church in a nearby village to minister. The students put on a wonderful program.

After being introduced by a church elder, they ran the service. We have a particularly talented cell group this year. The music was led by four members of the CLTC music ministry, all talented musicians. We taught the congregation a new song.

This was followed by a short drama about the "Good Samaritan." Guess who got to play the donkey? (Please no jokes about that role being perfect for me!)

Ezekiel (pictured above) preached on this story and emphasized the need to serve our neighbor, who in this story is actually one's sworn enemy. As a Papua New Guinean he could and did say things that a missionary would not be able to speak about. It was a powerful sermon, and he received many loud responses and an ovation at the end.

We left feeling that the Lord had been honored.

On to another matter ... the answer to our snake question is it appears we may have been right. It was a death adder. Our area leader Tom concurred with our identification. He said, "Glad you didn’t step on it. 2 or 3 a year die at Suabi (where he used to live) from death adder bites."

Frangipani in Bloom

2010-10-08T13:27:00.000+10:00

Sue says:

Despite the drought, the frangipani trees are in bloom. There's a pink-blossomed one in our yard.

The flowers have a delicious, sweet smell. I wish I could include it as a "scratch and sniff." You can see the cow pasture behind our house and the pineapple plants in our garden are brown from lack of rain.

We did have a glorious downpour of rain almost all of last night. Our drinking water tank is full, for which we thank the Lord. There are still a lot of clouds in the sky today. We ask the Lord to send more rain from them.

Where's a Herpetologist When You Need One?

2010-10-07T11:27:00.000+10:00

Jeff writes:

We encountered three poisonous snakes on our Kokoda trek.

I was able to photograph this one. It does not look in good shape as I think part of its body has been smashed by a rock. Nevertheless, it should be pretty easy for some budding herpetologist (someone who studies reptiles and amphibians) to identify. If you think you know what it is, I would like to know because Sue and I have looked on the web and our best guess is some species of death adder.

Oh yes, there is a prize for the one who identifies the snake. The prize is you will get your first name published on our blog!

Kokoda Completed

2010-10-03T21:08:00.001+10:00

Jeff writes:

Courage, Endurance, Mateship, Sacrifice ...

These four words are engraved on black granite stones at the Isurava Battlefield. They exemplify the spirit of the Australian soldiers who resisted a determined Japanese advance along the Kokoda Track during the second world war.

We, who completed the 96 km trek, were able to understand first hand what these words must have meant to those who fought along this precipitous jungle trail 68 years ago.

For me "Mateship" (or friendship) was at the center of our effort as we became for eight short days a family with a brief though intensely shared history. We endured difficult muddy root-choked ascents and descents, thunderstorms, and poisonous snakes. We enjoyed jungle flowers, sweeping vistas, clear mountain streams, the sounds of jungle birds, the sights of brilliantly colored butterflies, and the sweet harmonies of morning and evening worship songs sung by our porters. Most of all we experienced the joy of good humor, camaraderie, and fun as we ate, hiked, and camped together. These Aussies were a delightful bunch, and they all made me feel right at home.

All told there were seventeen of us who paid to walk the trek. We were supported by around 23 Melanesians, who served as guides, food porters, and as personal porters. Without them we would not have made it. My porter Bartz saved my bacon more than once. The photo below shows Bartz and me at the end of the trail.

It was a wonderful experience. There is too much to share on this blog, but when we meet again, I will be happy to bend your ear for a couple of hours ... that is if you are interested.

Thanks for all of you who prayed. Apart from some bruises and a pair of swollen feet I came through relatively unscathed. In fact no one in our party was seriously injured. We all made the hike from the youngest, who was eleven, to the oldest, me. God is good.

A Delightful Women's Retreat

2010-09-28T15:19:00.002+10:00

Sue says:

Over the week-end I was able to attend a retreat with the other women employees and wives of employees of our college and farm program. What a good time!

The setting was the mountains of Chimbu outside Kundiawa. It looks like Appenzell, Switzerland. So beautiful! We enjoyed teaching about the Holy Spirit, visiting the pediatric patients at a nearby hospital, and singing and giving dramas in our own meetings about the teaching we heard. It was a great time of bonding together.

Water Update and Other Reports

2010-09-23T20:12:00.001+10:00

It's break between our third and final terms now. Time for lecturers to get their notes ready for the last term. Jeff and I are thankful we are doing well in that department.

A number of you are keeping up with our water situation. We've had about a week without significant rain, and our students are close to exhausting their water supply. They are back waiting in line for a daily bucket for the family. We had a short, light rain this evening. A heavier, longer one or more would help us a lot.

The water filter project is at a standstill. Someone has dismantled the feeder hose several times, setting the process back two weeks each time. We suspect it's a child or a group of children. Rather than our assuming the responsibility for keeping people away, we feel like it is the community's responsibility to look out for the thing that would benefit everyone. So, right now, not much is happening in that regard.

Blesing Tru! (It's a Real Blessing)

2010-09-18T16:22:00.005+10:00

Sue says:

Well! We had an answer to prayer, but the answer didn't come in the way we expected. Some of you will remember that Jeff's low-top hiking boots were stolen off our porch a couple weeks ago. Jeff asked for prayer that the boots would be returned. He put up signs about a reward for their return. He talked about the boots to village folks. No report on the boots.

But our son offered to ship us his used heavy duty waterproof hiking boots and heavy socks that he wasn't using. We thought we'd give it a try. Although DHL promised a due date three days later than Jeff's departure date for Kokoda, we picked up the boots today. PTL! They're even better than the other boots were. They have high tops that will keep him from twisting an ankle. And second-hand goods come into the country cheaper than new ones.

OK. You can't see the boots so well, but you can see that Jeff is in shape and ready for his big Kokoda Trek.

Jeff here:

I just finished ten laps going up and down Vision Hill. The boots appear to be all right. I need to wear them a lot in the coming days to make sure that my feet don't blister.

Oh, for those who are REALLY interested ... I cut and filed all of my toe nails today. The time that I hiked Mt. Wilhelm I lost seven toe nails because my foot keep crunching up against the toe of my shoes while going down the steeps. Lord willing it won't happen on this trek.

PNG Independence Day Celebrated

2010-09-16T16:09:00.018+10:00

Sue says:

Today is the thirty-fifth anniversary of Papua New Guinea's independence. The celebrations began with the primary school children being led in by their teachers. The employees' and students' children aged 4-7 years attend school on our campus. Below, the woman on the left is one of the teachers and our duplex neighbor. The head teacher wears a headdress from her province, Western. The whitish-golden feathers are from the bird-of-paradise. Many people were wearing the nation's colors, black, red and gold.

The flag was raised and the children led us in saluting it and singing the national anthem.

Several of our leaders addressed us. In the picture below you can see the speakers on the left. The security guards who are not on duty are in the foreground. Behind them are orchids. The school children sit in the middle ground. The rest of us are in a semi-circle. Rear right is our auditorium. Rear left is our library. Center rear is Vision Hill. Our duplex is near Vision Hill. You can see it's a sunny, beautiful day.

Below are our leaders and the organizers of our festivities. From the left, they are the student body president from Eastern Highlands; the assistant principal, husband of the head teacher of the primary school, from Western; the college secretary from Morobe Province; the administrator from Morobe; the principal from Bougainville and the chaplain from Western Highlands. Some of them wear part of their traditional dress.

Jeff was asked to lead us in prayer for the country. We thanked God for the many advantages and blessings He has given this land and asked Him that the leaders of the nation follow Him more and more closely.

Then we sang a wonderful song that is sung on special occasions.

This is My Country

(not sung to the tune Americans know for a song of this name)

Islands and mountains, sunshine and breeze,

Flowers and moonlight, swaying palm trees,

Jungles and rivers, white coral sand,

This is my country, this is my land.

Dark were the days when men lived in fear,

Fear of the arrow, stone club and spear,

Fighting and hatred filled every hand,

That was my country, that was my land

Then came the change that brought peaceful days,

News of our Saviour, learning his ways;

Darkness is fading out of our land,

We know the peace of his guiding hand.

What of the future? Soon we shall be

Teachers and leaders of our country;

We'll build our nation as God has planned,

Make this his country, make this his land.

Then shall our country be free and strong,

Homes will be filled with laughter and song;

Peace in our hearts and work for our hands,

Unite our nation with other lands.

After the ceremony, the big event for the day was sports! Many students and college employees and their spouses play on teams each week. Today they had special competitions with those teams, meeting each other in basketball, volleyball and rugby touch. It's been a lovely day for thanks to the Lord, recreation and relaxation.

Term Three Closes

2010-09-10T14:27:00.002+10:00

Sue says:

As the sun was coming up this morning, I was watering in my garden. The sky was showing sunrise pinks. It's peaceful and still in the garden at that time. The lettuces are doing quite well. Some corn, green peppers, tapiok, peanuts, green onions, strawberries and peas are established. It's still wait-and-see with ginger, carrots, and recently transplanted tomato and cabbage. The lilies pictured above are blooming in the garden.

Next came Scripture-reading time. I wanted to read one of the letters Paul wrote from his first imprisonment in Rome because my class just finished the Book of Acts. Paul was in prison at the end of Acts, but he wrote several letters to congregations and individuals while he was there. Philippians is one of the books he wrote to a church he had established. He was writing to nurture the new Christians in their faith. Verse six of chapter one is one I pray for all my past and present students as we close term three of this college year.

For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.

Stolen Shoes

2010-09-08T16:36:00.000+10:00

Jeff writes:

For the last six months I have been training to hike the Kokoda Track. This is an arduous foot path. It connects the north coast of PNG at Popendetta with its south coast at Port Moresby. The track mounts the Owen Stanley Range, and all told it has more ups and downs than Mt. Everest.

More importantly, it is also the scene of an heroic WW II battle. Initially young, green, under supplied, outgunned, and outmanned Australian militia bought time and stubbornly resisted the Japanese advance. Later they fought alongside seasoned veterans and defeated a bloodthirsty enemy. Together they handed the armies of Japan their first setback of the war.

Sadly, however, in these final weeks before my departure someone came last Thursday night and stole my hiking boots from off of our front porch (I had left them to air out.). At this point they are irreplaceable.

To get in shape I try to hike ten times up and back down Vision Hill three times per week. (That is me training in the picture with a 20 kg pack on my back.) After the shoes went missing, I attempted to do this with an old pair of basketball sneakers. When I finished my workout that day, I noticed that the stress had almost totally separated the soles from both of the shoes.

So I really need these hiking boots back. I have spoken with as many local contacts as I can to get the word out. I am even prepared to pay a reward for their return, but so far no boots.

Many are praying for them to turn up as I now hope all of you will. If I can't get them back, I will attempt the hike in my running shoes. Lord willing that will not be necessary.

College Improvements Being Made

2010-09-06T15:21:00.002+10:00

Sue says:

Our stage curtain in the auditorium was forty years old. We knew because the woman who sewed it told us its age.

Recently the wives of two past principals worked together to sew us a new stage curtain.

Believe me, the new curtain below is a big improvement!

Thanks, ladies!

Cell Group Couple Comes for Dinner

2010-09-04T10:06:00.001+10:00

Sue says:
One of the most common ways people socialize in a small community that's removed from entertainments is to visit in each other's homes. Last night we had a student couple and their son for dinner and conversation. (The preschool son was tired and went to sleep on the sofa. Thus no picture of him.) My current menu for student visits is curried chicken and vegetables over rice with some raw vegetables on the side, fresh pineapple, bread rolls and banana cake.

It is always fascinating to learn about the students' experiences. This couple is from Malaita, Solomon Islands. The husband represented their nation in soccer competitions when he was a teen. He was able to travel to Taiwan, Australia and New Zealand for international team competitions.They both have an eagerness to learn to teach the Bible in a knowledgeable way. The wife wants to find materials in their language to help women of their church learn to read and write. We pray God will use the couple to continue to build the church in the Solomons.

Solomon Island War Dance

2010-09-03T05:27:00.000+10:00

Jeff writes:

I cut the video down of the Solomon students doing their war dance. The dance started slowly, repeated itself again, and then built up speed until its grand finale, which I have posted below.

Hope you liked it.

Water Filter Update

2010-09-02T18:56:00.002+10:00

Jeff writes:

I am a bit discouraged over the water filter.

The day before yesterday I went to prepare the filter to do another test of its water quality and discovered that some child had pulled the water supply hose off. Fortunately, I discovered this before the water level fell too far.

I then wound the supply hose around the top of the filter to keep it out of reach. However, a section of the hose connected to the supply faucet proved too tempting to swing on, so when I came back in the afternoon that end of the hose had been pulled off. This time the water had drained all the way out of the filter causing all of the organisms in the schmutzdecke to die.

This has set our work back two weeks.

Sometimes I just want to get on a plane and go home, but then I try to settle down and remind myself that this is my home. So my student co-workers and I will keep trying.

Please pray that the parents of those kids will be able to keep them away from the filter.

CLTC Thanksgiving Service

2010-09-02T18:40:00.002+10:00

Jeff writes:

Each year the students and the staff at the college present items and offerings of thanksgiving to the Lord for His blessings.

The Thanksgiving Service is full of colorful, musical, and cultural pageantry. It really highlights the diversity within our student body. We have students who come from the Highlands where we live. (The children pictured above are wearing traditional Highland dress.) There are Motuan speaking students from the south coast of PNG, and students from Lae on the north. They come from the great river basin areas fed by the mighty Sepik and the Fly Rivers. The New Guinea Islands area sends us students from Bougainville, New Britain, and New Ireland islands.

The group in the picture are men from the Solomon Islands. They are performing a war dance. It was the highlight of the show. (I tried to upload the video I took of this but was unable to do so. When we see you all again, you will have to have a look.)

Oh yes, the expatriates did a dance of their own. It was the first time we had tried anything like it since we have been here. The ladies did the Virginia Reel. (The men could not dance with them as it would have violated a cultural taboo held by some of our students.) The dance went over very well. It brought the entire crowd running to watch the show and to remain standing on its feet clapping to the beat.

Coastal Students from around Port Moresby

The Lord has created a wonderful world full of rich cultural, linguistic and artistic diversity. How precious this makes our bonds in Christ!

We thank all of you who support us in prayer and otherwise for allowing us to be your eyes and ears in this place. The students you enable us to teach will go to people we cannot reach to share the gospel in their own culturally appropriate ways, which are sometimes beyond our western understanding. This day was truly a blessing. We only regret that you all were not here to share it with us.

Paul Before the Sanhedrin

2010-08-27T15:57:00.000+10:00

Sue says:

Once again in Book of Acts class, it was drama day. This time students presented Paul on trial before the Sanhedrin. Though the students are different, some of the costumes are the same. Once again Paul is the one with the gold robe. The high priest has on the breastpiece of judgment. This scene is from Acts 23. Good stuff!

First Water Filter Test Results

2010-08-25T18:25:00.001+10:00

Petri Dish Showing Active Bacteria Colonies (Large Purple and Pink Dots)

Jeff writes:

The first test result is in for the water filter, and it shows that we have bad bacteria in the water. I know this because of the purple and pink dots growing in the petri dish. Each one represents an E-coli bacterial colony. The goal is to reduce these colonies to nearly zero.

This was to be expected because I took the sample yesterday evening before the schmutzdecke, which is the biological killing zone at the top of the sand, had formed. So even though the water had passed through the sand and the gravel, the sample at this time is nearly the same as unfiltered Waghi River water.

I am now running the filter to clean out the bad bacteria. We will take our next test this Friday and compare results. Lord willing the water will be cleaner.

Keep praying.

P.S.

One small piece of unrelated news is today I was interviewed on PNG's NBC radio. This station is equivalent to National Public Radio in the US. I was asked questions pertaining to the topic of biblical ethics. The 15-minute session went well, and hopefully the Lord was honored.

Water Filter First Phase Finished

2010-08-23T21:00:00.005+10:00

Students Checking Out the Slow-Sand Water Filter (Inside the Two Steel Drums)

Jeff writes:

After nearly two months of sometimes painful and frustrating effort, five students and I finally were able to set up our slow-sand water filter. Our desire is to take the highly polluted Waghi River water and turn it into safe drinking water. In so doing we want to become independent of the droughts we experience here in dry season.

To complete the water filter we used materials readily available in PNG. We got our sand and gravel from the nearby Waghi River. We built our own sand and gravel sieves. Our welder joined two steel drums together, and our plumber fitted the necessary valves to make the thing work.

Today we assembled the filter itself and connected it to a Waghi river outlet. The water flows into the filter via a float valve similar to those found in toilets. The valve prevents the filter from overflowing. The water is filtered by a meter of fine sand, followed by around 10 cm coarse sand, and the last layer consists of around 10 cm of pea-sized gravel. At the bottom of the barrels are two more valves. One will be used to back flush the filter when it needs cleaning. Lord willing drinking water will flow out of the other.

This is a homemade design based on some good research, but we will not really know how well it will work until we test the quality of both the input and the output water. I have received biological test kits from Australia that will reveal E. coli bacteria present in the samples. The goal is to have plenty of bad buggies going in and hopefully close to zero coming out.

I had a bit of a scare when initially no water came out of the clean water valve. It took longer than I thought to fill up the two barrels. When the water did finally flow, it had an oily residue on the top from the steel pipe we drilled out to collect the water inside the filter. The oil began to go away, but the water was clouded with sediment. However, after about five minutes it began to flow clearly. In fact it was so clear that our carpenter Thomas wanted to take home a bottle to put into his refrigerator to drink. I told him not to do that as it will take around a week for the filter to develop a biological bacteria killing zone called a schmutzdecke which will really start eliminating the bad bacteria. Needless to say, however, we were all overjoyed to get to this point.

It is a bit scary to try something new and to go out on a limb so to speak. I certainly was nervous. So when we reached the point of seeing the clear water flow, it was time to lift up a grateful prayer of thanksgiving to the Lord.

God has a sense of humor I think as I am teaching Exodus this term. We are learning there that He seems to specialize in getting water from strange places and in unusual ways.

So is there something that you are afraid to tackle in your life? I would say go to God in prayer and then go for it. Go ahead, and by faith trust Him to help you today; see what kind of living water the Lord will cause to well up in your life.

Paul and Silas Visit Philippi

2010-08-18T20:16:00.000+10:00

Sue says:

Today the Book of Acts class was transported back to Philippi during Paul's second missionary journey. A group of students helped us better understand what went on as Paul and Silas cast a demon out of a slave girl, were beaten and thrown into prison, sang God's praises despite their afflictions, led the jailer and his (her in this case) family to faith in Christ and demanded a public release from prison because they were unjustly imprisoned.

Above, Paul and Silas are put in the care of the jailer and a guard.

To the right, the guard listens while Paul and Silas are entreated by the magistrate to quietly leave town (so he won't have to admit a miscarriage of justice.)

This class session definitely got more discussion going than the usual lectures!

Good News Arrives!

2010-08-13T08:34:00.000+10:00

Sue says:

A letter arrived to let us know that one of our graduates, Biangkepe, who was pictured earlier this year at our missions conference, received an award in Malaysia as she attended training for becoming a missionary. Out of the candidates from nine nations, she was chosen as the best example of Christian character and principles. This gal was in our student cell group the first year we served here.We praise the Lord for students who go on to bear the Lord's name with honor.

A second letter also bore welcome news. The commission from the Office of Higher Education has granted our college (CLTC) provisional accreditation for two years. After two years, another delegation will visit our campus. If we have taken adequate action on the areas pointed out to us, full accreditation will be granted. It is quite surprising that the commission was appointed and has taken such quick action on our application. We thank those who prayed for this event and our Lord who heard our prayers.