Date: 22/04/2012
Dear Pastor, Church, and Supporters;
(Isa 8:20) “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.”
Report # 26
15th October 2011 (Saturday)
I started my day at 0600 hrs, after the morning coffee and some sweet potatoes I began to prepare for my studies as the day was planned for preaching. We were in a completely new area and the name of this Tribe is known as the Hewa people, amongst the Tribes of PNG, there are many clans some larger then others, but none the less of the same Tribe and mannerisms differ, customs, languages etc… The tribal language will remain the same in general but those clans, which constitute a larger number, will most likely have their own language, and so it is with the Hewa people as well. In past years during my father’s day, the mission work had reached the border of these people but due to the primitiveness and lack of skilled labour our work never really entered among these people.
They are on an average much less stocky built but more lean and wiry people. The terrain is very mountainous and rugged, cut with many raging rivers and gorges. This tribe with their many clans are totally cut off from the outside world, as the Huli Tribe are to their South with some road system and Government stations. The Duna Tribesmen are to their South West, with some road systems and a government station (Lake Kopiago); however the Hewa people have no where to turn to except the mountains, rivers, jungles, and days of hiking if they want to reach any sign of development even for their country. It is not uncommon at all for folks to walk for two and three days before reaching a medical clinic and to reach Tari where there is a hospital it will take up to four days hike or three and public transport.
This morning, folks began to gather in, from the appearance of several of the men I knew that they were new to church services and probably unsaved, or at least they showed no signs of (church going people). By the time 0900 hrs arrived (not that time means anything to the PNG people) but it is more for me to know how to plan and schedule the day’s events.
With a small building which had been constructed about a year ago by Bro. Hepe and some men from Tanggi, it was packed out with folks not only form our patrol, but also the visitors. Some of the men who attended (visitors) were all painted up for a war party and politely left their bows and arrows outside the building. The services gat underway, and after the singing I preached on “Except a man be born again”. Though there were no confessions made, (I don’t limit GOD’S Word, nor HIS power) to an emotional service. Paul said he was not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, because… (It was GOD’S POWER) not mine, or yours; The Gospel belongs to Christ – HE is the owner of it, and that is what Jehovah uses to save people, by the preaching of the Gospel. You nor I do not determine it when someone shall be saved. I don’t believe in singing and singing to beg, or invite someone to pray him or her through.
There was a break, and we had some sugarcane to chew for refreshments and cucumber to snack on. As we had our break, I was approached by some of our carriers and they informed me that there was a visitor who had come, he and his wife and small child. They wanted to know if I could offer prayer for their sick child, as I began to question them, I found out they had been hiking for two days to go to the medical clinic where we had just come from a days hike back. I checked the child and it seemed to have a fever, this could be stemmed from various ranging from malaria, to whatever. I asked them if they could stay over night and we would see what we could do. The afternoon we had services and this couple was with us, then after the services I spent some time speaking with this man about his people and the LORD’S work among them. He informed me that he had heard of me, and his father had heard of my father though we had never met. They only heard stories about our work however; no missionary ever visited any of his people. His words… even the government of our people do not know us, and we do not know them.
I asked him if time would permit and the opportunity would he be interested in leading us further into his area among his people, he gladly answered and stated that he would welcome us to come and start a work, that many of his people had never seen the outside world even what PNG has to offer.
I reminded him that GOD in HIS providence had directed him to me, and I to him for more then a mere visit. I believe that one day there will be a great work started among his people.
The day ended in further discussion with this Hewa man, we had our meal and spent the evening some discussing the next few days ahead of us with our food situation. This area we were in, being new and not many folks close by we were going through the food supply quicker then anticipated. The evening ended, we had, had a wonderful day and were blessed to finally meet some of these people whom we had been promising since 2004 that we would come visit them.
How GOD will bring HIS messengers to HIS people, how the shepherd is directed to the sheep, at the right time, at the appointed place and with the appointed message. We thanked the LORD for the day, and switched off our headlamps, high in the mountains the rains seemed to pound with ferocity, I was thankful that we had stretched the Tarp over and above the tent as a canopy.
16th October 2011 (Sunday)
My day started as most did, early, 0500 hrs, it was still dark out, the rains had subsided but it was extremely wet outside. I woke this morning heavily burdened by meeting this young Hewa man and his young wife. I did not presume to know GOD’S mind, however I know that he directed this young couple our way, they could have very easily passed us by, or us them and never had met. There is no way to know in these jungles if you are being followed or not, and the only time these people will be seen is if they want you to see them. They have perfected the art of not being seen, as their Tribesmen have been fighting Tribal wars since the beginning of time.
The morning services gat under way and once again we had a house full of people. Several visitors, more then yesterday, those who came seemed to be first time church visitors as they did not seem to know protocol for this setting.
I preached on “God is still faithful even when we do not believe”… we let out for a break and it gave me a chance to talk to some of the visitors. Several of the men were indeed first time church visitors and had not been exposed to a “white missionary” not that this means anything, nor does it carry any significance except that one is found among them who is different!
I did find out from these men that there was tribal fighting going on around that area and that was the reason they were in war paint. Mid-afternoon we held the second service, of which I preached on (Jn. 11) “Lazarus come forth”. I believe GOD blessed HIS Word, though there were no confessions of faith. We spent the balance of the afternoon and evening visiting with these Hewa people. The day ended and again I felt like we had been blessed to have, had the opportunity to preach the Gospel of Christ to those who knew HIM not as Saviour.
17th October 2011 (Monday)
Our day started early 0500 hrs, the coffee had been prepared early so whilst I was having coffee and some sweet potatoes I had a brief meeting with the porters (the men who were on patrol with me), I understood that there were nine women who requested to go along with our group to another new area, deeper amongst the Hewa people. I sat in conference with both the men and women, which, in number came to twenty-five. I stated that whomever departed camp with me, would be expected to pull their own weight, and no one would be allowed to turn back, simply because we all were entering new territory and none of us knew what we would encounter or find. One of the challenges ahead of us was the fact that the food was scarce and far in-between.
I selected three men who would return back to the last place we had come from and secure some more rice and tin fish as there were some local trade stores along the main road. These men would carry the fresh supplies and catch up with us somewhere along the way. For these people, they can hike in a day what it takes most outsiders two or three days to do, so I did not have any fears they would catch up with us.
The rest of the party, I finished up with my instructions and we broke camp as soon as first light was upon us. The cargo was packed and divided up; we had our prayer and set off into the Jungles.
In His Name,
Missionary Peter A. Halliman