SOVEREIGN GRACE BAPTIST MISSION
International – Papua New Guinea / Malawi Africa
P.O. Box 60150 Ndirande Bt. 6 Blantyre Malawi /
P.O. Box 233 – Mt Hagen (WHP) Papua New Guinea
Tanggi Mission Station – North Koroba, Hela Province, PNG
Missionary / Evangelist: Peter A. Halliman
Email: panagioite04@gmail.com / Website: sgbm-malawi-africa.com
Date: 29 September 2019
Dear Pastor, Church, Supporters;
Hebrews 11:6 — But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
This report is a bit late for August; however, it is not because there is nothing to write about — rather I often take time to choose what I feel would sum up the work in a given time without wearing you out.
During the month of August there was a Bible Conference scheduled at one of our churches located deep in the jungles — no roads, no vehicle access. Only by hiking in or being airlifted does one get to many of the places where our work carries us.
I started in Mt. Hagen preparing for the Conference, gathering some supplies as well as building supplies for the mission — hardware, extra fuel, cement — with a payload of near two tons, so progress was slow. As explained in many past reports, the road conditions are what books and movies are made of.
Some three hours away from the mission station the vehicle sustained a broken shock on the rear. Further on, two hours from home, I stopped for a vehicle check and noticed that the front left chassis — the seat of the coil spring — was broken from the chassis and only a third part was still holding. If it were to completely shear off, the vehicle would be grounded.
Prayers are constant. Standing upon the ground of GOD’S Sovereignty and Providence, we push on, hoping, trusting, leaning upon HIS promises to see us through. The last two hours’ drive turned into nearly four and a half hours. By and by we arrived home — no matter how tired, the seven men with me and I were very thankful we had not broken down on the road. GOD is merciful even amongst our problems and troubles.
For one week and a half I worked on the vehicle. Not having a workshop or shelter, it was out in the weather — and in PNG, where the rainfall is almost constant at two and a half inches per day, I have a window of about five hours to work steadily. Some days we don’t get that window without rain. The entire front left chassis had to be rebuilt. I can only pray for wisdom and knowledge and ask for GOD’S help. HE is always faithful. (2 Timothy 2:13) “If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.”
The time came to prepare for the Bible Conference. It had been some time since I had made a long hike. Since my arrival back in June and then the surgery, I had not engaged in any hard physical activity other than labour around the mission station.
On the 22nd of August 2019, a group of thirty people including myself set off at first light from the Tanggi mission station to a place called Pupa Baptist church, located within the jungles some twelve hours’ hike away to the southeast.
Throughout the day, breaks were taken, hills, mountains, and rivers were negotiated, until near dark we arrived at our destination. The last mountain would have topped out near eight thousand feet, with the way down near riveted with large granite rocks that were part of the skeletal make-up of the mountain. It was impossible to remain vertical as we descended. Even these experienced people took precaution and negotiated carefully this time.
That afternoon I had already become numb from the hike, my body simply performing on fumes. However, I have learned that it is our LORD who carries us, guides our steps, and holds us from dangerous falls.
A hot bucket bath in the bush after this kind of day is something I cannot explain in human language — it must be experienced. A dinner of tin fish and rice seemed like a dinner fit for a king. My housing was secure and my sleeping bag was prepared.
The morning came all too soon, and yet somewhere in the night’s sleep GOD performs HIS wondrous work of repair and regeneration of the body. The aches and pains were there reminding me that I was no longer twenty years of age.
By 0900 hrs we were assembled and ready to start the Bible Conference. Services and preaching continued until mid-day, then a small break and resumed until early afternoon. At 1500 hrs, services were concluded for the day, as the local church had the usual welcoming meal called mumu.
As the food was removed from its earthen oven and divided out, I was again reminded of the great sacrifice that is made from these people without complaint or talk — it is just given. I have also learned something from them: they have little but are prepared to give it all for the service needed. It’s one thing to give a lot when you have a lot, but when you have a little and give a lot — that is exactly where Christ was in HIS teaching.
The second day wore on, and the afternoon turned into the night with biblical discussions and questions. It had been a full day, and most of the day’s preaching had been conducted by me as per their request. If any preacher reading this report should try preaching from morning to afternoon with little to no break, then you will understand my words. I take these opportunities to do much teaching in my preaching, and one sermon after another is delivered with GOD’S help and grace.
Again, the day ended with GOD’S blessings. As I lay in my tent, the bush-houses nearby sounded out with hymns of praise — “How Great Thou Art,” “What a Friend We Have in Jesus,” and so on. I asked myself: how is it that people with so little can be so happy, and those with so much be so unhappy?
The next day being Sunday we started at our usual time of 0900 hrs. Several visitors and people had hiked from the nearby mountains who had come to hear the preaching these past days. As the morning messages were preached there seemed to be a restlessness from within the crowd.
During one of the morning messages, three people stopped me from preaching and said they had something to say. I gave them opportunity, and each one publicly stated how the LORD had found them lost in their sins and had opened their heart. In repentance and faith they believed upon the only Name — (Acts 4:12) “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
At the close of the Sunday service there were nine souls that had been redeemed. The local church voted to authorize me to perform the baptising. After examination, we hiked down to a river, and it was there — between those mountains, deep in the jungles of Papua New Guinea — that these nine people were baptized in the same way that long ago John the Baptist also baptized those in the river Jordan.
I was made to realize that all the aches and pains of the hike and the physical inconveniences were insignificant and counted as dung compared to the eternal gifts of eternal life. What story would be told in Heaven? What would the witness be? What would the angels say, and what would the testimony be?
Though there are many who stand on the grounds of condemnation and judgment, though there are critics and those who fall into the camps of the Pharisees, yet where are those who are willing to go? And those willing to forsake all for Christ’s sake?
GOD will continue to use those who offer themselves for HIS service. GOD can raise up the stones and use animals to speak HIS Word. May our LORD find each of us faithful in HIS service and keep us looking for HIS coming.
In His Name,
Peter Halliman