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: 6th July 2020
Dear Pastor, Church, All Supporters;
Continued from Part Nine (9)… This is Part Ten (10) in the series.
Jeremiah 3:15 — And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.
Jeremiah 23:4 — And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the LORD.
Day Ten — 29th April 2020 (Wednesday)
I was awakened by the birds of paradise — these are indeed real. You may look them up on the web and view these magnificent birds of PNG. The males will line up on a tall tree branch where they can be seen, and in the early morning hours and late afternoon they will display their art and talent in attracting a female. The males vigorously engage in a dance, displaying their wing and tail feathers, hoping to win the attention of the female.
Much of the Huli tribesmen and other tribes of PNG will be quick to tell you that it is the male birds with pomp and ceremony, not the females.
I enjoyed my coffee — also grown in the Blue Mountains of PNG, rich, dark-roast, and robust. It was as though the LORD invited me to a special arena and hosted a show of HIS workmanship and creation. As these magnificent birds displayed their beauty and splendour I sat stunned into silence, and about as quickly as they had come, they were gone.
The domestic chores were carried out, and as the first light was giving way to the strong beams of the sun, a number of people had already risen in the night to go secure the hogs that were to be brought in for the special meal of the day. Again, the Tabiya Bap Church would nominate and vote for a pastor today.
The usual mode of activity was already in place, and what would seem like a maze of people and a state of confusion actually operated with a fluidity that would impress even the most disciplined of people.
The hogs were killed — here they simply burn off the hair and prepare for the butchering. Those skilled in the art of butchering the hogs are called upon; others are busy splitting firewood, gathering stones, and the women are bringing in fern leaves and vegetables.
It becomes a cooperative effort on the part of many to accomplish the task. Nehemiah 4:6 — So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work.
I took advantage of the time and studied for the services that would soon follow.
With the food covered within the earthen oven, people bathed, changed clothes, and we soon congregated within the small church building that had been built back in the early eighties but was still sustainable. The building was packed out — we had near eighty people: some church members from nearby sister churches, and some members of the Tabiya Bap church. For the past two years they had been without a pastor and others had been substituting.
I preached on “The Call of Samuel.” After the preaching there was church business to conduct; they voted to have me moderate, and so it was. Some members who had been excluded were reinstated, and then the nomination for pastor was given — a unanimous vote. The man whom they voted for pastor, his first name is Anago — a young, energetic man with a love for the LORD. He had some years ago attended the Bible School that the late Pastor Ekere Ibao had in operation.
The church at Tabiya is made up mostly of women. The older men have died out, and the younger men have all but abandoned church life in pursuit of work, city life, and what the world has to offer — sound familiar, pastors? It is here too in PNG, but on a different level.
The church service was concluded and we ended with a song and prayer. Following was the preparation for serving the food. I was called to assist in the organising of the groups and making decisions on who gets what cut of meat and so on — this will never be handed out by an outsider or someone who does not know the customs, speaks the language, or is not intimately involved with their lives.
The balance of the day was spent in fellowship. With a good meal, food in the stomach, the blessings of GOD showered upon us, and the LORD’S work attended to, it seemed complete, at least for this time. We simply live from day to day here in PNG, and today was a good day in the LORD. Much was talked about — the past days, the events, the hiking, the fellowship, the conference, GOD’S Word, the blessings, the promises.
To these people, life is simple: you are born with nothing, gather little as you go along, and go out with nothing. Most of these people will never know what it means to sit in a nice chair, to watch a TV; most do not even have radios. They do not live in houses with electricity and light switches, there are no stove tops to cook on. They are born in the jungles, grow up in a bush house made with bush materials — posts cut from the jungle, thatched roofs, bamboo-woven sides, bamboo mats to sleep on, fires to keep warm and cook food, string bags made out of tree bark.
Yes, there are signs of modern development — Western clothes, cell phones, four-wheel vehicles here and there — but for the most part the lives of these people have changed little since the stone age, which was just some sixty years ago.
I began my own preparations for packing. Tomorrow it would be another long day hiking back to the mission station, with three mountain ridges to cross and two rivers.
As I reflected over the past ten days, I mused over the fact that a new church had been born, two existing churches had now voted for a man to pastor them, excluded church members were reinstated, and one church lost a pastor but was still strong and maintaining.
Where will all this be in light of eternity? What kingdom are we really working in? What are the real motives for Christians nowadays? And what is it that will stand the test? All hay and stubble will be burned up; perhaps some will only be saved as one plucked from the burning fires.
Zechariah 3:2 — And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?
The day was spent. As the last beams of light shone upon this part of the earth, people were finding their way to their homes. I resigned to my quarters. GOD’S light was switched off for the day. The nights here in the jungles take on a different meaning than most know in a developed world. Much time is spent in quietness, meditation, and prayer, especially when one lives alone.
May our LORD bless each of you in your ministry and life. I want to thank each of you for your sacrificial giving — I could not do what I do without your prayers and financial support.
End of Part Ten (10) in the series… To Be Continued.
In His Name,
Missionary Peter A. Halliman