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: 30 June 2020

Dear Pastor, Church, and All Supporters

Mission Report continued from No. 7 in series (this is No. Eight)

Day Eight — 27 April 2020 (Monday)

1 Samuel 29:11 — So David and his men rose up early to depart in the morning, to return into the land of the Philistines. And the Philistines went up to Jezreel.

Though we were not going into the land of the Philistines — though sometimes I feel like it — we did rise up early, whilst still dark. The night before we had packed and prepared most of our gear for the trip ahead. It’s one thing to do a drive in a developed country during the early morning hours; it is another thing to rise early in the jungles and prepare your hike.

At first light we assembled, had our prayer. As usual, the order of filing was given: women and older men in the middle, some seasoned men in the front, and some in the rear with me. The head count was taken, and we were eighty-seven in number — some we had picked up as people from that area wanted to assist us in our hike at least back to the Duna area.

The first mountain was now reversed in order compared to our coming, as it always is, unless one takes a different route. Being fresh, with three days’ rest and a good night’s sleep, the hike up seemed not as difficult as it was coming in. Perhaps the LORD had lightened our feet.

Being in the morning hours and high in altitude, the temperature was down and facilitated a much cooler hike. However, as I have said before, it is easy to still break a sweat and lose hydration.

The hours passed, as did the distance. We finally arrived at the mid-point where we had spent the night coming in, as we held a church service with those people. It was just after 13:00 hrs (1 pm). We took a rest for fifteen minutes and carried on, as we were targeting the Hanginapu Bap church where we started the long hike inbound.

Having broken up the hike inbound, it had made it easier physically, though it took more days. Now we had completed our mission and were going home. However, back in the Duna area, there were two churches that had requested me to conduct services and assist them in church business.

We pushed on through the day, the mountains fell behind us, the rivers were crossed again and again, criss-crossing following the course we had taken. By 1700 hrs (5 pm) we came back to the last mountain, which seemed to stand straight up in front of us. Having hiked for the past hour in a tropical downpour, there was not a dry spot on me. But who would one complain to? Everyone is wet, no one is exempt, we all are hungry and tired, so we just get on with it.

The last mountain in front of us was near vertical. The one in front would help with the one behind as the rains made the mountain path slippery and dangerous. By and by we made the hike. I could feel the muscle cramps starting and knew that my body was lacking in sodium and other minerals.

It was 1800 hrs (6 pm) and near dark when we arrived at our destination, tired, weary, and ready to just become stationary. Non-moving was good.

As nightfall was upon us, there were still chores to be done: bath water to be heated, food to be cooked, and wet clothes to be hung in the bush-houses to dry overnight. They smell like smoke, but — do you want to wear wet clothes the next morning, or just smoky clothes?

I took my bath whilst it was still raining, but was able to get clean. As I said before, I am not willing to go to bed muddy and dirty. A simple meal of rice and tuna was good enough for me. A cup of hot tea and I was ready for bed.

I don’t recall falling asleep, but I do remember waking to the sound of the men talking in the men’s house, which was only some twenty feet from my quarters.

To be continued… End of Part Eight.

In His Name,

Missionary Peter A. Halliman