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: 3 July 2020
Dear Pastor, Church, and All Supporters;
Continued from Part Eight… This is Part Nine (9) in series
2 Corinthians 4:13 — We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak.
Day Nine — 28 April 2020 (Tuesday)
The morning hours came all too early, but GOD in all HIS wisdom and providence knows how to rebuild the body and grant energy for the task ahead. It was still dark, but I had my coffee going and the water being heated for my bath. The men were already stirring and soon the first light was upon us for a new day.
As I sat in my tent and had my coffee, I listened to the people — men and women, talking, laughing, and telling their own stories — as though we had never hiked for the past six days. Their joy and laughter caused me to think: what is it that makes simple tribal people forget their aches and pains, the hardships of life, and the little that they have? I mused over the mountains we had crossed and the clouds had not yet lifted — the land as old as time, and these people for generations had become part of the landscape, fused as one into the jungles, rivers, mountains, and life that this ancient forgotten land had to offer. Deuteronomy 33:15 — And for the chief things of the ancient mountains, and for the precious things of the lasting hills.
My breakfast of coffee and sweet-potatoes was welcomed indeed. After my bath, I spent some time in the Word. There was a church service scheduled for today, as some business had to be attended to. The current pastor wanted to resign and return to his home area near the Tanggi mission station.
I preached that morning and the church graciously accepted his resignation. He was an older man suffering from some unknown illness. The name of the church is Hanginapu Bap church. They have seen through the years a difficult ministry without a steady pastor — some came and went, but none seemed to stay for any length of time there. A young man who has been saved recently has shown interest in leading the people in a spiritual ministry. I have recommended him (his name is Albert) to attend the Bible School at Tanggi. If GOD is in this, then it will be so.
Luke 10:2 — Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.
After two hours of service, we were ready to close and move on. We packed up our gear and broke camp for another church two hours away, still within the Duna area — the Tabiya Bap church. I have come here many times in the past and ministered to these people.
We said our farewells to those who would stay behind and moved on. In the early afternoon hours we arrived and began to set up camp again. There was a church service scheduled for the afternoon, so after camp was set up and domestic chores tended to, it was time to assemble. With only twelve hours of daylight, we did not have much time remaining.
We had a crowd of near seventy-five people — big for this area and church. The membership is mostly women and children. Over the years it seems the love for money has taken over that which seemed precious in the land — the Word. But isn’t this the case the world over?
Isaiah 29:13 — Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men.
How many people do you, the reader, know — perhaps you are one of them — when once not long ago the churches were thriving and seemed to experience revival and true worship? People couldn’t wait to come to church, and children couldn’t wait to go to Bible camp. Now one can hardly drag people to church.
The day being far spent, we settled in for the evening. As usual, the houses were filled with talk, laughter, and so on. As the night was ushered in and the last beams of light faded, I was once again reminded of how light and darkness do not abide together — how the Light of the world and the great wicked one have no fellowship.
John 9:4 — I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.
In the midnight hours, there came a song to my mind. The LORD awakened me and impressed upon me to recall the words of “Till the Storm Passes By.” Outside it was pouring as though GOD had opened up the windows of heaven and the rains descended upon the earth with force. The thunder and lightning seemed to be called as witnesses to GOD’S great and mighty power.
I opened the small window flap of my tent and could hear the words — “In the dark of the midnight have I oft hid my face, while the storms howl above me and there’s no hiding place. Mid the crash of the thunder, Precious Lord hear my cry, keep me safe till the storm passes by… Till the storm passes over, till the thunder sounds no more, till the clouds roll forever from the sky. Hold me fast, let me stand in the hollow of Thy hand, keep me safe till the storm passes by.”
The rains carried on for some time, but I did not notice when they stopped — only the birds of the morning hours singing in the new morning light.
I have often wondered what the sight was like for Noah when the LORD opened the door and he walked out to a brand-new world — unspoiled, crisp, new, untouched and unadulterated by sin.
It was time to prepare for the day. Coffee was on the menu.
To be continued… End of Part Nine.
In His Name,
Missionary Peter A. Halliman