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: 26th August 2024
Dear Pastor, Church, & All Supporters:
Special Report on Vehicle
Jeremiah 10:23 O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.
This report will, no doubt run into several sequels in order that you might digest the full story, without being taxied out upon one reading. I know some supporting churches choose to read the mission reports during a mid-week service, therefore I will keep my writings short for ease of reading, when enough information has been shared then I will move on to another episode of the work.
The Apostles (some more than others) wrote in detail about their journeys, encounters, problems, trials, persecutions, and the blessings of the LORD’S workings, it is all included and (IF) the H.S. thought it important to include all the challenges, mishaps (humanly speaking), the frustrations and challenges (and the H.S) did, then also today why should it be different.
The reason some mission reports don’t have much to read, is because there isn’t much being done. I have difficulty culling out some events and details, it is real time, real events, and real people that I labour amongst. There was a time, that someone said to me, (Bro. Peter we don’t need to hear all the details), I understand that, but there are others, who are interested in the ‘details’.
This journey for a new (newer) vehicle a daily driver began nearly five years ago, I will not repeat all the work that I had carried out on the old Land Rover, but will bring to light some highlights, as this reporting will bring anew, make afresh the great need for a vehicle, what it took to get it, what God allowed me to go through, in order to arrive at this point. I will very quickly point out, if you have a second-hand vehicle in the USA, and you’re thinking it’s not good enough, I have a few questions for you as you read this report.
Starting with the old Land Rover, it had over five hundred thousand miles (mostly off road) ardours driving, heavy laden, it was a work horse for the mission work in Malawi, and then PNG. After twelve years in Malawi having served in two countries, (Malawi / Mozambique) then it was shipped to PNG to continue in the work here. From 2016 to
2019 the vehicle performed beyond expectations, every three months I had to replace all rubber bushings, & shocks. The chassis had cracked in several places, which I welded back, retempered, rebuilt the alternator, starter-(twice), water pump (once), completed rebuilt the suspension (off-road) equipment, uprated the shocks, rubber bushings, all steering components, and on the list went. I have showed slides (a witness & testimony) to what I have done, in order to squeeze out some more mileage. The stories are beyond believing, and most reading this, will never, never experience this type of life.
I started in 2020, making public notice for the great need of another vehicle, I wrote many reports about the vehicle, breakdowns, no parts (in country), fabrication, my own engineering and so on. The workload did not ease because the vehicle was broken down, the demands of the work did not halt because I was either walking, taking public transport, or driving without wipers, and brakes… (would you have continued like this)?
I let everyone know that the vehicle had seen better days, and needed replacement, (before I go further) let me say, my understanding of (its finished, expired, used up) is quite different than most of you. Plastic bags are not thrown out, rather kept, and used for securing hose-pipe water leaks with rubber tubes that cannot be patched any longer. Old bolts that have threads stripped are built up with weld deposit, new threads are cut again with my tap & die set. Broken (PVC)- fuel lines are repaired with rubber hose sections- sealed with plastic bags and industrial two-part epoxy glue. I can go on, but I think you get the point.
I would like to challenge the men in the homes, and churches, before you toss something in the rubbish, (fix it) save the LORD’S money! If its ok for me to, then you can also!
2021 was the year that I presented the urgent need for a vehicle, I had priced different vehicles around the world, UK, AU, PNG, and the US, let me give you some numbers for consideration. In the UK, a Land Rover (the type, model) I have had Land Rover Defender diesel 130 model, was no longer in production (a newer type) $120,000.00 USD but not conducive for the PNG climate, a second-hand (this model) was out of my range. AU, I couldn’t find anyone willing to sell what they had, the US this type of vehicle is not available, Jeeps yes, but the kind that would work, (off-road set up) was going from 80-110,000. USD, out of reach for me.
I committed this to the LORD, offerings came in (2021) up to 45,000. USD. I found one Land Rover Defender in Aussie, just before I departed for PNG, I was settled, the owner was settled, seemed to be the right vehicle. There were some concerns by my former pastor, and I took it as not being the LORD’S will at that time.
I returned to PNG, without a proper vehicle, the old Land Rover was at a stage, day by day maintenance and repairs to keep it running. Overheating, engine mounts gone, brakes (metal to metal) no wiper system at all, living in a country where we have two monsoons in the year, fuse holder worn-means blowing fuses frequently, secure fuses with aluminium foil, factory lights gone, external off-road driving lamps – on and on it
goes. I didn’t complain, I just got on with it. There were days I had to walk, hike, and take public transport.
This continued on for months, I carried water containers, my toolbox, old spare parts, second-hand parts that came off Toyota Land Cruisers, (which, had been fabricated) to fit my Land Rover. I had welded up cracked axle shafts, fabricated my own brake pads, and made my own engine mounts (out of old rubber tubes).
I have some questions, where would the work be if I said, I cannot do this work, or live here without a proper vehicle? Would someone else have come? I have another suggestion, let each supporting church buy a ticket for a member and they come visit this mission work, when they get here, we will again move around like I have for the past several years. They can give their own eye-witness account of what it takes to live and work here.
If you have a running vehicle, and you miss church (why)? What will you say, my vehicle had no brakes? Or the complete wiper system was out, no way to repair…?
I want to thank each of you who have had a part in this great gift, the mana has dropped from heaven. May our LORD bless the work of your hands, smile upon your life and measure out to you as you have meted out to His Work.
To be Continued…
In His Name
Missionary Peter Halliman