Finally....updated!

Well, its been a long while since we updated and spoke to y?all, so sorry about that. Its harder to get on line for a period of time away from home. Anyway, we hope you are all doing well, and that you are enjoying God?s blessings and love in 2007. I?ll try to bring you up to speed on how He has been blessing us during our time in PNG and as we rest and prepare for our time in Indonesia.


This is our carolling team, or should i say choir!

Sunday, Dec 24 ? We went to Kamkumang for a worship service, where Pastor Bob gave his last sermon, as he is retiring from his call here, and will begin preaching in another area before retiring. Worshipping the LORD in another language and culture is a beautiful thing. It?s amazing how amazing the Gospel is for all cultures, peoples, and languages! On Sunday afternoon we picked up our fellow carolers at both congregations and headed for the hospital. We went to a bunch of different wards and sang Christmas carols, greeted the people, and Ian shared the Christmas message with them all. It was nice to meet all those people and share in the joy of a Savior!
Monday, Dec 25 - Christmas Day! We had a combined service at Kamkumong church, with Tent City and a lot of other guests and friends. Ian shared from Luke 2, about Good News for people, and the response from the shepherds. Different people shared different songs for the congregation. Us, white people, sang Zeph 3:17. We shared a meal together and sang more worship and Christmas songs. They taught us some songs in Pigon, and we taught them some in English. It was a beautiful time of worship. After bringing them all home we went to one of Ian and Nadia?s friend?s house for supper. We enjoyed the evening there, and then headed home.
Tuesday, Dec 26 ? We went with the Wildeboers and VanderHeides and Pastor Bob?s family to his wife?s family?s village. They had a worship service in the village and had invited Ian to preach. It was an outdoor service, kind of under a tree, including singing, prayer, dancing, and of course, the Word being proclaimed. Afterwards, our 3 families were invited up to tell them a little about ourselves. We got to share about the work we are looking forward to in Haiti. I did not realize it at the time, but the people had a lot of questions for us, so after lunch I spoke to them more about our work being done in Haiti, and life there. They asked a lot of questions and then at the end of it, they prayed for us. That was very nice, a beautiful gift. Back to the worship service?.after we shared with them who we were, at the end of the service they broke into dancing. It was quite the experience to dance along with our brothers and sisters in the jungle/plantation. It took us awhile to dare to dance along with them as our dutch roots held our feet strongly planted to the ground, but soon we warmed up to it all and joined in on the celebration!
Wednesday, Dec 27 ? I sat down and with Ian and Andrew as they planned and prayed for the work in Bumbu settlement. For me it was exciting because I was able to learn about different approaches to the work, and the different stages of development when doing a church plant. I also got to listen in on their plans for the year and what they were going to focus in on for all their work and ministry. I am very excited for them and pray that the LORD will bless their plans, refine them, and continue to open doors for them.
Thursday, Dec 28 ? Well, later in the morning Andrew and I went to the war memorial and I learned a lot about WW2 and the battles that were fought in and around PNG. We also toured the Royal Botanical Gardens which is right next door. It was very beautiful ? parts of it a beautiful jungle. Thursday night was the first fellowship meeting in Bumbu settlement. Pastor Elijah (a pastor Ian is meeting with and working thru Reformed theology) and Joakim, a guard of their compound, who is helping Andrew learn Pigon, they both live in the settlement and so they got the area ready outside of Pastor Elijah?s house ready for a crowd, with lights, and a generator and decorations. There was about 150 people who turned out to hear about the work that Reformed ministries was planning to do in the settlement. Ian shared from 2 Tim 3, about how the Word of God is God?s Word, inspired and filled with amazing riches. He talked about how we need to go back to the Bible, and learn what?s in it, and let it direct us. He then talked about Reformed theology ? Sola Scriptura (use scripture alone as authoritative), Sola Gratia (we are saved by grace alone), Sola Fieda (by faith alone, not by earning salvation), and Sola Christos (all of it by Christ alone, and His work)! It was a beautiful evening, we spent time in worship as well, and Ian and Andrew explained the work they hoped to do in the next coming year in their settlement. And of course, we are starting to get used to it, Karen and I also got to share who we were and of our plans. After the service was over, almost all the people walked us home. They escorted us up to the gate and thanked us for coming. We spent time rejoicing and giving thanks to the LORD for the door He was opening up to us.


Friday, Dec 29 ? What better way to finish off 2006 than to Paint! On Friday we painted the Wildeboer?s house. We started with one wall, decided on a second, then a third, fourth. And then we thought we should continue on and finish the whole main floor, so that?s what we did. So their gloomy, pale blue main floor was transformed into a bright, wear-your-sun-glasses yellow that would cause no one to have a bad day colour.
Saturday, Dec 30 ? So we finished painting in the morning, as we decided to change a few things.
Sunday, Dec 31 ? The last day of the year. We had a combined worship service at Tent City, and a lot of people from Bumbu settlement decided to join us so they waited at our front gate. It was a beautiful worship service and we were challenged and encouraged to let God?s Word and the Holy Spirit lead and guide us in 2007! We had a nice afternoon, able to spend time in devotions, and then got together with the VanderHeides for a Gormetten (sp?) dinner. We closed off the year with some swimming, and then what else, but a Settlers game.
Monday, Jan 1 ? We began our holidays with the Wildeboers. We spent the day driving to Madang, a coastal town (city) about 5 hours away. It was quite the drive, that?s all I got to say. While in Madang we got to do a bunch of different stuff, including reading, site seeing, studying, snorkeling, and visiting different spots.
Wednesday, Jan 2 ? we went to the village where Ian and Nadia lived for 6 weeks when they did their training. They visited their Was-Mamma (I have no idea how to spell that), the lady who took care of them, whose house they stayed at. It was nice to see the area they lived in and to meet all their friends.
Thursday, Jan 3 ? we went to a place just down the coast called Jais Aben. There we did more snorkeling. We actually got dropped off at an island and snorkeled around the reef there. It was incredibly beautiful! It makes me marvel at the hand of the Almighty who fashioned and takes care of all His creation. It was so beautiful. We also got to visit POC (I think it stands for Pacific Orientation Course) or something like that, but it was the place Ian and Nadia did their training, and where Andrew and Natalie are going to do theirs.
Friday, Jan 4 ? After searching for Ian?s orchid farm for awhile we gave up and started the trek home. Again, a very interesting, bumpy drive!
Saturday, Jan 5 ? Karen and I packed up, and we said our good-byes to the Wildeboers and the VanderHeides. Ian and Nadia drove us to the airport, and we took off for Port Moresby. At Port Moresby, the other vanderHeides, Wayne and Cheronne, picked us up and we stayed at their home. It was nice to finally meet them, and get to know them a little as we missed them last time they were in Canada, and as we heard so much about them.
Sunday, Jan 6 ? We got to attend the Reformed church in a settlement right near Port Moresby. Once again, it was a beautiful service, and pastor knew English so he we would repeat a lot of things in English, and our Pigon is getting better so we could understand a lot. It was nice to fellowship with that congregation and to meet them all. What a joy! After lunch Wayne showed me around Port Moresby, and later we all drove and visited Stephen and Dorinda t?Hart and family. We were able to see the theological school that was being built as well. That was a joy to see. What a neat project! There is a main classroom, with a side room for offices. And they are also building student housing and washroom fascilities. In addition the t?Harts home is built on the property and they are waiting to build the vanderHeide?s home. It was a real blessing to see that all, and we pray that God will bless their work and make a blessing for the people and use it for His Kingdom work.
Monday, Jan 7 ? We say good-bye to the vanderHeide family and spend the day flying to Australia- to Brisbane.
The rest of this week we have been resting and recuperating. I went to the hospital on Tuesday as I got an infection in my foot, and my whole foot swelled up. We still aren?t sure what caused it. And the next day I went in again to get it checked out to see if there was any improvement. Anyway, it is going to take a few days for it to heal, so I just thank the LORD for the time we have here in Brisbane before we move off to Indonesia at the end of the week. So we both spent the last few days sleeping and resting, and just thinking about all that we have learned and experienced. I pray that my foot gets better before tomorrow, and for patience till it does get better.

Well, right now it is Thursday night. We pack up again tomorrow morning and head for Timor. We get to Bali tomorrow night, and then the next day, the Lord willing, we will fly to Kupang and meet up with the Dethans. And then the next 3 weeks we will be working with them. We are pretty excited about that.

Anyway, we hope you are all doing well. There are some things that we are missing out on back home, and people are in our prayers and thoughts. We think of Tim and Cara?s wedding ? we wish them the Lord?s blessing and wish we could have been there. We are excited for Streetlight Ministries, that they could have their first church service and that Doug and Slatko could do their profession of faith. We think of Campfire and for all those that have applied for staff positions. May the Lord grant wisdom and insight to the exec as they have to decide on the next staff. We are excited about that a lot! We also think of the teams gone to the DR and Hondouras ? may they be kept safe and may they have a productive and blessed trip. May the LORD use their work their and may they let their light shine and share the love of Christ! We also think of the Kentucky team as it is selected and as they prepare to go down and serve. You will be in our thoughts! We also think of everyone who is continuing on in school, whether they are starting a new semester or not. God?s blessings in your studies. And to our friends in Haiti ? it is good to be updated about what?s happening, and we continue to pray for you. And to all our family and friends ? we miss you all! May this year be dedicated to the LORD, and for His glory, and may His love live in your hearts and mind, and may the knowledge of Jesus Christ and his work, give you peace!