December 1976
Dear Brethren;
I never know a missionary is a policemen, doctor, marriage counselor, mechanic,
father, mother, adviser, problem solver and friend!
I never knew a missionary is a rich white-skin with barrels of money, but too
stingy because he won't give away his clothes and food whenever they are asked
for.
I never knew a missionary is a bad influence for the natives because he wants
to change their religion, etc, and the locals are better off as they are (yet
hospitals and schools are wanted.)
.I never know a missionary Is supposed to fix broken guns, radios, machetes
and the neighbor's truck- and who care about the broken heart!
I never know a missionary is supposed to be ready to meet airplanes bringing
important people who never come- but when an unannounced plane arrives, he's
supposed to be at the airstrip to pick up the people he didn't know were coming.
So now I know why missionaries have stomach problems! It's from feeling an undercurrent
of trouble among people while on the surface all is calm. (You want something
to happen so things will be In the open, but there to nothing to do but wait.)
It's from a man being killed and not being able to get the authorities to make
an Investigation.
It's having extra people in your home to be hospitable to when there Is no room,
the supplies are low and there isn't much to eat.
It's from watching the giving of cigarettes to little boys by Government officials
who say they've come to help the villagers when you've just finished explaining
that you don't provide them with cigarettes because they are harmful to the
body.
It's from observing a visiting Public Health officer tell a village woman to
bring her children and clothes to the river to be shown how to wash them-when
the woman happens to be one of the cleanest in the village.
It's from wanting to share the Gospel - but who is eager to live that life?
And from wanting to teach literacy - but who wants to learn?
lt's from wanting to love the people and be friends with them - but who cares
if you love them and who wants friendship? (They do want the children's clothes,
food or special favors.)
These things I now know. And of course, there are many things I don't know yet.
One thing I still don't know is what it will take to make these people hunger
and thirst after God's Word and live a Godly life. We could be discouraged as
so few are truly converted. And there is much outside Influence encouraging
these people to keep their old ways and not to change anything. But God's Word
tells us In Galatians 6:9-"And let us not be weary in well doing; for In
due season we shall reap If we faint not."
As we closed out our last newsletter we mentioned that Kathy was sick-well instead
of dengue fever she had malaria. Once we got the right medicine she was back
on her feet in three weeks, During this time Andy Scott and I held another Village
Leadership School while Catherine Scott helped out at our house. This time the
school met at Dumun where we had 35 men from 5 congregations who attended the
5 days of school. We taught the following subjects: "Klinpela Sios"
(clean church, disfellowship); "Lotu" (worship); "Sios bilong
Kraist em i wanim samting" (What is the church of Christ?); "Laip
bilong Kristen" (Christian life). During the evenings we showed Jule Miller
film strips by use of a battery operated projector. It rained every evening
but we packed the building averaging 85 in attendance.
The week after the school Jason came down with the measles.
Also in Dec. someone helped themselves to a tire and rim off our car. It was
parked just outside our flats under two lights. They blocked up the axle and
took the tire off. Their Merry Christmas cost us $95.
Our monthly averages at the congregations were: Dumun $2.69 (contr.); 40 (attendance);
$ Bima Piau $2.14/51. The congregation at Musul which only had 5 members decided
to join with Dumun which is only 3 miles from them.
We continue to solicit your prayers and support for our work.
In the Master's Service
Tobey Huff's
Box 69
Kundiawa
Papua New Guinea