February 23, 2015

Dearest Friends and family

40th ANNIVERSARY IN MISSIONARY WORK
This month marked the end of 40 years that we have been involved in Oceania missionary work. As I looked through the newsletters in our first years it makes me tired thinking of what running around we did then. In 1975 our family was involved in patrols into new areas in PNG where the church now exists. Try to visualize Terasa as only 4 years old and Jason just 1 1/2 years old.

The sacrificial lambs being welcomed by Joe and Rosa Belle Cannon at Lae, PNG

Bridge into Kumogoko (note Kathy and the kids waiting to see if dad and the car get across)

One of many Village Leadership Schools Andy Scott and I held in Chimbu PNG

Many things have happened that we thank the Lord for and thank Him for allowing us to be involved in this work. I think back on the patrol into the Rokamunda area in 1978 with Joe Cannon and wonder where I came up with the energy to clop through those rain forests and swamp with leeches at 12,000 feet.

I think back how that in 1976 Andy Scott and I bought a mimeograph machine with which I printed a sermon outline book of Joe Cannon's. We have never looked back since. Of course we are saddened as to the number of brethren whom we taught who are no longer faithful to the Lord. But we rejoice with the number who are still faithfully serving the Lord. Gee, 40 years is so long yet so short.

BUILDING THE SCHOOL IN VANUATU
Feb 7 - I cut strips and floor moulding for Goman's house. The form-ply I bought for flooring for the student housing arrived and I had to off load it at Goman's house and then ferry it up to the house site on the motor bike and cover it up.

Feb 9 - Rain - I painted the inside of the classroom and library. Put in the power switches and light switches.
Feb 11 - Rain - I built a small verandah and steps on the classroom and library.
Feb 12 - Rain - but we (Tal, Juju, Goman, Saski (Goman's son) and myself) were able to frame up all the outside walls and the two inside walls for the student housing. We stacked them up against a tree until we could get the form-plywood flooring down first. We have found that the mosquitoes are like a mist under the tree canopy. We will have to cut the brush back considerably to get some sun into the area to dry it up.

Feb 16 - Rain - We were able to get the roof trusses built before the rains came too heavy to work.

Feb 18 - We put the flooring down and the walls in place. We then covered the floor with traps as the rains came again.

I found out, after the walls were up and it was too late to do anything about it, that the hardware company I ordered the form-ply flooring from had sent me 5/8 and not 3/4. The floor is spongy when you walk on it. I talked with the company on the next Friday and management instead of giving us just the credit for the difference of prices ($170) apologized and gave us $500 credit. A "Thank you Jesus" moment. I will be using this windfall to buy louver window frames and glass for the student housing and classroom and library. I had planned to just install prop-out windows due to cost savings.

Feb 19 - We worked on the corner supports of the walls and got the roof trusses into place. Even though I was up and down the ladder a number of times I did not get knocked off or fall off once. So proud of myself!!!!!!!! and Kathy was grateful!

Feb 21 - I cut out, assembled and stained most of Ure's kitchen cabinets for their house. She is currently living in town until Goman can get their school house more livable. Their son went back to PNG on Sunday to go back to school there. He is the only family member not a Vanuatu citizen and has to have a visitor's visa when he comes here. He was a tremendous worker when he was here.
Feb 23 - Mile-marker day - the roof is on the student housing, not screwed down yet but the reflector paper and roofing iron is in place. We got rain over the weekend and the traps did not keep all the rain off the floor. It is good to have the roof up.

I came home and got all the cabinets pieces for Ure lacquered and ready to put together before darkness fell.
PS: After writing this newsletter last night and before I could send it today we were hit by a series of rolling thunderstorms with VERY VERY CLOSE, sock-dropping, heart stopping, horizontal, lightning for 3 hours with over 2 inches (50 mm) of rain. I guess someone wanted to test the new roof.

PERSONAL HIGHLIGHTS
I did indeed get to replace the pull cord on the small generator and then had to take it apart AGAIN because I had pinched the fuel line so it would not run.
The chain saw also quit while we were gone. It needs a new carburetor which Jason will have to send to me.

On Feb 7th I went to the chicken farm and picked up 25 day old chicks to raise. The 7 village chickens we still have are laying eggs and when I brought in the new chicks they thought that somehow I was bringing in "their" chicks which I had hatched from the eggs I took away every day. So funny! Two of the layers are now nesting even when they don't have eggs under them. So sad!

I installed small exhaust fans in the ceiling of the house to pull the hot air out when we don't have much wind. Other than a few days this past month has seen temperatures never being under 80F and the humidity in the 80% bracket with very light winds, except in thunderstorms. (I know we see on BBC and Japan TV the USA has been hit hard with winter conditions even in the low South.)

I still go up to Epau every third Sunday and teach. This past Sunday I finished up my series I have been teaching on the Parables of Jesus.

Kathy thought you might like to see what my beard looks like tucked behind my ears. That's the way it looks when I am riding my tri-bike down to the school to work and back home, blowing out. If you think I am looking old - I am feeling it and have a 24/7 case of heat/salt hives on my torso due to being wet from sweat 24/7. The rash cleared up in New Zealand but came back with all its cousins and aunties!

Onward and Upward!!!!!!!!!

Scholarship Fund for the Bible school in honor of Joe Cannon
We have a new support program for The Christian Institute of Biblical Studies. I have had memorial funds donated in the name of Joe Cannon in the past two years. So we have established a scholarship fund called the "Joe Cannon Scholarship Fund for The Christian Institute of Biblical Studies". Funds will be used to support students that come from other island nations like, Samoa, American Samoa, PNG, Cook Islands, Fiji, Solomon Is., etc.
Funds can be sent through our sponsor. (CIBS Scholarship Fund: Joe Cannon)

Thanking you for hanging in there with us with the building of the school.
As we start building we will be in need of additional funds in the next few months for building of student dorm-rooms, about another $15,000. So if anyone out there can help we would really appreciate it. (Thank you so much for those of you who have given extra thus allowing us to get a start on the timber for framing of the student housing.)

Onward and upward!

Thank you so much for all of you who are praying for us, supporting us and have contributed to our needs. God bless you! Thank you for your prayers!

Thank you Lord for healing and providing what we need!

Grace & Peace

Tobey & Kathy Huff

Ph (and text): 678 596-4821 (Vanuatu is +17 hours)

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Contributions for the Huffs, the Bible school and the Scholorship fund can be sent to:
Huffs/Bible School
c/ Mt Hope church of Christ
2830 Mt Hope Rd
Webb City MO 64870
or
Jason Huff
2730 E 24th St
Joplin MO  64804