July 28, 1975
DEAR BRETHREN;
GREETINGS FROM THE HARVEST FIELD OF PAPUA, NEW GUINEA.
THIS MONTH HAS SEEN THE ADDITION OF THREE PRECIOUS SOULS
INTO THE KINGDOM AT DUMUN, THE VILLAGE WHERE WE HELD THE CAMPAIGN
IN MAY.
READY TO GO ON PATROL WITH JOE CANNON
JUNE 30 THRU JULY 5 I WENT BUSH WITH J0E CANNON AGAIN.
WE LEFT LAE BY AIR AND FLEW INTO THE HEART OF THE SARUWAGED MOUNTAIN
RANGE TO DARUM. THIS AREA IS THE HOME OF SEVERAL OF HE BIBLE SCHOOL
STUDENTS AT LAE. FROM DARUM WE WALKED FIVE HOURS OVER, DOWN AND
ACROSS MOUNTAINS TO THE VILLAGE OF KONDORUN. WE WERE AT ABOUT
6,000 FT. AND THE WIND BROUGHT THE TEMPERATURE DOWN IN THE LOW
50'S. FORTY-THREE PEOPLE HAVE DIED HERE IN THE LAST MONTH DUE
TO THE COMBINED FACTORS OF THE COLD, NO CLOTHES, AND HEALTH COMPLICATIONS.
THE ONLY WAY THEY HAVE TO GET TO THE 'HAUS SIK' (HOSPITAL) IS
TO FLY OUT (WHICH COSTS MONEY THEY DON'T HAVE) OR WALK THREE DAYS
OVER THE MOUNTAINS AND THEN CATCH A BOAT.
ON TUESDAY JULY 15T WE WALKED TO THE VILLAGE OF KIMPO
WHICH BY THE CROW WAS ONLY TWO RIDGES OVER (11 HOUR WALK THOUGH)
AND SPOKE WITH COUNCIL GIGA. HE SHOWED US THE NEW "HAUS
LOTU" (CHURCH BUILDING) THEY WERE BUILDING AND ALSO SHOWED
US LAND WHERE THEY WANTED TD BUILD AN AIRSTRIP. WE THEN WALKED
BACK TO KONDORUN. THE NEXT DAY WE WALKED BACK TO DARUM AND THEN
ON TO SONGGUN. JULY 3RD WE WERE FORCED BY CARRIER REBELLION TO
CARRY OUR OWN PACKS. THE CARRIERS WANTED $6.50 FOR TWO DAYS WALK
(THE NORMAL FEE IS $1 PER DAY). THIS DAY WE SPENT 4 HOURS ON HANDS
AND KNEES CLIMBING TO THE TOP OF THE RANGE (7,000 FT) AND THEN
SPENT 4 HOURS WALKING THROUGH RAIN FOREST ON THE OTHER SIDE GOING
DOWN. THERE WAS NO WATER ALL DAY ON THE TRAIL. BUT CLOSE TO THE
END WE HIT ORANGE TREE COUNTRY. WE FILLED UP OUR POCKETS AND SHIRTS
WITH ORANGES FOR ABOUT 1¢ APIECE. (SORRY I CAN'T SHIP YOU
SOME). AFTER CARRYING MY PACK THIS DAY LET ME ASSURE YOU I WAS
BUSHED. I ALMOST FORGOT TO MENTION THAT THE RAIN FOREST WAS FULL
OF LEECHES AND WE HAD TO STOP EVERY SO OFTEN AND PEEL THEM OFF,
UGH!!!
THE NEXT DAY WE WALKED 4 HOURS THROUGH LAVA ROCK, KUNDI
GRASS (GRASS OVER OUR HEADS) COCONUT GROVES AND PALM TREES TO
ARRIVE AT WASU. ON THE MAP WASU IS LOCATED STRAIGHT NORTH ACROSS
FROM LAE. IT IS LOCATED ON THE NORTHERN COAST ON THE BISMARCK
SEA. JULY 4TH EVENING WE WERE ABLE TO WATCH A SATELLITE AS IT
TRAVELED ACROSS THE SKY. (OUR FIREWORKS).
SATURDAY MORN DAWNED BRIGHT AND WARM. AS WE WATCHED THE
SUNRISE IT REMINDED JOE & MYSELF A LOT OF OKINAWA. ABOUT 10
AM WE BOARDED OUR CHARTER FLIGHT AND FLEW BACK TO LAE ONE GROUP
OF EXHAUSTED MEN. WE HAD TAKEN 8 SCHOOL BOYS AS WELL AS JOE CANNON,
RICK NILAND AND MYSELF WE PREACHED EVERY EVENING IN ALL THE VILLAGES
WE STAYED.
THE FOLLOWING WEEK OUR FAMILY RETURNED TO GOROKA. WE
HAVE BEEN TRYING TO ACQUIRE MATERIAL IN THE SINA SINA LANGUAGE
FROM NEW TRIBES MISSION HERE. THIS IS THE LANGUAGE WE WILL HAVE
TO LEARN WHEN WE MOVE INTO THE CHIMBU AREA AFTER JOHN RETURNS
LATER THIS YEAR. WE DECIDED THE BEST AVENUE TO GO WAS TO TALK
WITH THE FIELD DIRECTOR WHO LIVES ABOUT SIX MILES FROM GOROKA
AT THE NEW TRIBES MISSION COMPOUND. I SPENT TWO HOURS WITH HIM.
AT THE ONSET OF OUR DISCUSSIONS HE ASKS FOR OUR CREED, HEADQUARTERS
ETC. I OPENED THE BIBLE AND TRIED TO EXPLAIN TO HIM THE PRINCIPLE
OF NEW TESTAMENT CHRISTIANITY. WE LEFT FEELING THAT WE WOULD PERHAPS
BE ALLOWED TO HAVE SOME OF THE PRIMERS AND PHRASE BOOKS IN SINA-SINA.
HE SAID HE WOULD BRING IT UP BEFORE THE CONFERENCE THE NEXT WEEK
AND LET ME KNOW IF THEY WOULD WANT TO TALK WITH ME ALSO. WE HAVE
HEARD NOTHING ABOUT THE PRIMERS BUT HAVE RECEIVED WORD THAT CURTIS
HARRISON'S CHILDREN (TWO OF THEM) WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO ATTEND
THEIR SCHOOL BECAUSE OF THEIR PARENTS' RELIGIOUS BELIEFS. (THIS
MEANS THAT CURTIS WILL EITHER HAVE TO LEAVE THE TWO CHILDREN HOME
OR USE CORRESPONDENCE COURSES FOR THEM HERE). THERE IS NO HIGH
SCHOOL FOR THEM TO ATTEND HERE. PLEASE PRAY FOR THIS.
JULY 21ST THE CURTIS HARRISON FAMILY LEFT PAPUA, NEW
GUINEA VIA SHIP FOR A FURLOUGH IN USA. THE TRIP WILL TAKE THEM
26 DAYS. THIS LEAVES OUR FAMILY AS THE ONLY ONE LIVING IN GOROKA
NOW. (YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN). ANDY SCOTT CONTINUES TO COME TO GOROKA
FROM WATABUNG ONCE A WEEK TO HOLD CLASS FOR SOME OF THE PIDGIN
SPEAKING MEMBERS.
ONE OF THE FIRST CONVERTS WHEN CURTIS AND JOHN CAME HAS
BEEN TRANSFERRED BACK TO GOROKA AND HE WILL BE HELPING US IN THE
WORK. HE IS A NATIVE NAMED TOM RANGIP.
ON JULY 24TH TRAGEDY STRUCK THE ENGLISH CONGREGATION
HERE. CASPER WAS A SCIENCE TEACHER AT THE TECH SCHOOL HERE IN
GOROKA. HE ALSO WAS A FORMER CLASSMATE OF TOM'S. THIS YOUNG MAN
WHILE STILL A STUDENT TEACHER STOOD UP IN SCHOOL ASSEMBLY AND
ASKED THE CATHOLIC HEADMASTERS WHY THEY WERE TEACHING RELIGIOUS
ERROR. HE WAS A LEADER. HE LOVED TO SING PRAISES TO GOD. THE PREVIOUS
SUNDAY HE HAD COME FORWARD ASKING FOR PRAYERS. HE WAS STRUCK BY
A TRUCK WHILE HE WAS RIDING HIS MOTORCYCLE DOWN THE MAIN STREET
IN GOROKA. HE DIED 2 HOURS LATER DUE TO INTERNAL BLEEDING AND
A PUNCTURED LUNG. OUR LOSS IS THE LORD'S GAIN. SOMEHOW ROMANS
8:28 APPLIES: '"AND WE KNOW THAT TO THEM THAT LOVE GOD ALL
THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD ....." PLEASE REMEMBER THE
CHRISTIANS HERE IN A SPECIAL PRAYER.
SATURDAY NIGHT THE 26TH AS WE WERE GETTING INTO THE CAR
AFTER A MOVIE, KATHY FELL INTO A THREE-FOOT DITCH WHICH HAD BEEN
COVERED WITH GRASS. SHE HAS A TWISTED ANKLE AND WILL BE FAVORING
IT FOR A FEW DAYS. BUT OTHERWISE, I DON'T THINK SHE DAMAGED THE
HOLE ANY.
WE RECEIVED WORD FROM THE CONGREGATION IN ROCKWALL, TEXAS
THAT THEY ARE GOING TO DONATE THEIR FIFTH SUNDAY CONTRIBUTION
IN AUGUST TO THE NEW GUINEA WORK, ESPECIALLY TOWARD THE PURCHASE
OF A BUS FOR THE WORK HERE IN TOWN. PRAISE GOD FOR SUCH SACRIFICE.
I WONDER IF THERE ARE OTHERS OF YOU WHO RECEIVE THIS REPORT WHO
WOULD MAKE THE FIFTH SUNDAY IN AUGUST MISSIONS DAY, AND LET US
PUT IT TO GOOD USE HERE IN THE LORD'S VINEYARD? WE ARE STILL IN
NEED OF WORKING FUNDS TO BE ABLE TO BUY A FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLE.
ALSO TO BUY BIBLES, AS WELL AS SONG BOOKS, LITERACY COURSES, MEDICINES,
ETC. SOME OF YOU HAVE SENT US FUNDS FOR BIBLES AND THEY ARE SURE
APPRECIATED. WE ARE NOW IN CONTINUAL NEED OF MEDICAL SUPPLIES
SUCH AS ROLLED BANDAGES (OLD SHEETS CUT UP), GAUZE PADS, GAUZE,
BANDAIDS, CHILDREN ASPIRIN AND COTTON. WE ARE ABLE TO GET LOTIONS
(EXCEPT BEN-GAY TYPE) FROM THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT HERE. WE GO OUT
AND HOLD 'PASIM SAU' (PATCH SORE) BEFORE CLASS MOST TIMES. WE
ARE ALSO IN NEED OF CLOTHING, NEW AND USED, ESPECIALLY IN CHILDREN
SIZES, INFANT TO SIZE 20. THE CHILDREN HERE RUN AROUND NAKED MOST
OF THE TIME BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOTHING TO WEAR. THUS THEY HAVE
CONTINUAL COLDS. WE CAN ALSO USE SERVICEABLE LIGHTWEIGHT DRESSES,
SHIRTS AND SLACKS FOR WOMEN AND MEN. NOTHING OVER SIZE 16 DRESS
OR SIZE 40 SLACKS. NO HEAVY WOOL PLEASE.
IF YOU CAN SEND', SEND TO
CHURCH OF CHRIST C/O TOBEY HUFF
P. O. BOX 231
GOROKA
PAPUA' NEW GUINEA
THEY CAN BE SENT SURFACE. MARK THE CUSTOMS FORMS SIMPLY
"CLOTHING". IT WOULD BE APPRECIATED IF ANYONE OR A CONGREGATION
CAN SEND US SOME OF THESE NEEDED MEDICAL SUPPLIES ON A MONTHLY
OR REGULAR BASIS.
THE ENGLISH WORK HERE IN TOWN IS IN NEED OF ABOUT 50
PAPERBACK NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLES (OR NEW TESTAMENTS). IF
ANY CONGREGATION READING THIS WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THIS A PROJECT.
THE LORD CONTINUES TO LOOK AFTER US AND BLESS OUR EFFORTS.
WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS AS WELL.
"EM TASOL" (THAT'S ALL) TILL NEXT MONTH.
YOURS BECAUSE OF THE CROSS,