VOLUME 7; NO.4                                                                          JUNE 1984

Dear Brethren;

Greetings in the name of the Lord ! Here it is June already. Does it feel like June to you ? With very little change of season here we don't notice it so much. We are suppose to be going into a drier season now but it was hard to tell it during one 4 day span this month. We got so much one Saturday night that it overflowed our Shores Hardware rain gauge. During those days I spent part of every downpour sweeping water out of the printroom and the visual aid room. The last week has been really nice with the ground finally drying out.

THE POPE CAME TO PNG AND DIDN'T GET TO SEE ME
I realize how unbelievable it sounds but it was true. The Pope came all the way around the world to visit and he didn't even get to have an audience with me. It wasn't as if I was being unsociable, I could have found time. Maybe (to give him the benefit of the doubt) the Pope tried to call while we were gone for a few minutes.

Several days before the Pope's arrival here in PNG the local Catholic run newspaper called up the different churches asking their views of the upcoming visit. The only reason they called me is that our telephone is listed first in the white page listing. I told them how we felt and they asked me if I knew who I was talking to, I replied yes and I still felt the same way. They published my comments in the local paper. The article was then picked up by the AP in the US and last week I received a copy of the Kansas City Star article from one of the sisters there at Gladstone Church of Christ. I received several thank you notes from religious groups here in PNG. So far I'm still here and have received no hate mail.

The amount of preparation and exuberance of the "so-called" Catholic community was a very disturbing sight. For several weeks prior these people went out of their way to be troublesome. They would approach people not of like belief and taunt them with, "our leader is coming to bless us, where is your leader?" It was funny (not, ha, ha) to note the number of "faithful" Catholics who came up out of the woodwork when their leader came. And how many have returned to such now that he came and went (without giving them anything visibly). One local man who received a "blessed" Rosary turned around and tried to sell it to a newspaper reporter.

SEEING YOUR WORK GOING UP IN SMOKE
In a nation such as ours which does not have local television and the radio stations leave very much to be desired the local newspapers are a main source of information. Reading is #1. They buy the paper and then pass it around and pass it around until the last one in line gets to use it to roll up with tobacco and make smokes. With this in mind I have for some time been considering the placement of weekly articles in the two local newspapers. This is still a "want" as I lack the funds. For a $100. a week these articles would be seen by over 600,000 eyes (300,000 pair).

I presently have articles ready on the following subjects: Where God has placed baptism.; Premillenialism; We're glad you asked; Can you have God's power today?; Should you join the church of your choice?; From heaven or from man?; Sprinkling or immersion?; No time for God; Ponder these if's; Are we all headed for the same place?; Are you on the old path?; What about the Sabbath?; How to become a Christian; Don't die on third; What will a seed grow?; Nothing but the blood; New Testament church music; Was Peter a pope?; Did Mary have other Children?. Are there any congregations or individuals who would like to sponsor a week or month of articles?

Please remember us in your prayers. Your servants in Christ,

the Huffs