JUNE 1987

Dear Brethren;

Greetings in the name of the Lord who continues to bless us above all that we can pray or even think about.

FLAT OUT BUT NOT OUT OF IT
We are still waiting on word from the States as to whether we will have to leave or not. At present finances are better but we still have no sponsor.

Each month I review the past month and try to evaluate what has actually been accomplished for your information. This past month has been a tiring and busy one in the printshop. You will remember that for sometime we have been trying to raise additional support to buy a metal plate making system to supplement our existing equipment. We raised enough to buy the folding machine which has been in heavy use ever since. Well the Lord has provided the use of a plate maker without us having to buy one.

Late last year I began a friendship with a local commercial printer here in Tauranga who has a one printing press shop. From time to time he has helped me and I have repaid by helping him from time to time with printing. Just recently he cut his hand while cutting up some paper and I had to do his printing for him for several days until he could get back on the printing press. To the rear of his printshop he has a garage shop which will be vacant in July. Peter has offered me space rent-free for my assistance. He also has a metal plate maker which I can use for the cost of materials only. I will not be in the commercial printing business but will assist Peter from time to time as he will assist me from time to time. The new shop area is about 70 sq. meters as compared to my current space of 25 sq. meters. The Lord continues to open doors. So, Lord willing, I will be shifting the printing gear late in July to new premises without having to pay rent.

The Lord has also provided us with another printing press. A couple of months ago I received a call from another commercial printer in town who had a 1250 Multilith press and wanted me to come repair it as I seemed to be the only one in the area with any in-depth knowledge of these presses. I spent some time there adjusting the press. They called me recently and ask if I would like to have the press as they had bought another larger press and with moving to new premises they didn't need it anymore. This press had sorely been mistreated over its lifetime. I had to strip it down completely and rebuild it from the ground up. I am doing the final adjustments even now.

I have had problems with one of the other presses we use to print A-3 size paper. Just as I would get adjustments right something would break. This happened three times while I was trying to run a job. And as always the small part was located intermixtween many other parts which meant stripping down the machine and then rebuilding it. At times I had grease and red and black ink from my toes to my bald head. I THINK I have it running in top shape now.

WORLD BIBLE SCHOOL MATERIAL
We hit the ground running this month printing material for the World Bible School in the Oceania region. I printed over 2,500 copies of the 'Introduction Lesson'. (I started with over 4,000 but this was the job on the problem press.) We are also printing the 6 lesson 'Course'. (1,000 copies initially.) This part of the world is very receptive to this approach and is currently being used in Fiji and the Cook Islands. One recent advertisement in the Fiji Times has resulted in over 100 requests the first week alone. The Cook Islands where no advertising has occurred has many scores of requests.

This would be a very good opportunity for someone who would like to get involved with providing Bible Correspondence Courses to interested contacts. The biggest expense is the postage into the islands. Since we can do our own in-house printing the material cost is lessened. Your funds would be used to print material especially for the BCC work, provide advertisements and pay for postage to sent the materials. An advantage in us using the South Pacific Bible College as a clearing house for the BCC work in the Oceania region is that we can keep records on those studying. This also allows to follow up in areas where we have numerous students and can schedule schools to further teach them. (The Cook Islands work is being carried on by the church in Hastings NZ.) I am praying that we will be able to advertise in the other island papers soon and have Bible students throughout the whole region before long.

PRINTING UPDATE: Since January 361,182 pieces. June 138,225 pieces.

Please continue to remember us and our needs in your prayers.

Your servants in Christ.

the Huffs

P.S. A report on my Cook Islands trip next month.