November 1975

 

Dear Brethren;

 

Greetings in the name of the Lord!

 

Last month we reported on the leadership school we held at Watabung. We taught for 5 lays on the rudiments of worship.

This is a picture of the group of men who attended.

 

The final flu death count stands at 850.

 

The Lord continues to bless our labors with fruit. We have had five additional baptisms in Sina Sina. There were also 37 people baptized in one village between Goroka and Watabung. One of the students from the Bible school In Lae had been teaching his own people and they responded.

 

During November we went to Lae to help our brethren out. Joe Cannon's Landcruiser had broken down coming back from a trip to Madang and Ray Lock had towed the car back the 110 miles to Lae. They called and ask if John Wallace and I could come and have a look at it. The workshop there wanted 200 dollars just to look at it. We went down one day and came back the next. Joe's transfer case on the transmission had vibrated loose and fallen down thus no linkage or gears. We bolted her up good as new (well maybe just a little bruised.)

 

This has not been a very good month for us and our animals. We bought a wallaby from a village outside of town and as they were caging it up they broke it's hind leg. We put a cast on it but he ended up dying a week later. Six of our birds have died one having been eaten by one of our tree kangaroos. Also one of our dogs was stolen.

 

We have finally gotten the engine in our truck overhauled and running. At present John and I are putting back supports on the back for the canvas top. Next comes the painting. We hope to have It finished before the next school term begins in February 1976.

 

We have been in contact with the owners of the only lease house in Sina-Sina and It might be possible for us to lease the house. Please continue to pray for this very pressing need.

 

This last Thursday a truck fell off the bridge pictured here and burned. This is the bridge on the road into Kumogoko where we have a congregation. It is located about 2 miles from the village. One either drives over this bridge or they walk from here. Last Sunday we determined walking was the only way we would go until they repair the bridge. We had an Australian couple visiting with us and we took them as we went to the congregations that day. As we came to the bridge I had everyone get out and walk across and I was to drive across alone. (I thought of remote control but couldn't figure out how). The car by the way was Andy Scott's four wheel drive Landcruiser as we didn't have one. As my front wheals stretched out onto the bridge my back tires began to slip off the log and the right rear tires fell about 10 inches and was stopped by a thin outcrop of the embankment. I already had It in four wheel drive so I reversed the car and with much tire spinning we backed out on to the road. The council is planing a new concert bridge sometime next year and until then we plan to walk from there.

 

Here in Goroka the English work is very slack as this Is our school holiday months until Feb. All of our Tech school boys have gone home to their villages and thus our congregation is very small now.

 

I want to apologize for the following request due to the recession which exists there in the states, and that is for additional support. Although a recession does not exist here the inflationary rate in this country is spiralling which compounds the financial problem of a person In this country drawing an American salary. The price of gasoline Is around $1.30 a gallon as well as most foodstuffs suffering sharp increase. (eggs $2.05 doz., milk $3.60 gal.)

 

I have delayed this request as long as possible but now find my family and I having to live on a future month's salary each month.

 

I hope my brethren do not consider this request a sign of ingratitude for if It wasn't for your generosity I would not be here in the first place.

 

We wish to thank all of you who have so generously supported our work and continue to solicit your prayers that the Lord will reap a bountiful harvest of these receptive souls.

 

If you have a moment jot us a line and let us hear from you.

 

Your In Christ's service

 

The Tobey Huffs

P.O.Box 878
Goroka E.H.P.
Papua Now Guinea