Oct-1996

Dear Brethren and Friends;

Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

SHOPPING IN PNG
Many have written and asked us what we have in the grocery stores here. When we first arrived in PNG over 21 years ago most items were Australian and when the periodic ship came in, some American items. These only started coming because enough of us asked the store managers to bring them in. We used to come down from the highlands and buy stuff by the case when the ships came in. This was primarily because the stores would only bring in a few cases and they were gone within a week or so. Things have gotten somewhat better as more stores bring in American goods. But we still wait for the ship to come in. I finally got a local store to bring in canned spinach. Love that stuff. Though the availability has improved the prices have skyrocketed. We can get most stuff we need. Some of the stuff we would like we just have to wait until we come on leave. Here are some prices: breakfast cereal - $5-8.00 per box (no Honey-nut Cherrios); canned fruit - $1.30; Cake mixes - $2.00; Frosting mix $2.50; Potato chips-$2.77; pretzels-NONE!; Laundry detergent-$5.65 (2 Qt bottle); baked beans- 95¢ can; carrots-$1.03#; Apples- $1.37#; Green peppers-$1.34#; Rice-34¢p/#; flour(weevils are free)$1.50 p/5#; milk- $4.36 gal; Sugar-.60¢#; gasoline -$2.65 p/gal; toilet roll- 47¢ ea (1 ply).

HAPPENINGS IN PNG
The Sombo Dowara family are FINALLY in Vanuatu. We have been on the line with this since we last wrote you. I called Immigration several times in Vanuatu and tried to let them have Sombo carry the deposit but they said no. The deposit had to be made at a bank, a letter then taken to the Immigration office who then would send a letter to the Labour office. Yes we did borrow the money to pay for the Immigration Bond. So I went to the bank here to wire it, butttttttt because of new monetary restrictions by the government we had to get a letter of approval from the Taxation Office. So I faxed an application to Port Moresby and waited several days. After not hearing anything I called them and they said they had not received the first application. I re-applied. Called the Taxation office on Friday, "Yes you have clearance we will send it in the mail." Waited Monday, Tuesday finally called Taxation and they sent a fax of the approval. I took the fax of the approval to the bank to transfer the money. "But no, we have to have the original before we can transfer the money." (This is Tuesday and we have the Dowara's booked to leave on Saturday.) The original came Friday, we transferred the money. We put the Dowaras on the plane. I faxed Vanuatu that we were sending the Dowaras and after a couple of days in Honiara, Solomon Islands they would be in Vanuatu on Tuesday. Tried to call Vanuatu Monday but they were having a holiday therefore no work on Dowara's work permit. Had to fax Sombo to delay his flight to Vanuatu until Saturday (But the flight was sold out so he had to delay until the following Tuesday). Called Vanuatu several times. The Dowara family was able to meet with the brethren in Honiara and strengthen them. It was providential that they were delayed and were able to be with the brethren. (This is the most I've even spent in Honiara and we weren't even there.) So Sombo and his family are now living and working in Vanuatu. Praise be to God!

We have had 36 inches of rain so far this month. It has been a month of continuous power outages which have done grave damage to some of my computer gear. I had my two Laser printers blow their heater elements. I also found out that the lightning strike last month on our phone lines zapped my modem in my laptop computer. Of course none of these parts are available here in PNG and I am having to wait for parts. I also had to replace a powerboard on one of the MacClassic II machines. It was plugged into a 220v socket and it was wired for 120v. One of the photocopiers I brought from NZ shredded one of its pressure rollers. I hope to find a replacement in NZ.

I am spending time getting material ready for the start of school next year, getting course descriptions outlined and have been putting together a new song book which combines English and Pidgin songs. I have been teaching these songs on Wednesday nights. Thought you might like a current picture of the Mesa family.

SOUTH PACIFIC TRAVELLING
By the time you read this Kathy and I will be travelling in the South Pacific. As we will be gone for seven weeks I thought that we had better get this off to you. Due to the generosity of our sponsoring congregation and a Ticket called "Pacific Pass" we are being able to extend our annual Teaching/Training Trip to Vanuatu on into Fiji, Tonga, New Zealand and Australia this year.

As per the map we will be travelling from Lae to Port Moresby PNG to Brisbane, to Vanuatu (1 week), to Fiji (12 days), to Tonga (1 week), to NZ (2 weeks), to Brisbane and on to Cairns via the train (8 days) and back thru Port Moresby and on to Lae. (Nov 1 - Dec 20) Along the way we will be visiting/staying/sharing/ teaching with brethren we know and some we don't know yet.

Earlier this year I wrote that we are on the internet. Our address is 100244.3627@ compuserve.com. I am hoping to have my laptop fixed in time to take it on this trip and then I can call into my internet mailbox (in Brisbane Australia) and pick up your messages.

In Christian service, your co-workers for the cause of Christ in the South Pacific,

Tobey & Kathy Huff

Prayer needs: 1. Re-organization of MBC.; 2. Funds for Dowara move to Vanuatu.
3. Biblical leadership for PNG and Island churches. 4. Terasa in her pregnancy (due Dec 25.) 5. Jobs for Jason & Melinda.