Direction.. Getting from here to there.

            We’d like to take a few minutes and share where we feel the Lord may be leading us in the coming months ahead.  We know that we’ve alluded to plans, but have been hesitant to share them since they are so very fluid.  However, the more we think and pray about these thoughts and plans, the more we realize that these plans are so HUGE…so beyond us and our abilities…that we covet your prayers over the specifics as we continue to look to the Lord for direction and wisdom.

            Basically, we feel the Lord leading us to another tribal work…somewhere in the Madang region of North-central Papua New Guinea.  There are a couple of possibilities that we have been asked to consider that have us excited…one possibly would involve joining a work NTM began a work among the people of Manam island.   Currently there are no missionaries there to continue establishing the baby church.  Another possibility would be participate in on-going NTM surveys of the Madang region to determine other viable locations for future church-planting ministry, particularly some dear co-workers have suggested the Bel language group as a possibility worth exploring.  These possibilities have begun to capture more and more of our thoughts and imagination!  Nevertheless, before we even get to the point of moving yet again, we have a number of things that do need to happen that we would especially ask for your prayer about.  We will list them in the order in which we see that they need to happen, though the actual dates for most of them are somewhat fluid:

1.       NILD training for Angie in Manila, Philippines….This May 17-28.  This step is vital because it will give us the necessary tools to meet Jael’s special learning needs as we seek to take schooling WITH us to another location (a tribe somewhere).  This date is NOT fluid!  J  Angie has almost completed the pre-course assignments, however we are still waiting on a few things.  Please pray for a speedy acceptance letter (3^rd world countries are SO notorious for anything BUT speedy correspondence…but we are hesitant to purchase airline tickets before we have confirmation, and yet waiting too long may jeopardize seat availability as we fly from one 3^rd world country to another).  Please also pray for the remaining finances needed for the course.  Currently we have about $1000 of the needed $2500.  Nine weeks left and counting!

2.       Obtaining homeschooling supplies….by July of this year.  This date can be somewhat fluid, however we would hate to start any later than that.  Starting earlier would be preferable.  After some careful research into curriculums, and collaboration with others…different curriculum has been chosen that we are confident will meet our needs in schooling Jael.  Some of this has already been ordered.  About $200 worth of material remains to be ordered.  Pray with us that we will be able to order this material in a timely fashion so that we can have it here on the field in order to start by our projected July date.  Pray also for wisdom for Angie as she prepares for this undertaking yet again.  She’s very excited about the things she has learned with her year and a half off of homeschooling, and continues to seek wisdom and direction as she prepares to integrate different programs and execute the tools she has been honing.

3.       Remainder of our stuff out of Mibu…summer to fall of 2010.  As we look towards a second tribal allocation, it would be very nice to have the remainder of our things out of Mibu.  This includes not only the remainder of our household goods (many of which are still in transit in Saidor), but also our electrical equipment, appliances, and the building supplies of our house itself!

4.       Moving to Madang…Januaryish 2011.  Provided that we can illustrate that Jael’s schooling needs are being met after 6 months or so of homeschooling, we feel the move back to Madang may be a good one as we look at doing some survey work, and preparing for moving bush again.

5.       Purchase of vehicle and/or boat….spring 2011.  The works that we have in mind are assessable by road or water.  Depending on where we end up, sometimes there are public transportation options, however for our safety it is obvious we’ll need a more reliable mean of transportation.

6.       Funds for surveys….Jan. to spring 2011.  This will be essential to us assessing the needs of different possible tribal works.  Even after a tribe may be decided on, further surveys will be needed for us to determine a strategic placement within the tribe.

7.       Logistics and purchase of house building supplies….spring to summer 2011.  As the work is beginning to wrap up in Mibu, one daunting task is the deconstruction of our house in Mibu.  This will help considerably in providing building materials for building again elsewhere, however the very remoteness of most tribal areas in PNG including Mibu so difficult.

8.       Allocation…possibly, summer to fall 2011.  Once we know where we’re going, and how we’re going to get there…then will come the monumental task of moving our family and supplies to start our new ministry.  Beginning the process of learning yet another language, culture and establishing relationships that will be vital for effective communication of the gospel and establishing of a New Testament church.

 

This is a tentative timeline with projected needs.  The Lord has shown us time and time again that He is not limited to this, but this is what the Lord has laid on our hearts in the past 6 months or so.  It’s a lot!  But again, the Lord has shown us tremendous things this last year.  So much can happen over the course of a year…or even 6 months…that no amount of obstacles can hinder.  If any of you have any questions about any of this, please feel free to ask!

 

 

IN THE MEAN TIME….

And on another subject, Chris was recently encouraged by NTM leadership to join a local pastor, Joel Kamaya on an evangelistic outreach to share the gospel among the Kanite people.  Chris, as an observer, hopes to witness the teaching of Pastor Kamaya and other Bible teachers from the Bena Bridge church among these people.  From what Chris has seen so far, speaking, preaching & teaching primarily in Melanesian Pidgin, Pastor Kamaya has demonstrated an amazing command of cultural understanding to help illustrate Biblical principles.  Tentatively one of these outreach trips will be taking place next month.  Please be in prayer for the Bena Bridge church, the Bible teachers and particularly the Kanite people, that they would be a prepared & fertile soil to understand and believe God’s talk from members of their own tribe.

 

With great anticipation,

Chris, Angie, Jael, Baruch and Titus Walker

Fabulous February!

Creature Comforts

            It’s a small thing, but it’s amazing how the little things can make a house a home.  Over the past 6 months or so, our stuff has been slowly making its way out of Mibu.  A couple weeks ago, we hired a truck to go to Madang and bring up the stuff that had been collecting there.  Among the things that came were our couch (oh, so comfy), some book shelves (needed badly to help keep our books from molding further), material for curtains (that actually matches our décor) and more toys for the kids.  To be surrounded by our own things again, after about 3 years, just feels so good!  Not everything has made its way out yet, and we’d ask you to just pray about that.  Some things are still sitting in the trade store in Saidor, and it seems to be left to the whim of the store workers there as to when it gets put on the boat.  It’s starting to feel like it’s been a long time since everything has been together, and I think we’d just like to have it all here.

 

Birthday Girl!

            Jael has just celebrated her 9^th birthday!  It’s crazy how fast time flies with your kids!  It has occurred to us that we are half-way through our time of having Jael in our home.  While it is a sobering thought, we are also so very proud of the young lady she is becoming!  She is one who has shown perseverance over and over again in her schooling.  She demonstrates a deepening compassion for those who are lost and hurting around her, and her desire to help increases with each passing year.  She is such a wonderful gift to our family, and a vital part of our ministry!

 

Training Needs

            It is almost official…Angie is heading to the Philippines for her Discovery training course to be well-equipped to work with Jael’s special learning needs.  It’s almost official since we are still waiting to hear back on her application (but from what we’ve heard, this is totally to be expected).  Airline tickets are booked (though not yet paid for) and accommodations for her are lined up in Manila (at two different mission’s guest houses).  Things seem to be falling into place very nicely.  Except perhaps the finances.   We’d also ask you to pray about those.  We figure the cost of the trip to be about $2500 for everything, and we currently have about $800 saved up to put towards it.  Angie is scheduled to fly May 15, and her classes start on the 17^th.  Pray also as she continues to prepare for this course…that she’d be able to retain all the information she is reading, and be able to apply it appropriately.

 

Mibu Update

            The things that we continue to hear coming out of Mibu are very encouraging.  I’d like to include a story from the Tartaglias about a tragedy that happened to some friends some weeks back that shows just how much our brothers and sisters there are growing.

            “After the church service, when many of the people had dispersed, Parenoowe grabbed my skirt as I walked by pulling me down on the rough bench next to her. Her face was drawn and tight, eyes still shining with tears carefully held in check. She leaned her face very close to mine, and with great emotion asked if we could talk about her daughter. It has been less than three weeks since her 9 year old, Joonoomeng, had run down ahead of her friends to the river, and whose body been found days later washed up on the shore a few miles down the steep river ravine. Parenoowe 's searing pain showed in her eyes, her voice, and the tight grip she held on my hand. Her questions are the same that anyone would wrestle with... "Why did this happen? Did I do something wrong that God allowed this? Where is she now? Will I see her again?"

             “I wish I had something to say to Parenoowe that didn't sound trite. "My friend, God is not angry with you, He is not punishing you. You know this, don't you. He loves you and He loves your children. We all die.

We do not know when—today, tomorrow, when we are young or when we are very old. Only God knows all of this. We cannot know. But we do know that we can trust God with this. We will have to leave it with Him." I paused, thinking.

"What does Weng tell you?" I whispered, her face still very close to mine.

Parenoowe 's oldest, married son, Weng, has carried the family through this time. He has been a Bible teacher and helped teach through the Bible to other villages, and has a very evident love for the Lord and His Word."Yes, this is what Weng tells me," she quietly answered.

               “Even while they were still searching for little Joonoomeng's body, our family had hiked over to their village to see what we could do, and be there with them as they waited for news. In the past, we would have been needed at the forefront, reassuring and reminding everyone of God's love for His children. Instead, when what we found were other brothers and sisters in Christ ministering to the family, and to Joonoomeng's mother in particular.

And when Weng's faith was brought to the test, his little sister missing and feared dead, his faith was steady and shone through brightly.”