The Gospel And A Game

What will be in your bilum?

A few weeks ago, Chris had an extraordinary opportunity to play a cultural game while accompanying our local
Church - (Bena Bridge) on an outreach at the invitation from a village a 2hr hike from Okapa in the highlands of PNG.  The game involved filling string bags (called bilum bags) with various surprise times of value such as food, money, matches, soap, knives etc.  Then during the game, individuals are paired up and each pair of friends are introduced with singing and dancing.  Then an exchange of bilums takes place which then gives way to more celebrating.  By the end of the ceremony, Chris had two live chickens and 4 large bags of garden produce and a hand-carved bamboo fork.   Along with this game, Chris and Pastor Joel Kemaya were invited to speak to the crowds.  This provided a wonderful opportunity to announce an upcoming outreach that Bena Bridge church would be starting in the area by sending teachers in a few months time.  Once the teachers begin, they plan to teach scripture Chronologically for the first time in the Okapa area!

Welcome Ol Bubu (Grandparents) & Uncle Herman!

Returning home from school for the last day of the first school term, Baruch and Jael got a shocking surprise.  Waiting for them in the living room was Grandpa & Grandma Tuinstra along with dear friends Tim & Laurel Marsh.  The kids were surprised to say the least!  Now on their 3rd trip to Papua New Guinea, our family enjoyed nearly three weeks with them including traveling to the Madang conference together.  Missionary Tim Marsh has worked with children for over 30 years and came armed with his puppets and illustrative aids.  While with us, one of the highlights of their visit was to introduce Tim to Bena Bridge church who had invited all the children of the community to come and be entertained as well as hear God's word.  Men, women and children in the audience, all of whom had never seen such antics, had tear filled eyes as they laughed so hard.  With Chris translating, in addition to puppets, Tim used a saxophone as an illustration, sharing that just as a saxaphone player needs instruction to be able to play well, so too, people need instruction from God's Word.  The meeting ended in hilarity with Pastor Joel Kemaya getting an unexpected kiss from "Uncle Herman (one of Tim's michevious puppets) as well as an invitation for the community to inquire more about God's message by approaching anyone of the members of Bena Bridge church.

"So glad you could come!"

It's a yearly tradition, every year all NTM missionaries who are part of the Madang region attend a conference to reconnect, pray for one another, share & report future plans as well as have some fun.  This year due to finances as a family, we weren't sure we were going to be able to attend.  However thanks to some designated gifts, the Lord provided the opportunity for which we are very grateful.  Our spirits were recharged and once again challenged to return to a tribal, church-planting ministry.   And what a fun blessing to share this experience with grandparents, and watch our favorite group of MKs be blessed by "Uncle" Tim Marsh and his ministry!  It's always nice to be refreshed and re-challenged.

Master Angie

Speaking of challenge...Angie has jumped into her studies towards her Master's degree once again (after taking time off for her parent's visit and other stuff).  To refresh any memories:  Angie has received the first level of training as an educational therapist through NILD.  This training has been priceless in equipping her to meet Jael's special educational needs!  We see wonderful evidence that the therapy is working, and believe it would be best to continue receiving this training.  Specifically this is important because we still believe the Lord will eventually be leading us back into another church-planting ministry.  We believe that it is vital that Angie is equipped to meet Jael's ongoing needs (and any other of our kids who may need intervention in their education).  NILD is a wonderful organization whose program is so beautifully meeting our needs.  Yet, it's a very academic organization, and in order for Angie to receive any further training through them, she needs to have an accredited degree.  To make a long story short, the Lord opened the door for her to pursue her Masters degree through Liberty University's Online University.  As a result of actively pursuing a Masters degree in special education, she is now eligible to further her training with NILD.  She is also gaining the added benefit of broadening her understanding in this world of education, which is only going to aid her as she seeks to oversee our kids' education.

Pictures:
1.  "Uncle" Tim and Uncle Herman with Chris at the Bena Bridge meeting.
2.  A small glimpse of the crowd that had packed into the church (and out the door) in order to see them!

Thank you so much for your support! 
Because of Him,
Chris, Angie, Jael, Baruch and Titus Walker

--  --  As Unto Him (Col 3:17)  Chris Walker - NTM PNG ICT Helpdesk ict@ntm.org.pg (675)531-4560 (Telikom) (675)7178-7115 (Digicel)

The Gospel And A Game

What will be in your bilum?

A few weeks ago, Chris had an extraordinary opportunity to play a cultural game while accompanying our local
Church - (Bena Bridge) on an outreach at the invitation from a village a 2hr hike from Okapa in the highlands of PNG.  The game involved filling string bags (called bilum bags) with various surprise times of value such as food, money, matches, soap, knives etc.  Then during the game, individuals are paired up and each pair of friends are introduced with singing and dancing.  Then an exchange of bilums takes place which then gives way to more celebrating.  By the end of the ceremony, Chris had two live chickens and 4 large bags of garden produce and a hand-carved bamboo fork.   Along with this game, Chris and Pastor Joel Kemaya were invited to speak to the crowds.  This provided a wonderful opportunity to announce an upcoming outreach that Bena Bridge church would be starting in the area by sending teachers in a few months time.  Once the teachers begin, they plan to teach scripture Chronologically for the first time in the Okapa area!

Welcome Ol Bubu (Grandparents) & Uncle Herman!

Returning home from school for the last day of the first school term, Baruch and Jael got a shocking surprise.  Waiting for them in the living room was Grandpa & Grandma Tuinstra along with dear friends Tim & Laurel Marsh.  The kids were surprised to say the least!  Now on their 3rd trip to Papua New Guinea, our family enjoyed nearly three weeks with them including traveling to the Madang conference together.  Missionary Tim Marsh has worked with children for over 30 years and came armed with his puppets and illustrative aids.  While with us, one of the highlights of their visit was to introduce Tim to Bena Bridge church who had invited all the children of the community to come and be entertained as well as hear God's word.  Men, women and children in the audience, all of whom had never seen such antics, had tear filled eyes as they laughed so hard.  With Chris translating, in addition to puppets, Tim used a saxophone as an illustration, sharing that just as a saxaphone player needs instruction to be able to play well, so too, people need instruction from God's Word.  The meeting ended in hilarity with Pastor Joel Kemaya getting an unexpected kiss from "Uncle Herman (one of Tim's michevious puppets) as well as an invitation for the community to inquire more about God's message by approaching anyone of the members of Bena Bridge church.

"So glad you could come!"

It's a yearly tradition, every year all NTM missionaries who are part of the Madang region attend a conference to reconnect, pray for one another, share & report future plans as well as have some fun.  This year due to finances as a family, we weren't sure we were going to be able to attend.  However thanks to some designated gifts, the Lord provided the opportunity for which we are very grateful.  Our spirits were recharged and once again challenged to return to a tribal, church-planting ministry.   And what a fun blessing to share this experience with grandparents, and watch our favorite group of MKs be blessed by "Uncle" Tim Marsh and his ministry!  It's always nice to be refreshed and re-challenged.

Master Angie

Speaking of challenge...Angie has jumped into her studies towards her Master's degree once again (after taking time off for her parent's visit and other stuff).  To refresh any memories:  Angie has received the first level of training as an educational therapist through NILD.  This training has been priceless in equipping her to meet Jael's special educational needs!  We see wonderful evidence that the therapy is working, and believe it would be best to continue receiving this training.  Specifically this is important because we still believe the Lord will eventually be leading us back into another church-planting ministry.  We believe that it is vital that Angie is equipped to meet Jael's ongoing needs (and any other of our kids who may need intervention in their education).  NILD is a wonderful organization whose program is so beautifully meeting our needs.  Yet, it's a very academic organization, and in order for Angie to receive any further training through them, she needs to have an accredited degree.  To make a long story short, the Lord opened the door for her to pursue her Masters degree through Liberty University's Online University.  As a result of actively pursuing a Masters degree in special education, she is now eligible to further her training with NILD.  She is also gaining the added benefit of broadening her understanding in this world of education, which is only going to aid her as she seeks to oversee our kids' education.

Pictures:
1.  "Uncle" Tim and Uncle Herman with Chris at the Bena Bridge meeting.
2.  A small glimpse of the crowd that had packed into the church (and out the door) in order to see them!

Thank you so much for your support! 
Because of Him,
Chris, Angie, Jael, Baruch and Titus Walker

--  --  As Unto Him (Col 3:17)  Chris Walker - NTM PNG ICT Helpdesk ict@ntm.org.pg (675)531-4560 (Telikom) (675)7178-7115 (Digicel)