Tears to Progress, Sharing Christ from the Old Testament, and To the Rescue?

From Tears to Progress
As our family looks towards returning to a full-time
church-planting ministry, as you may know, homeschooling remains a key
component. We now have three weeks of Discovery session (educational
therapy) under our belts and we are very happy to report that as a
result of your prayers and God's faithfulness, we have a decent start!
Our first session was wrought with many, MANY tears! A disappointing
start, but not completely unexpected. Even so, I was encouraged that my
training had equipped me to keep things moving, and we DID manage to get
a couple things accomplished in the midst of those tears. After that
first session, Jael and I had a heart-to-heart chat, and our next
session, just two days later, was a COMPLETE turn around of the one
before. We even almost had fun!! Since then, our sessions have gone
very well. We still have a ways to go before we are accomplishing all
that we need to in each session, but progress remains good and steady,
and I remain optimistic and encouraged.
We start full on homeschooling on Monday! Lessons have been
planned, materials organized and ready to go for weeks now! Pray that
we can have a high level of interest and enthusiasm!

Sharing Christ From the Old Testament
The Bible study with the national store workers is moving right
along. This last week they covered the story of Abraham and Isaac. We
hear repeated comments of sincere gratitude at the opportunity they have
to hear this message. In the coming weeks we will be wrapping up the
book of Genesis and move into teaching on the Law. The purpose of the
Law, as we know it, is not just a list of rules to make us good, but a
standard by which we see how utterly condemned we are as sinners before
a righteous and holy God. Please, please pray that this is not just a
message presenting interesting information, but one that will be heart
piercing, convicting and life changing.

To The Rescue?
Working in the computer department, supporting hundreds of
missionaries all over Papua New Guinea, Chris and his co-workers seldom
lack for diversity in their everyday tasks. Sometimes it's repairing
computers, sometimes it's debugging email programs, brainstorming on
internet solutions, researching technology. Most of this happens right
in the computer department and it's immediate surrounding areas.
However, this coming week Chris has the more rare opportunity to travel
to a tribal location to try and do an on site job. Pray for him. With
travel being expensive, and not knowing exactly what to encounter, he
would appreciate some extra wisdom in knowing what tools and equipment
to bring with him.

Thank you so much for continuing to stand with us,
Chris, Angie, Jael, Baruch and Titus Walker

Home again!

Home Again Home Again
Thank you so much for all your prayers concerning my trip to Manila
and my course there. Things went very well with everything from the
flights to the course itself. While it was intense...lots of
information in a short period of time...I found it not only intriguing,
but also very enjoyable! I enjoyed the information as well my
instructors and fellow classmates! I also enjoyed the food and
accommodations, and the shopping!!! Modern malls and the chance to shop
for things that I can't find here! Yeah, it was all pretty memorable!!
Most importantly though, it accomplished what we needed it to do.
I now feel equipped, and even excited, to start working with Jael doing
educational therapy. After taking a few weeks to get organized and to
plan, I hope to start doing educational therapy with her by the end of
the month, and to start school with her a couple weeks later. The rest
of our books are enroute, so you can be praying that they arrive soon!
Thank you for praying for Chris and the kids while I was gone. He
did very well, looking after three kids...2 of them all day long...and
working from home as well! All with just the smallest of hiccups! He
had plenty of help from different folks around the center here too. He
did so well, in fact, that some things I'm thinking of turning over to
him on a permanent basis!! Like being official costume developer for
the skate nights they have on center here. Jael's pineapple costume won
rave reviews, and there was no question that Baruch was a carrot!! Far
better than mom ever came up with!!
Even with how well everything went, it was VERY nice to come home
to my wonderful family again. School has finished up here, and we are
on summer break, enjoying doing some fun things during the day in
between cleaning and getting organized for doing school at home again
this coming year!

Times of Trial
With all the answered prayers concerning me getting this training
and for our family while we were apart, and for how we've been able to
move ahead in the direction we feel the Lord leading us, it would be
very easy for one to think that everything is just hunky dory with life
going all our way! While that is true on one level, it's also true that
our family is feeling the attacks of our enemy. Our enemy is a cunning
one, knowing just where our weak spots are...every chink in our armor.
Sometimes his attacks are downright scary, and sometimes they're just
stressful. We have, over the course of time, realized that as God's
plan is moving forward, that Satan increases his attacks. This
certainly seems true right now.
We know from scripture that we can be thankful for trials because
they are allowed by our loving Father in heaven, and that they are used
to perfect our faith, and throw our dependence on Him all over again.
We were reminded of that again last night during our family devotions.
We read from I Peter 1: 6-8 where it talks about the testing of our
faith. We talked a bit about how gold is refined through fire, and how
our faith is tested and refined the same way. We also went on to read
how our faith is so much more precious than mere gold! It was just the
perspective that our whole family needed as we face the days and weeks
ahead. We wouldn't ask for such trials (who would), but we know that as
we keep our eyes and lives focused on God that we will not be led astray
from HIS will for our lives. Please pray for us in these days and weeks
to come, that we can maintain that focus, and that our faith, through
testing, will be found genuine and shining bright!

A CAR!!
One final note and prayer request...some weeks ago, after much
prayer and consideration, our family purchased a used car from Japan.
Some funds were made available for us to do so, and after some research
online, we found something that we hope will meet both our current and
future needs! While our current needs may be considered minimum, a
vehicle will make many things much easier. Everything from added
safety, ease and convenience for our entire family as we go visiting
local churches most weekends with Chris, to the benefit of knowing that
if we want to run into town for the day, or take a trip to Madang for a
break, that we can with fewer logistics! Our future needs though, as we
consider the possibility of a future road allocation, also weighed in
heavily in our final decision.
Our new-to-us Nisaan Rasheen is due into the country on Monday!
So, Chris will be making a "quick" trip to the coast to get it, and to
take care of all the necessary paperwork to get it road legal. He will
take a PMV down on Sunday, and then hopefully be back by Wednesday.
Pray with us that everything goes smoothly there, with the paperwork,
and with the trip, as travel in PNG is unpredictable at best!

Thank you for your ongoing prayers on our behalf!
Expecting great things!
Angie (for Chris, Jael, Baruch and Titus too)

Chris Plays Mr. Mom

            Starting Saturday morning, Chris will be filling the roll of dad AND mom.  Saturday I leave for the Discovery training in Manila, Philippines for 2 weeks.  During that time, Chris will be working out of the home, taking care of 2 active boys all day long, providing meals, running a household….send a few extra prayers up for him during this time, I know he’ll appreciate them! J

            We also want to thank ALL of you for your prayers concerning this trip.  The Lord has heard, and provided abundantly and timely.  Everything has fallen so nicely into place.  Besides the stress of our family being apart for the next couple weeks, these last weeks of preparing have been relatively stress-free!  Another answer to prayer is that I will be joined by another NTM missionary in Port Moresby who is also going over to take this training…so I will not be traveling alone.  WE are reminded again and again of the greatness of our God.  Through folks like you, God has again answered prayers.  We are so blessed to have such a team behind us.

 

Pigin Bible Study

            Chris, and co-worker Aaron DeRidder are a couple weeks into the Pigin Bible study with our national store workers.  They are teaching the Bible chronologically, just as we did in Mibu.  This week they are covering creation, and next week will be getting into the fall of man.  Some of these folks have been exposed to Bible stories, but there is no context or continuity for them, while for others this is the first time they've ever been presented with any teaching on God's power as displayed in creation let along the lengths to which our creator has gone to redeem us.  Pray with us that as this foundation is laid, that the Holy Spirit will be able to impact their lives with truth and that their lives will be forever changed as a result.  We’ll keep you posted as the class progresses.

 

The Next Step

            As this next step of Discovery training is on our doorstep, we are already looking ahead to the next thing, as it comes immediately on it’s heels.  Homeschooling!  Materials have all been ordered now (another answered prayer), and now we ask you to pray that these materials will make their way here quickly and safely, so that I can have time to prepare and plan before starting school.  Our plan right now is to take the month of June to enjoy being a family again (after being apart for a couple weeks) and get organized and jazzed up for starting school in July.  Please pray for all of us as we prepare our hearts, minds and resources for this undertaking.

 

Laborers Needed

            You know, not much has changed in 2000 years.  The Lord told his disciples to look on the fields…they were ready for harvest then, and the laborers were few.  There is MUCH work to be done here in PNG.  Many people groups have yet to hear, and without people to come and tell them, how can they hear?  While there is a great need for church planters, there is also great need for support workers.  ICT (the computer department where Chris works) is going to be feeling this keenly in the weeks to come, as over half of the department leaves!  For a few weeks, it will be Chris and one other guy managing the tech support of over 300 families and dozens of departments field wide.  They will be joined by the end of summer by another returning guy, which will help the work load tremendously.  It takes all kinds of people with all manners of gifts and abilities to see church-planting become a reality.  As we prepare ourselves and our family for what we believe is coming (another church plant down the road), we ask you to please pray for more laborers.  Both church-planters, and support workers (even nerdy computer geeks) so that we can see His Kingdom advanced here on this earth.

Because of HIM,

Angie (who happens to be married to one awesome compute geek) on behalf of all the Walkers

 

Chris Plays Mr. Mom

            Starting Saturday morning, Chris will be filling the roll of dad AND mom.  Saturday I leave for the Discovery training in Manila, Philippines for 2 weeks.  During that time, Chris will be working out of the home, taking care of 2 active boys all day long, providing meals, running a household….send a few extra prayers up for him during this time, I know he’ll appreciate them! J

            We also want to thank ALL of you for your prayers concerning this trip.  The Lord has heard, and provided abundantly and timely.  Everything has fallen so nicely into place.  Besides the stress of our family being apart for the next couple weeks, these last weeks of preparing have been relatively stress-free!  Another answer to prayer is that I will be joined by another NTM missionary in Port Moresby who is also going over to take this training…so I will not be traveling alone.  WE are reminded again and again of the greatness of our God.  Through folks like you, God has again answered prayers.  We are so blessed to have such a team behind us.

 

Pigin Bible Study

            Chris, and co-worker Aaron DeRidder are a couple weeks into the Pigin Bible study with our national store workers.  They are teaching the Bible chronologically, just as we did in Mibu.  This week they are covering creation, and next week will be getting into the fall of man.  Some of these folks have been exposed to Bible stories, but there is no context or continuity for them, while for others this is the first time they've ever been presented with any teaching on God's power as displayed in creation let along the lengths to which our creator has gone to redeem us.  Pray with us that as this foundation is laid, that the Holy Spirit will be able to impact their lives with truth and that their lives will be forever changed as a result.  We’ll keep you posted as the class progresses.

 

The Next Step

            As this next step of Discovery training is on our doorstep, we are already looking ahead to the next thing, as it comes immediately on it’s heels.  Homeschooling!  Materials have all been ordered now (another answered prayer), and now we ask you to pray that these materials will make their way here quickly and safely, so that I can have time to prepare and plan before starting school.  Our plan right now is to take the month of June to enjoy being a family again (after being apart for a couple weeks) and get organized and jazzed up for starting school in July.  Please pray for all of us as we prepare our hearts, minds and resources for this undertaking.

 

Laborers Needed

            You know, not much has changed in 2000 years.  The Lord told his disciples to look on the fields…they were ready for harvest then, and the laborers were few.  There is MUCH work to be done here in PNG.  Many people groups have yet to hear, and without people to come and tell them, how can they hear?  While there is a great need for church planters, there is also great need for support workers.  ICT (the computer department where Chris works) is going to be feeling this keenly in the weeks to come, as over half of the department leaves!  For a few weeks, it will be Chris and one other guy managing the tech support of over 300 families and dozens of departments field wide.  They will be joined by the end of summer by another returning guy, which will help the work load tremendously.  It takes all kinds of people with all manners of gifts and abilities to see church-planting become a reality.  As we prepare ourselves and our family for what we believe is coming (another church plant down the road), we ask you to please pray for more laborers.  Both church-planters, and support workers (even nerdy computer geeks) so that we can see His Kingdom advanced here on this earth.

Because of HIM,

Angie (who happens to be married to one awesome compute geek) on behalf of all the Walkers

 

Chris Plays Mr. Mom

            Starting Saturday morning, Chris will be filling the roll of dad AND mom.  Saturday I leave for the Discovery training in Manila, Philippines for 2 weeks.  During that time, Chris will be working out of the home, taking care of 2 active boys all day long, providing meals, running a household….send a few extra prayers up for him during this time, I know he’ll appreciate them! J

            We also want to thank ALL of you for your prayers concerning this trip.  The Lord has heard, and provided abundantly and timely.  Everything has fallen so nicely into place.  Besides the stress of our family being apart for the next couple weeks, these last weeks of preparing have been relatively stress-free!  Another answer to prayer is that I will be joined by another NTM missionary in Port Moresby who is also going over to take this training…so I will not be traveling alone.  WE are reminded again and again of the greatness of our God.  Through folks like you, God has again answered prayers.  We are so blessed to have such a team behind us.

 

Pigin Bible Study

            Chris, and co-worker Aaron DeRidder are a couple weeks into the Pigin Bible study with our national store workers.  They are teaching the Bible chronologically, just as we did in Mibu.  This week they are covering creation, and next week will be getting into the fall of man.  Some of these folks have been exposed to Bible stories, but there is no context or continuity for them, while for others this is the first time they've ever been presented with any teaching on God's power as displayed in creation let along the lengths to which our creator has gone to redeem us.  Pray with us that as this foundation is laid, that the Holy Spirit will be able to impact their lives with truth and that their lives will be forever changed as a result.  We’ll keep you posted as the class progresses.

 

The Next Step

            As this next step of Discovery training is on our doorstep, we are already looking ahead to the next thing, as it comes immediately on it’s heels.  Homeschooling!  Materials have all been ordered now (another answered prayer), and now we ask you to pray that these materials will make their way here quickly and safely, so that I can have time to prepare and plan before starting school.  Our plan right now is to take the month of June to enjoy being a family again (after being apart for a couple weeks) and get organized and jazzed up for starting school in July.  Please pray for all of us as we prepare our hearts, minds and resources for this undertaking.

 

Laborers Needed

            You know, not much has changed in 2000 years.  The Lord told his disciples to look on the fields…they were ready for harvest then, and the laborers were few.  There is MUCH work to be done here in PNG.  Many people groups have yet to hear, and without people to come and tell them, how can they hear?  While there is a great need for church planters, there is also great need for support workers.  ICT (the computer department where Chris works) is going to be feeling this keenly in the weeks to come, as over half of the department leaves!  For a few weeks, it will be Chris and one other guy managing the tech support of over 300 families and dozens of departments field wide.  They will be joined by the end of summer by another returning guy, which will help the work load tremendously.  It takes all kinds of people with all manners of gifts and abilities to see church-planting become a reality.  As we prepare ourselves and our family for what we believe is coming (another church plant down the road), we ask you to please pray for more laborers.  Both church-planters, and support workers (even nerdy computer geeks) so that we can see His Kingdom advanced here on this earth.

Because of HIM,

Angie (who happens to be married to one awesome compute geek) on behalf of all the Walkers

 

Chris Plays Mr. Mom

            Starting Saturday morning, Chris will be filling the roll of dad AND mom.  Saturday I leave for the Discovery training in Manila, Philippines for 2 weeks.  During that time, Chris will be working out of the home, taking care of 2 active boys all day long, providing meals, running a household….send a few extra prayers up for him during this time, I know he’ll appreciate them! J

            We also want to thank ALL of you for your prayers concerning this trip.  The Lord has heard, and provided abundantly and timely.  Everything has fallen so nicely into place.  Besides the stress of our family being apart for the next couple weeks, these last weeks of preparing have been relatively stress-free!  Another answer to prayer is that I will be joined by another NTM missionary in Port Moresby who is also going over to take this training…so I will not be traveling alone.  WE are reminded again and again of the greatness of our God.  Through folks like you, God has again answered prayers.  We are so blessed to have such a team behind us.

 

Pigin Bible Study

            Chris, and co-worker Aaron DeRidder are a couple weeks into the Pigin Bible study with our national store workers.  They are teaching the Bible chronologically, just as we did in Mibu.  This week they are covering creation, and next week will be getting into the fall of man.  Some of these folks have been exposed to Bible stories, but there is no context or continuity for them, while for others this is the first time they've ever been presented with any teaching on God's power as displayed in creation let along the lengths to which our creator has gone to redeem us.  Pray with us that as this foundation is laid, that the Holy Spirit will be able to impact their lives with truth and that their lives will be forever changed as a result.  We’ll keep you posted as the class progresses.

 

The Next Step

            As this next step of Discovery training is on our doorstep, we are already looking ahead to the next thing, as it comes immediately on it’s heels.  Homeschooling!  Materials have all been ordered now (another answered prayer), and now we ask you to pray that these materials will make their way here quickly and safely, so that I can have time to prepare and plan before starting school.  Our plan right now is to take the month of June to enjoy being a family again (after being apart for a couple weeks) and get organized and jazzed up for starting school in July.  Please pray for all of us as we prepare our hearts, minds and resources for this undertaking.

 

Laborers Needed

            You know, not much has changed in 2000 years.  The Lord told his disciples to look on the fields…they were ready for harvest then, and the laborers were few.  There is MUCH work to be done here in PNG.  Many people groups have yet to hear, and without people to come and tell them, how can they hear?  While there is a great need for church planters, there is also great need for support workers.  ICT (the computer department where Chris works) is going to be feeling this keenly in the weeks to come, as over half of the department leaves!  For a few weeks, it will be Chris and one other guy managing the tech support of over 300 families and dozens of departments field wide.  They will be joined by the end of summer by another returning guy, which will help the work load tremendously.  It takes all kinds of people with all manners of gifts and abilities to see church-planting become a reality.  As we prepare ourselves and our family for what we believe is coming (another church plant down the road), we ask you to please pray for more laborers.  Both church-planters, and support workers (even nerdy computer geeks) so that we can see His Kingdom advanced here on this earth.

Because of HIM,

Angie (who happens to be married to one awesome compute geek) on behalf of all the Walkers

 

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