Dead fingers & Dried up bones

Truth Impacting Some

    First a bit of reflecting on the most recent Bible Study meeting Chris and fellow missionary Aaron DeRidder have had with the national workers as they've been teaching through Creation to Christ in Pigin.  They have started teaching on the 10 Commandments, a crucial point of understanding in the study.  One of the guys, Remal, upon hearing the commandment "thou shalt have no other gods before me", pondered outloud, "that's just like us!  When we cut our fingers off, or keep some part of an ancestor when they die, and then talk to it and pray to it as if they can help us with something...that's just like worshipping them instead of God".  How true he is!  Another fellow attending the Bible study immediately piped up, "yeah, but Rimal's from the Yagaria tribe!  They do that kind of thing there!  WE don't do that!".  This particular gentleman has made claims to being a Christian, and yet, at a mumu (a food festival of sorts) was overheard by a fellow missionary leading the others in a prayer TO the mumu (to the food) itself!  We praise the LORD for the insight He has given to some (like Remal), and yet are saddened to see the hardness of hearts of some others.  We are saddened, but do not dispair!  Our Lord is powerful, and His Word is sharp and is able to penetrate the hardest of hearts!  Please pray with us for these dear souls!  Pray that as we continue to teach through the 10 Commandments that they will come to understand that the true purpose of them...to show us our sinful and hopeless state...NOT a means to becoming acceptable to God.

Great Opportunities to Share Truth

    I (Angie) have had the opportunity to develop a neat friendship with a local lady named Trixie.  We have shared a neat relationship of give and take and helping each other out with different projects.  In and effort to keep this neat friendship going, I've asked her to teach me how to make bilums (the string bags that EVERY PNG lady knows how to make).  She has claimed to be a Christian, and I'd been praying for an opportunity to find out just where she is (seeing as we've had so many experiences of some claiming to be Christians, but are so confused spiritually).  One evening, she was at our house, and we were working on making bilums, and after conversation seemed to die down, Chris suggested that we put on a documentary DVD.  We've enjoyed doing this kind of things with nationals in the past, allowing them to see other parts of the world (or even outer space in some cases) that they would otherwise not get to see, and help to broaden their world view.  The one we put in happened to be on archeology, and in this particular episode, the archeological team "happened" to dig up an ancient cemetery.  As they were brushing off the bones they had found, and discussing what they could tell about the lives of the people from those bones, Trixie got very tense, and her hands stopped moving as she sat there completely horrified by what she was seeing!!  We really had not anticipated this kind of response at all!!!  In our other conversations about faith and such, we had no reason to believe that she wasn't a Christian, as she had claimed.  But, as we noticed her reaction, and asked her what she was thinking, she said that she was scared for them (the archeologists) because of the spirits of the dead people.  We stopped the DVD, and turned to her and asked her what the Bible had to say about a person's spirit.  "Where does a person's spirit go when they die?"  She answered, "to heaven or to hell".  "Right, so why do we need to be afraid of dead people's spirits?" 
    The PNG culture that Trixie has grown up in is wrought with beliefs and teachings about dead people's spirits.  There is much belief that these spirits hang around indefinitely, and can be manipulated into helping them gain specific knowledge, manipulate nature, or even other people.  Trixie went home so upset by what she had seen that she could not fall asleep, but instead stayed up working until after midnight, at which point she collapsed out of pure exhaustion. 
    She came back to see me the next day and shared all that with me.  She commented about how WE  (the missionaries) were not afraid, and that we knew why we didn't need to be afraid.  She knows that Chris has been teaching this Bible study in Pigin, and as this came up in our conversation, I realized that we may not be here long enough to share this same study with her all the way through.  Then it occurred to us:  THIS is exactly why we have worked on developing relationships with the local churches that we have.  One of the local churches uses this same Bible study on a regular basis.  I mentioned this to Trixie and asked her if she would like to attend this church with us.  She was VERY excited to!! 
    Unfortunately, the day that she was supposed to come with us, she came up sick!  I've not seen much of her at all these last 2 weeks since then.  Please pray that I can get in touch with her again, and that she would still be interested in attending this church where we believe she can get good Biblical teaching that will clear up any confusion she might have.  Also pray that I might have an opportunity to talk with her about the state of her eternal soul...if she is confused in other areas, it is vital that she is clear in that!

Schooling Update

    Well, a month and a half into homeschooling plus Discovery, and all is going well!  I have had the blessing of another Discovery therapist who has sat in on a couple of our sessions now and made some extremely helpful suggestions!  We praise the LORD for her insight, experience and help.  We continue to feel good about how things are progressing.  Jael is due for a re-evaluation this winter during Christmas break (Dec. or Jan.), and we will have more concrete answers as to where she is and just how she is doing then.  In the mean time, all indications are good, and we are enjoying our time learning together.

Help in ICT

    Thank you for praying!  Chris has a new co-worker in ICT.  Norber Huebner and his wife Michaela arrived from Germany just over a week ago!  Already he has been a huge blessing in helping to lighten the work load there.  MORE co-workers are needed in the department, so please keep praying!

Waiting Patterns

    We know we have asked prayer for this before, but we ask yet again for you to pray with us about the future ministry of our family.  As time moves on, we are rapidly approaching the time that may well give us at least some of the answers that we seek.  As that time approaches, and as we start to make decisions that will effect our future, we ask for wisdom and continued clear direction!
    In a couple weeks, we will travel down to Madang for the Madang Regional Conference.  After that, we will have a long over-due break with our family (it's been almost 15 months since we've had a break together as a family away from our support center where we live and work).  We anticipate that we may start to get some direction during that time, and again this winter, with some possible decisions to be made then or shortly after the first of the year.  It's a time of great anticipation, as we've seen this coming, and have looked forward to it as well.  But as with any change that comes, there is both excitement and some fear.  Yet, we know that as we strive to keep our eyes on Him, and our ears tuned to His Word, He will be faithful to lead us right.

I know this email has gone on a bit.  Some exciting things happening here, and we are so privileged to get to be here with a front-row seat!  Serving here on your behalf, it is our joy to share these stories with you!  Thank you so much for your prayers and encouragement.

Here because of HIM,
Chris, Angie, Jael, Baruch and Titus Walker

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