“…. wanpela pikinini man i kamap pinis long yumi, em  anpela pikinini God i givim long yumi. Em bai i stap king bilong yumi, na em bai i gat ol dispela nem, `Man bilong givim gutpela tingting tru’ na `God i gat bikpela strong’ na `Papa bilong i stap oltaim’ na `King bilong kamapim gutpela sindaun na bel isi.’” Aisaia 9:6

 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

It’s Christmas again! Each December, among other holiday activities, comes the fun of creating a card for our employees. With a bit of tweaking we also use these cards to give out, along with some baked goodies, to our town business associates and the hospital staff. God always brings it together. The verse in this year’s card is undoubtedly one of the most well-known prophesies of the 1st coming of Christ – and the promise of His return! Oh, what an encouragement it is to ponder that the day He’ll come again could perhaps be even TODAY!

Besides Christmas events — after a lingering lull, this month has also proven to be a busy era in the printing office. Several small jobs have  trickled in. Also the prospect of a BIG project for another mission. If their calculations are right it will take 7+ boxes of paper (2500 sheets to a box.) Their deadline is the 17th Dec and I don’t have their files to print yet! Yikes! I hate to nag but did beg to inquire of them if their delivery date was negotiable. It is. Whew! Deferment with an extension to the end of January now. 

Meanwhile, the Kaje team asked for help. This is the language group where, due to travel difficulties, I missed getting to go to help with their primer construction last October. The team had planned to print all their materials themselves so, much to my chagrin, I wondered if I’d ever even get to see them. Catastrophe intervened. The team’s printer died.

Could I help???? Oh my! Could I!!!!! The challenge now is for the team to be able to e-mail the large files to me from their bush / jungle location. Things are dribbling in and it is hopeful that everything can be printed and ready for a flight on 22nd Dec to another of our mission centers, giving them time to somehow get the materials into their village. Their target date to launch literacy is 7th January so if you think of it, please be praying for all the details involved! Thanks.

Thus begins another Christmas season in PNG. To re-cap Christmas past with pictures from last year – these events are again on our calendar for the weeks ahead:

Dec 15th

Christmas party for our employees and their families. LOTS of cake! Lots of icing! With fun and fellowship to follow!

Dec 20th

A Christmas meal and just for fun video with the Bible Study Ladies and their children, grandchildren, and babysitters. Last year we watched Swiss Family Robinson. Judging from their interaction NOTHING can top that! Even 3 year old Michael was spellbound!

   
   

 

Baking, preparing plates, and sometime the week of Dec 18th delivering the 50+ plates of breads to the local hospital staff and to our business associates in town. Then more baking and a Christmas gathering with the other missionaries.

And since no Sharp Christmas is complete without a CAT – Inky Ninja resides with me again this holiday season while her owner Stephanie spends a few weeks at home in New Zealand.

….. So far this year I have not been brave enough to attempt decorating.

Not lost in the shuffle – lots of opportunities to remember and rejoice in Jesus’ coming to save us and how that salvation gives us hope and peace of mind in pondering His promised return! Sometimes just hearing a familiar Christmas carol in a different translation helps awaken new insights that server to increase our love for Him. Like the PNG rendition of Hark the herald angels sing:

Listen to the angles sing, “Glory to the new-born King; Peace on earth and mercy free, God and sinners friends can be.”
Joyful all you peoples rise, Join the triumph of the skies; Join then, in the angels’ hymn, “Christ is born in Bethlehem.”
Listen to the angels sing, “Glory to the new-born King!”
Come from heaven, the Prince of Peace; Come to bring us righteousness; Light and life to all He gives, God among us, now He lives!
Gladly lays His glory by, Born that man no more may die; Born to raise the sons of earth, born to give us second birth.
Listen to the angels sing, “Glory to the new-born King!”
Come, the Lord of nations, come, Make in us your humble home. Give to us Your victory, and from Satan make us free.
Sing we then, with angels sing, “Glory to the new-born King! Glory in the highest heaven, Peace on earth, and sins forgiven!”
Listen to the angels sing, “Glory to the new-born King!”

My grateful thanks to each of you standing together with us on behalf of God’s people here in Papua New Guinea. May this be a refreshing Christmas season for you rejoicing in His advent as our Savior and anticipating His return as King!

… think the same way that Christ Jesus thought: Christ was truly God. But he did not try to remain equal with God. Instead he gave up everything and became a slave, when he became like one of us. Christ was humble. He obeyed God and even died on a cross. Then God gave Christ the highest place and honored his name above all others. So at the name of Jesus everyone will bow down, those in heaven, on earth, and under the earth. And to the glory of God the Father everyone will openly agree, ‘Jesus Christ is Lord!’” Phil 2:5-11 CEV

Co-laboring to bring back Christ as King!
Hope Sharp