As we ride out “the virus” here in the USA other countries around the world too are battling the bug. There HAVE been a few cases diagnosed in Papua New Guinea so please add the needs there to your prayers as God brings them to mind. There have been restrictions in place much like here which has had an impact on ministry in tribal areas.

Teaching continues though and what a critical time it is for God’s Word to be going out to the ends of the earth, or as the Iwam would say, out where people still sleep in mosquito nets! In a nutshell, here are a few recent reports from tribes that I have mentioned in the past:

Kaje is teaching through Acts and talking about baptism these days.

The Pei village is learning about the consequences of sin and seeing a righteous God responding mercifully.

Amdu is having to teach more slowly due to the need for multiple meetings.

To date they have taught thru Creation; God creating Adam in God’s own image; the Tree of the Knowledge of Good & Evil and Adam being in a position of choice; the meaning of death. This week they are teaching on the creation of Eve; the fall of Lucifer, and on Adam & Eve in the Garden of Eden. Bart & Emily Allen, one of the missionary families at Amdu, wrote:

Instead of meeting with one large group comprised of everyone in our village, we are now teaching to smaller groups. That means that Benjamin (Hatton) and Bart (Allen) are teaching each lesson multiple times instead of just once! It also means that we have to go at a slower pace than we had planned. We have already seen several advantages though. Smaller group size means that we have more interaction with those in each group. We can also more easily determine who is coming and who isn’t, who is paying attention and who isn’t. It’s harder to hide in a small group. 🙂 The slower pace is also beneficial because we are wanting to be sure that  people understand God’s Word as we teach it. Another name for the chronological teaching is Firm Foundations, and that is just what the Amdu people need – the solid foundation of God’s Truth. Building their lives on anything else results only in a house that will fall. In our years living here, we have seen plenty of evidence of just that – both physically and spiritually!!

YembiYembi is one of our PNG tribal works where the church is standing on its own. The missionaries (Tim & Courtney Shontere, Brooks & Nina Buser) occasionally go in to see how things are going. They have some contact with the church leaders and one of the Yembi church members recently communicated this to the missionaries regarding their thinking on the Covid-19 virus:

Everyone is getting scared with the Corona virus. Some say it is witchcraft, others say it is magic power and sorcery to kill us. God holds all things in his hand. Nothing gets past him. As we learn from Job 2:10 – all things, the good and the bad come from God. God is still good, but he is in control of all things that come our way. We must hang on him to help our sickness, and not go down the road of sorcery to help our sick.

Life in Wewak town life has changed for PNG urban dwellers too with recent virus restrictions. The men and women who were employed by our mission while I worked there are much on my heart. I do not know details but know that even in the best of times their lives are HARD. The possibility of severe sickness only adds to the burdens they carry. Here are some photos to maybe spur on your prayers for those near and dear to us there, too.

Other employees besides the ones pictured: Meta and her 2 kiddos – Maili and Kodi; and our crew of security staff: Carlson, Smith, Glen, Nick, Mino…. Yikes! I’m drawing a blank on the names of the rest – and it’s only been a year since I handed out their pay packets! At any rate, if the Lord brings these folks to mind please do pray that those who don’t yet know Him will be drawn to our Savior thru the uncertainty of the current circumstances. And pray too that those who ARE already your brothers and sisters in Christ will be encouraged as they see God at work on their behalf, bringing them closer to Himself each day.

For the meanwhile back in the USA segment: The words to the hymn Submission (see below) have been a mainstay as they have travelled with me in my Bible since finishing missionary training eons ago. It was obvious even way back then that leaving for the field would be hard. Departing PNG for Home Assignment times would be tough. Returning to PNG after each furlough would be a challenge. My heart sang this hymn every time. But coming home permanently???? Heart wrenching. What else can I say, other than “The Lord will chose for me, tis better far, I know, so let Him bid me go … or stay.”

Thankfully I can look to soon be back in the saddle at least to the extent that I’ll be investing my days reworking materials for the  May River Iwam. Old Bible lessons, literacy and library materials all need to be proofread, primarily for spelling issues. Since there are different ways to say words there were options how to spell them. Take the Iwam word for “good” with it’s 6 spelling options: haitna, haitnak, haitina, haitinak, haikina, haikinak! Yikes! Iwam language helpers were vital in making the final spelling decisions back in 2008 as we readied their New Testament for printing. All our materials done before that time may have spelling inconsistencies and there’s finally time in my schedule now to devote to this task of bringing all our Iwam files to “print ready” status.

Once the existing materials are all spell checked I hope to get back to working on a concordance for the May River Iwam New Testament. There are a few other projects in the line-up as well. All of this will likely take me to ripe old social security eligible recipient status in the spring of 2021. If the Lord tarries, that is!

Thank you again for your faithfulness in praying for these dear ones from PNG and for my life and ministry as well.

God has used you to keep me going these many years. I am so grateful to YOU for your willingness to be a part of what work He has committed to our hands.

Co-laboring to bring back Christ as King!

Hope Sharp

Submission

C. Austin Miles 1868-1946 Mrs. R.R. Forman

1. The path that I have trod,
Has brought me nearer God,
Though oft it led through sorrow’s gates.
Though not the way I choose,
In my way I might lose
The joy that yet for me awaits
Not what I wish to be,
Nor where I wish to go,
For who am I that I should choose my way?
The Lord shall choose for me,
‘Tis better far, I know,
So let him bid me go, or stay
2. The cross that I must bear,
If I a crown would wear,
Is not the cross that I should take;
But since on me ’tis laid,
I’ll take it unafraid,
And bear it for the Master’s sake.
Not what I wish to be,
Nor where I wish to go,
For who am I that I should choose my way?
The Lord shall choose for me,
‘Tis better far, I know,
So let him bid me go, or stay
3. Submission to the will
Of him who guides me still
Is surety of His love revealed;
My soul shall rise above
This world in which I move,
I conquer only when I yield.
Not what I wish to be,
Nor where I wish to go,
For who am I that I should choose my way?
The Lord shall choose for me,
‘Tis better far, I know,
So let him bid me go, or stay