Six hours upstream against the current of a crocodile-filled river—I barely managed to alternate between reciting Psalm 23, “You lead me beside quiet waters,” mentally humming the old hymn, “Master, the Tempest Is Raging,” and asking myself for the hundredth time whether I’d lost my mind.
Finally, the canoe dropped us off in the heart of “Nowhere.” It was already dark, but burdened with medications, we marched onward “over that mountain,” accompanied by the chirping of crickets and the rustling of palm trees.
Forty-degree heat, humid tropical air, and not the faintest breeze—we eventually reached the village of “Chili-Chili.” Suddenly, on the path ahead, a makeshift gate of palm leaves appeared, and a stern voice called out in Tok Pisin, “Why did you come?” Stunned, I looked at Zhenya, knowing that returning to the canoe wasn’t an option.
“We’ve come to share the Good News with you!”
Suddenly, the gates opened, and the brightly adorned villagers, dressed in feathers and paint, rushed out to meet us. I exhaled in relief—they had been waiting for us.
Over the next few days, we held a medical clinic, showed the Jesus film, and preached the Gospel. For the first time, I witnessed people literally RUNNING to the altar in repentance, so hungry were they for the Word of God.
For those who have read our book “Dreams Come True if You Believe”, you may remember our adopted son Jeremiah – a musically gifted teenager who was one of the first to join our family. This month, he and another of our adopted boys were accepted into the Discipleship Training School (DTS) at Youth With A Mission in Madang. This is a great joy for us and a long-held dream come true for them. Please pray that these six months will be not only an unforgettable experience but also a deepening of their relationship with God.
The Lord said, “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all nations, and then the end will come.” In these turbulent times, we believe that the best place to invest time, resources, and strength is in the work of spreading the Gospel. Our goal is to teach the people of Papua New Guinea that the time has come for them to move from being a “mission field” to becoming a “sending church,” reaching from island to island, both within PNG and beyond.
With great joy, we send hearts that have responded to the Lord’s eternal call: “Who will go…?” This Sunday, we had the opportunity to pray with the laying on of hands and to send off David and Evelyn’s family, who are embarking on a long-term mission to share the Gospel and establish a church in a neighboring country, Indonesia!
In both the hospital and the prison, the Lord has been touching the hearts of people who joyfully accept Christ. Even more joyful is the fact that our adopted son, Cedric (who recently welcomed his second child), has joined us in this ministry. Our desire is to send him and his family to pastoral school so that he can continue his work even more effectively. The Lord is adding those being saved to the church!
Recently, we witnessed a miracle that I want to share with you. Fleeing from a tribal war (which, as you know, is not uncommon here), about two hundred people sought refuge. These refugees had lost everything—having fled through mountains and jungles with only what they could carry, along with the elderly and children—until they miraculously arrived in a village near ours. The Lord moved us to visit them with the Gospel and the film “Jesus.” The following Sunday, our church was packed, with no place to sit, as all of them came, and every one of them came forward to repent. After the prayer, they began singing praises to the Lord in their native language—a language we do not understand, but we could feel the warmth of their newfound love for Christ in our hearts. Please pray that this fire does not fade but grows into a flame that burns brightly to the ends of the earth.
Next week, we are planning a 10-day trip to the remote region of Bougainville in Papua New Guinea. We kindly ask for your prayers for safe travels and for our time there.
At the beginning of this month, we were able to hold a baptism at our church, Promise Land! Many of you have read our book, “Dreams Come True If You Believe”, and now another dream of mine has come true. Our adopted son, Salli, his biological brother Batakomb, and another one of our adopted sons, Adza (many of you are familiar with these names), entered into a covenant with the Lord through water baptism!
We have been sharing the Gospel with them since they were just a little older than Miroslava, and now they have families, wives, and children who also serve the Lord. Don’t give up! Sometimes you see the fruit immediately, and sometimes you have to wait. But take these words as a sign—keep praying and witnessing, even when it seems hopeless. The Lord is doing His work in people’s hearts.
Right after the baptism, we went to the base of *Youth with a Mission* in Lae, where I had the privilege of teaching at the Discipleship Training School (DTS) on the topic “The Holy Spirit and His Role in the Great Commission.” It was an unforgettable time when we were able to learn together at His feet!
Right now, these 13 students have gone on the practical part of the course in the Enga province, which was recently affected by a natural disaster. They are bringing the light of the Gospel and the love of Christ to the people there.
Also, this month, we were able to visit the local hospital and prison several times. It is a privilege not only to share the Gospel but also to bless the prisoners and the sick with food, soap, and Bibles.
Our team has started 4 more Discipleship groups in prison. We are grateful to the Lord that we can serve the prisoners each week without any hindrance – providing not only spiritual food but also physical food, as the conditions in the prison leave much to be desired, and many prisoners are emaciated or ill.
Last week, we were able to hold an eye clinic in the village of Mamarai. Over 50 people received glasses, and the entire village heard the Gospel! Daniel and his team also conducted a children’s/youth program. For this village, it was unforgettable, and the tribal leaders kept thanking us. For us, it was a wonderful opportunity to tell them about Christ and His sacrificial love for each of them.
Next week, our church is planning a baptism! We rejoice that we can fulfill the Lord’s command: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” Is there any joy in this world that compares to living at the center of His will?
The Lord is leading us to open another Promise Land church on Bougainville Island. This is one of the remote regions of Papua New Guinea, which will soon become an independent state! There is already a group of believers there, and one family from our church has received a calling from the Lord to move there for permanent ministry.
You know you’re in Papua New Guinea when, during the service, instead of choir singing, there are dances with drums, and instead of writing a check as an offering, someone brings a sack of coffee to the altar.
And to use the water pump, you first need to call all your neighbors so they can turn off their electric kettles.
In the evening, a friend calls and says he heard that bandits are planning to attack “Promise Land” tonight, so be careful. Of course, of course—you smile. After all, you have a (friendly) dog in your yard and a guard with a bow and arrows. By the way, the guard loves to sleep.
Some would grab a gun, most would shrug, but you open your Bible to Philippians 4:6. Bandits or not, the last thing I do before bed is spend time with the Lord. “Do not be anxious,” says the imprisoned apostle to his dear brothers and sisters in Philippi. “Do not be anxious about ANYTHING.”
My challenges differ from yours, but “do not be anxious” applies in both cases. And it’s not a suggestion—it’s a command.
May the Lord bless each of you (and us!) with His peace, which only He can give. And “peace” is not the absence of difficulties. Peace is the presence of the risen Christ, and He is with each of us, right now, as He promised.
