Although the church in the village of Tombetaka has been around for about 5 years, it is only now that the Lord has allowed us to begin building a house of prayer. The village is located high in the mountains (a 3-hour steep climb), and although every time I visit I swear it will be the last, the beauty of untouched nature, and most importantly, the hunger for God’s Word, continue to call us, and we return again and again.
So, all the materials (iron posts, windows, bags of cement) are carried on people’s own shoulders across the pass. There is no road to the village, only a trail that, during the rainy season, turns into a muddy mess, and progress looks like one step forward – three steps back – fall – and start over.
We thank each of you who has already donated finances for this project! Dear friends, we only need to buy the roof now! If the Lord touches your heart, we kindly ask you to cover the cost for the roofing sheets – the walls and cement have already been purchased.
Perhaps not everyone can physically visit Tombetaka, but with your contributions, you can serve even while staying at home, and thanks to you, the residents of this remote village, who are so eager to know Christ, will no longer gather under a mango tree but will move to a real house of prayer, under a roof that is so needed during the rainy season.
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.
