I return in my mind to our trip to the island Norman Bay is just a few weeks ago. The water around this island is so stormy that a motorboat, on which we came just couldn’t dock to the shore. We spent 2 weeks there, and it was always raining. There is no electricity here, no stores, no roads, and the only first-aid station closed last year due to tribal war.
There are several churches and but the pastors of these “churches” smoke, drink, practice witchcraft and fight among themselves, they live cut off from the whole world and are in constant fear about evil spirits. We left this island since the time had come return to “Promise Land”, but my heart hurts about those people who stayed at the Norman Bay, without having hope for the future.
Yes, we spent a lot work there and thank God for tens (maybe even one hundred) of converters, but this is long not enough. For the first time in my life, our vision, “one more soul for Jesus ” seems so insignificant compared to the huge need here.
Greetings from the province Milne Bay where we are we have been for almost 3 weeks preaching from home to home, from island to island (there is around 600 island). And people here are waiting not only for their discoverers but also, much more important for the Gospel.
There are almost no churches, and people must walk through the jungle 3-4 hours to get to the ministry. Therefore, many, especially old people, are not able to do it. This means that the gospel is needed to be carried from home to home. During such visits, we have the opportunity to give each family member time and pray for everyone. The gospel is often accepted by the whole family. Many repent, old and young, the whole houses and families.
A few days ago, one woman repented during the service. We prayed for her, and she invited us to her home (a few hours walk from the church, no road, no cars). On the next day, during visits, we shared with her family by the Word of God and her husband, her whole family, and even a few neighbors accepted Christ as their Lord and savior! God is good! We pray for more great saved lives!
We were able to organize an evangelistic service with our church in Abunamu and many accepted Christ. We celebrated the first anniversary of our campus church in the village Obura, we walked through three counties – from the lowest point (Ramu river) to the highest point of Papua New Guinea (Mount Wilhelm), and already planned for next week a trip to Finschhafen and then one more, on the island Alotau archipelago.
We sent more than five people from our local churches to missionary training! If God willing, in the near future we are considering the possibility open more churches, in two other provinces, where our usual ministry doesn’t reach. Therefore, we need people who could serve at these places. Thanks to you, we were able to buy a new batch of medicines and Bibles, for distribution to the needy. We cannot make everybody peaceful, (only Jesus can do this!) but our ministry in combination with giving out the Bible – I believe – we can change the world one by one. Thanks to everyone who supports and prays for our ministry.
A war broke out between tribes Agarabi and Tappu in our area
over land rights disputes. Everywhere you can see armed soldiers, spears, axes
and angry people. Grenades are exploding and burn whole villages. Matthew and Miroslava
go straight through the epicenter of the war to school, and when they come back
they tell stories from which I feel sick. “How was it in school? ” – I asked
my son – “Mom, you won’t believe it! I saw a person who had a spear stuck in
his stomach! It was just before a grenade exploded and everyone fell to the
ground.” Please pray for the soonest ending the war.
This month, we had opportunity to open a new church in Tompetaka. To reach this place a two hours climb is needed. The Kasup tribe known the fact that some time ago they killed and ate two missionaries who came preach the gospel to them. And they cut rubber boots into pieces and given to others villages and neighbors. The Kasup tribe repented publicly during our ministry with them. Thank God, He does His work in hearts of people!
This month our team will be joined by David and his little son. In the past month they buried the baby’s mother, she died from typhus and we felt that in this situation we can be a help to each other – David, as a full-time missionary has been dreaming for over 10 years to plant a church in the province of West Papua, this is our vision on next five years. Please pray for the team, we are so happy!
Also, in this regard, friends, we have a personal request. On “Promise Land” we have a church, school, pastor’s house, and a building of the community itself, where we occupy two rooms, and in all the rest live our adopted sons. Since Sharon from Texas and David with baby are arriving, we will give them our space, and then will have nowhere to live. So we decided that it’s time to build a house.
We never asked for anything, but we know God will take care
of us. If a God prompts you to participate in the construction of our personal
home we would appreciate it. We are planning a small house, but (oh, yes!) with
a restroom inside, our own kitchen and we hope that nobody will knock on the
bedroom every 5 minutes.
May God bless you, He Himself knows how we need such change.
For those for whom 2020 seemed to be strange, accept our congratulations! It is such an upside-down world that we lived in the last 10 years – in a world where no one is a hurry, at the same time, you don’t know where the trouble can come from at any minute. We’ve been here long enough to get used to rice, and to tribal wars – and to a slow pace of living. Please understand: we could not do it by ourselves. Firstly, we survived with God’s mercy, and secondly, through the help of you and your friends. We say with joy: “One more soul for Jesus,” becomes reality thanks to your prayers, donations, and just kind words.
We celebrated Christmas in Papuan. No snow, no TV, and without fireworks, but with songs. Seven villages, two dozen children from 2 to 10 years old, 15 boxes of chocolates, more than a thousand attendees, several dozen repentances. We had experienced adventure, sun, rain, mud, and bananas boiled in coconut milk. An unforgettable time for our children, which was the first time for them going to remote villages – together with Mirosei, who played an angel in the performance and Matthew. They made their way through the mountains and across rivers to carry the Gospel. The reward was that saved souls were added to the church.
We could spend Christmas ministry in each of our church’s campuses, in prison, and as well as in the police station. Thanks to everyone, who supported this ministry with prayer and helped financially!
Ministry in Papua New Guinea – Eugene & Ira
Konstantiniki
