April 2023
Dear Praying Friends,
As I sit down to write out some current news, 9 weeks have passed again so swiftly. So many new things have happened, and the greatest was a 10 day visit from Tabitha, Caleb, and their 2 girls (our 2 grandchildren)! It was an event that was in planing since December. Both Caleb and I were trying to keep it a surprise from our spouses. Tabitha found out early on, but we were able to keep it a surprise to Christi until a few days before they arrived into Kaintiba. Anyways, it was a great joy to have them and Caleb was a big help to me in disassembling our rotting “guest house”. Even in the demolishing of this house, Caleb stepped through what was the floor. I’m glad he was not injured, and that we got the house removed before someone else was injured from the terrible deterioration the house had succumbed to. Now we are waiting for a flight to bring us some new timbers from Aiyura.
The second exciting event that just happened was a SIL missionary pilot by the name of Brent Fox wanted to bring his family out to Kaintiba. This was just to get his family exposed to a mission work out in the jungle, and to share a few hours of their time with us. They came on the 21st of March. It was a beautiful day, and we had such sweet fellowship. On their flight down from Aiyura, they also brought nearly 200kgs of supplies we had purchased at the SIL Store. They also brought many pounds of fresh vegetables that don't grow in Kaintiba. That consisted of potatoes, carrots, BIG red tomatoes, lettuce, and green bell peppers! We did appreciate all the hand-fulls-on-purpose that Father provided through them. Both visits from the Wilson and the Fox families were a real joy, for it is rare to get a visit from other missionaries and grandchildren, too!
April has been back to the normal run-of-the-mill life in Kaintiba work. We are thankful for your continued prayer as we labor to expose more of the Word into the hearing ears of these dear people. Most all of the attendees/members do not know how to read, so the Bible has to be delivered in the audible/photo manner. Although I play an audio Bible reading recording every morning, no one comes to listen to it. Those walking on the road as they go by are able to catch a few words, I’m sure. Those few words from the Word may be the seed planted to spring to life a better understanding of their need of the Saviour. Pray that our Lord will do a work in their heart that no man can do.
Another blessing we are thankful for is the monthly support in monies that so many of you send. Most of you all we do not even know individually, but Father is supplying our needs through your kindness. It is still an amazing wonder how God has cared for the Helzerman family these last 20 years……through deputation and now out here in the jungles of PNG. We sure are not worthy in of ourselves for any of these blessings. Through the care of these funds we are able to function fairly well on a daily basis, and help the community by maintaining the airstrip to some degree. A big thanks to the Miller family that sent $50 to help toward the Kaintiba airstrip maintenance specifically. The next big need for the airstrip is to replace the broken and tattered windsock. There are other things that could be done, also but there is lack of funds to pay the local people to help in this “ministry”. It is really the responsibility of the Gulf Provincial Government, but that has been lacking for the last 3 years or so.
Please pray for Christi and Grace as they will be flying out to POM tomorrow (3 May—8 May). This is our planned trip for them get our 2 months supply, do banking, get mail, chiropractor visit (Christi) and other “big town” things. Christi has been having chronic joint pain and hoping the chiropractor can get some things adjusted. A change in her diet for the past month has helped. I hope this trip out will be a refreshing time for Christi (and Grace), and visiting face to face with other missionaries is always a joy. We pray also for their safety, as there are many dangers in the city that we don’t usually have out in the jungle.
Christi’s Corner: We sure were blessed to have the Wilsons with us! Grandma time is such a special time as well as mother and daughter time! It sure was blessing to get to spend 10 days with them. It is the most time we have had together.
Our next big event is Hadassah’s graduation. While she won’t be going back to the US at this time, she will participate in a livestream graduation. We continue to pray about her next step. She is a huge blessing and asset to our family and ministry. She is our junior church teacher. She does an excellent job!
I continue to plod away at teaching the ladies both in weekly literacy and monthly ladies meetings. I pray that what I am teaching is making a difference. I am seeing slow progress in the literacy. On the Bible side, it is hard to tell what God is doing in hearts. Plodding on….
For His Glory,
Mark and Christi Helzerman
Hadassah,
Grace, Hope, Serenity, and Glory
E-mail: mhelzerman@gmail.com