December 2024
Dear Praying Friends,
As we approach the end of this year, we must consider all the help we have received by the Hand of our Lord via the kindness of many Brethren. Father has sustained us through so many new adventures and ministries as we continue to propagate the Gospel. Once again I had the privilege to baptize another young lady by the name of Javila. She is a daughter of Jeni, the last convert that was baptized nearly 5 years ago! Javila made her profession last December (2023) at a Youth Meeting I preached in Tengama, but just now in November she told preacher Tiwias that she was ready to be baptized. This is one of the things that really encourages me in this work, especially to see how the Holy Spirit moves souls to follow in obedience to His Word.
The biggest adventure our family had just a few weeks ago involved taking a flight over to Wau, Morobe Province. This was primarily for me to teach the final class for the Wau Baptist Training Center. This is a small Bible Institute training national men and their wives to work in the ministry to some degree or another. This year the School had 2 graduates (men) who finished the 2 year course, and 6 more students and their wives were completing their first year of training. I taught an overview of both the First and Second letters written to the Church in Corinth. Of course there is much good doctrine in those “books” to govern the local churches in a manner pleasing to the Bishop of our Faith. It was a joy to me to get to experience this opportunity, and Christi with our 3 daughters really enjoyed the fellowship with the Kecks (both the Gary and Kenny Keck families). These little things are really meaningful in the maturity of our family….especially for our 3 daughters who are still with us.
After our 10 day ministry in Wau, we drove up the road to Lae with the Kecks to purchase our next 2 months supply of food and materials. From there we drove up the Highlands Highway a short distance to Aiyura/Ukararumpa to prepare for our return flight back to Kaintiba, which had been scheduled for the 6th of December. Our family enjoyed seeing other friends of ours, and taking time to enjoy “little America”. The Store at the SIL Center had many things “American”, and just a small taste of civilization away from the jungles of Kaintiba. It is not often that we get to enjoy such trivial things, but it definitely was a great time of family fun! Some of the little niceties that we bought there were Quaker Life Cereal, Peppermint Patties, Hershey Chocolates, Christmas Lights, Shasta Root Beer, and Pop Tarts! These are just a few of the American niceties we were able to splurge on this time out of the jungle. These little things mean so much to the children, and also to keep them from “going native”.
Please pray about a few upcoming things. Our year-end nativity drama and last day “feast” is soon approaching. These are two events to gather people to hear more about our Saviour. We would like to buy a pig for the mumu (“feast”), but in this part of PNG, pigs are more scarce and often those to be sold are priced too high. (We have yet to see any pigs used for a “bride price” these 12 years in Kaintiba.) Anyways, time will tell if we can secure a pig, or just have a kaukau (a type of “sweet” potato) mumu with kumu (boiled/steamed “greens”). The other upcoming event is in January for our annual Holiday/Vacation Bible School. Lord willing 3 visitors from the USA will be coming to be a part of this ministry and take part with us in the ministry for a few weeks.
Most of all, please pray with us concerning our 2025 furlough, Lord willing in April/May timeframe. This is tentative at this time, because we are in the midst of applying for our Permanent Resident Visa. We earnestly pray this will be accomplished and secured into our Passports before our furlough. So those are 2 BIG prayer points, and then of course all the furlough needs, especially a vehicle for us to use/purchase, and meetings scheduled in order to raise more support. Aviation costs to fly our supplies out to Kaintiba have doubled this year alone. Overall, we enjoy each day as Father supplies our daily/monthly needs. We appreciate all those who have continued to minister to us/with us in this Great Work given to us by Christ our Lord.
Christi’s Corner: Just after finishing the last letter, my son Titus gave permission to us to tell you all about their big news. He and his wife Abby are going to be parents of a baby girl! We are so excited for our 4th grandchild! Praise God for each new life he adds to our family! Pray for all to go well with the rest of the pregnancy and delivery. Abby is currently dealing with a low lying placenta that causes her to be high risk. The baby is due at the beginning of May.
This week we have a cookie baking party with the ladies and girls of the church. Hadassah started this tradition and we have continued it. It is something the ladies look forward to in December. We also enjoy doing a Christmas drama. This year we are actually getting a PNG couple to play Joseph and Mary for the nativity play. Mark and I have always played them in the past two times that we have done. I’m so thankful that they want to be involved. (We post church special events to our YouTube page “Helzermanable” if you all would like to take a look.)
Our biggest event of the year is our Holiday (Vacation) Bible School which is January 13-17, 2025. This year we have three ladies coming to assist in it! Since our children all used to help and they keep leaving us, we are so thankful for the extra help! Please pray for many to come and hear the gospel as the theme this year is “Salvation”. Also, I am trying to replicate a drama (skit) that was performed when I was a teenager. It was about the judgment. Pray with me for the wisdom to get it all together.
Thanks for praying and supporting our family!
For His Glory,
Mark and Christi Helzerman
Hope, Serenity, and Glory
(Hadassah and Grace living in the USA now)
E-mail: mhelzerman@gmail.com