February 2022
Dear Praying Friends,
Tickets in hand and approval to re-enter Papua New Guinea is the new news! Oh so many hours of prayer and application of documents, and it has finally come to fruition. Now the next phase is getting negative Covid tests in hand at the time of departure of the USA. So much yet to pray about along the journey, so many new challenges we have never faced in all our previous journeys to PNG. In these days of uncertainty, there is only One constant: Christ and His never changing Word. The instructions we have been given have come clear as we have cried out to Him…even often in desperation. Not our will, but His be done. Oh Lord, help us to always be willing to pick up the cross and drink the bitter cup. Oh what glory that will follow, and the joy as we come bearing our sheaves.
As we work to do final preparations and packing, please pray for the physical and emotional strength to accomplish all that is needed. Also, we are still working to figure out how to budget all these new costs and protocols. It is such a grief to us to see how much money has to be given to greedy men as we carry the Gospel to the regions beyond. Even though there are many hidden expenses at every turn, we anticipate the Father to provide each and every charge that we encounter along the way back to the dark jungle of Kaintiba. We must continue to occupy in the work He has given until the day of our Blessed Hope for the Body of Christ.
It is hard to believe that this is already the 2nd month of 2022. Time seems to be fleeting away so quickly these last days that are mentioned in Scripture. So many Scriptures are coming to pass and significant events are happening before our very eyes that Christ said must be fulfilled. These things give me even more confidence that the Word of God is True. Only the Bible has the answers for all the pressing questions that the common man has. Most often it is the chains of sin and personal cultures/religions that hold a person from being set free in Christ. I am so thankful for an early encounter with our Dear Saviour. His friendship and direction these last 40 years have served me well. His Grace is sufficient, and His Eternal Salvation is a daily comfort. For this cause we spent enormous amounts of energy to propel His Word into the far reaches of this Earth. He is worthy of it all.
We are so thankful for how Father has supplied our every need…..often at the hand of His saints. Sometimes I ask the Father for Hand Fulls On Purpose from those mentioned in Proverbs 28:8. It says: “He that by usery and unjust gain increaseth his substance, he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor.” As we continue the good work to pity the poor in Kaintiba, there are unrighteous men who are gathering substance for us. Sometimes I ask Father that this “unrighteous mammon” be nudged our way as we labor to win the poor souls in Papua New Guinea. From time to time this verse is fulfilled in us by His Almighty Hand. We rejoice in the way our God provides, whether at the hands of the saints or the sinners.
Christi’s Corner: Thinking, sorting, weighing, repeat! Do I take it or leave it? Get rid of it or store it? Yes, these are the many thoughts I process. I never feel like a veteran in packing. It is always mental stress. Yet, it is the means to get back to the place we call home! We are beyond excited to get back.
In the meantime we have been in NY where snow has been abundant so the children have enjoyed sledding and even shoveling. I think we will all be glad to leave the snow behind as a memory!
Making a book of memories on Shutterfly has been Hadassah’s job for the past few days. She wanted to compile a book of photo memories from this furlough. It has been completed and sent to print.
Slowly it is all coming together! Praise the Lord! 9 days and counting…..
For His Glory,
Mark and Christi Helzerman
Hadassah,
Grace, Hope, Serenity, and Glory
E-mail: mhelzerman@gmail.com