October 2024
Dear Praying Friends,
Wow! Three months have passed since I wrote a newsletter. Where did the time go, and how did I overlook the time we were to send out a report? This was a big mistake on my part, and so sorry to all who may have been anticipating a newsletter. Christi flew back to the USA in August to settle Grace with her sister Hadassah. I will let Christi write about that, but the reason was because PNG Immigration would not allow Grace to stay any longer in PNG on my work permit. After exhausting all the known options to keep her longer with us……as was also the case with Hadassah, Grace had to be out of PNG by the 15th of August.
August was a fairly normal month of my schedule in Bible teaching with the church and preaching at the Market. There are still many lost souls in our Kaintiba area that have yet to turn to Christ. I know this is the case throughout all the world, but the reality of the matter comes to light when I read this profound verse (just this morning again): “He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:18). To get these poor souls to come to this realization is a goal not yet completed. Besides this, the one thing that keeps me from getting discouraged is to know that Christ is glorified every time the Gospel is preached or some aspect of the Bible is taught. To know that our plowing, planting or watering will work in tandem with the increase that Christ will give in the end encourages us much.
September was the time that our family had about a week of “vacation” time spent in Port Moresby (POM). I, with the 3 girls, actually flew there on the 30th of August to rendezvous with Christi. She also arrived into POM the same day coming back from the USA…..on our 27th wedding anniversary! It is a rare event that I can even take Christi out on a date, let alone for our anniversary, but now this is the second year in a row that we happened to be together in POM on our anniversary! Not only did we have a great anniversary, but Tabitha and Caleb flew out from Alotau also….with our 3 grandchildren. We spent 5 nights together with this large extended family at the Dream Inn, in a flat (small house). What a great time Father allowed us to have. Who knows when we will be able to be together again on this side of Glory.
Four weeks have passed since our time off, and we are back to the work at hand. Much thanks to all who continue in financial support and prayer. I would like to highlight the $2,000 extra that was given by Treasure Valley Baptist Church for “Christmas in July”, plus the extra monies given from their children’s coin offering for Grace’s travel expenses back to the USA. We sure are humbled by so many gracious offerings and monthly $ support that continue each month. In light of that, please also be in prayer concerning the banking situation we have encountered this year. These last few months….5 times now, the WestPac Bank has delayed the actual deposit coming into our account from the wire transfer inbound from the USA. This month is not an exception. As I write this letter, our deposit for September seems to be nowhere to be found. Pray that our funds will be “found”, and also that I will have wisdom of what needs to be done to find another bank that can actually receive and deposit our wire transfer in a timely fashion. We have used our current (WestPac) bank for 13 years, and this is the first year this type of trouble has occurred. I have a backup option in play that hopefully will work for the time being.
Thank you all again for your care. Keep looking up in these crazy days. This has been the first time that Christi and I were able to acquire a write-in ballot through the US Embassy. They sent them off to our polling office, and have arrived there already. We pray for God to show mercy just a while longer, as we preach just a little more.
Christi’s Corner: Grace was able to meet up with me in POM on the 12th of August from Alotau. She had been visiting her sister Tabitha and helping out with her 2 nieces and new nephew. We left the next day for the USA. The flights were uneventful, praise the Lord! I was able to enjoy 13 days in the states before flying back. During that time I was able to see several family members and friends. Also, Grace had a graduation party! Her uncle David flew her grandma in for that party. The time flew by. I was thankful that I was able to see the places that Hadassah and Grace work, and I met their bosses.
Meeting up with family in POM on our anniversary was very special. Also, Tabitha and Caleb and the grand babies were able to meet up with us in POM where we stayed together for 5 days. Though we live in the same country, we do not get to see them that often. We are always blessed to be able to spend time with them!
Upon return to Kaintiba, I started my ladies’ class on the book of James. I am just doing a simple overview of the book of James. We practice reading a few verses and then I have questions typed out for them to answer. It gives them practice in reading and writing. I also hope that they are learning a bit about the book of James.
For His Glory,
Mark and Christi Helzerman
Hope, Serenity, and Glory
(Hadassah and Grace living in the USA now)
E-mail: mhelzerman@gmail.com