SOVEREIGN GRACE BAPTIST
MISSION OF MALAWI
PO BOX 60150 BT. 6 BLANTYRE MALAWI AFRICA
TEL. 265-999-741-007 or 265-888-751140 (mobile)
Missionary / Evangelist: Peter A. Halliman
Email: phalliman@africa-online.net / or brothersinthebush@yahoo.com
Website: sgbm-malawi-africa.com


Date: 18th Nov 2011 [Part No.9]


Dear Pastor, Church & all Supporters;


(Col 3:17) “And whatsoever ye do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”


During the day, the temp rose to 85 dg F, though this is not hot, the strength of the sun is much stronger then even Malawi Africa, due to PNG being 3 dg S of the equator. Stationed at 6000 ft. El one does not so much as feel the heat but you can feel being burned if not careful.

As the day came to a close and the evening settled in, there were different folks who wanted to come by and greet us and to meet my wife. Since most of the Natives either speaks in Huli, Duna, or Pidgin, I was engaged in a lot of translation between the people and my wife. English is taught in the schools, however with no practice or usage, it almost becomes a dead language among the Natives. Some here and there were able to speak simple English to my wife, which made interesting conversations at times. I have learned over the years with different folks who have visited me and the mission work, whether in PNG or Africa, that many times folks will want to share their humour with those whom they go visit. Learning different languages among different people, with different customs, taboos, and humour I have learned that humour in one language (DOES NOT) translate. Many of the idioms of one language do not translate to another language. One can learn ‘American English’ however that does not mean one ‘knows’ the American people! One can learn Greek, but that does not mean you ‘know’ the Greek people! Learn the Greek people and you will learn the language.

The evening was spent under candle light, I used this quite time to study and prepare some notes for the following days which, I knew would provide little time to study. At 2200 hrs we called it a day, with the rains steady and a wonderful day we thanked the LORD and blew out the candles.


20th Aug 2011 [Sat]


0600 hrs started the day with some stout coffee fresh off the wood stove. There is something genuine about this kind of life, its simply real! I know the older folks who read these reports will acknowledge this [truth]. The food cooked off a wood stove taste so much better, perhaps it’s the quality of time which, goes into it, or perhaps it’s the slowing down of time which, makes one pause on the simple but important things in life. Whichever, the point being most of the ‘old ways’ are not dependent on the ‘new’ nor are affected by the modern life. God still only gives so many hours in a day, and only so many in the night, we can either use our time wisely or waste it, but one thing for certain, we can not turn the clock back. The human body was designed by God to work hard, to eat at certain times, and to rest. Any deviation from this program there will be problems.


After our breakfast, and bible reading, I needed to organize for a men’s meeting with several of the local leaders, Village Counsellors, Chiefs, pastors to meet for discussions regarding certain changes which were coming among our people and into our area. I felt it was imperative that I give them as much information as I could in order to try and prepare them for what would be coming in the near future.

There is a custom among the Huli and Duna Tribesmen, as well as many other Tribes, and that is they construct a ‘Man’s House’ – this becomes the ‘official’ meeting house for any business and or discussions that will affect the people. The men ONLY, will meet in this house, no children, no women, and no unmarried man will be allowed to meet in this house – as you read this, you may resent some of the customs of these people, but just remember they are NOT Americans or ‘white folks’ they are who they are. In fact it can be traced through history with most Nations of people, where the men would meet for business alone. Whether for National purposes, Civil, Religious or otherwise, in fact I will go as far to say that I believe it to be a [Biblical practice]. If you disagree with me, that is your prerogative.

There is a ‘man’s house’ built on the Tanggi mission station and with some twelve men present I started the meeting and began to inform them of things which, they would need to know and be aware. How they should respond and react to such changes, that with companies and machinery the lives of these people would change forever, and a more developed stone road would pave the way for both good and evil. I warned and counselled these men, men who were both some younger and some older then I. Some I had grown up with and some who there in my fathers day. As I felt the concern and anticipated looks on the faces of some who were great warriors in their time, others who were seasoned pastors and great warriors of the LORD, I gave way for questions. All had one concern… What are we to do? How do we protect our people? I simply answered…this iron giant (development) is unstoppable, but we can rely upon Jehovah to protect us and guide us. If we are obedient to God and His commandments HE will turn even our enemies to be at peace with us.


After several hours of meeting and the afternoon wore on, we dismissed. The men went to their homes and I came back to the house. I spent the rest of the afternoon preparing for Tomorrow (Sunday) as I was asked by Pastor Kendo – pastor of Tanggi Bap church located on the Tanggi mission station, to preach for them tomorrow.

There is a word that I would like to say relative to Pastor Kendo, I have in the past written about him, and will again do so, for I believe not only is he a worthy man to speak of, but his faith will parallel that of many characters in the Bible, unwavering and steadfast the kind of faith that Heb 11 speaks about. I am sure (in my opinion) that if God was still adding characters to the 11th chap of Hebrews, that Pastor Kendo would be in there somewhere.

Bro. Kendo would now be in his late 80’s, he was a young man when dad first went to PNG back in 1960, young to the standard of the Huli/Duna Tribesmen, but old enough to go to war and marry which is about 35. That being said, he is pastor of two (2) Baptist churches. One is on the Tanggi mission station, where he resides (as I gave him a spot) some ten years ago to live on the mission station. The other church is located about an hours hike up the mountain in front of the Tanggi mission station. I have made this hike and it pushes me to make it in an hour. Pastor Kendo faithfully makes the hike twice a week to preach to a handful of people. He has never complained, (though it would be easy to do so), he has never laid down the duty, or walked away, he has not resigned nor simply quit. I will make a statement, which, may offend or step on some folks toes, however I feel I must state what I believe. I don’t understand how a man may say the LORD has called him to preach, and then he [resigns] and somehow retires from that post. I don’t find any example of this in Scripture, either in the O.T. with God’s men, or in the N.T. with the churches.

It becomes convenient to just ‘bow out’ as though it were. I could some how justify Pastor Kendo if he were to resign as pastor, due to his knees simply being worn out, and the tremendous load of open air preaching. However, in his defence, I quote ‘if our LORD didn’t give up on us, why should we give up on HIM’?

Please pray for Bro. Kendo as he faithfully carries on until what he believes the LORD will come and find him doing what he commanded, in that day HE shall say (Mt 25:21) “His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will set thee over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”


To be continued…


Missionary Peter A. Halliman



RETURN TO PNG REPORTS

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