Subject: Helzerman Update
Dear Friends,
(This is about my walk to Tengama, Morobe Province, this past week end.)
Thank you all for praying for me as I finished this "missionary journey." The phrase "hazarded their lives" from the Bible (Acts 15:26) kept on coming to my mind while walking this mountain trail. It was really nothing to compare to what the Apostle Paul and others faced, but it was a taste for sure. If it wasn't for the sustaining Hand of Father I would have slipped to great injury or death. I did injure my rib cage when I slipped once, so it was hurting pretty badly by the time we arrived back home. It may need to be X-rayed when I go into POM the first week of June. Hopefully it is only a bruised rib.
It took 12 hours of hard climbing up steep places, through crags and crevices. Most of the walk was on a ledge with a steep place to the left or right. It was all jungle, so if I had slipped down, a tree or other brush would have slowed me down (with injury, no doubt). Some large rocks with holes in the trail were the worst of the danger. If I would have stepped in the wrong place, my whole body would have gone down inside (who knows how far) into a crevice. The last 5 hours of this first part was with the addition of rain, making the path almost unbearable. I was almost in constant prayer for Father to sustain me to the end as I forced one foot in front of the other. We (Yonias and I) had to walk the last hour to Tengama in the dark, but made it safe by the Grace of God.
Because of lack of good cell phone service in Tengama, we were not able to contact Brother (Pastor) David about when we would be coming. We had mentioned it to him about 2 months ago, but of recent, could not call him. Our arrival was a pleasant surprise to him and his wife. They gave us a warm fire and cooked some "bush" food and rice that we had brought. I was not able to eat much, and by 8:30 p.m. I went to sleep in dry clothes, a soft "bed," and a warm blanket!
Saturday we were sore, to say the least, but we were put to the work right away. Pastor David asked me to preach at the market place, which we did around 11:00 a.m. I was not the first "white man" to come to Tengama, but it had been a few years since the last one had come. The young children were really afraid of me, but the older children and youths were not. I was a gazing stock to most everybody, though. Most of these bashful, backward jungle people don't get out to any large town, and I was the "entertainment" for their weekend.
The afternoon of Saturday was a time of rest, and they fed us well. I only eat small portions at a time, and they would serve 3 times the amount I could eat. Saturday evening Pastor David invited some of his extended family for a "devotional" from me. It was a sweet time of fellowship, and they were like hungry children for the Bread of Life. Pastor David is "feeding" first generation Christians, so everything from the Bible is new and refreshing.
Sunday I preached 2 times and there were many in attendance. I estimate over 200, possibly 300. The reward of this trip was that 4 woman were saved. The woman here are much more receptive, but the men are much more skeptical. Many times the testimonies of the saved women win the hearts of their lost men. The church had recently had gone through some spiritual/physical challenges, causing many to be discouraged. Pastor David said this unexpected visit was a great encouragement to him, his family, and the church as a whole. For this, the trip was worth the many hours of difficult walking, climbing, and sometimes crawling on all fours. Even if this pain in my rib never goes away, it will be "a mark in my body" to remind me Father cares for His own and that the people of Tengama were strengthened.
Sunday evening, Pastor David invited his extended family again for some Bible time. They asked questions and many stories were given to encourage them in their Christian walk. This again was a sweet time of fellowship that went until 9:00 p.m. It was hard to break free from their longing eyes to hear more. They, too, were beginning to be weary in body but wanting to soak up every minute of our visit.
Monday, Father gave us such good weather. There were 6 others that joined us for the walk back and showed us a "short-cut" that helped avoid an hour of some of the dangers at hand. It was still difficult with this already-tired body. We actually were able to rest a few times along the road home. So in totality, it was a 23-hour walk in rocks and rills (without the frills). But I know I will see some faces of these bashful mountain people giving glory to God in the Heavenlies! Some of Revelation 7:9,10 will be fulfilled from this 4 day trip. Praise the Lord!
For His Glory,
Mark Helzermans
Dear Friends,
(This is about my walk to Tengama, Morobe Province, this past week end.)
Thank you all for praying for me as I finished this "missionary journey." The phrase "hazarded their lives" from the Bible (Acts 15:26) kept on coming to my mind while walking this mountain trail. It was really nothing to compare to what the Apostle Paul and others faced, but it was a taste for sure. If it wasn't for the sustaining Hand of Father I would have slipped to great injury or death. I did injure my rib cage when I slipped once, so it was hurting pretty badly by the time we arrived back home. It may need to be X-rayed when I go into POM the first week of June. Hopefully it is only a bruised rib.
It took 12 hours of hard climbing up steep places, through crags and crevices. Most of the walk was on a ledge with a steep place to the left or right. It was all jungle, so if I had slipped down, a tree or other brush would have slowed me down (with injury, no doubt). Some large rocks with holes in the trail were the worst of the danger. If I would have stepped in the wrong place, my whole body would have gone down inside (who knows how far) into a crevice. The last 5 hours of this first part was with the addition of rain, making the path almost unbearable. I was almost in constant prayer for Father to sustain me to the end as I forced one foot in front of the other. We (Yonias and I) had to walk the last hour to Tengama in the dark, but made it safe by the Grace of God.
Because of lack of good cell phone service in Tengama, we were not able to contact Brother (Pastor) David about when we would be coming. We had mentioned it to him about 2 months ago, but of recent, could not call him. Our arrival was a pleasant surprise to him and his wife. They gave us a warm fire and cooked some "bush" food and rice that we had brought. I was not able to eat much, and by 8:30 p.m. I went to sleep in dry clothes, a soft "bed," and a warm blanket!
Saturday we were sore, to say the least, but we were put to the work right away. Pastor David asked me to preach at the market place, which we did around 11:00 a.m. I was not the first "white man" to come to Tengama, but it had been a few years since the last one had come. The young children were really afraid of me, but the older children and youths were not. I was a gazing stock to most everybody, though. Most of these bashful, backward jungle people don't get out to any large town, and I was the "entertainment" for their weekend.
The afternoon of Saturday was a time of rest, and they fed us well. I only eat small portions at a time, and they would serve 3 times the amount I could eat. Saturday evening Pastor David invited some of his extended family for a "devotional" from me. It was a sweet time of fellowship, and they were like hungry children for the Bread of Life. Pastor David is "feeding" first generation Christians, so everything from the Bible is new and refreshing.
Sunday I preached 2 times and there were many in attendance. I estimate over 200, possibly 300. The reward of this trip was that 4 woman were saved. The woman here are much more receptive, but the men are much more skeptical. Many times the testimonies of the saved women win the hearts of their lost men. The church had recently had gone through some spiritual/physical challenges, causing many to be discouraged. Pastor David said this unexpected visit was a great encouragement to him, his family, and the church as a whole. For this, the trip was worth the many hours of difficult walking, climbing, and sometimes crawling on all fours. Even if this pain in my rib never goes away, it will be "a mark in my body" to remind me Father cares for His own and that the people of Tengama were strengthened.
Sunday evening, Pastor David invited his extended family again for some Bible time. They asked questions and many stories were given to encourage them in their Christian walk. This again was a sweet time of fellowship that went until 9:00 p.m. It was hard to break free from their longing eyes to hear more. They, too, were beginning to be weary in body but wanting to soak up every minute of our visit.
Monday, Father gave us such good weather. There were 6 others that joined us for the walk back and showed us a "short-cut" that helped avoid an hour of some of the dangers at hand. It was still difficult with this already-tired body. We actually were able to rest a few times along the road home. So in totality, it was a 23-hour walk in rocks and rills (without the frills). But I know I will see some faces of these bashful mountain people giving glory to God in the Heavenlies! Some of Revelation 7:9,10 will be fulfilled from this 4 day trip. Praise the Lord!
For His Glory,
Mark Helzermans
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