Our recent spiritual storm in my husband, Mark's words.
Here is the full story:
Today was the most challenging day yet for us Helzerman's in Kaintiba. A large group of people came against us like a wave of the sea. The topic was in relation to some Catholics that I unknowingly offended 40 days ago.
A man named Allen James was the spokesman. There was no head man for the Catholic Church present. There was no police or court deputy/secretary to take the complaints. The 2 main complaints were as follows:
1. They said I said Mary was an harlot. I never said this. One time at the market I read the story how the Pharisees THOUGHT Mary was this kind of person (I read John8:41). The Pherisees implied Jesus Christ was "born of fornication" in this verse.
--When I read this verse, 3 men at the market in Kaintiba heard me read it and THOUGHT I said it. No! I said the Pharisees said this. Then I continued to say how wonderful Mary was and how she was sexually PURE when Jesus was conceived. Mary was a VIRGIN at this time in her life.
These 3 men did not hear all I said, but went to this man Allen James (who is not a community leader) and they told him I said Mary was a harlot....which I never said.
2. The second allegation was they said the verse I wrote on a white board said Mary was a false God. This verse I wrote did not say "Mary" nor did it say Catholic. The verse I wrote was in Jeremiah7:18....it does not say one thing about the Catholic Church nor about MARY!
Now, before I had one chance to say anything, Allen James said these two things I did (on 4 September) made him angry, so he sent word to 17 places that Catholic churches were, and spread rumors that I did these things. He never came to me with these 3 men to find out if these things were true. Now today is 14 October, 40 days after the day they were offended. So today is the first day I know who was offended......after much inquiry.
After many rumors came to me that there were men who were angry with me, I set forth to find out. I talked with Annet, Head Mistress at Bema High School .....she did not know. I talked with leaders in Kaintiba....they did not know. I talked with Florins and Clement, Catholic leaders in Kaintiba....they said they did not know. I called Marsin, a Police man in Bema.....he did not know. It was hard to find out until today, when Allen James brought these 3 men with 100+peoples to confront me.
Without giving me any chance to refute what they falsely accused me of, this man Allen James said I had to pay K17,000 (K1,000 per 17 Catholic place in the Kaintiba area). Beside this, they say I must give 17 pigs for the same. This was to compensate the Catholics for the hurt they received from the rumors they heard about me. (This is about $11,000 total...including the pigs).
So, these men (one in particular) said if I do not "say" sorry in this Melanesian manner within 2 weeks, they will come and burn the Baptist church building and DEPORT the Helzerman family. They also said (by rumors) they will not except any Baptist patients at the health center in Bema and next year no Baptist student will be able to attend the Bema High School and other schools in Bema. As we well know, this talk is UNCONSTITIONAL in accordance to the laws of Papua New Guinea.
It would be best if all this would have been done in the proper way: if any 1 man had a complaint toward me, he should come to me SOON after the alleged offense. This has come 40 days after the rumors traveled far and wide....lies concerning me. Now many are angry with me without proof of the accusations. And there are many witnesses in Kaintiba that can show that I am telling the truth. These accusations toward me have no weight compared to the TRUTH of the matter.
One baptist pastor (a Papua New Guinea man) was wondering: who will compensate me for the wrong these 100+ have spoken against me? There are many uneducated men and woman that hate me because they have heard these lies. Who will send the truth to them the next 40 days to tell them I did not any wrong to any man or religion?
This man Allen James even said I was NOT to preach in the Kaintiba market again, nor could I hold the BIBLE in any public place. He thinks the HOLY Bible is only allowed in a church building. But how many Catholics have a Bible in their house?
So now we wait to see what GOD will do when men talk against Him and His Word. Since this man Allen does not have any authority here, there should not be any DEPORTATION. But burning the church building could become a reality. Please pray for peace in the hearts of this poor, uneducated peoples who know not the Truth....YET!
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Thursday (the day after): After doing more research and talking with other "catholic" friends here in Kaintiba, the leadership of the Catholics in Kaintiba are not in agreement with the way Allen James attacked me. Florins (a woman leader at the Kaintiba Catholic church) was ashamed. Especially after receiving a bag of rice from me the day before to help her feed a Catholic "Sister" who was flying/flew to Kerema on Wednesday. They both were not happy with what happened to me.
(We have been trying to win Florins to Christ for 3 years).
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Friday: Later in the afternoon, Florins came to our house. She said she had been at this Allen James' house. She talked with him about his problem and told him (again) he was wrong. She said to me that Allen James did admit he was wrong and said he would try to fix the damage. He is too ashamed to come to me personally yet.
He was not the only one that spoke against me, though. We are not sure if these others are as remorseful, yet. Please continue to pray.
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Sunday: we found out 3rd hand that the Catholic Father in Kerema (that is the capitol town for the Gulf Province) found out what these Catholic men did. He was not happy about it and said they should apologize to me and all those who heard them slander me. This is another sign God is doing a work I cannot do.
Also, Florins said, as she was passing by this afternoon, she wanted to come up and talk with Christi and I later today (Sunday afternoon). May God use this situation to make Florins realize her need of Christ for her salvation....and others like her, the same.
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Monday: We found out It was all threats with no official documentation, and many false witnesses present. The man who was to preside over the meeting (John Alala) flew to Kerema the same day, and told them all to wait until he came back. They did not want to wait, so Allen James took the charge and added the K17,000/17 pigs to the mix.
There are many Catholic leaders in Kaintiba and Kerema that are not happy with what these men did and now Allen James is ashamed and sorry. He told his wife and another Catholic lady (Florins) that he did wrong and would try to cool down all the people he stirred up.
I met with Florins, Marsin (the primary Policeman in Bema), and another spokes man for the area. They came to me and wanted to tell me to "be at peace". "There is nothing to worry about." That was a double consolation, to know we have a God Who can still (calm) the enemy and the avenger. Most everyone in Kaintiba knows Allen James was wrong and that the allegations are false. It will take time to get it all resolved in an official and customary manner, though. In all reality, they committed a great offense in the eyes the local leaders here in Kaintiba. Here is an email I sent to the Head Mistress at the Bema High School (Catholic) Tuesday:
"Annette,
After reviewing the video again of the false accusations against me, what should we do? I am aware Allen James said he was sorry for what he did, but there are many other Catholic people that are still angry with me. Why are they angry with me?? They heard rumors that were not true about me. Who will tell these uneducated people that my words were twisted to make it sound like I said Mary was an harlot. SHE WAS NOT!
The main accusation was that I criticized the Catholic church. I NEVER used the word Catholic on the 4th of September when I preached. I NEVER wrote the word Catholic nor the name MARY on the white board.
I am NOT sorry to preach the WORD of GOD at the market. I am NOT ashamed that I wrote SCRIPTURE at the Baptist Church property. But now, many people have the anticipation they will be getting money and pigs from me. When they find out they will not be getting money and pigs from me, they will be angry about this.
I pray they will turn their hearts toward Christ, Who can give them peace. Those that lied to these uneducated people should go and tell them they told lies about me to stir them up to get free money and pigs. I pray these uneducated people will find it in their hearts to forgive these men who lied to them, as I have forgiven them."
Here is the full story:
Today was the most challenging day yet for us Helzerman's in Kaintiba. A large group of people came against us like a wave of the sea. The topic was in relation to some Catholics that I unknowingly offended 40 days ago.
A man named Allen James was the spokesman. There was no head man for the Catholic Church present. There was no police or court deputy/secretary to take the complaints. The 2 main complaints were as follows:
1. They said I said Mary was an harlot. I never said this. One time at the market I read the story how the Pharisees THOUGHT Mary was this kind of person (I read John8:41). The Pherisees implied Jesus Christ was "born of fornication" in this verse.
--When I read this verse, 3 men at the market in Kaintiba heard me read it and THOUGHT I said it. No! I said the Pharisees said this. Then I continued to say how wonderful Mary was and how she was sexually PURE when Jesus was conceived. Mary was a VIRGIN at this time in her life.
These 3 men did not hear all I said, but went to this man Allen James (who is not a community leader) and they told him I said Mary was a harlot....which I never said.
2. The second allegation was they said the verse I wrote on a white board said Mary was a false God. This verse I wrote did not say "Mary" nor did it say Catholic. The verse I wrote was in Jeremiah7:18....it does not say one thing about the Catholic Church nor about MARY!
Now, before I had one chance to say anything, Allen James said these two things I did (on 4 September) made him angry, so he sent word to 17 places that Catholic churches were, and spread rumors that I did these things. He never came to me with these 3 men to find out if these things were true. Now today is 14 October, 40 days after the day they were offended. So today is the first day I know who was offended......after much inquiry.
After many rumors came to me that there were men who were angry with me, I set forth to find out. I talked with Annet, Head Mistress at Bema High School .....she did not know. I talked with leaders in Kaintiba....they did not know. I talked with Florins and Clement, Catholic leaders in Kaintiba....they said they did not know. I called Marsin, a Police man in Bema.....he did not know. It was hard to find out until today, when Allen James brought these 3 men with 100+peoples to confront me.
Without giving me any chance to refute what they falsely accused me of, this man Allen James said I had to pay K17,000 (K1,000 per 17 Catholic place in the Kaintiba area). Beside this, they say I must give 17 pigs for the same. This was to compensate the Catholics for the hurt they received from the rumors they heard about me. (This is about $11,000 total...including the pigs).
So, these men (one in particular) said if I do not "say" sorry in this Melanesian manner within 2 weeks, they will come and burn the Baptist church building and DEPORT the Helzerman family. They also said (by rumors) they will not except any Baptist patients at the health center in Bema and next year no Baptist student will be able to attend the Bema High School and other schools in Bema. As we well know, this talk is UNCONSTITIONAL in accordance to the laws of Papua New Guinea.
It would be best if all this would have been done in the proper way: if any 1 man had a complaint toward me, he should come to me SOON after the alleged offense. This has come 40 days after the rumors traveled far and wide....lies concerning me. Now many are angry with me without proof of the accusations. And there are many witnesses in Kaintiba that can show that I am telling the truth. These accusations toward me have no weight compared to the TRUTH of the matter.
One baptist pastor (a Papua New Guinea man) was wondering: who will compensate me for the wrong these 100+ have spoken against me? There are many uneducated men and woman that hate me because they have heard these lies. Who will send the truth to them the next 40 days to tell them I did not any wrong to any man or religion?
This man Allen James even said I was NOT to preach in the Kaintiba market again, nor could I hold the BIBLE in any public place. He thinks the HOLY Bible is only allowed in a church building. But how many Catholics have a Bible in their house?
So now we wait to see what GOD will do when men talk against Him and His Word. Since this man Allen does not have any authority here, there should not be any DEPORTATION. But burning the church building could become a reality. Please pray for peace in the hearts of this poor, uneducated peoples who know not the Truth....YET!
-------------------------------------------
Thursday (the day after): After doing more research and talking with other "catholic" friends here in Kaintiba, the leadership of the Catholics in Kaintiba are not in agreement with the way Allen James attacked me. Florins (a woman leader at the Kaintiba Catholic church) was ashamed. Especially after receiving a bag of rice from me the day before to help her feed a Catholic "Sister" who was flying/flew to Kerema on Wednesday. They both were not happy with what happened to me.
(We have been trying to win Florins to Christ for 3 years).
----------------------------------------
Friday: Later in the afternoon, Florins came to our house. She said she had been at this Allen James' house. She talked with him about his problem and told him (again) he was wrong. She said to me that Allen James did admit he was wrong and said he would try to fix the damage. He is too ashamed to come to me personally yet.
He was not the only one that spoke against me, though. We are not sure if these others are as remorseful, yet. Please continue to pray.
----------------------------------------------
Sunday: we found out 3rd hand that the Catholic Father in Kerema (that is the capitol town for the Gulf Province) found out what these Catholic men did. He was not happy about it and said they should apologize to me and all those who heard them slander me. This is another sign God is doing a work I cannot do.
Also, Florins said, as she was passing by this afternoon, she wanted to come up and talk with Christi and I later today (Sunday afternoon). May God use this situation to make Florins realize her need of Christ for her salvation....and others like her, the same.
------------------------------------------
Monday: We found out It was all threats with no official documentation, and many false witnesses present. The man who was to preside over the meeting (John Alala) flew to Kerema the same day, and told them all to wait until he came back. They did not want to wait, so Allen James took the charge and added the K17,000/17 pigs to the mix.
There are many Catholic leaders in Kaintiba and Kerema that are not happy with what these men did and now Allen James is ashamed and sorry. He told his wife and another Catholic lady (Florins) that he did wrong and would try to cool down all the people he stirred up.
I met with Florins, Marsin (the primary Policeman in Bema), and another spokes man for the area. They came to me and wanted to tell me to "be at peace". "There is nothing to worry about." That was a double consolation, to know we have a God Who can still (calm) the enemy and the avenger. Most everyone in Kaintiba knows Allen James was wrong and that the allegations are false. It will take time to get it all resolved in an official and customary manner, though. In all reality, they committed a great offense in the eyes the local leaders here in Kaintiba. Here is an email I sent to the Head Mistress at the Bema High School (Catholic) Tuesday:
"Annette,
After reviewing the video again of the false accusations against me, what should we do? I am aware Allen James said he was sorry for what he did, but there are many other Catholic people that are still angry with me. Why are they angry with me?? They heard rumors that were not true about me. Who will tell these uneducated people that my words were twisted to make it sound like I said Mary was an harlot. SHE WAS NOT!
The main accusation was that I criticized the Catholic church. I NEVER used the word Catholic on the 4th of September when I preached. I NEVER wrote the word Catholic nor the name MARY on the white board.
I am NOT sorry to preach the WORD of GOD at the market. I am NOT ashamed that I wrote SCRIPTURE at the Baptist Church property. But now, many people have the anticipation they will be getting money and pigs from me. When they find out they will not be getting money and pigs from me, they will be angry about this.
I pray they will turn their hearts toward Christ, Who can give them peace. Those that lied to these uneducated people should go and tell them they told lies about me to stir them up to get free money and pigs. I pray these uneducated people will find it in their hearts to forgive these men who lied to them, as I have forgiven them."
