September 2025
This furlough has been going fairly smoothly so far, but our hearts are still in Papua New Guinea. The greatest prayer request during this time is the renewal of our 3-year Work Permit Visa. This is the first time we have needed to renew it whilst in the USA. It is less complicated to accomplish the renewal when in PNG, and we can continue in our ministry while it is being renewed. But now, being far away from the Immigration Office and relying on others to work on the application process in our absence is our current situation. Would you please pray that in the midst of so many other applications that the Papua New Guinea Immigration Office is processing, our application would not be perpetually placed at the bottom of the pile.
Also, inclusive of this request, Caleb and Tabitha Wilson have also been waiting for some visa paperwork to be finalized. It is always important for us to do things according to the PNG Government standards, and we trust the Father that His will be done concerning both of our situations. We had actually started the process of acquiring a permanent (10 year) visa, and had begun on this back in October 2023. Upon our arrival back into Papua New Guinea, we must start all over again in this process. As one missionary currently working in PNG mentioned to me recently, that it is who you know in the Immigration Office that helps to speed the process along. So our prayer would be that a contact would be presented to us that has the right connections to expedite this process in the future. Our Father knows all the details, and since we know several missionaries who are getting Work Permit renewals done in record time, it is possible.
This time of furlough is going along well thus far. We have met new people and pastors who could potentially support the Kaintiba work. It looks as if we have possibly increased our current monthly support by $200. We pray that the thousands of dollars that have already been spent to execute this furlough will not be in vain. Sometimes I pray that some new way was available for us to “raise” funds for foreign missions in a shorter amount of time. We had planned 8 months of furlough, because of our past experience doing this deputation process. We knew it would take at least this much time to raise $800 more a month. Father has provided many “hand-fulls-on-purpose”, though, and several “Baptist Handshakes” have been given to speed us on our way by many dear brethren. For this we are so grateful and humbled. We are so unworthy of any kindness, yet our hearts are set on this mission set before us. Christ is our confidence.
As we close this letter, we must highlight the one soul that was won on a Saturday morning in August when a pastor and I were out visiting. One mother came to the door and seemed interested in attending the church on Sunday. In the course of the conversation, she admitted she had never been saved by Christ. After several minutes of showing her desperate situation of condemnation before God, she humbled herself and called upon Christ. Pray that more souls will be won as we continue on this long journey back to Papua New Guinea. Every new day is a God-given opportunity to speak up and speak out for our Lord Jesus Christ. He is worthy of it all.
Christi’s Corner: God is so good to us! As grandparents, getting to spend time with our newest grand baby, Selah, was so delightful! Titus and Abby were able to be with us in August and we will be with them in October.
We are back to homeschooling, but this time on the road. This is far more challenging than the normal homeschooling. Last week we drove from NC to TN on very windy roads. That part of the day was NOT conducive for doing school..
Though our schedule gets all messed up on furlough we are thankful for all the new people we have met and the experiences we have had. Serenity was able to go to the Heirloom Summit in Greeneville, TN. It is similar to a youth camp, but set up for children whose parents are in full-time ministry.
For His Glory,
Mark and Christi Helzerman
Hope, Serenity, and Glory
(Hadassah and Grace are living in the USA now)
E-mail: mhelzerman@gmail.com