April/May 2018
Dear Praying Friends,
It was our plan to be flying back to Papua New Guinea the first week of June. We now have to delay our departure due to the slow progress to have the proper documentation put into the new passports 5 of our children now have. This process has been in the works since the first week of February, but there seems to have been a problem. The need is for the Immigration Office in Port Moresby to send an electronic message to the PNG Embassy in Washington, DC, but to our knowledge, this has not happened yet. Please pray this will happen soon, if it will please Father.
Since our anticipation was to depart a few days after Titus’s Graduation Ceremony June 2nd, my last scheduled meeting is May 20. Now since we are not yet sure the proper time to purchase our return tickets, I will begin to schedule some more meetings until this visa problem is resolved. Please pray Father will give me direction during this time of being in this unexpected situation. As we well know, PNG is “the land of the unexpected”, which in turn can cause a delay for an American that likes to have a plan and complete it in a timely fashion. Having to buy the tickets on a shorter notice will also be an added expense we were trying to avoid. Tickets have increased from $1,200 per person up to $1,700 per person.
Lord willing this next week we take the items we collected/were given to us and have them loaded into a sea container shared with other missionaries that are in PNG. This is in the little town of Waxhaw, North Carolina. This trip will also include a stop to join the Ordination service for Caleb Wilson, our son-in-law. As you all know, by now for sure, Tabitha married him last July, which was the first big event we included in the year of furlough. They live in Roanoke, Alabama.
Since our last newsletter went out, we finished our Texas tour. This trip included Community Baptist Church in Lebanon, Missouri; Magnolia Baptist Church and Zion Baptist Church Coushata, Louisiana; Calvary Baptist Church in Conroe, Texas; Southwest Baptist Church in Wichita Falls, Texas; East Side Baptist Church and BBTI in Bowie, Texas; Morning Side Baptist Church in Graham, Texas and Shady Acres Baptist Church in Houston, Texas. It was a busy month (March), but 2 of the 3 new churches that we visited said they were going to begin supporting our family with a monthly amount of money. We are so thankful that there are still some people that have a heart to give and pray for the preaching and reaching lost souls beyond the soil of the USA. We are out in the hedges, compelling souls to come in to the safety of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The last few meetings have been scattered with a short trip Samuel and I made to the city of Port Orchard, Washington to report to Bible Baptist Church and a drive from there to Meridian, Idaho. Upon visiting the Treasure Valley Baptist Church, I had the privilege to spend 5 days with a longtime missionary and friend from Papua New Guinea: Dennis Wells. So many years had passed since I had seen him before last summer, and to have him invite me to come and stay at his house was a great honour. He gave me so much good advice….hours upon hours…to help me in our ministry in PNG. He showed me how to perfect the work Father has given to the Mark Helzerman Family. The last meeting we had in the month of April was in Kenmore (Akron), Ohio. First Baptist Church and Pastor Grimaldi have been a faithful supporter over 10 years. We thank God for so many Christian Brethren who have been faithful to support us and pray for us as we do our feeble part to bring Glory to God.
Christi’s Corner: “It’s a girl!” (to be) That is the exciting family news this month! Tabitha and Caleb will make us grandparents (Lord willing) in October. The due date is the 7th….
We are excited for this new phase in our lives! God has blessed us and we are very thankful. We pray also God will continue to guide Titus as he seeks direction in going to Alaska (Lord willing) and pursuing ministry as God sees fit.
For His Glory,
Mark and Christi Helzerman
Titus, Samuel, Hadassah,
Grace, Hope, Serenity and Glory
E-mail: mhelzerman@gmail.com